Thanks BTKR! Best article on this subject I've found to date. On 6 Jun I logged on to American Hunter.org re: "How To Shoot A Bear". It was OK but they are in the "bust the shoulder 1st camp". I'm not a magnum shooter (definately nothing wrong w/that) but get my jollies by close shots w/leverguns in traditional calibers. I think my best choice is a double lunger. Now, from these picts, I finally see why waiting until near front leg is fwd makes sense. Just gotta graduate from cardiac rehab before 1 Aug!!!!! Last bear I got was w/a 450 Marlin which is closer to a short range magnum than a traditional caliber. Bullet lodged against far shoulder blade & knocked him down but I had to finish him.