You might also want to look at G9 external Hollow Point rounds.

 

On a 4 wheeler w/ concerns of black bear encounters
Packing a 40 Short & Weak


Go larger bore...or stay in the concrete jungle(s)!
44 Mag or 454 Casull !!

 

I've got a 629 but the things like carrying a brick around! Are you from Mass?? I see Mass an CT are getting over run with black bears too.

 

Anyone try any of these out yet? I've been packing my 40sw P226 Tac ops with buffalo bore 200gr Hard Cast loads but they do smoke alot and a smokey second shot at a ** off bear may not be good!! Our bear population is growing here in Ole GA so im thinking about these federal loads when we go 4 wheeling up on the Cohutta....

Try the Underwood heavy .40 S&W offering in their coated hard cast, they don't smoke.

 

Yes, there are bigger more powerful cartridges than 40 S&W but a 200gr .40 cal bullet moving at 1000fps is not anemic. I’d want something bigger in grizzly country but for black bears it’s adequate.

 

You're right,,,,, Elmer Keith's griz solution. 200gr 40cal bullet moving at 1,000 fps,, good hit dead griz!!! And no grizzly in Ga..... A 9mm rd can't toss a 200gr bullet anywhere....