Absolutely -50 cal on black bears. I'd be looking to either a premium 250-300(Nosler Partiton, Barnes)grain bullet or if going with a standard 300gr +. Being bears have big shoulders, hunting over bait and using a firearm I like the insurance ofbreaking bone when the opportunity arises. With a firearm my preference is breaking the bear down by taking out the shoulder (s).I personally have taken black bear with a 50 cal ml and 300 gr Hornady XTP over 120 gr of pyrodex (or 100-110 of 777 loose). In my casebang flops were the result after shoulder/lunghits.

I know a great many who have used 100 grs of powder in various 50 cal inlines/bullet/sabot combos to successfully harvest blackie's.