I really have no first hand experience with that caliber but I was under the impression it was little more then a big powerfulhandgun load. About 1300 fps with a 300 grain projectile. For black bear it should do. For the Great Bear catagory, I would not use it. But that's just me. Although, a well placed shot might do the trick but I would hate to just upset one of them big bears.

I had a friend that used to hunt deer with a 44-40 and that was nothing more then a big handgun cartridge. He used to kill deer with it though. But the power of it was nothing that was real impressive. He hunted my place one year with that rifle while I had a muzzleloader. He shot a doe and we ended up tracking her over 80 yards through the marsh. She was actually hit good.. it just did not do the deed on her like it should have.