bronko22000, the powder charge might be a bit light on a big black bear, one of the ones I shot through the back edge of the frontshoulder [ there vitals are more forward than a deer] the ball stoped flattened out in the skin on the far side; it was a perfect broad side shot and the bear field dressed a bit over 350#. Use your best judgement some times you have to go with less powder than desireable for accuracy reasons . Lee