I have a few pet loads for the 44 magnum. But I have different loads for different weapons. Which weapon are you shooting?? revolver?? short or long barrel?? Rifle??

My all time favorite load is 20.0 grains of 2400 with a 240 grain bullet(not hardcast) that I cast with a good heavy crimp(fairly stout, but not max).

But I do not live in big bear country. Just lots of the smaller black bears so my load would handle them very well.

If I lived in big bear country I think I would step it up to a 300 grain bullet that I would cast a little harder than normal(and water quech). As long as the firearm chambers them well. I have seen a few firearms where the 300 was too long for the chamber or got stuck in the elevator of the lever action. Tom.