This year I set up a firing range in a large hay field about half a mile from the front porch of the main cabin. I tested my accuracy at my longest distance ever (100 yards) with a scoped rifle and a .45 single action revolver with a long barrel (6.75").
Later in the early evening we were sharing libations on the porch. As we looked across the field we noticed a large black bear exploring the area throughout the middle of my range. I found that interesting. A couple in our company said they saw bear there last year.
For future reference, I hope the bear wasn't a lass with cubs. I want to make my range there in future years. My rifle in a .22. I won't shoot magnums in it, and I doubt a long rifle round would do enough damage to a black bear to even make her more angry. I think my revolver could damage a bear first rate if up close and personal and I was shooting one of my hollow point rounds. The thing of it is is I use target reload rounds for target shooting, and they might just make a mama bear madder.
P.S. My accuracy with the scoped rifle was better than not bad for an old buzzard slowly going blind...and deaf. I was 24 for 24 around the bulls eye with a pattern about 4 inches in diameter.
P.P.S. The revolver wasn't as exciting. I was 1 for 12 anywhere near the bulls eye at 100 years. That's gruesome with a black bear. That means I would need to let the bear get close enough to me so I couldn't miss. That seems chancy...especially with an adrenaline rush.
So what do you want to do, shoot target practice or hunt and kill a bear?
You don’t want to shoot bears with hollow point.
The purpose of hollow points is to expand so as to hit the target with full force, that is, a target that has vital organs fairly close to the surface.
Like people.
A bear’s hide is so tough, has a thick layer of hair and a thick layer of fat.
So the bullet will expand and exhaust its energy before reaching the vitals.
Cor-Bon, for an example as there are others, sells a .45 Colt load that is metal jacket, with a softer lead nose that will not start expansion until it penetrates much deeper.
It has more kick than a cowboy load, but if a bear is after you, you will not even feel the kick.
You probably will be so excited you won’t even hear that .45 go off.
I forgot to mention; don’t shoot souped up loads in your .45 unless it is a Ruger Blackhawk.
For bear defense, minimum 44 caliber bullets, at least 280 gr., wide meplat, at more than 1000 fps. .45’s good, with a revolver that’s documented in reloading manuals to be capable of handling such loads (check year of revolver model, too—not only model).
Shooting Holes in Wounding Theories:
The Mechanics of Terminal Ballistics
http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/ballistics/wounding.html
Rifles are different, and many will do the job. But proven terminal ballistics still apply. 12 ga. shotguns with slugs are probably best for most people—especially with slugs designed like some of the Brenneke slugs for large game. And of course, anyone defending against a bear attack must be capable of the required calmness and accuracy.
Reports from louder firearms (louder than .22 LR) fired in the direction of bears tend to scare bears into running away most of the time but not always.