I understand, but these aren't for hunting black bear, just repelling them yet allowing you to have the same load for "in-town" errands.
I think using "repel" by itself is a rather poor choice of words.
Had you said "repel boarders" (arrrh!!
) it probably wouldn't have drawn much comment. I don't know about today (so much knowledge seems to have been lost..) but at one time, the most famous pistols for "repelling boarders" in the animal sense, were Howdah pistols. Specifically made to be something that would convince a tiger not to climb onto the back of the elephant with you.
Plus I think you have the order of power needed reversed. Hunting bear can successfully be done with the lower powered ammo, just as it can be done with lower powered cartridges as well. When hunting, YOU pick the shot, and the bear isn't charging or already chawin' on you.
DEFENSE (aka "repel boarders!! arrr!) , on the other hand, it a different matter, you don't get to wait for just the right shot. For defense, a lower power load, and especially a bullet designed for a human adversary are poor choices.
and, speaking of knowledge lost...
Cast lead a "footnote" to .44 mag reloading? I just heard Elmer Keith jump out out his grave and gasp!
That sound you hear is Elmer, climbing out of his grave, chomping his cigar, and getting ready to slap you silly with his ten gallon Stetson. Repeatedly.
Elmer developed the .44 Magnum with cast bullets. His own. 240/250gr weight over 22gr of 2400. And he used standard, not magnum primers with that load.