It has already come up but I'll repeat that there is a big difference in size and behavior between the average black bear and grizzlies, polar bears, etc. Black bears tend to be a lot smaller. Every one I've ever seen was only a few hundred pounds and very timid, to the point that they can simply be shouted away. That doesn't mean they aren't dangerous or couldn't kill or severely injure you in certain situations. They also still have thick skulls and relatively small vitals for their size.
I honestly think moose are more dangerous than bears where I live.
After a close encounter with a large and very bold black bear, I switched from carrying Gold Dots to the Lehigh bullets for my field carry load in my .357 Sig. I think the Lehigh bullets make better sense in case I have to use them on a large wild animal.
I've actually been considering this for woods carry. Coyotes might be the most realistic threat. Black bears and moose usually know enough to stay away from people although surprise is an obvious risk factor. I'd previously been carrying .357 magnum in the woods but that full-sized steel revolver is pretty heavy!
With .357 Sig, I can get at least twice the ammo in a much lighter package. Some people worry about the lighter bullet weights. This Lehigh ammo looks like it performs well for a non-deforming solid in most tests I've seen. I think it would be an excellent compromise for this purpose.
Those Xtreme Penetrators are somebody's idea of cool. They don't make the bullet penetrate any more than a regular jacket. The progressive nose geometry stuff is marketing BS...
They are certainly a novel idea and they definitely have a silly name. Sure, they don't penetrate much more than your standard FMJ in a lot of media. Just think twice before you hit these with the BS stick. The benefit seems to be:
1. They penetrate at least as well as any other solid of similar weight, which is a
reasonable 115 grains in 9mm. However, they should hold up better than FMJ in some media. They should be at least as good as hard cast lead or other solid copper projectiles in this respect.
2. Unlike smooth solids or even those with sharp meplats,
these tend to disrupt media a lot more! This is basic physics and they perform exactly as I'd expect them to in tests that I've seen.
3. In cases where you can't or don't want to use hollow-points, these could be your best shot at tissue disruption in a wound channel.