No .300 Savage factory load we have sourced carries 1,200 ft·lb for black bear past the muzzle. Here is why, load by load.
| Load | gr | Max ethical yd | MV fps | 500 yd ft·lb | Shoulder shot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady Superformance 150 gr SST | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,740 | 902 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 180 gr Power-Shok JSP | 180 | wrong bullet | 2,350 | 783 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 150 gr Power-Shok JSP | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 667 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 150 gr Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 670 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 150 gr Power-Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,630 | 613 | behind the shoulder only |
Fat and hair hide the vitals: aim 4–5″ behind the shoulder and a touch high. Partition / bonded / monolithic. Floor used: 1,200 ft·lb at impact plus the bullet's published expansion velocity. Orange = a target or varmint bullet (construction, not energy); red = never carries the energy. Sources: www.themeateater.com, www.oneoutdoors.org.