No .35 Rem 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 LEVERevolution 200 gr FTX | 200 | wrong bullet | 2,225 | 593 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 220 gr HammerDown Bonded SP | 220 | wrong bullet | 1,990 | 493 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun 200 gr | 200 | wrong bullet | 2,100 | 507 | behind the shoulder only |
| Federal 200 gr Power-Shok JSP | 200 | wrong bullet | 2,080 | 361 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 200 gr Core-Lokt Soft Point | 200 | wrong bullet | 2,080 | 361 | behind the shoulder only |
| Remington 150 gr Core-Lokt Pointed Soft Point | 150 | wrong bullet | 2,300 | 285 | behind the shoulder only |
| Winchester 200 gr Power-Point | 200 | wrong bullet | 2,020 | 354 | 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.