I have a .444 now, have had several others, and like the rifle (Win 94 Black Shadow) quite a lot. The biggest issue with the .444 is bullet selection. Factory loads are mostly assembled with 240 gr pistol bullets, which is a Very Bad Thing. If you can find Hornady 265's, that's better. My handloads use 270 Speer Gold Dots at 2100 fps. Accurate and easy (?) to shoot. The caribou bull I shot with the load and rifle tipped over and turned upsidedown, so I think it works <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.
I have 300 gr loads running at 2200 fps, as well, and they aren't straining anything. The 320 gr Buffalo Bore hard cast loads run about the same; I cannot imagine a brown bear standing up to good hits with such loads, were the bear in arguing range.
Not a round or rifle I would take on a "bear hunt"; but one I carry readily in "bear country" -- and one in which I obviously feel confidence.
