Is No 2 hard enough for a bear load?

[mulenv]

It will do. if in chest area, a couple pills.
a dispatch from behind ear towards computer is effective with that slug too and you will appreciate hot loads depending on your frame type strength.
I use Base savers (copper washer thing) instead if gas checks for .452.
a .455 gas check would compliment those .45 cast 250gr.

 

[yomomma]

Medveq, it depends on the bullets I suppose. I never think to weigh them after i recover them.
I might lose 10% bullet weight if it's a soft flat nose.
I shot a pure linotype boolit out of a 303 and it did not deform other than rifling and a lost gascheck.
I could have reloaded the linotype with no problem.
Some boolits do tumble, while others mushroom beautifully.

I have shot cast 7.62x39 through a target and a tree stump. I was using COWW + a bit of tin. Like you said very little deforming of the bullet.