I would rather use semi-jacketed soft points in wheel guns or FMJ in auto loaders. Penetration is preferable to expansion for heavy bears. I shot a 300# boar sideways behind the shoulder with hot 240 gr SJSP .44 loads and they did not exit. The bear took a few minutes to settle down.
300 grain hard cast bullets have superb penetration.
I have found 300 grain loads at 1000 fps to have excellent accuracy and to be quite controllable.
Appreciate the tip - was thinking that at “defense from bear” range, the hollow point might still penetrate well and the expansion would cause more damage inside. Will defer to those who have more experience - only deer hunting I did was with shotgun and haven’t hunted in decades. Used to do some “woodchuck plinking” with a .22 hornet round but didn’t consider it “hunting”....