I am contemplating using my TC Contender (44mag.) for black bear this spring. Anyone have recommendation for a hunting round for the 44mag. Bullet wt. type etc.

There are 2 bullets that are absolutely perfect for that application: the 250 grain Partition and the 320 grain WFN-GC, an LBT-style bullet from Cast Performance. Send either along with a healthy charge of H-110, and you'll have no problems taking any black bear. I use both of these on hogs here in Texas, and both work splendidly. Nonetheless, I favor the Cast Performance bullet at 1300+ fps from a 7.5" barrel or right at 1400 fps from a 9.5" Ruger SRH. It shoots through virtually anything, so making sure of a safe backdrop is absolutely paramount. The wide, flat meplat cuts a nice, clean wound channel of around 1.5" all the way through -- and anything hit with it quickly loses interest in all worldly matters.

Just got back for a hog hunt here in central Texas. I had success with a 300 gr Hornady XTP, backed with a healthy dose of H110 out of my 14" Contender. One shot, one kill, zero tracking. Hog dropped like a ton of bricks.
You might want to consider the Barnes X bullets. Used those last year in my rifle on whitetails in Montana. The expansion and wound channel was incredible. I plan to give them a try later on this year, in preparation for deer season.
Good luck with the bears!

BB

Here's a Thought Buffalo Bore 340 gr Hard cast . Just go to their web site , they sell them loaded.