ORIGINAL: live2Draw
a bears nose is 3000 times more sensitive than a bloodhounds...which is 300 times more sensitive than our own. A deer will continue running for 2 minutes after you put a big ole hole in its vitals. If a deer can do it, I bet a bear does it better!! I bear hit in the nose with a gallon of pepper is going down. Regardless of what you might think. Carry em both, let the gun be option A, when it gets up close...the spray is your best bet.
I wouldn't stake my life on that.You put a 335gr hard castbullet in the noodle of a big bruin and it's going down...right now! Even if your shot is not perfect the bear may still react to the loud bang as well as the pain. Remember that deer is also running AWAY from the perceived cause of it's pain. A bear just might do that as well, in fact I've seen it happen. (videos and such)
That being said, andsomeone else posted this too. If the bruin is pissed off enough, there's not much that's gonna stop it from charging. At THAT point I'd MUCH rather have something that if placed properly will stop it in it's tracks. You shut down the nervous system (noodle hit) and you're shutting down that locomotive heading right at you.
Carrying both is not a bad idea but you can bet the FIRST thing I'm reaching for is that "hog leg" on my hip!