My bear spray is a Ruger Redhawk 44 magnum which I carry with me whenever I go hiking. I’m confident it will be effective.
the biggest I have is a .357 Magnum. That goes with me into bear country on the infrequent occasions I camp out west.
Black bears in the east are nothing but big rodents and don’t really need extreme measures.
Blacks and grizzly’s are a completely different story.
Blackhawk in .357, Buffalo Bore here.
Can hit 4 / 6 7” steel at 25 yards winded and dizzy.