[SJackson]

A gun may only be 50% effective. My understanding is their CNS must be completely destroyed to get them to instantly keel over... My opinion is to shoot first, spray later if it keeps on coming.

The CNS advice is correct. Not easy on a charging bear, recall how their head swings right to left. It's a deadly situation to be in at close range.

Anecdotal, and I've no way of knowing if true, but I was told of a fishing guide who was attacked and put 4 rounds of .44 mag in the body with no immediate effect. The attack was halted by another guide who sprayed the bear. Who ran off and died. Would he have stopped if sprayed first, who knows. I prefer to avoid bears.

[marktwain]

but I was told of a fishing guide who was attacked and put 4 rounds of .44 mag in the body with no immediate effect. The attack was halted by another guide who sprayed the bear.

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Possible. I actively search for these stories, and I have not seen it.

I have seen a few where the spray does not work, but a firearms does.

Interestingly, I have not found one case where a pistol failed to stop a bear. At least not yet.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2016/10/where-are-bear-attack-pistol-failures.html