I've hunted and ridden horses in areas where Brown, Black, and Grizzlies have been present. I've been too close for comfort, but no charges. I've almost always had a sufficient firearm with me: sufficient, but not an elephant gun. I'm sold on bear spray because I'm convinced I have a better chance of deploying it effectively when I'm scared spitless, than I do with a handgun or rifle.

On a close-in charging bear you will have a very small effective target area for a bullet (I recall a conversation with one guide when I told him "I don't know if I can hit a target that small with this pistol". His response- "Just wait a moment... that target will get a LOT bigger".) With pepper spray you have a much larger target area and you have survivable consequences if you "hit" your buddies (particularly is someone is already dancing with the bear). I favor a cross-chest harness for my bear spray. One thing I've read which is important is that a sprayed bear is quite apt to return, so clear out!

The biggest problem I find with bear spray is that I usually fly to where I'm going to hunt, and there really isn't any way that your bear spray is going to survive TSA if they detect it. They SHOULD leave it alone if it is in your checked luggage.. but don't count on it. The second problem is shelf life: temperature conditions are often harsh, and the unused spray doesn't last forever. What I do is purchase the spray when I get to the hunting area (never been unable to find some) and give it to the guide/cook/wrangler/etc. when I leave. That's money well spent.