Hey, maybe someone could write up a FAQ or make a bear spray thread into a sticky. This seems like a recurrent topic around here.

[commentary on political commentary redacted]I agree with Hikermor that we all need to look at the data objectively to see the relative merit of spray vs bullets.

On the other hand, the general recommendation to carry spray over firearms when you're not hunting doesn't mean *you* in particular cannot do a good job defending yourself against a bear with your gun. (Uh, I mean you have the gun. I don't mean the bear has your gun.) It's like the self-defense advice: if you carry a knife, it could be used against you -- but that applies primarily to people who have little idea what you're doing. Some, like AKSAR, know what to do when shooting a bear. Me, I just know a little about running madly through a course while putting two rounds in the A zone on each cardboard target, shaving seconds off for a better score. The pepper spray is probably a better choice for me.

For the hunters on the board, if a bear is charging at you, where do you want to place your rounds? I'm thinking it's got its thick skull lowered. You need to hit the CNS, because a bear will still have the time to kill you even with a severed artery. How do you do that? Use a magic bullet that can make a 180 degree turn and get to their medulla oblongata from behind the neck?