Hi Mike,

Bear spray's effective range is about 6-8 metres. I've seen it's effectiveness in person and I have also seen footage of a sub 800 pound grizzly sow with cubs full charge turn dead in its tracks after being blasted with it in the face. It's been heavily documeted and studied by at least two well respected universities that its effectiveness is high and with its wide dispersion pattern a better solution than a firearm for 99% of people. It does work, but there are those rare exceptions. In those studies I read there was an instance where the bear was actively stalking some hikers and even though the bear took off after being sprayed once, it returned again. This rarely happens yet I feel better with a gun