Have had two run ins with black bears, one diffused by my truck going in reverse really fast. The other a sow decided following her cubs was a better use of her time, but this I do know, she could have trashed me in no time no matter what I had to use. Best I could have done is write a note after saying "this is the gun that PO'd the bear the done kilt me".
Have noticed over the years though, ever since carrying something on my hip, have only once met someone not polite in the wild country, and even that guy settled down once he saw..... and I have a lot of time logged off the beaten path.
