Nope, I have never had to stop a charging animal of any kind, in spite of hunting some that are notorious for this behavior. I've had the great good fortune of placing the first shot where it belongs on those occasions where I was after these kinds of critters.
So, yes, what I have on hand when just generally farting around in the woods in bear country, like back packing, day hiking, maybe grouse hunting with Ed, chopping firewood, whatever, is far different than when I'm out actively hunting. In these cases I'm carrying a small, short barreled, powerful revolver of some kind, stoked with some pretty heavy loads.
Here is a representative example of revolvers I carry. From top to bottom, an Interarms Virginian Dragoon and Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, then another (Super) Blackhawk and a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in .44 magnum. My most carried by far has been the Blackhawk in .45 Colt, but I'm really warming up to the little Super Blackhawk because of its Bisley style grip. It really does a good job of handling heavy recoil. I don't carry the Model 29 much, nor the Dragoon, because I kinda like stainless steel in our rainy Pacific Northwest.
My "bear loads" in both calibers utilize 300 grain bullets from LBT molds, cast from wheel weights. My .44 mag load will hit 1,200 fps, and the .45 Colt will just top 1,300 fps. I won't shoot that heavy load in the Model 29, though, it's just not as stout as the Rugers. In that I use the traditional old Keith bullet, cast in an RCBS mold, weighing 250 grains. My load for that does about 1,200 fps from the Model 29. Left to right, the .45 Colt, .44 mag, and .44 mag for the Model 29.
So, yeah, hunting them and just being in their neighborhood are two different things. I'm realistic enough to know that even these revolvers offer scant protection when worse comes to worse, but they are better than nothing. That, and if targets of opportunity present themselves, I'll take a shot at 'em. I've lost track of how many coyotes I've dropped with revolvers when just out and about in the outdoors.