Whats a good pepper spray?

[Austin]

Thanks for doing the legwork on the topic and posting back, i think after reading some more info on the site and other places Inferno seems to be one of the best for many reasons.

I really think it is the best. I have used it before and it is surprisingly effective.

 

[williemartin]

I heard that wasp spray works good too. You can buy it anywhere. I haven't heard about any restrictions on carrying it either.

 

[pxpx]

I have heard about truck drivers that carry wasp spray in their trucks with them. too many restrictions on carrying in a truck

 

[Old Zebra]

My wife and I occasionally carry Spitfires from Personal Defense Solutions. Neither of us has had to use it so I can't provide testimony for its effectiveness. My gun shop/indoor range stopped carrying the Kimbers because of their 2-shot limit and started carrying the Spitfires. Personally, I like the way the Spitfire naturally points...it's hard to miss the bad guy.

Pepper Spray: Personal Defense Solutions

 

[JSDinTexas]

I went with Fox Labs 3 oz stream with flop top lid to avoid accidental discharge, and which has a 2% concentration for more burn. We will see as soon as I can find someone or something to try it on ... :biggrin:

 

[CathyInBlue]

how about the peper sray that was designed for hikers to repell bears? if it will stop a bear you can be dammed sure it will work on a man!leasantry:

I've always wondered this myself. Are there legal restrictions on the scoville rating you're permitted to use on a human attacker, and at the moment of defense, will I care?

Something else I'd like to see explored, if for no other reason than having it here in the forum, what's the diff between what gets squirted out the business end of a pepper spray bottle and anything you might put on food? (I'm a culinary masochist. The hotter and spicier the food, the better. I can chow down on a habañero with only a slight tearing up.

 

[JSDinTexas]

I've always wondered this myself. Are there legal restrictions on the scoville rating you're permitted to use on a human attacker, and at the moment of defense, will I care?

Something else I'd like to see explored, if for no other reason than having it here in the forum, what's the diff between what gets squirted out the business end of a pepper spray bottle and anything you might put on food? (I'm a culinary masochist. The hotter and spicier the food, the better. I can chow down on a habañero with only a slight tearing up.

I spoke with a LEO friend and he watched an instructor spray a salad and eat it to show the organic nature of the spray to the cadets. Still, I will probably stick with ranch dressing. :laugh:

 

[Pewbs]

Try them all on yourself and see which hurts the most.

 

[handguns4kids]

google.com
Didn't take but 2 seconds
Scoville scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[1911 Headbanger]

I've always wondered this myself. Are there legal restrictions on the scoville rating you're permitted to use on a human attacker, and at the moment of defense, will I care?

Something else I'd like to see explored, if for no other reason than having it here in the forum, what's the diff between what gets squirted out the business end of a pepper spray bottle and anything you might put on food? (I'm a culinary masochist. The hotter and spicier the food, the better. I can chow down on a habañero with only a slight tearing up.

Cathy, the pepper used in pepper spray is food grade. When I was an Instructor using Def-Tec First Defense, they made every effort to prevent anyone from claiming we sprayed them with toxic substances and chemicals. The Pepper was food grade, the small amount of alcohol was Pharmacuetical grade, and the carrier/oily liquid base was the same as Avon Skin So Soft. It was totally non-toxic and actually edible. As far as maximum scoville units, peppers are only so hot. Some of the cheaper companies have used cheezy methods of calculating the millions of scoville units they claim. Stay away from the Pawn shop/ drug store/ flea market brands, unless that shop is a Law Enforcement type supplier. It doesn't matter how much you concentrate them, it's still only as hot as the pepper. Usually Habanero peppers were used in the quality stuff, not red pepper. The inner most placenta, the hottest part of the pepper, was used and pulverized into micron powder, about the size of chalk dust, and suspended in the carrier liquid. It stayed mixed, no shaking required. The stuff used on bears in the beginning was actually a weaker mix than the Law enforcement grade stuff. Mainly because Bear noses and faces are much more sensitive to smell and such. Now, I think it's all just about the same, as long as you buy quality stuff. The Def-Tec stuff we used on the street was a 10% mix, while Freeze +p was 2% pepper and 2% CS teargas. Some good names that come to mind are; Defense Technologies (Def-Tec) First Defense, Aerko Corp. Freeze +p, Punch, Sabre, Fox, Mace Brand Triple Action. I personally like Def-Tec Pepper Spray, Mace triple action or Freeze +P combo sprays with Pepper and Tear gas combined. Good stuff, used it on the street for years and it works.

 

[handgonnetoter]

My wife and I use FOX "mean green" pepper spray. It is pretty hot and paints the attacker's face with a green subtance that really cannot be washed off very well.

 

[mpohio]

Not to be too funny, but after last nights "chicken wings and beer" party, just pick up some "Dave's Insanity" Sauce. Good god I washed my hands twice and accidentally rubbed my eye. I thougth I was going to go blind. Not to mention the lower extremity when I went to the bathroom. I was literally praying for death :biggrin: This stuff is wicked!! My buddy Dave had to sign a release of liabilty to buy the stuff

 

[wolfhunter]

OOOH, Dave's Insanity Sauce in an aerosol ? That'd stop most predators.

 

[festus]

A buddy of mine tangled with a PCP crazed lunatic...

A buddy of mine tangled with a PCP crazed lunatic at Elmendorf AFB a few years back. The responding Security Forces Officer followed SOP and pepper sprayed the melee at the gate. He succeeded in dropping 3 out of 4 cops out of the fight. The PCP loony was finally taken down by two of Anchorages Finest. This event was just out side one of the gates and involved both USAF and Anchorage PD. Pepper Spray did not cut it!

 

[wolfhunter]

Festus, I was part of a group that took down a PCP-laced sailor in the Philippines. You're right, it took 3 Navy Bosun's Mates, 2 Philippine Constables and me to hold the guy down. I got the feeling the PC's were frustrated enough to start shooting if we hadn't gotten the cuffs and leg irons on when we did.

 

[1911 Headbanger]

A buddy of mine tangled with a PCP crazed lunatic at Elmendorf AFB a few years back. The responding Security Forces Officer followed SOP and pepper sprayed the melee at the gate. He succeeded in dropping 3 out of 4 cops out of the fight. The PCP loony was finally taken down by two of Anchorages Finest. This event was just out side one of the gates and involved both USAF and Anchorage PD. Pepper Spray did not cut it!

You're right, NOTHING IS FOOL PROOF AND WORKS 100%. Not even your pistol. You carry what you can, and prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Some psyco with detatched nerve meds or PCP, may not be as effected, or may not be effected at all. I remember some FBI Agents in a shootout in Miami, as some of you may recall, that shot the two bad guys waaaaaay too many times, and they still managed to kill and wound several agents. Like I said, you HOPE for the best, but plan for the worst. Same deal with Pepper Spray. Although, I have never in MY years on the street seen it fail, I have heard of it failing. NOTHING and I mean NOTHING will totally take someone down, except some shots I've seen with a 50 BMG blowing a guy in half. Then you can be sure, if he's hit, he's pretty much out.

 

[THE DUKE OF ESSEX]

You could always use a fully automatic Thompson and pepper them with that.:biggrin:

 

[magnum]

Need a good office or home spray that works as self defense? Get a can of wasp and hornet spray. Hit someone in the face with that and they will change there plans really quick.

 

[Stiofan]

It's legal to carry bear spray in Canada, but not the lessor mace/pepper spray which is designed for humans.

Here's a rundown on laws in North America.

Canada

In Canada all products with a label containing the words pepper spray, mace, etc, or otherwise originally produced for use on humans are classified as a prohibited weapon. Only law enforcement officers and individuals/corporations who have special government permits may legally carry or possess pepper spray. Any similar canister with the labels reading "dog spray" and/or "bear spray" is regulated under the Pest Control Products Act - while legal to be carried by anyone, it is against the law if its use causes 'a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person' or harming the environment and carries a penalty up to a fine of $500,000 and jail time of maximum 3 years. Of course, the legality of using spray intended for animal deterrent on a person would be determined in court on a case-by-case basis.

United States

In California, the container holding the defense spray must be less than 2.5 Oz.

In the state of Maine, criminal usage of pepper spray or similar products is a violation of law, however usage of said products for self-defence as well as possession are legal. In Massachusetts, residents may purchase defense sprays only from licensed Firearms Dealers in that state, and must hold a valid Firearms Identification Card (FID) or License to Carry Firearms (LTC).

In Michigan, pepper spray is legal if it has less than 2% of the active ingredient, this decreases the length of the effects but not the SHU. Sprays containing a mixture of CN/CS are also banned.

In the state of New York, pepper spray may be legally possessed by any person age 18 or over; however, it must be purchased in person (i.e. cannot be purchased by mail-order or internet sale) either at a pharmacy or from a licensed firearm retailer (NY Penal Law 265.20 14 (a)), and the seller must keep a record of purchases. The use of pepper spray to prevent a public official from performing his/her official duties is a class-E felony;

New Jersey allows non-felons over the age of 18 to possess a small amount of pepper spray, with no more than three quarters of an ounce of chemical substance.

In the State of Washington, persons over 18 may carry personal-protection spray devices. Persons over age 14 may carry personal-protection spray devices with their legal guardian's consent.

In Wisconsin, tear gas is not permissible. By regulation, OC products with a maximum OC concentration of 10% and weight range of oleoresin of capsicum and inert ingredients of 15-60 grams are authorized. This is 1/2 oz. and 2 oz. spray. Further, the product cannot be camouflaged, and must have a safety feature designed to prevent accidental discharge. The units may not have an effective range of over 20 feet and must have an effective range of six feet. In addition there are certain labeling and packaging requirements: must state cannot sell to anyone under 18 and the phone number of the manufacturer has to be on the label. The units must also be sold in sealed tamper-proof packages.

In many (but not all) other states, pepper spray can be purchased at various stores and carried legally by anyone over 18. However, many states do not say anything about age.

Pepper spray

 

[ljenkmd]

I carry a Spitfire, as does my wife and daughter. Has gotten good revues, but I've never had to use it, so can't vouch for it personally. Easy aiming system and fits well in your hand. :laugh: