Pepper spray

[Cal44]

I attended a CCW class recently, and the instructor suggested carrying a less-than-lethal alternative in addition to your firearm.

Does anyone here carry pepper spray?

What's the best brand to get?

There are occasionally big dogs on the loose around here that can get aggressive. As an animal lover, I'd rather not shoot a dog so pepper spray would be an alternative.

Dave

 

[gm272gs]

The problem I see with pepper spray outdoors is that in a situation where you need to use it, you don't normally check the wind direction first.

Getting a face full of pepper spray (even just the stuff that blows back at you) isn't all that fun. Ask a LEO about it.

I keep bear spray by the bed when I'm home, though.

 

[JohnSW]

I attended a CCW class recently, and the instructor suggested carrying a less-than-lethal alternative in addition to your firearm.

That's a good idea - the right tool for whatever situation arises.

I will leave pepper spray brand recommendations to more qualified forum members.

 

[JJEH]

We carry SABRE. I was sprayed while working in prison and my wife has the gas chamber once or twice a year. I think you should get sprayed, just to see how it feels and what to do to keep in the game.

I carry "The Runner"
Runner Pepper Spray ? Black Hand Strap

The strap can be taken off and it fits easily in every pocket.

My wife carries the "Lipstick"
Pink Pepper Spray ? Lipstick

Nothing needs to be said about that one, right?!

It really depends on the situation when to use it. Like already mentioned, no once checks the wind direction before use. So you can really knock yourself out here. But in QC it might be a better choice, like an elevator where firing a shot can leave permanent damage to yourself and other innocent "trapped" bystanders.

I have in stock:

1x "Runner"
1x "Lipstick"
1x 3oz. 1.3% MK-4 spray (not for pocket carry though, but the make a nylon belt holster!)
2x 2oz. AG-10 Grenade 10% OC
Security Equipment Corporation Law Enforcement - Aerosol Grenades

SABRE also has bear- and dog spray but I'm not familiar with those.

 

[cmort666]

I barely have room on my person for a cell phone, a handgun and one reload.

I'm not Batman and don't wear a utility belt.

My "less lethal" defense is my fists and feet. If those don't work to deter/defeat your unlawful attack, you're getting shot.

If you don't like that, maybe you shouldn't unlawfully ATTACK people.

 

[redneckemt]

Freeze +P small can fits in my pocket.

Sent from my PantechP8000 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Erich]

Interesting advice from the instructor - allow me to channel my long-suppressed (it's been 20 years now) inner prosecutor:

"And the State will prove that the defendant was actually carrying a less-lethal alternative to stop any possible assault - in fact the very tool that the Forest Service recommends for use against marauding grizzly bears - yet the defendant chose to ignore that alternative and instead shoot the victim with his deadly firearm."

Your call what works for you.

Actually, I've been happy to have capsicum spray to use against dogs - years ago there were a couple times when I needed it and it worked pretty well. I bought the stuff marketed to police - I'd say one brand is as good as another. Despite the fact that the foams don't spray back to badly in a wind (always a concern outdoors), I've not found them to be nearly as effective on dogs as the sprays. Dog owners who've not kept their aggressive dogs away from us ("He's friendly!") never have complained or escalated after I used pepper spray (very infrequent) on their critters - but, honestly, that was always a concern.

On the other hand, carrying a big stick (a cane, in my case - I have a bum hip that sometimes acts up) on my walks has the remarkable effect of causing 100% of dog owners (even those with "friendly" dogs ) to keep their dogs away from us. And it's actually useful as a barrier between me and the dog - it would work that way against a human attacker, and the cane fighting stuff I've picked up make it pretty worth having along. Plus, it's not a weapon, it's literally a mobility aid for folks with disabilities.

Anyhow - whatever works for you.

 

[Smoke]

I don’t carry pepper spray because I don’t want to be stuck in a situation where I go into brain lock trying to decide which is appropriate.

As for the dog thing I don’t know but I suspect that if you pepper spray someone’s do you’re just going to escalate things. I wouldn’t pepper spray a dog if there was any other way to protect myself.

 

[gm272gs]

The only real difference with bear spray is that it will shoot 30'-0" as opposed to say 10'-0" or 15'-0". It is sort of like a small fire-extinguisher, so it's really not good for carrying around everywhere. Great for at home, though.

UDAP also has a line of good products.

 

[KLYDE]

Used it twice on a Mastiff and a big Shepard while answering calls for service. Both dogs were charging and within 2 feet of me when I sprayed them. Stopped both like they had run into a brick wall.

I would not bother to carry it in a civilian status.

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

What ever brand you decide to purchase, make sure it is at least 1,000,000 Scoval heat units. That is the minimum for pepper spray to be effective. I carry Kimber pepper blaster II in a pocket holster designed for the kimber. Just point and shoot and travels 13 feet less than 1/10 of a minute. Target has no time to react. Eyeglasses and even ski masks won't stop it.Disables attacker up to 45 minutes. Engineered in Switzerland and device to be three times as effective as most popular sprays because it is not a spray. Travels 13 feet at 112 MPH. These are some of the statistics off the top of my head. Price is about $39.95 and good for about four years. The expiration date is stamped on the device.

Nick
Former Departmental Chemical Munitions instructor certified by Smith & Wesson Academy.

 

[TexasArmed]

I barely have room on my person for a cell phone, a handgun and one reload.

I'm not Batman and don't wear a utility belt.

My "less lethal" defense is my fists and feet. If those don't work to deter/defeat your unlawful attack, you're getting shot.

If you don't like that, maybe you shouldn't unlawfully ATTACK people.

I have to agree with you completely on this subject. I need all my room for 4 speed loaders, cell phone, and two handguns, and a wallet. I wear two straps that have my smart phones for
my vehicles around my neck and I used to carry pepper spray
on the one around my neck.

But I got tired of having to remove it repetitively from my
neck strap, every time I went to a VA facility. Not only can
I not have a gun, I can't have a knife, nor pepper spray, or
a pair of sharp scissors so as a result of keeping us safe from
all the above, I just took it off and gave the pepper spray away.
If I have to remove pepper spray when I walk into a VA facility
there is no need for me to have something I have to take off
and store and find again all the time.

 

[Erich]

If I have to remove pepper spray when I walk into a VA facility
there is no need for me to have something I have to take off
and store and find again all the time.

Man, and in TX, you don't want to be leaving that stuff in your hot car. My law school girlfriend left the Cap-Stun canister I'd given her in her car one summer day here in Albuquerque - we were still coughing from the residue of the explosion that Christmas.

 

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Animal lover here too, but an aggressive dog is a dead dog.

Carrying spray or a taser in combination with a gun is asking to be crucified by a jury. A CC permit is not a license to solve problems and seek out conflict. If non-lethal force is required to solve a situation that is a job for a dog catcher or cop.

I have even heard about cops getting in trouble for justified shootings because they did not first try less lethal options.

 

[gm272gs]

I must admit that my favorite post in this thread so far is:

"I'm not Batman and don't wear a utility belt."

 

[HankG]

My wife carries a 4 oz canister of Wildfire pepper spray. It shoots in a stream, not a spray. Good out to 15 feet. She walks 4 miles every morning and was attacked by a German Shepherd last year. At the time she had a 1 oz canister with her. Way to small. The dog got her on the leg twice before she got the small canister up and running. Then, she kept the animal at bay for enough time so that a motorist could pull over and open the car door to let her in. All the time the dog's owner kept yelling, "don't worry, she doesn't bite". I keep a 4 oz canister in the water holder in my car door. My wife now sprays first and asks questions later!

 

[Doug M.]

Animal lover here too, but an aggressive dog is a dead dog.

Carrying spray or a taser in combination with a gun is asking to be crucified by a jury. A CC permit is not a license to solve problems and seek out conflict. If non-lethal force is required to solve a situation that is a job for a dog catcher or cop.

I have even heard about cops getting in trouble for justified shootings because they did not first try less lethal options.

*
Which is a source of frustration for me, because there is no basis whatsoever for that in law, tactics, or ethics. Cop haters like PERF and DOJ are driving a lot of that, and those are low functioning oxygen thieves in general.

As for a jury issue - that will vary so much by local legal and social climate that predictions are hard to make, and frankly, a defense attorney who lets that happen is probably a clown (and the prosecutor a cretin, like the one in MD who filed homicide charges on the NJ detective who was just acquitted). There may well be a circumstance in which OC or other non-lethal force is a good option; I almost always carry some when walking my dog, and I have a big canister of it in my car (and yes, take it out in significant heat or cold). I've used it on dogs a time or two with decent success.

The problem is that having too much stuff on may not be practical, and a non-lethal option is, well, optional. A firearm and reload is not. As noted - I have hands and feet (and one should be alert to the possibility that those can be lethal, and be prepared to articulate that).

 

[Triathloncoach]

About 20 years ago I was living in Manhattan. One late night I took my Rottweiler for a walk along with my GF. I miss that dog. So my girlfriend smiled at this homeless person just because she is friendly. So he starts screaming racially charged, profanity drivel at her. I told him to shut up. So he starts screaming at me. So I told him I was gonna hurt him. He starts coming towards me. Now I'm a very big guy who went to college on a wrestling scholarship. Holding a 100lb Rottweiler. This guy may have weighed 140lbs. All of a sudden I realize I'm about to mix it up with someone drugged out who no doubt has aids, hepatitis and other diseases. Ewh.

So on east 19th street I whip out my mace, and blast him in the face. Initially he just stood there and looked at me. Oh ****, it didn't work. Then he puts both hands over his face and drops to the ground. My GF wouldn't let me kick him in the face. So we went home and had a heck of a good romp. Hurray for me.

I almost always carry Kimber Mace.

 

[TexasArmed]

Man, and in TX, you don't want to be leaving that stuff in your hot car. My law school girlfriend left the Cap-Stun canister I'd given her in her car one summer day here in Albuquerque - we were still coughing from the residue of the explosion that Christmas.

I think it is legal to have a defensive weapon like pepper spray
or a legal knife inside a vehicle on VA property, just cannot
have a gun. Some have mentioned bear spray and wasp
spray, neither of those might be legal in Texas, nor mace
unless it is the regular kind. Talking about that blowing up
though when I was in high school I had a vial of chemical
in my shirt pocket a math teacher took away from me, put it
in his teachers locker and it blew up. No damage just messed
up his locker. I no longer carry pepper spray though, too
much trouble taking it on and off my neck strap when going
to and from the VA.

 

[Atonal]

Pepper Spray Yes!

It's good for aggressive dogs or for an individual who is threatening with fists. As far as I understand it, you can't just shoot someone who punches you. The only way lethal force is justified is if you are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. Am I wrong on this? I think a less than lethal force option shows a jury that you were at least open to the idea of a less than lethal response.