[Sox]

Have seen these around, what's your opinion? Any brand better than another. Seems it might serve purpose where space/ discretion is required.

[DigMe]

As long as it sprays a reasonable distance and in a reasonable pattern I don't see a problem. I was told though that with any pepper spray you shouldn't use anything less than 22,000 Scoville heat units. I know the pen size sprays are available up to the maximum allowable 2 million so that shouldn't be an issue as long as you look at what you are buying. Brand is not an issue if it brings the heat.

brad cook

[ChuteTheMall]

Do they carry enough spray for multiple attackers on a rainy, windy day? If you miss, it would be nice to have some follow-up shots.

[morganm01]

I saw this guy in a Samaurai outfit complete with sword on Real TV. First three LE's completey hosed him with their OC spray. The guy was drenched and it did nothing to subdue him. Then they tasered him to the same effect. He was still swinging this sword around, it took a firehose team to pin him down with the stream of the hose and then throw a ladder on top of him to keep him there while SWAT cuffed him. I don't have those kind of resources available so I don't use OC. I did however get my wife some because she won't carry. :(

I know thta isn't the responce you are looking for, just a little commentary from me:barf:

[coldshot03/04]

Check out Justifible Homicide frompaladin-press.com . It cautions against such pen like OC sprays. It gives great info about what one would need for protection.;) Yes I know I probably have a few spelling errors.:D

[DigMe]

I saw this guy in a Samaurai outfit complete with sword on Real TV. First three LE's completey hosed him with their OC spray. The guy was drenched and it did nothing to subdue him.

That's because most police depts do NOT carry maximum strength OC sprays, probably due to fear of lawsuits. Many carry only 5% strength. I guaranty you they weren't using the max power and that's why you see a lot of that kind of incident in the news. Get one that's 15% and has a 2 million Scoville heat rating (max allowable by law). I'd be willing to bet that woulda put him down. The OC that police carry will often be rated at only around 10,000 Scovilles.

brad cook

[Paul Gomez]

Umm, there is a lot of misinformation about OC sprays out there.

First, the industry is completey unregulated so there is a lot of garbage available. Stick with major vendors such as Fox Labs (www.foxlabs.net), Aerko International (www.aerko.com), Guardian Security Products (www.guardianproducts.com), and Counter Assault (www.counterassault.com).

Next, "How hot is hot?" is a tougher question than you might think.
You need to know what the base SHUs of the resin is and what percentage of the product volume is OC. For instance, 10% 500,000 SHU is a lot less hot than 5% 2,000,000 SHU and 2% 5,300,000 is not that hotter than 5% 2,000,000 SHU. DO THE MATH. Also, realize that the carrier of a given spray may enhance or mitigate the overall effects of the product.

What is the spray pattern? If you think shooting under stress is difficult, how easy is it going to be to spray someone in the eyes with a tiny stream unit of OC? General patterns available are stream, mist or cone, foam and burst or fog. There are variations such as "splatter streams" and "heavy cones" etc.

For my use, and what I reccomend to my students, is a burst unit of no less than 2oz with an "in the can" SHU of no less than 100,000 (do the math backwards and that translates to 5% 2,000,000 SHU). I carry mine in the outside, primaryside pocket of my cover garment.