Report on Kimber Life Act Guardian Angel Pepper Blaster

[Threeband]

I've had one of these things for about a year and a half, never was terribly enthusiastic about it. It's a two-shooter, and at nearly $20 per shot, doesn't lend itself to practice.

Well, after carrying it for all this time, I actually used the thing recently, so I'm ready to share my experience, for whatever it's worth.

So here goes, and you can laugh all you want, but this is no BS:


I'm the Lead Carpenter for a small remodeling company. A couple weeks ago one of my guys, Ralph , saw a groundhog hanging around in the open. He chased it 50 yards to the other side of a small stream. It followed him back.

I showed up about this time, and the groundhog came straight for us. Amazed, we both jumped up on the back of our trucks. It trotted away. I got down again and the groundhog circled back, coming straight at me. I picked up a shovel and stood my ground, expecting it to veer aside.

Well, it didn't. It came straight on, very agressively and with evident determination. At the last moment, I gave it a medium SWAT with the shovel, more to turn it aside than anything else. It trotted away again while Ralph threw ice cubes at it from the back of his truck.

Now I was certain the groundhog had rabies, and wished I had hit it harder.
For the next half hour or so, it wandered around in the open about 50 yards away, before finally disappearing beyond a shed. I assumed it crawled off somewhere and died.

Two days later, Ralph and I walked back beyond the shed to look around, not expecting to see anything, then went back to the house we were remodeling. We must have aroused the groundhog, because a few minutes later I glimpsed it just outside the sliding glass door on the patio. Damn thing had followed us back, 75 yards.

Ralph ran to grab a pitchfork from the garage, while I went for my truck to get my shovel and the Kimber Pepper Blaster. Coming around the corner, I was amazed to see the groundhog chasing Ralph, who jumped back into the bed of his pickup. The other guys on my crew came running out the front door to see what was up, and the groundhog began chasing them in turn.

Yes, it was a bit of a comical situation, but actually it was very serious. This thing was VERY agressive, and truly dangerous. It wanted to attack, and it was not going away. No one in the neighborhood would be safe until it was dead, and what's more, we couldn't get any work done with it sneaking up on us from the bushes.


After chasing the other guys around a bit, the Rabid Groundhog spotted me, and came running straight at me. I held the shovel in my left hand, and the Kimber Pepper Blaster in my right as the Zombie Woodchuck closed the gap.

At a range of six feet I fired a single shot from the "Lifeact Guardian Angel", and the effect was instantaneous and astonishing. There was a low "POP!" from the Blaster, and I saw a splotch of orange-red dye appear on the head and body of the groundhog. The shot was dead-on, a ten-X! But here's the result:

The Rabid Groundhog was INSTANTLY BOWLED OVER on its side, like it had been hit by a sledgehammer. From a flat-out run (admittedly not real fast: these things aren't built for speed) this Killer Zombie Woodchuck from Hell was apparently blown right off its stubby little feet. It was an impressive display from the Pepper Blaster.

Well, the job had to be wrapped up, so I immediately shoved the Kimber back in my pocket, and with a few assertive swings of the shovel, I put Cujo out of his misery.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE KIMBER LIFEACT GUARDIAN ANGEL PEPPER BLASTER:

First, the name of the product is TERRIBLE. I just saw their latest advertisement, and they are now calling it the Kimber Pepper Blaster. That is a huge improvement. They need to bury that "lifeact guardian angel" moniker at a crossroads with a stake in its heart. Old name: Horrible. New name: Pretty good.

Second, I've carried it about 17 months now, and it rides easily in my right-hand back pocket. It's discrete, yet accessable, and thin enough to sit on comfortably enough. I just switched my billfold over to the left side. It does tend to fall over on its side in my pocket though. I've got a cheap Uncle Mike's pocket holster for a J frame revolver, which I think I'll cut down to position the Pepper Blaster more securely. The J frame size is a perfect fit, but cutting away the top half is necessary for a reliable draw.

Third, I've always had some doubts about the things accuracy, and reading the occassional postings on this forum, I see others do too. Now that I've actually used it, I can say it points very naturally. Shooting at a small moving target, my shot was dead on. I feel a lot better about my chances of hitting whatever needs to be hit if need be.

Fourth, I was REALLY impressed with the effect of the shot, and so were the onlookers. I have no idea how it would do against a PCP-addled Psycho-Maniac, but it is INSTANTLY INCAPACITATING on Rabid Zombie Woodchucks. Man, you should have seen that thing just bowled right over.

Fifth, it was a mistake to shove it back in my pocket after firing it. A minute amount of residue of the pepper gel leaked out, and my right butt-cheek was BURNING all afternoon. Not so bad I couldn't ride it out like a proper Stoic.

Final Verdict: I went out and bought two more of the things.


Notice I live in Maryland. I'm sure I could easily get my CCW if I were willing to make large campaign donations to the local Democrat politicians, but even if I were willing to do that, I can see the Pepper Blaster filling a useful niche.

Lastly, A short-handled, narrow blade trenching shovel makes a truly awesome CQB weapon. Didn't a Marine earn the Medal of Honor at the Chosin Reservoir, dispatching Chicoms with his ET?

(Oddly enough, I used the same shovel a couple weeks previously to kill a rabid bat at the same location.)

[azhunter122]

ok, I really like mine, I even got one for my mother.

[Pax Jordana]

Ray Davis?

Thank you, the internet

Threeband, that's a story that's only funny in retrospect, I'm sure. Thanks for sharing it though. You mention PCP-addled psycho maniacs.. but let's be honest, something the size of a groundhog attacking something the size of you is still pretty looney. So I'm glad to hear it worked.

In fact, a story this good may warrant a pocket reorganization by myself in order to make more room

[Chuck Perry]

Has Kimber approached you to publish your story in their ads yet

[45Guy]

Oddly enough, I used the same shovel a couple weeks previously to kill a rabid bat at the same location.)

Two rabid animals in the same locale in a few weeks in NOT a coincidence. You should call animal control to check it out.

I wish we could have these in WI, but if I read Kimber's website correct, they won't ship them here. Maybe some research is in order.

[Threeband]

Two rabid animals in the same locale in a few weeks in NOT a coincidence. You should call animal control to check it out.

Actually, after the first incident, I spent 20 minutes trying to get Animal Control on the phone, then gave up and called 911. An hour or so later, a cop stopped by, and he and I walked back beyond the shed looking for the groundhog, with no luck. I mentioned Animal Control, and he laughed and said, "Oh they won't come out. Heck, I'm just going to shoot it."

[mgregg85]

I had to bring one back from NC for my little sister, she carries it now.

[CWL]

Oh great! ...Now all we need is for an ex-cop and his friend to write a book about the knock-down power of pepper sprays.

[Threeband]

Oh great! ...Now all we need is for an ex-cop and his friend to write a book about the knock-down power of pepper sprays.

I'm guessing you think you had a point when you posted that.

[CWL]

As much as you I reckon.

[lanternlad1]

Regarding the name,
It was always called the Guardian Angel by the Swiss company who makes it. I had one for years before Kimber started selling them. Granted, Kimber didn't help by adding extra words to the title. God knows what a "Lifeact" is. But "Pepper Blaster" sounds like something that would be used in the kitchen. Like Homer Simpson using Marge's pepper spray on his eggs. "MMMMMM...incapacitating." Its almost as bad as HP a few years back selling the Ipod and calling it "The Apple Ipod from HP".

But regarding the the weapon itself, I love them. My wife has one, and I've bought more for my other family members who won't carry. I've seen very good reviews on them from gun mags too.

[GrizzlyGraves]

It trotted away again while Ralph threw ice cubes at it from the back of his truck.

I'm sorry. I lost it at this point. But I was glad to see that the tool worked well.

[brent376]

Thanks for posting the review. I used to not have much confidence in the two shot Guardian Angel but after reading this review and a recent testimonial from a sheriff’s dep in AZ I went out and bought 3 of them. We have Academy Sports here in Tulsa and they are selling them for 19.99! Most stores sell them for 40 bucks. One thing a lot of people like to point out is the Kimber Product only has 2 shots. What they don’t understand is that in less than a second you put 1/2 ounce of pepper spray on target in a wide 12x12 impact pattern. It would take a normal 1/2 ounce OC spray 5 -8 seconds to do that. I like My Guardian Angel and now carry it everywhere I go. With 10% Oleoresin Capsicum 2.4% Major Capsaicinoids (the hottest bear spray has 2.0% Capsaicinoids) per unit and the benzyl alcohol carrier no doubt this will make someone wish they had never messed with you.

[ambulldog]

Although I have never used mine I have carried it for almost a year. I had faith in it but its nice to hear stories of it actually being used and working well. I'm glad no one was hurt. Groundhogs can be nasty little b*stards but usually only when cornered or something. Thanks for sharing the story.

[Threeband]

Groundhogs can be nasty little b*stards but usually only when cornered

Yeah, this one was not only CHASING us, it was STALKING us. It needed killing. The "blaster" did a great job immobilizing it, and the shovel did a great job killing it.



As for the two-shot capacity, perhaps we should festoon ourselves with braces of them, like the old bucanneers with their flintlock pistols.

As I mentioned, I modified one of these Uncle Mike's inside-the-pocket holsters to keep the Kimber from flopping on its side in my back pocket:



I cut off the part above the horizontal leather strip, but I found the "lifeact" (how I hate that name!) hung up a bit, and the holster sometimes came along for the ride when drawing. So I split the side seam all the way down, just by cutting the thread. Works pretty well now, but I think I'll sew the seam maybe 1/3 back up the side, and maybe cut away a bit more.

[Navy joe]

I call BS. I've worked some construction and there would have quickly formed two man teams. One to carry the air compressor, the other to shoot the nailgun at the groundhog. Pepper spray? Are there no real men left in Maryland?

The groundhog scoreboard here this year is:

Dog-3

Marvel conversion .22-1 with assist from dog to trap it under the car. Note to self do not shoot car.

S&W 325PD-1 note to groundhog, if you are in your hole but I can still see your nose so can Mr. Golden Saber.

[Threeband]

Nail guns are no good at any sort of range. Also tied to a hose. Lousy weapon. No power, either.

We are NOT low life framers, and I will not tolerate that sort of behavior on my crew. We are professionals, working in the homes of wealthy professionals, and we try to conduct ourselves accordingly. I'm just glad the homeowners were on vacation when this occured.

Are there no ADULTS in Virginia?

"Fatti Maschi, Parole Femine."

[Navy joe]

Never said I was a low life framer. We have gotten pretty good range on some nailguns though. Not being in Maryland I just keep a 642 in my nail apron. Last job I worked was my own house so I was married to the only rich owner that might show up.

Oh and BTW, it was humor. So lighten up.

[ArfinGreebly]

Well, so was his.

Sexist, but humor nonetheless.

[Threeband]

Didn't mean to say you were a low-life, but in my experience, it's more likely low-life types on New Construction Production crews who misuse equipment that way.

High end remodeling is a different world.

The first day we saw the groundhog, it was just as Ralph and I got to work. It did cross my mind to go after it with a nail gun while it was wandering around after I wacked it the first time, and Ralph threw ice at it.

That idea was so obviously stupid, I never seriously entertained it. I did think of going after it with my shovel, but it I didn't see a compelling reason. At that point, I assumed it would wander off and die. Shortly thereafter, it did disappear, only to come back two days later.

A firearm would have been inappropriate, for business/professional reasons. In that neighborhood, I could probably have popped it with a .22, and no one would have noticed, but it would have been unacceptable to do so. It could land me in jail,and destroy the reputation of the business.



Getting back to my original point:

I had occasion to use the Kimber Lifeact Guardian Angel.

It worked very well.

I went out and bought two more.

It has its place, and is worth considering.


THAT'S the point of my posting.

[JShirley]

I got one for Jordy when I was in TN a year ago. I've always called it the "Pepper Popper".

John

[Geronimo45]

but let's be honest, something the size of a groundhog attacking something the size of you is still pretty looney.

Not as looney as you might think. Armadillos have been known to charge people after being shot.

And why didn't anybody kick that critter?

[Chester32141]

Anybody got a link to the best price on one of these ... sounds like every household should have one ...

Chester

[brent376]

Anybody got a link to the best price on one of these ... sounds like every household should have one ...

Chester

Since you dont have an Academy Sports near you the best place to buy one would be online directly from Kimber or from:

www.cabelas.com

$39.99

[brent376]

For what its worth: I talked to a Capitan with the police department about the Kimber product only having two shots. He said if you can’t hit them with two shots then you’re in trouble because the guy will be on you and its time to go hands on. Like Threeband said, the pattern is very wide so if you can’t hit your attacker with two wide angle shots you must be blind. The officer was impressed with the product and bought one for himself. Also the typical aerosol spray requires solvents and liquefied propellants to keep the product in suspension. The Kimber product has two ingredients (Capsaicinoids and Benzyl Alcohol) which means there is less junk in the formula making the capsaicin hotter.