Hey OC-T,
Can you breakdown the canister sizes for us? For example, Mk 2 or Mk 4 are terms i am seeing commonly used here and by some LEO, but I cannot recall ever seeing those on an actual product. Is that an actual industry term for certain sizes or just widely accepted labels?
Do the "shots" per canister change depending on your disbursement pattern?
Do you have a personal recommendation for decon? or is there a method you favor based on what you've seen?
For example, in the kimber pepper blaster vid you posted (really great video btw) after the second aka the effective shot, the recipient was pouring milk over his face. To me, it would seem more efficient to dunk/submerge your face/head in a bucket of milk...but maybe that is a big no-no since the pouring action does have the benefit of "washing away" the OC instead of just saturating it (and possibly spreading it).
Finally, when using OC in self defense, what is the recommended disengage point? Do you spray once, assume you've made an effective hit, and flee? Do you "double tap" to try and ensure that you've gotten an effective hit (in case the attacker has closed their eyes or dodged/blocked the spray?) I am trying to compare this to a use of force (firearm) scenario where you are advocated to act until you have "stopped the threat" and can safely egress. As seen in spray vids and recipient accounts, some people do have a 20-30 second window where they can continue to function (although blindly and in pain). As one member put it, you can "fight through it for awhile". So would you flee immediately after deployment? Deploy until the threat is "incapacitated" (on the ground) and then flee? I understand/assume all situations are different but as we all have learned, having a plan is a major part of the battle so any advice/experience you can offer is appreciated
-Matt S.
Loving these questions, Matt! One of the (many) things that makes THR so great, is that we can get really deep on this subject matter. To your questions...
The "Mk" designations have been used almost since the beginning of OC aerosols. Most of the terms began before my time in the industry, and there is some debate on how the terms came to be, but it was explained to me this way--Mark+the size of the spray (in ounces). For example, MK-2 would simply be the Mark+2oz sized canister. Here is where it gets a little confusing. The industry standard canisters go .5, .75, 2, 4. These are all in ounces and refer to the keychain and duty belt sizes only. So the MK-2 would be 2oz, MK-4 would be 4oz. Nowadays, there's MK-6, MK-9 and neither of them correspond to the actual "effective material fill." The MK-6 is .68 oz and the MK-9 is over 12 oz
Outside of the MK-2 and MK-4 (which still generally contain 2 and 4 oz respectively) the terms are just used out of tradition, I suppose.
The shots per do differ- depending on the spray pattern, and manufacturers' "shots per" claim. Almost all of the pepper spray packaging is bullet point non-sense. For example, Sabre claims 25 shots per .5 oz unit. Hogwash! They consider a "shot" a 1/2 second burst. It is very difficult to depress the actuator for that short of time. In reality, those small sizes have 10-12 "effective shots." What typically happens (when used in real world conditions) is the person spraying the unit will press and hold the actuator down and flail around. Only with training can someone learn to overcome the natural instinct to squeeze and keep squeezing the actuator. In general, streams will have the most shots. Stream>Cone>Gel>Foam in terms of shots per. With the exception of Inferno, foam OC is only found in the larger size units for this reason.
Milk or any full-fat dairy product is the absolute best decon for capsaicin exposure. In short, the casein (milk protein) in dairy "loosens the grip" of capsaicin, and it will help to remove it from the receptors that it attaches to. Think sour cream in many mexican dishes. That said, it is probably too cost prohibitive for academies and the like to use milk for decon. So they go with the second best option, water (lots of it) and baby shampoo/dish soap. Dabbing milk-soaked cheese cloth, or gauze onto the face and eyes would be best.
Regarding OC in SD: Here is a general guideline for using pepper spray effective as a civilian. Unfortunately, there aren't many good pepper spray tactics videos out there. The link below covers the basics and I've added to help visualize some of the basics.* I've added my own comments below it, with some additional tips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhOwRfIMW_Q
-Have the pepper spray in hand, or readily accessible. Especially when in high risk areas such as dark parking lots/garages, stairwells, etc. Unlike guns, there are no brandishing laws on the books regarding pepper spray.
- The grip shown, is superior to any other grip. It will also allow you to strike, if need be. Either using the can as a kubaton or fist load.
-The opposite hand can and should be held out if front of you; making a "stop" sign with you extended arm. This will allow you to push the attacker back and/or help block any attempts to knock the spray out of your hand.
Know the different patterns and the best way to use them: Stream covered in video above. Cone- Up and down like painting with paint brush; bottom to top of face. Foam-circular motion toward the face.
Aim for the perps lower chin/front of the neck on the initial shot. This is a technique that I developed over the years. The first thing that the perp will do is try to duck the spray. This will not only put them right in the thick of it, but it will allow you to self-correct the stream/mist of OC to the eyes, when your nerves get the best of you. With the testing we've done over the years, most first time users of pepper spray miss the head completely on the first shot. Reason-- aiming too high.
-Immediately side step after deploying spray. Even if you land a direct hit to the ocular area, the perps momentum can carry them right into you and now you are in a grappling situation. Spray, move, and then run if at all possible.
*This is a general overview. My upcoming post on "countermeasures" will delve deeper into the more advanced techniques.