A few months ago I was given a couple new in box canisters of pepper gel, which I promptly threw in a gun gear storage box and dismissed, and instead decided to alter my defensive plans by adding an additional spare mag to my daily carry.

However, recent events have resulted in local ongoing protests, including some destruction and vandalism, and armed individuals attending. Ten minutes from my front door and for the tenth straight day.

Although I'm not happy about adding yet more gear/ weight to my carry gear, I'm now considering carrying the pepper gel, as one more defensive option.

I test carried the pepper gel over the weekend and found that the nylon pouch with the velcro flap tends to shift locations around quite a bit on my belt, making it a bit of guess work and fumbling around to try to reach. The pouch belt loop easily accommodates two inch belts, probably for use with LE duty belts, and I wear a 1.5" belt.

The thumb push button trigger is a bit lop-sided and with the soft pouch I'm a bit concerned about possibly shifting while seated, especially while twisting in and out of a car seat, and possibly having the pouch flap 'collapse' or bunch up, possibly allowing the protective spring-loaded flap to shift up and to allow an AD of the gel stream. I gotta believe that having a back or ass full of pepper gel, or clothing soaked in it, can't be a good thing in an enclosed environment like while driving a car.

I've read the manufacturer's instructions and watched a couple of their instruction videos.

-Anyone ever have pepper spray/ gel go off accidentally while wearing it?

-The canister sits pretty low and tight in the pouch, and isn't easily pulled from concealment clothing. Any tips as to which direction to orient the nozzle during carry or how the canister should sit in the pouch?

-Anything else I should consider when carrying pepper gel?

Have the same pepper spray and belt pouch.
Had occasion to use it when another dog attacked one of my dogs while we were out for a walk. Realized then it took too long to pull it out of that belt pouch. Fortunately, my second dog warded off the attack. Promptly threw the pouch out when I got home. Now carry it in a pocket where it can be easily reached/pulled out from and put into action.

Also, I only carry it when it's not very windy out. I live in an area where 30MPH gusts are common and would not trust a pepper spray shot in that to be accurate.

I use this holster. Purchased a holster after a key in my front pocket somehow activated a canister of pepper spray when I was in a
squatting position.


https://omegaholsters.com/pepper-spray-holster/

I had considered getting the Sabre Red Aerosol Grenade, it would be better for the large groups of people. I hadn’t thought about it for a while but now I need to reconsider.

https://www.sabrered.com/peppe...aerosol-grenade-mk-3

When wearing my "soft uniform" (polo and cargo pants), I carry OC in one of these two belt pouches, which are designed for normal pants belts:

https://www.blueforcegear.com/pepper-spray-belt-pouch

https://comp-tac.com/pepper-sp...older-gear-comp-tac/

I've done a lot of stuff while wearing both of those, and have never had the cannister deploy accidentally, even in the open top Comp-Tac holder. The safety flip top system works.

First: Gel isn't great. It takes a long time to start working, though it has less cross contamination.

I've had one of the twist top cans go off in my pocket. I use these exclusively now. I don't need to use a pouch with this carrier.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/pr...06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

quote:

-Anyone ever have pepper spray/ gel go off accidentally while wearing it?

Was driving down the highway in wee hours of the morning in my patrol car and reached over the center control console to get a bottle of water from front passenger side floorboard. Opened the bottle of water and felt my whole upper left leg area was wet. Looked and felt the bottle and detected no wetness. Rubbed the wet area of my leg and held hand up to my face to "sniff" the wetness. Kaieeeee (that's what people from New Mexico say when their hurt), it was pepper spray. When I bent over to get the bottle of water, I somehow pressed the button and sprayed pepper spray all over the upper part of my left leg. I'm crying like a baby, my leg is on fire and the interior of my patrol car is contaminated. Made it home, off with the clothes and into the shower. Hint, attempting to wash the pepper spray off with soap just causes it to migrate all over your body.

Yep, stuff can get in there and sit under the safety flap and press down on the actuator. Funny story, a guys radio antenna got stuck in just that way and he began spraying in a class. He then stood up and began spinning around trying to get at both items which had shifted to the point where he couldnt reach them. Cleared out the entire 1 story building.

Please remember people can and do fight through OC/Mace/Pepperspray on a pretty regular basis. I honestly think its more effective as a deterrent against cops. Its not pleasant but I've spoken with a man with an orange head for about an hour until the agency that sprayed him came and picked him up. He wandered in town from the freeway.

I do like it for crowds and animals however.

Had a can of it go off in my pocket while out for dinner with my family. I didn't wash it off soon, which was a mistake. It left a burning snsation for several days.

Don't carry it in your pocket. You are right in using a pouch.

I helped get OC (Oleoresin Capsicum: The active ingredient in "Pepper Spray") approved for LEOs in California and saw it quickly approved thereafter for everyone else. I've used it in defensive situations several times, and it's proven effective, but you've got to understand how it works and the best tactics to have the best results.

OC is a good tool, but I'd suggest using it in a form other than gel. While OC does cause pain (all aerosol teargas products do that), what makes it better than CS or CN is it's inflammatory qualities (vs being only an "irritant"). When subjects are exposed to OC in a form where it's easily inhaled into the mouth, throat, and nasal passages (mucus membranes), that inflammatory quality makes it more difficult/uncomfortable to breath. People won't die of suffocation, but it does make it harder for an attacker to fight, run, or see (because the eyes and eyelids will also become inflamed and swollen. The active particles in OC aren't atomized (smaller and easier to inhale) in the gel form, so they won't contaminate the user as effectively. While gel isn't as affected as much by wind, but it's less likely to effect areas of the body beyond the eyes and to a much lesser degree the skin.

OC in a stream form provides the user with a product that can be projected at further distances than some fogs or gels, and the inert carrier evaporates quickly enough to allow the small particles of the active ingredient to contaminate the subject much faster than gels, although not as efficiently as fog forms.

My favorite form of OC is fog, in a very canister that expends large quantities of product over a very short period of time. I carry products like the ASP "Key Defender" (that doubles as a key-chain/impact weapon), "OC-10", Zarc International's "Cap-Stun", or "Vexor." Precise aiming isn't as important with a fogger as it is with a gel or streaming formula and because it lingers in the air, you can expel a large quantity between yourself and the threat that can contaminate the attacker if he or it (I've used this once to dissuade a Javelina from continuing to chase my dog and I recently) pursuing you.

Tactics are important! Never warn an attacker you have a chemical agent! This enables him to mentally prepare for your defense. Better to keep the canister hidden behind your back until you're sure you need to deploy it. Keep in mind that no chemical agent works immediately. The quantity and quality of the active ingredient makes a difference, as does the form used (gel, stream, or fog) and exposing the attacker needs to be done with the mindset that it's a distraction device. If you get the subject's mind on something besides the tool you're about to use, it gives that spray a little more time to "kick in."

When I used OC (or CN/CS aerosol teargas products), I made it a point to give clear commands (ie: 'Stop! Back off guy, or you're going to get hurt!') and would reach out with my off hand like I was going to grab his wrist for a takedown or handcuffing technique. When the offender slapped the hand away or started to respond verbally, that's the point I'd use by chemical agent. As it was being deployed, I'd continue to distract him verbally, and I'd also move off to the side to avoid a potential charge. As a cop, I wouldn't attempt to handcuff the individual until he sat down on the ground, rubbing his face/eyes with his hand and fully involved in dealing with the effects of the OC. As a citizen using it for defensive purposes only (not intending to take the subject into custody), I'd suggest just quickly walking away once it appears the subject is fully engrossed/distracted with his "issue."



https://www.counterassault.com...-blitz-pdf-4-fogger/

https://www.asp-usa.com/collec...?variant=36949086660

http://www.zarc.com/c-61-professional-aerosols.aspx

quote:

Originally posted by cndrdk:
Hint, attempting to wash the pepper spray off with soap just causes it to migrate all over your body.

Yeah, learned that the hard way too.

Where are you going that the girl might be needed ?

Is your line of work putting you in harm's way?

Will you be seeking training?
What are your states laws regarding it's use?

Will someone be with you?

Do you carry a concealed weapon ?

Very informative discussion so thank you all.

So, based on the number of responses relating to accidental deployment of OC, my concerns are valid, and it seems that both the proper pouch/ holster carry method need to be considered. With a gun on my strong side, spare mags and a defensive knife on my weak side, are there any preferred belt locations for OC? Also, any preferred orientation for the cannisters inside a pouch/ holster...for example nozzle oriented to the side vs forward?

Not to discuss banned topics, but in one recent local incident protesters blocked a road and one of the protesters jumped on the hood of a car and attempted to attack the driver who inadvertently drove through the area.

I'm trying to avoid the protesters all together but one of the scenarios I'm trying to prepare for is if I inadvertently drive down a road that has been blocked by protesters, protesters then surround my vehicle preventing escape, end up on my hood, and attack. Short of punching the throttle and plowing through them, I'm thinking OC might be an option, but in that scenario I might expect the car to be moving slowly which might produce a slight slip stream, possibly allowing some drifting of the OC stream/ fog back into the open drivers window.

I'm also thinking that, in that scenario, I likely wouldn't be able to reach OC on my belt, under concealment clothing, while seated behind the drivers wheel seat-belted in, while attempting to drive a manual transmission...which might mean keeping the OC canister out in the open, maybe on the passenger seat.

If protesters (rioters) and large groups are your concern, the small personal canisters may not be adequate. You will need the larger, pistol gripped canister used by riot control units and correctional officers. These are used to disperse a larger group of folks.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Where are you going that the girl might be needed ?

What girl?

quote:

Is your line of work putting you in harm's way?

I'm not a LEO, if that is what you are asking. No one knows from one day to the next what dangers we will face, so we are all "in harm's way", every day we are alive.

quote:

Will you be seeking training?

As mentioned previously, I've read the manufacturer's instructions and watched their training videos. IF OC use is sufficiently complicated that in-person training is recommended by experienced forum members I'll consider it. Apparently many governments don't see OC dangerous enough to require permits or licensing for it's purchase or use, and many college campuses encourage students to carry OC instead of other more lethal defensive measures.

quote:

What are your states laws regarding it's use?

It is legally sold, carried, and used here.

quote:

Will someone be with you?

Possibly, but unlikely. It is also possible I could be a passenger in someone else's vehicle.

quote:

Do you carry a concealed weapon ?

Yes. Along with other EDC gear. However most (not all) of the gear I carry is legally considered lethal force. I'm considering OC as a stand-off break-contact less-than-lethal option.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

Originally posted by cndrdk:
Hint, attempting to wash the pepper spray off with soap just causes it to migrate all over your body.

Yeah, learned that the hard way too.

This.

I'd rather take the ride again than deal with the aftermath of OC.

Consider this:

Gel and foam can be wiped off and flung back into your face. I witnessed this several times as LEO.

I used both spray and gel small cans in the federal prison system. It's simply not effective on a certain percentage of people. Those people tend to be the ones most likely to become assaultive. The one I saw that did work, and was effective for multiple assailants, was the "fire extinguisher" type available from police supply stores. I often carry one mounted in my car like a fire extinguisher. As far as one-one-one, I would simply use lethal force. Personally, I can't afford to struggle with anyone anymore. Too many health issues.

Stupid auto correct on this Android phone.

Where will you be going that you might be needing this gel ?

Since there is plenty of serious answers...

Pepper spray, once you get used to it, just clears the sinuses

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/NAe6NQsDx-U