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Different Kinds of Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is an excellent, non-lethal self-defense weapon. Pepper spray is environmentally friendly. Not only can it be used against human assailants, but animals as well.

The three basic chemical components used in making pepper sprays are CS (Orthochlorobenzalmalonitrile), CN (alphachloroacetaphenone) and OC (OleoresinCapsicum).

CS And CN: These chemical components irritate the membrane tissues and cause stinging and tearing. They can take from five to 30 seconds before they are effective and may not work if someone is drunk, on drugs, psychotic, or can't feel pain.

OC: This component is also well known as pepper spray and is an inflammatory agent; not an irritant. When someone is sprayed with OC pepper spray, the person's eyes slam shut. OC dilates the capillaries and causes temporary blindness.

The four types of pepper sprayers are broken stream, forced cone, fogger and foam.

1. Stream or Broken Stream: Think of a water pistol. Stream sprayers deliver more liquid pepper spray to the target, so someone getting hit in the face with a stream of pepper spray is taking a big hit. But they also get used up faster. Streams often have a longer range than a forced cone pepper spray. Another plus to streams are the low risk of blow back, which is what might happen if you shoot a mist of pepper spray into the breeze and it comes back and hits you too.

2. Forced Cone Spray: Most of the smaller 1/2 oz. personal size pepper sprays are forced cone sprays. The spray pattern is circular and covers a width of about two feet; approximately the size of a human head. The range of the forced cone spray is about six to 12 feet. The spray is a finer mist than the broken stream but is delivered in a forceful stream. The eyes will shut tight and fast. If the slightest amount of spray is inhaled, it will cause instant choking and uncontrollable coughing.

3. Foggers: A fogger type spray has finer droplets still than the forced cone and disperses wider. It is most effective in covering a larger area with pepper spray quickly; aim is less critical. Consider it for dealing with multiple attackers, crowd control, bears, or to defend the home. A pepper spray fogger can make a hallway uninhabitable in short order. The force with which the spray is dispersed is considerable. The attacker will always receive the majority of the spray even in windy conditions. Spray from a fogger style sprayer is the fastest acting of your choices.

4. Foams: This type of spray uses a thick, heavy foam with many effective ingredients. The wind has the least effect on this type of spray. Foam pepper spray piles up on the target as well. It accumulates, rather than running off, and is practically impossible to wipe off without assistance. The effects are instantaneously debilitating and get worse as the target tries to remove it, inadvertently rubbing it further into the skin.

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