Bear spray vs. Pepper spray

[Joe Talmadge]

Here's a link that I found. It says that Guard Alaska Bear spray is the only one registered with the EPA and has the highest concentration of OC 20%! My goodness.

You know, you guys are bringing the crotchety old school teacher out in me. Pretty soon, I'm going to have all of you write 100 times:

The % of OC is a marketing gimmick that does not make the OC hotter. I will stop quoting these numbers as if they matter.
The % of OC is a marketing gimmick that does not make the OC hotter. I will stop quoting these numbers as if they matter.
The % of OC is a marketing gimmick that does not make the OC hotter. I will stop quoting these numbers as if they matter.

I don't know how much of this is advertising or hype, but it looks potent.

serenity now ... serenity now ... serenity now

I'm just thinking about carrying this for human use instead of the pepper spray because I think it may be more effective.

It's not more effective as far as heat ... and at the distance of typical human-human interactions, you will increase the risk of a huge blowback that will effect you as much as anyone else. With bear spray, the idea is to send a huge amount of OC towards the bear while it's still 20 feet away. With human predators, you're likely talking a few feet away. Best to stick with regular human spray, especially considering that using the bear stuff on humans will be illegal in many areas.

Joe

 

[victory]

If you want a big ass can of bear spray, fox labs sells a 1 pounder for riot control that works great. 30ft cone spray, 5.3million SHU's.

 

[Draconian]

I'm hoping that the smell of feces is a deterrent to a bear - because if I don't have a big f***ing gun - that is what they are going to get!

 

[smithsnoh]

The sprays may be technically illegal to use on humans, but so are guns and knives and big rocks. You just want to be discerning about the use of pepper spray and don't leave yourself open to assault charges (kinda hard to prove against you anyhow, so say the police around here -- hard to find and preserve evidence (even dye), etc.).

Penalties, if present, are usually misdemeanors and don't apply anyhow when you establish use in self-defense.

A can of potent pepper spray is pretty versatile for self-defense - doesn't wound, isn't life-threatening, but breaks things up pretty fast. Criminals aren't going to stick around to rat on you to the police.

A big beer-bottle sized bear-spray can works on a small crowd of toughs, too.

If you get into the spray pattern, spray a bad guy on your buddy, etc, you've still broken up a fight and can get away as soon as you can breathe and see a little!

If you don't believe this stuff works, get together with some of your braver friends and practice a little on each other! No drinking though til the practicing is over!

 

[Kevin the grey]

As has been mentioned percentages can be very misleading .
1 percent is 50 percent of 2 percent . There are even some wh argue that is not quite so .

 

[VA27]

Over the years since OC hit the market, I've been sprayed with four or five different brands, more times than I can remember. Fox Labs 5.3 is far and away the hottest, hurtin'est, baddest stuff I've ever felt. Be aware that there are some individuals that are "minimally affected" by OC, so have a backup plan.

 

[kic]

.....

 

[Thomas Linton]

I have some Guard Alaska. It isn't 20%, I believe it's 1.3%. I believe it also states right on the bottle that it is illegal to use it on humans. I don't think it would be a very good idea to carry it for self defense, unless you are planning on encountering some bears.

If I was "Guard Alaska," I'd claim my product was "illegal for humans." I'd also sell it in a "giant economy size" black "high pressure" can and say it was "tactical."