How to Buy Pepper Spray

If you have made a decision to do more about self protection, you might be wondering where to buy pepper spray, a stun gun, taser, or other self defense weapons. The answer is the internet, a gun shop or a store that specialized in self defense items. Although this is a quick answer to the question, there is still much to consider about where and how to buy pepper spray.

That is because not all pepper sprays are created equal. Pepper spray is made from cayenne peppers, but how much pepper is in individual brands of pepper spray can vary immensely. Unfortunately, there are also people who might try to take advantage of you by selling you a diluted or inferior product.

You should arm yourself with all the knowledge you can about pepper sprays before deciding on a supplier. Pepper spray may be the difference between life and death in an assault so you don’t want to choose just any spray. The one thing all pepper sprays have is the chemical OC, Oleoresin Capsicums. This is the main ingredient from the pepper plant, but having higher or lower percentages of OC does not necessarily make one spray more effective than another.

In fact, higher doses of OC are heavier and harder to spray. Look for somewhere between two and five percent of OC in pepper spray. Even more important than the OC, however, is the heat rating. The strength of peppers is rated by a system known as Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The higher the heat unit, the more effective the pepper spray will be. You can choose from pepper sprays that range in SHU from 500,000 to over 5,000,000.

Another consideration when you buy pepper spray is what kind of container to get and how far that container can spray. With some sprays, you will have to be very close to your attacker, but with others you can be as far away as ten to fifteen feet. The longer the distance, the better it will be for you.

You also have a choice as to what kind of container you can buy and what kind of pattern you want the spray to make when it leaves the container. Many of the most popular sizes are small, such as ones which will fit on a key chain. They can take the form of a pen, lipstick, or even a flashlight. The best pattern to choose is a stream, not a foam or other type of pattern that works best very close to the attacker. With a stream you should be able to be as far away as ten to fifteen feet.

The choice to protect yourself with pepper spray is a good one. If you make the best decision about what type to get and its delivery system, it will be even more effective in stopping someone from causing you harm.