Pepper Spray
Frequently Asked Questions

These are some common questions that are often asked about pepper spray. The answers are based on decades of law enforcement training, experience, and research. We have extensive experience in law enforcement and civilian training and use of pepper spray.

Does Pepper Spray really work?

Yes! We have sprayed thousands of Law Enforcement officers during training and have been sprayed ourselves as a part of our certification. Without a doubt, a quality pepper spray is proven to be extremely effective against very hostile subjects and highly aggressive physical assaults. We are very staunch advocates for carrying pepper spray for personal defense and believe very strongly in the advantage that it gives you in keeping you and your loved ones safe. We have carried and recommended pepper spray for many, many years. And yes, we STILL carry.

We are often asked… “but what if it doesn’t completely work, or totally stop the person attacking you?” Or…”I’ve heard it doesn’t always work on everyone.”

The documented cases where pepper spray has failed to have the desired effect are both well documented and quite rare. When and if they do happen, they are sure to get media coverage. In a worst case scenario of a highly motivated person fighting through the devastating effects of pepper spray and continuing to attack you, there are two things to keep in mind:

1) While maybe the pepper spray hasn’t totally overcome them, it still will generally have some effect on their vision and breathing. Can you imagine how much worse that same person would be if they were not somewhat impeded or slowed down by the pepper spray? If forced to defend myself, I’d much rather face a subject after they were sprayed with pepper spray as opposed to them not having been sprayed at all…always! Imagine if you were a competitive runner and you had to race against a world-class marathoner. Would you rather race them when they are fresh, or after the just completed an all out marathon where they are exhausted?

2) If you legally carry a concealed weapon (Texas Concealed Handgun License) and you are forced to further defend yourself against a highly motivated and violent subject after having the opportunity to attempt to stop them with pepper spray, you have demonstrated that you attempted a lower level of force, before you were forced to escalate. Even if you are unable to deploy pepper spray prior to using a higher level of force, even deadly force, you have demonstrated that you have prepared for and/or considered alternative force options by the fact that you also carry pepper spray. This is why our Law Enforcement officers must carry a non-lethal tool in addition to a handgun. It provides multiple options and tools when needing to neutralize and/or regain control of a situation.

Why should I choose and carry Pepper Spray?

A quality pepper spray allows you to deal with and respond to aggression from a distance. We refer to this distance as a “Survival Gap.” Pepper spray, while usually instantaneous, may take a few seconds for the effects to overcome a person. That is why you have to “spray and move” after deploying pepper spray, and always be prepared to physically defend yourself. Think of it as “Bull Fighting” and simply side step if an attacker aggresses you after being sprayed.

We have advocated carrying pepper spray for personal defense for many years, for both law enforcement and civilian personnel. No matter what level of self defense skill you posses, pepper spray has a place in your personal defense strategy. Perhaps the biggest misconception, among men that is, is that pepper spray is mainly for women. Most women, on the other hand, easily recognize the value of pepper spray for personal defense. Sometimes our egos get in the way of common sense. But consider that some of the biggest, toughest, most highly trained, and smartest guys we know carry pepper spray. Yes, this includes the staff at TSI, which includes a 2-time North American Grappling Association (NAGA) World Champion.

For civilians, along with licensed concealed handguns and personal self defense training, self-defense sprays and electronic control devices are usually the only other non-lethal force option available. For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that civilians carry the most effective products possible. The ideal spray should completely incapacitate the attacker and allow the victim to escape and call the police. If you are able to contact local law enforcement immediately, there is a very good chance that officers will be able to apprehend the attacker. If not, a description and an ultraviolet dye will mark and associate the attacker to the scene of the crime. You should carry a defense spray which incapacitates the attacker for as long as possible to allow you to get away.

Do I really need training to use Pepper Spray?

This is a very fair question indeed. Before we answer, think about this. Why do most Law Enforcement departments require its officers to go through pepper spray training annually?

We know because there is a considerable amount of skill and technique involved to use pepper spray properly and effectively! Much like you would never buy a handgun for personal defense…and then never fire it, the same can be said for pepper spray. Most of our students will initially miss the intended target the first time they attempt to spray. And this is while spraying at a non-moving target. You can only imagine if it were moving. It is not a simple point and spray by any means. There is an arc that you need to be aware of and have practice hitting your target, as well as building muscle memory with the safety and actuator. At the end of our course, hitting a moving target will not be a problem.

Simply put: During an attack is NOT the time for you to try and figure things out! It’s really quite that simple and our course price makes it an easy decision, especially considering that you receive a fresh, unopened pepper spray product upon completion of the course.

What are some misconceptions about pepper spray?

A common misconception is that pepper spray is mainly for women. Many men don’t initially consider pepper spray for personal defense. However, after taking a moment to consider all of the advantages that pepper spray affords you, most men that we talk to quickly agree that pepper spray is a smart choice. Where allowed, we usually carry a firearm, but are never without pepper spray. There are many situations where carrying a concealed handgun is prevented by law. These situations do not apply to pepper spray. Another misconception is held by many people who legally carry a firearm for personal defense. Some think that since they have a gun, what more do they need? These people fail to realize that they are many times more likely to be involved in an escalating verbal argument rather than a gunfight, and in these situations, pepper spray can deescalate the situation prior to it reaching the need for deadly force.

What is Oleoresin Capsicum?

Oleoresin Capsicum is the oil taken from the placenta near the stem of a spicy pepper. Oleoresin Capsicum is the active ingredient used in most self-defense sprays and is the spray of choice for law enforcement since 1977.

What are Capsaicin & Capsaicinoids?

Okay, there is no easy way to explain this. Oleoresin Capsicum is comprised of several different Capsaicinoids. The Capsaicinoid is responsible for providing the pungency ( hotness) of a pepper and in turn, “Pepper Spray” is called Capsaicin. The Major Capsaicinoids Content (MCC) represents the heat bearing and pain producing components of the defense spray. Therefore, it is the % of the total capsaicinoids and capsaicin, not the capsicum % that is important. Oleoresin Capsicum percentages (OC %) only measure the amount of red pepper contained in the defense spray, not the pungency (hotness) or effectiveness of the product. For instance, two spray manufactures can advertise “10% OC” and one can still be much stronger than the other because of the MCC.

What are Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s)?

Scoville Heat Units are another method used to measure the pungency (hotness) of defense sprays. The Habanero is one of the hottest chili peppers, measuring 325,000+ SHU’s. A very pungent (hot) pepper spray will measure 2,000,000 SHU’s, which is over six times hotter than a Habanero.

The most effective means of determining a defense sprays pungency is to consider each of the following:
– Capsaicin Percentage
– Percentage of Major Capsaicinoids (MCC)
– Scoville Heat Units
– Oleoresin Capsicum Percentage

What are the effects of a quality OC Pepper Spray?

The effects are essentially immediate, or within a few seconds! When a person is sprayed with OC, two things happen. First, the person’s eyes clamp shut – hard! Not only that, but if they do manage to force them open they still can’t see very well because the OC dilates the capillaries and causes temporary blindness. Second, an immediate fit of uncontrollable coughing doubles the person over because the OC causes instant inflammation of the breathing tissues, restricting all but life support breathing. OC has the affect of putting up a brick wall between an assailant and the sprayer. While most effects are immediate, you should always be prepared to move away (side step) from the attacker and/or be prepared to physically defend yourself. We have personally sprayed and have witnessed thousands of people get sprayed in training and in real-life encounters. We’ve seen some people go down like a ton of bricks while others had to “marinate” approximately 4-7 seconds before the effects of pepper spray overcame them. Side Note: Any time we get to use the terms pepper spray and marinate in the same sentence…we giggle.

Are Law Enforcement Defense Sprays significantly more potent than civilian products?

There are significant differences in the potency from one defense spray to the next. However, civilians have access to defense sprays with the same potency as carried by agencies using the strongest available formulations. Please keep in mind that many agencies carry defense sprays for quick takedown and quick decontamination. Other departments opt for the strongest formulation possible. Either way, consumers are able to purchase products of the same strengths. Remember; don’t be mislead by OC percentages. Just because a law enforcement agency may carry a 10% spray, or you see a 5%-15% spray advertised on the internet, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is hotter than other sprays with a lower % spray advertised.

How long do most units fire?

The average ½ oz (keychain) canister fires for approximately 5 seconds. This is exactly why every citizen should go through a pepper spray training program. Having the confidence and knowing you have hands-on skills in deploying pepper spray can make the difference in hitting your attacker or missing and “running dry.” Larger canisters will usually spray for longer periods of time and usually at a further distance. Always check with the manufacturer of gives us a call.

How long will most products last?

All aerosol products will eventually lose pressure over time. Most defense sprays last for two years from their manufacturing date. Because pepper spray is rather inexpensive, we recommend replacing your spray at the halfway point (usually one year).

How far do most products fire?

Many factors (size / type / environment / etc.) determine how far a defense spray will travel effectively, ranging from six feet to as far as thirty feet. All of these factors are covered in our Civilian Pepper Spray course.

What are the different types of dispersion?

Ballistic Stream: Decreases wind blow-back. The ballistic stream (similar to the water guns sold today) will blast an attacker with a stream of super-hot pepper! If you miss, or the attacker was in a hard- to-reach area, you can “fan” this spray during discharge. Fanning is a technique for hitting your mark. You spray the stream then move your dispersions path from side to side until you hit the attacker in the face, eyes, nose and mouth.

Foam: This type is excellent for blow-back protection and immediate saturation. EXAMPLE: If it is windy, you can spray this with minimum to no pepper blowback contaminating you. Also, it is ideal for hitting attackers in tight areas, e.g., through your partially opened car window, and helps with aim. Through a partially opened car window you have no misting action that can contaminate the interior of the vehicle. Great for home/office use or any other inside area (hospitals, businesses, courtrooms, etc.) without cross-contaminating the rest of the indoor area. Ideal for individuals who themselves are sensitive to pepper spray, since there is little or no blow-back and no cross-contamination when used indoors. A common misconception is that the attacker, once sprayed with the foam can just wiped it away and continue to attack. The attacker will try to wipe it off, but it will be too late. The pepper works instantly, causing the eyes to seal with tears, nose to run, excessive coughing, shortness of breath, and an ever-increasing panic as their face is consumed by the foam. The foam spray; however, does require greater accuracy.

Cone: Covers wide area and is the best in most situations. It is a fine mist that comes out in a forceful spray pattern usually at distances from 8 to 12 feet. In the latest generation of dispensing actuators, the mist is made up of super-fine droplets of pepper solution. These droplets help to minimize blow-back of pepper formula on you while the mist (looks like a concentrated fog) penetrates the attacker’s skin pores and mucous membranes for an experience they will not soon forget! This pattern actually spreads out to a width of approximately 2 feet at its maximum distance. This pattern covers the whole face and is absorbed into the mucus membrane with hot pepper causing the eyes to seal with tears, nose to run, excessive coughing, shortness of breath, extreme panic, etc. Cone sprays; however, are more susceptible to wind conditions.

Will this work on individuals under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs?

Oleoresin Capsicum will temporarily blind an attacker and restrict normal breathing. Therefore, even if the attacker is under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, defense sprays using OC are capable of causing incapacitation. As with almost any product, there are rare instances where pepper spray did not incapacitate someone as intended. These cases are extremely rare and well advertised/documented.
Remember the great “seatbelt” debate? Are we showing our age? Lol. Opponents to the proposed mandatory seatbelt law took isolated cases of where wearing a seatbelt caused more injury to the occupant than if they had not worn one at all. Crazy argument as we look back on it and now years later…well…seatbelts are proven to save lives every day. Pepper spray saves lives as well!

How do I use my pepper spray? & How long should I fire the can at the attacker?

First and foremost; we highly recommend you attend our pepper spray training course. We provide a lot of information and most importantly, the hands-on training where you practice with the spray. And at the end of the course, we give you the spray to keep! However, here is the basic concept.

Attempt to keep distance between you and the attacker…a Survival Gap. Aim the spray at the eyes and facial region of the threat and then release a 1 to 2 second spray. After you have done this MOVE out of the way, but keep your eyes on the threat. It is recommended that the canister be fired (repeated 1 to 2 second bursts) until the attacker is incapacitated. “Spray and Move” until the threat is eliminated. Once the attacker is stopped, escape immediately and call the police.

Will defense sprays work on dogs?

Absolutely! Oleoresin Capsicum will incapacitate animals. In many cases, the act of spraying the animal and the forcefulness of the spray pattern will be enough to cause most animals to turn and run.

Why are defense sprays different prices? Aren’t they all the same?

Although there are differences from one defense spray to the next, more than likely production line size comes into play.  Most all sprays are very affordable and allow you to protect yourself for pennies a day. Here are the four most important features to consider when purchasing a defense spray:

I. Active Ingredient: We recommend that consumers carry a spray with 2,000,000 SHU’s or higher and a marking compound (UV, etc.).

II. Canister Content: The canister you carry should contain as much product as possible to allow you to test fire your unit, and stop multiple attackers if necessary. Now it makes sense that you probably won’t carry an 8 oz canister on a keychain. On the same note, you should use something larger than a keychain canister for home protection. Carefully consider the intended use.

III. Shelf-Life: Be wary of any product without a shelf life or any product advertising a shelf life of more than 5 years. On the same note, it is always good to replace the item at about the halfway point to be safe.

IV. Safety Mechanism: An easy to use safety is a must to prevent an unintentional discharge from occurring. When we say easy to use, we mean it can be unlocked and fired with one hand, in one fluid motion.

Are there any restrictions governing the use and sale of personal defense sprays?

There are certain restrictions in some areas of the country. The following states each have varying restrictions: HI, MA, MI, NY & WI.  And of course, always familiarize yourself with local laws and ordinances.