I’m no expert on “Aerosol Subject Restraints” or oleoresin capsicum (OC) dispensers. I know people who are and I try to follow their recommendations.

As I’ve gotten older, having an additional layer of protection – something to help force a break in contact with the enemy, in the words of Claude Werner – has a lot of appeal; something between upraised voices and gunfire. 

Again, I follow advice of experts. Over the years, I’ve been through a few sets of OC dispensers. The most recent acquisition came at a time when I’d made a mistake. 

One of the spray dispensers I had suffered a minor household calamity – never mind what – and I took it out of service, replacing it with another of the same brand and type, the SABRE Fast Flip Top Pepper Spray with Snap-Clip Keychain. 

The flip-top dispenser is much preferred as the swivel-top units seem to be in for more than their share of unintended discharges. 

I didn’t throw the affected unit away, but decided to put it in a plastic bag, grab some nitrile gloves and take it along the next time I was in the country. I’d fully intended to do what the package insert advised: “Practice outside and test spray semi-annually with a quick burst into the ground.”

I did that, except I had a convenient hill side to use. Imagine my surprise when I directed the spray to a spot and saw that the stream went high. Since the unit had been compromised, I did more tests. I found that the spray hit 3-5” high at ten feet. 

Had I looked at the video at the maker’s website, I’d have seen that pretty quickly. 

So much for reading the directions. 

Having the first shot go into someone’s hairline or over the head into space isn’t a good plan. 

One could consider a practice unit, one with pressurized water instead of carrier with OC. The complaints I saw on line centered around the practice units not being refillable. 

The problem with any aerosol is that they’re “one and done.” Trying to make a readily carried pepper spray that could be refilled would be a dream for consumers and for makers of product. But it’s just a dream. 

Consider all the aerosol products you’ve used over your life. They seem to run out of gas, or the product stays in while the carrier is dispensed. It seems tough to manufacture.

It’s also possible that the practice unit doesn’t hit to the same “point of aim,” so to speak, as the real deal. 

Testing with a short burst seems the best option.

I was reminded again: test your gear. Just because it’s not a gun doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make yourself aware of issues. 

 For training in aerosol subject restraints, check with Agile Training & Consulting for the Oleoresin Capsicum Aerosol and OC Instructor training.

– Rich Grassi