OC spray pattern

David in FL · December 19th, 2007, 12:32 PM

'tis the season.....

I give my wife a new OC (Fox) canister every year in her stocking (I'm a real romantic

). I know the shelf life for OC is years, but I like to keep it fresh and it provides a great excuse to practice with the old one.

I've always liked the "stream" spray due to increased range and decreased likelihood of blowback towards the user if there's any wind, but was wondering if anyone preferred the wider "cone" dispersal pattern, and if so, why?

P95Carry · December 19th, 2007, 12:38 PM

''Stream" for me too - I get the impression overall that most favor this.

I have never tried the ''fog'' variant but certainly feel it's limited range and risk of blow-back makes it potentially less effective and perhaps bad for the user!

My wife and I have one each - and thus far have not deployed either so am going by supposition more than direct experience.

Creature · December 19th, 2007, 01:15 PM

I have experienced quite a bit of stream "splash back" when used on "assailant" in close proximity. I much prefer cone pattern myself. Cone is also more effective when it contacts the assailant because the OC chemical is released quicker from the atomized "carrier" liquid.

ray_ray · December 19th, 2007, 01:45 PM

i am aslo like and EDC carry the stream because on the range mostley, its a OC gel havent tried it yet but it looks nasty.
But i like the fog to so i carry it sometimes. the andvatage of the fog is that its easier inhaled, making it really hard to breathe. but not so god range and chance to blow back.

Creature · December 19th, 2007, 03:49 PM

I have heard that gel/foam can potentially be "scooped up and re-used" by the intended target against the shooter.

Also:

http://www.zarc.com/english/other_sprays/foam/

Quote:

"One of the reasons the military abandoned the use of foam, was the potential of gagging, vomiting and choking, due to entry of foam bubbles into the respiratory system during rapid inhalation."

"Foam is also messy, and will cause further contamination, when it gets on clothing, furniture or patrol car seats."

I'll stick with the cone pattern.

ray_ray · December 20th, 2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigsauer

I have heard that gel/foam can potentially be "scooped up and re-used" by the intended target against the shooter.

Also:

http://www.zarc.com/english/other_sprays/foam/

I'll stick with the cone pattern.

yes i have heard that it could be "re-used thrown back" but only about the foam the gel should be really hard to just scoop it of seem impossible

BOOM-STICK Holsters · December 26th, 2007, 03:33 AM

I prefer the stream over the spray, 'cause it's all about shot placement

Seriously, tho, while you may get some splash-back from the stream, the spray seams to always get me at least a little.

Knuckledrager · December 26th, 2007, 12:12 PM

The foam is more like an oily shaving cream. It's a little hard to grab and throw. My job has used the cone spray, stream and the foam. The one common thread is the fact that NONE of them possessed any type of fight stopping ability at all. The best result of any of them was getting the BG to turn his or her head for a second so that other fight stopping measures could be applied.

Sergeant Mac · December 26th, 2007, 02:24 PM

I've never used the foam.

I have used both the fog (cone) and the stream varieties, though.

In actual usage, I've found the fog to be the most effective. You get the full respiratory effects. I used the stream on one cranked-up wifebeater, and got him in both eyes and one nostril. (You basically draw a "T" on his face - eyes, nose and mouth) He couldn't see, but still put up one heck of a fight. Another officer and I wrestled with him for about 2 minutes before we were able to get him cuffed.

With the fog, they tended to go down right away, coughing, gagging, and crying for mama.

One caveat: with the fog, you have to be mindful of wind direction. If the wind is really strong, that's a consideration for the stream as well. I recall trying to spray an aggressive dog once, and watching the stream blow harmlessly off to the side after only a couple of feet. Fortunately, Cujo ran right into it.

December 19th, 2007, 12:32 PM	#1
David in FL Distinguished Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,719	OC spray pattern 'tis the season..... I give my wife a new OC (Fox) canister every year in her stocking (I'm a real romantic ). I know the shelf life for OC is years, but I like to keep it fresh and it provides a great excuse to practice with the old one. I've always liked the "stream" spray due to increased range and decreased likelihood of blowback towards the user if there's any wind, but was wondering if anyone preferred the wider "cone" dispersal pattern, and if so, why?

December 19th, 2007, 12:38 PM	#2
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	''Stream" for me too - I get the impression overall that most favor this. I have never tried the ''fog'' variant but certainly feel it's limited range and risk of blow-back makes it potentially less effective and perhaps bad for the user! My wife and I have one each - and thus far have not deployed either so am going by supposition more than direct experience. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

December 26th, 2007, 03:33 AM	#7
BOOM-STICK Holsters Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern Missouri Posts: 534	I prefer the stream over the spray, 'cause it's all about shot placement Seriously, tho, while you may get some splash-back from the stream, the spray seams to always get me at least a little. __________________ Jeff Wright BOOM-STICK Holsters West Plains, Mo _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice Doggy' until you can find a big enough rock.

December 26th, 2007, 12:12 PM	#8
Knuckledrager Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: PA Posts: 516	The foam is more like an oily shaving cream. It's a little hard to grab and throw. My job has used the cone spray, stream and the foam. The one common thread is the fact that NONE of them possessed any type of fight stopping ability at all. The best result of any of them was getting the BG to turn his or her head for a second so that other fight stopping measures could be applied. __________________ If not me, who? If not now, when?, Joseph Ruffini

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December 19th, 2007, 01:15 PM	#3
Creature Ex Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 343	I have experienced quite a bit of stream "splash back" when used on "assailant" in close proximity. I much prefer cone pattern myself. Cone is also more effective when it contacts the assailant because the OC chemical is released quicker from the atomized "carrier" liquid.

December 19th, 2007, 01:45 PM	#4
ray_ray Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: sweden Posts: 19	i am aslo like and EDC carry the stream because on the range mostley, its a OC gel havent tried it yet but it looks nasty. But i like the fog to so i carry it sometimes. the andvatage of the fog is that its easier inhaled, making it really hard to breathe. but not so god range and chance to blow back.

December 26th, 2007, 02:24 PM	#9
Sergeant Mac Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 712	I've never used the foam. I have used both the fog (cone) and the stream varieties, though. In actual usage, I've found the fog to be the most effective. You get the full respiratory effects. I used the stream on one cranked-up wifebeater, and got him in both eyes and one nostril. (You basically draw a "T" on his face - eyes, nose and mouth) He couldn't see, but still put up one heck of a fight. Another officer and I wrestled with him for about 2 minutes before we were able to get him cuffed. With the fog, they tended to go down right away, coughing, gagging, and crying for mama. One caveat: with the fog, you have to be mindful of wind direction. If the wind is really strong, that's a consideration for the stream as well. I recall trying to spray an aggressive dog once, and watching the stream blow harmlessly off to the side after only a couple of feet. Fortunately, Cujo ran right into it.