Bear Spray or Handgun

[NW-GSP]

Definitions Below

The active ingredients are measured by the actual chemical hotness of the pepper, which is the CRC.

Cut and pasting of ignorant statements like this tells me you know nothing of chemistry, biochemistry or physiology.

Sorry, Capsaicin and  the other capsaicinoids have no "Chemical Heat".

Having studied human physiology for 20+ years, not to mention the 6 years in a biological lab, I stopped reading your cut & paste after the first sentence.

Please explain to me, if Capsaicin has "chemical heat" why birds aren't effected by Capsaicin and it causes no cellular damage due to burn.

You are correct, it does not leave an actual burn, trust me I have used oc allot!
The issue with bear spray is not the % of oc the issue is the detergents they use to extract the oils from the peppers. That is the reason why bear spray could possibly leave you blind compared to the oc marketed for self defense is usually considered a food grade product as in it is proven to not cause any harm besides discomfort.

[davk]

I forget what they are called but there are wipes that help neutralize pepper spray.  Does anyone carry those along with their bear spray, or know if they are effective with bear spray?

there's a spray... 

Haha.  I had bought some a few years ago.  Ill have to dig around and try and find them.

[davk]

Sudecon wipes.  Effectiveness is questionable ...

[timberghost72]

Bear spray vs. cougar. I would bet not many could hit this guy using a sidearm.

[Mudman]

Cool video.  Good thing is cat is educated and should not mess with people rest of its life. Prolly young males..

[T-Dozzer]

I'm more worried about cats than bears so I usually pack a pistola.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Whatever makes you feel more comfortable in the woods.  I own both.  Outside of grizzly country, the only place I'm worried about is the trailhead, and either will work great.  In grizzly country, I'm just fine with bear spray - don't want the extra weight of a handgun in addition to my hunting weapon.  As far as being "illegal" to use bear spray on a human, that is no different than it being illegal to use any other weapon - including mace or "human" oc - on another person; it is all illegal UNLESS you meet the exceptions carved out in statute.  You aren't going to get in any more trouble for using bear spray on a tweaker at a trailhead who attacks you and causes you to fear for your life, than you would shooting him in the face with a bullet.

[JoeE]

Anybody with Facebook should check out this video posted by Todd Orr of Montana. I don't know how to imbed a video but his profile is public. A failed bear spray deployment almost got him killed. Guy looks like he's tough as nails though.

[Mudman]

Wow.  Wonder if he had time to use spray effectively?  Guess no!  Tough dude for sure, and lucky.

[Seahawk12]

[Mudman]

After watching n reading it appears he sprayed too late and bears speed carried her through with little effect.  Hmm.  He tried and did what supposed to do but bad result.  Speed seems to be a problem as bear gets through it too fast leaving one solution to spray far and then shorten distance creating a wall in front of you as well.  Directions don't specify this.  His pistol didn't help either, no time?

[Boss .300 winmag]

I wonder if he i.e. Related to Tom Orr of The a Show Moutain Men?

Dude was lucky. 

[Greg Mullins]

Both spray for people gun for bears

[huntingbaldguy]

I don't even worry about bear unless it's a sow with cubs.  I've seen a few out there and they go their way and i go mine.  Surprised a boar last year in the Olympics.  30 yards face to face, i yelled "WHOA, HEY", he saw me and turned and ran.  I see more fresh cat sign in my hunting area than bear sign.  Cats are what i take a side arm for.  Not because I'm worried about being attacked, but because i would shoot one if i saw one.  Plus i imagine if you're gutting and quartering something, you have the potential to attract unwanted visitors.

[jay.sharkbait]

Grenade