RECOIL OFFGRID Gear ASP Defender Series Pepper Spray
In This Article
Oleoresin capsicum spray, commonly called OC spray or pepper spray, is an inflammatory agent that was originally designed to repel animals in the 1960s, using the natural inflammatory agents found in peppers. By the 1980s, federal agencies began adopting the OC spray as a nonlethal deterrent on humans, and law enforcement agencies adopted the use of OC spray a short time later. Today, pepper spray is widely available to the public and remains a popular self-defense tool throughout the United States due to its ease of use and low cost.
There are numerous pepper spray options on the market today, but few offer the innovative deployment tools and potent formulations found in Armament Systems and Procedures Defender line.
Before diving into the ASP Defender line, let’s cover some pepper spray basics. The active ingredient in all pepper sprays is capsicum, a naturally occurring compound found in some varieties of hot peppers. Capsicum is an irritant and inflammatory agent that in high concentrations causes a burning sensation and swelling in the eyes, throat, and mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. Capsicum can also cause coughing, choking, and breathing difficulties.
To create pepper spray, the capsicum compound is extracted from peppers, combined with carrier liquids, and put into a pressurized canister that can be deployed.
The term pepper spray is often mistakenly used interchangeably with mace but they are two different things:
In many cases, pepper spray has been shown to be far more effective than chemical-based sprays that do not produce the same inflammatory effect. This is particularly evident when being used against individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Armaments Systems and Procedures, or ASP for short, has been committed to developing and producing reliable law enforcement equipment for decades. Their Defender line of pepper sprays is a testament to this mission — and has expanded into providing an exceptional nonlethal defense tool for civilians.
The Defender series offers the Defender LE line, featuring traditional deployment options in a variety of standard-sized cans with several spray patterns. ASP’s innovative Metro Defender and Sport Defender models offer discreet everyday carry and an intuitive deployment method. Both deployment options offer the same high concentration formula.
ASP pepper spray formulation contains 1.4 percent capsaicinoids as well as an invisible UV dye. Most pepper spray products have anywhere from 0.18 to 1.33 percent capsaicinoids, making the ASP formulation more potent than a majority of civilian and law enforcement OC sprays. The UV dye allows for easy identification of an assailant by law enforcement using an ultraviolet light.
ASP’s Defender LE line is designed for law enforcement use that is offered in MK-3, MK-4, and MK-9 size options. The MK-3 and MK-4 deploy the spray using a push button situated on the top of the cannister, while the MK-9 option has a ballistic grip with pull pin safety.
All three sizes are offered in three different spray patterns:
All sizes and spray varieties are offered in inert version to ensure safe use during practice or training activities.
ASP’s Metro and Sport Defender series is built for discreet EDC carry for both off-duty law enforcement and civilians. Their innovative design makes carrying and using the spray as simple as possible.
Both the Metro and Sport Defenders are designed similar to a compact EDC flashlight — the main difference between the two option is the material.
The Metro is made from aerospace-grade aluminum, and the Sport is a durable polymer. While the Metro is the heavier of the two, it benefits from a superior machine textured grip, and it can double as a blunt striking weapon in a pinch. The Sport is a lighter option that can easily be attached to a key ring. Both options have strong steel pocket clips and brass actuators and can be attached to a key ring.
Both the Metro Defender and the Sport Defender are available in two different sizes; the D1 is 4.5 inches overall, and the D2 is 5.75 inches overall. Both versions and sizes come with the same high potency formulation found in the Defender LE Series.
At first glance, the Defender has a similar form factor to an EDC-sized flashlight, complete with a pocket clip for ease of carry. Much like a flashlight, the method of deploying the spray involves pressing a button on the top of the Defender’s body with the spray coming out the bottom.
This horizontal deployment is a major departure from traditional canister styles, allowing for a much more natural grip and use while in a defensive stance and easy single hand use. The safety latch sits just below the deployment button, and it disengages easily with a quick thumb flick, but is secure enough not to be accidentally flipped when carrying it.
When deployed, the Defender Spray produces a small mist-like cloud with roughly a 5-foot range. Depending on the size of the canister, you can expect 6 to 10 seconds of a fog spray with a roughly 5-foot range.
Rounding out ASP’s Defender pepper spray lineup is Defender Decon, which isn’t a pepper spray at all. It is a spray designed to reduce the effects of pepper spray and shorten the duration of its effects.
The unfortunate reality of training with active pepper spray or using pepper spray in a self-defense scenario is cross-contamination being a common occurrence. The active ingredients in pepper sprays are oils, and they can be difficult to get off your skin for some time.
ASP’s Decon is designed to absorb the oils and lift them off your skin, which can provide relief in as little as 15 minutes as opposed to the hour-plus it may take for the effect to wear off on their own, making it a must-have for organizations and individuals who are working with pepper spray.
Decon is available in the MK-4-sized canister for personal use or a 32-ounce spray bottle for group training activities.
ASP combines a potent formulation with versatile sizes and spray patterns to their Defender LE line that fit the specific needs of law enforcement agencies in several different scenarios. The inclusion of inert training units in all sizes and spray patterns in their lineup ensures training scenarios can be as true to life as possible.
The innovative Metro and Sport Defender provide the same powerful formulation in an easy-to-carry and simple-to-use platform that gives off-duty officers and civilians a viable nonlethal self-defense option. The reusable nature of the Sport and Metro Defender body makes them a cost-effective option, and the inclusion of inert inserts in the lineup allows civilians the opportunity to train properly with their self-defense tool.
The addition of Decon to ASP’s lineup adds a layer of protection to both law enforcement and civilians who may be using pepper spray and is a great addition to any medical or tactical kit.
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