Several years ago, Kimber America set out to answer a dilemma that plagues many self-defenders: What should I carry when my circumstances don't allow me to carry a firearm? The venerable gun company's answer, the PepperBlaster, is a less-lethal self-defense tool that belongs in the toolkit of any NRA Woman who sometimes finds herself unable to have a gun with her. As you may have guessed from the name, the PepperBlaster (and its next-generation sequel, the PepperBlaster II) uses what most people call "pepper spray" to drive off an attacker. That said, the PepperBlaster II isn't your Grandma's chemical deterrent--and that's a very, very good thing.
Pepper spray, more precisely known as oleorresin capsicum or OC, isn't a new concept. If you're not familiar, the way OC spray is meant to work is that it gets into the sensitive mucus membranes of an attacker's eyes, nose and mouth and causes pain and temporary blindness. Before the PepperBlaster came along, one of the greatest downsides to pepper spray was that it was much too easy for a defender to accidentally get downwind of the spray, thus incapacitating herself instead of the attacker. The PepperBlaster II uses a revolutionary non-aerosol pyrotechnic delivery system that sends the spray in a solid, 90-mph stream that is much less likely to blow back into your own face.
The PepperBlaster II stands above other OC delivery systems in other ways. It has a pistol grip and sights, for example, so you can use the same skillset that you've built as a shooter of firearms to defend yourself with the PepperBlaster. That pistol grip and sights also serves as an extra measure of safety for you. Unlike with other "keychain" style OC sprays, it's very difficult to accidentally get the business end pointed towards the defender instead of the attacker.
Each PepperBlaster II holds two powerful blasts of OC, both of which can be delivered at up to a 13-foot distance. At just 4.2 ounces, it fits neatly into a pocket or purse. MSRP $36.95 ($88.99 for a 3-pack); KimberAmerica.com
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