What is the active agent used in PepperBall projectiles?
Capsaicin II is a super-irritant used in products from PepperBall including our “live” or “red” projectiles, and PepperBall pepper spray. Capsaicin II naturally occurs in pepper plants and is classified Generally Regarded as Safe by the Food and Drug Commission. Capsaicin II is one of a family of molecules called Capsaicins that are responsible for the “heat” found in hot peppers. Each capsaicin comes with various heat generating qualities. Capsaicin II is the hottest molecule in the capsaicin family, and can be thought of as the “essence” of what makes hot peppers hot. PepperBall produces Capsaicin II in a powdered form to a specific quality, quantity, and percentage in our agent formula. This ensures effective dispersal of a chemical agent cloud that is fast acting, super “hot,” and consistently effective. Oleoresin capsicum (OC) used in most pepper spray and other products is derived from pepper plant oil and is therefore a comparatively heavy irritant that is difficult to aerosoliz
