Byrna Launchers

I wouldn’t want to be in a situation when it’s dark out and I pull this out because of a potential threat only to discover there is someone with a real gun who also believes there is a threat and that threat is me.

Muss Muggins said:

The CO2 cartridge, which is proprietary to Byrna, is not punctured until you press the trigger to fire. Certainly if you puncture the cartridge, the gas will leak out, but I would change the cartridge after every use. I have never had a static unpunctured cartridge leak out. Also, I'm pretty sure they're not legal in every state. I know California bans such things, because I couldn't take mine with during a recovery in Reno which we knew was going to bleed into California. Don't know about other states.

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Did not realize the CO2 cartridge was proprietary. In the long run, really doesn't matter, as I would never trust my life/health to something like a byrna...

IF they would hit with serious thump (think beanbag in a 20 gauge) or IF the pepper balls actually made a “cloud” they “might” work, but even then the “legal everywhere” and the implication that it can be legally carried is so grossly wrong it’s not even funny. Truly a “gun” for people who are afraid of guns and really wouldn’t use one anyway. I’ll eventually dump mine at a pawn shop for something it actually want. (LGS bought a dozen several years ago-they’re still sitting on 10 of themO

Turns out it is the "banana gun" after all...

I believe the line is that they are legal to own in 50 states. Nothing about carrying.

Photog said:

Did not realize the CO2 cartridge was proprietary. In the long run, really doesn't matter, as I would never trust my life/health to something like a byrna...

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I never trusted my life with it. I had alternate methods for that, but my goal was to get the miscreant handcuffed and dragged to jail so I didn't have to write a big check. It always worked for me, and the people I have hit with it were pretty much instantly incapacitated, blinded, and coughing up snot, unable or unwilling to fight further. I can't convince people who haven't thrown hands trying to cuff someone up or trying to get the bad guy off of them. Speculation is just that. Speculation. If you've been there, you've been there. Nothing I can say will convince anyone otherwise . . .

I spent a career in prison service. I've used just about every "less lethal" option on the market (twenty years ago.) I realize I had a "tough crowd," but it was rare when a "less lethal" device stopped a raging convict cold. The only exception was the beanbag gun, which was the size of a shotgun. Even so, it was single shot. For myself, I'll stick with a gun. If I need lethal force, I'll make it lethal force, not something iffy.

Fred Ward said:

I spent a career in prison service. I've used just about every "less lethal" option on the market (twenty years ago.) I realize I had a "tough crowd," but it was rare when a "less lethal" device stopped a raging convict cold. The only exception was the beanbag gun, which was the size of a shotgun. Even so, it was single shot. For myself, I'll stick with a gun. If I need lethal force, I'll make it lethal force, not something iffy.

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Things have changed in 20 years. . .

bgbmagic said:

Has anyone actually held these? I have! They are huge, feel like a cheap nerf gun, and would be impossible to even partly conceal. I've also watched videos where they really do not incapacitate anyone who is determined to do you harm. All for $579. These should sell for $99 at most. I for one am tired of hearing these "hyped" on conservative talk shows and other venues like they are the "real way" to prevent you from harm. I think it is giving those who are against firearms a false sense of security. Plus does anyone actually train with these...I'll bet not as the refills are expensive, have a shelf life, and a small range of effectiveness.

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C02 cartridges are inexpensive and the orange kinetic balls are plastic- no expiration, and you can reuse them for practice until they get dented. The biodegrading balls last as long as they remain sealed.
It’s actually fun to shoot, at 50 feet puts a heck of a dent in a pumpkin.
I haven’t had occasion to fire the gas balls yet, hopefully never will.
BTW my edc is a CSX-E, the Byrna is for home defense and stays next to a Regent Officer 1911 in the night stand.

Bob Bowser said:

C02 cartridges are inexpensive and the orange kinetic balls are plastic- no expiration, and you can reuse them for practice until they get dented. The biodegrading balls last as long as they remain sealed.
It’s actually fun to shoot, at 50 feet puts a heck of a dent in a pumpkin.
I haven’t had occasion to fire the gas balls yet, hopefully never will.
BTW my edc is a CSX-E, the Byrna is for home defense and stays next to a Regent Officer 1911 in the night stand.

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back in middleschool my buddy had a crossman pellet revolver, one of this type..

https://www.crosman.com/product/cro...5Nzg5OTYkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA5NzkwMjckajI5JGwwJGgw

at 60 feet, it would penetrate a hollowed out pumpkin, and put a hole through the empty soda can we put inside it. I cannot remember if that was with BB or pellet. Its been a really long time.

However, I do remember that I had a crossman or daisy "olympic" trainer rifle for 10meter targets, that at 20 yards would put a BB through a steel cookie sheet.

Attended chemical agents instructor school at Fort Dix many years ago. CN, CS, OC and various combinations of same. End result, you learn to work through it. Street observation, not very effective on drunks and junkies. Normal people yes.

BTW, strangely enough it was a very fun class.

I've had some experience with similar launchers in the form of a Umarex .50 caliber launcher. It's admittedly less than the Byrna, but far from being in a completely different realm. I was not impressed with the pepperball launcher I'd tried. My wife used it to turn a dog attack when the neighbors mutant pitbull decided to charge at her. She would have used a firearm, but that thing was what was at hand. The dog got within three yards. She dumped six rounds straight into it's chest. It didn't scream, yelp, bark, cry, or run. It just looked at her like he was bored with the idea, turned and slowly walked away. My wife has asthma, and she suffered from the residual OC far more than the dog showed any indication of pain at the strike of the pepperball or the primary exposure. So...at the end of the day, it worked, but not in a way that inspired any degree of confidence.

I personally think if a person is going to choose an intermediate force weapon, a regular can of OC is likely to be more effective. Yes, the launcher has a bit more range, but as that range increases, the drop of power rapidly becomes more notable, and you're still trying to find a hard target to hit with it. Hope the attacker isn't a wayward fat guy with lots of cushioning, I suppose? You need to consider the concept of shooting a tree, wall, car, door, etc. near them sometimes to ensure the pepperball disperses it's payload. I would suppose it might turn a half hearted attack, but if it's bad enough to demand a weapon, I think that weapons should be more serious than these things. I actually love intermediate force weapons. OC, tasers, batons, saps, etc. I strongly believe there should be options between strong language and lethal force. I just don't believe in these handgun shaped launchers.

bgbmagic said:

Has anyone actually held these? I have! They are huge, feel like a cheap nerf gun, and would be impossible to even partly conceal. I've also watched videos where they really do not incapacitate anyone who is determined to do you harm. All for $579. These should sell for $99 at most. I for one am tired of hearing these "hyped" on conservative talk shows and other venues like they are the "real way" to prevent you from harm. I think it is giving those who are against firearms a false sense of security. Plus does anyone actually train with these...I'll bet not as the refills are expensive, have a shelf life, and a small range of effectiveness.

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I think I will just stay with pepper spray for my non-lethal needs.

Shrek Of The Arctic said:

Hope the attacker isn't a wayward fat guy with lots of cushioning

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Or a well prepared, skinny guy who is wearing lots of cushioning.

OC is OK to start with but a jack or sap is for when it gets real. I've blown a Cocabolo nightstick into three pieces. God I love the sap.

Sgt. Buzzard said:

OC is OK to start with but a jack or sap is for when it gets real. I've blown a Cocabolo nightstick into three pieces. God I love the sap.

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mmmmm baton, not just fer twirlin..

once upon a time a street cop was considered a failure if he needed to go further then use of a baton on a suspect, unless the suspect was using a weapon.