Is there anyone out in the community that is familiar with Byrna pistol? It is a non-lethal self-defense weapon that using compressed air to shoot .68 caliber rounds of kinetic and chemical irrant projectiles to defend yourself. I am curious to the laws regarding this type of product and if anyone has purchased and/or used it? Thanks
Check these threads:
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Thanks for sending me those links and it has been addressed.
Robert
Interesting post. I think I’d have to check my local laws on its usage, to be on the safe side. If I ever had to use it, any others who see me use it, they may think its’a real gun. At, $359, I noticed one of them had 6 rounds, and a laser. Not sure if certain jurisdictions allow laser pointers as legal; I regret in my area, lasers on a real gun are not legal.
Guess there are lot’s of pros and cons:
Pros’:
- For those who cannot legally carry firearms
- For inside those places or areas where a firearm is not legally allowed (that is if a Byrna is allowed)
- Less lethal, less legal problem compared to if one used real bullets
Con’s:
- It seems a bit large, not as concealable
- Might it be less effective since many now wearing Pandemic masks
- Might it be less effective in winter, due to perp having more layers
- If the perp gets to me afterwards, his chemicals can get onto me, putting me out of commission
I suffer from nasal/throat allergies, so this would kill me; I’d rather be gun shot.
It reminds me of taser guns. I’ll definitely be watching the various responses, for different helpful viewpoints this community often has.
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Very good points and I was informed after I posted the question that there were previous comments. The bottom line is that it looks too much like a gun and I think a pepper spray canister might be a better choice. However, you made some very logical pros and cons and thanks.
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I guess that for some, it could be a good alternative. Never heard of it before today. I’ll surely carry my mace propellant, especially where I’m not allowed firearms. Thanks for sharing brother. 
Robert…why? Why on Earth would you be interested in a non-lethal choice to stop a threat? Oh, you missed or they didn’t just stop when you hit them with a pepper ball? well it was nice knowing you. I’m vehemently against the Byrna pistols. I’ve personally been pepper sprayed and still continued to fight my adversary (long story). I’ve seen lots of people in fact pepper sprayed and still be lethal for a short time. So…you or someone you know being threatened by someone with a knife…if you can’t flee safely, you need to stop them. The byrna pistol won’t always do that and that guy with a knife might still kill you or your family because you chose to arm yourself with a waste of a self defense weapon. I’ll bet you that you could unload that entire mag of pepper balls at me and I could still be lethal to you…I should know…I did it to prove my buddy wrong. It’ll stop a small % of threats. Whatever, you do you.
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Thanks for your long and detailed reply. I have decided NOT to purchase and use the Byrna pistol. I have come to the conclusion that if I am going to pull out a gun it will be my Glock 19. Cheers.
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I think I would want to check the local ordinances for paint markers (ie: Paintball Guns) which are generally 68 cal and air, CO2 or nitrogen powered. When Paintball became a “thing” in the late 1990’s there were a whole lot of ordinances proposed and I’m sure some of them passed but I never paid much attention to them. My eldest son who was into it tells me there are solid and hard rubber and soft rubber balls that all have their uses for at home testing of the accuracy of your marker he also notes that most paint ball fields will not let you play if your muzzle velocity is over a certain FPS. Evidently you can crank these things up to a dangerous level. I dunno that I would consider a paint marker to be a primary self defense weapon or tool but it might be a viable tool for shall we say “turning the other cheek”. It would do well for you to understand the rules and laws if you wish to use a non firearm for a defensive weapon.
Cheers,
Craig6
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Hi again dear Robert. I own a revolver. My nephews helped to convince me to try semi auto. I ordered a Beretta Centurion in 9MM (awaiting delivery), which I learned is cousin to the Glock 19. Thanks again for an interesting subject.
Your cousin Burdo 
Byrna Launchers Are Necessarily
Not Always The Best Option
What Is A Byrna Launcher
Recently many people across the nation have seen advertisements on TV and in magazines about a new non-lethal self defense option called the Byrna Launcher.
A Byrna Launcher is a compact non-lethal personal self defense device. They are advertised to be the safest, most effective and most reliable non-lethal self defense devices on the market today, that they are effective to 60 feet. That may be quite an over statement, personally I do not believe that they should necessarily be your first line of self defense option, let me explain.
Is The Byrna Launcher The Best Self Defense Option?
Answer: NO
The are several things an owner of a self defense device needs to understand before choosing a self defense option like the Byrna Launcher for their protection to stop a threat.
Regardless of the self defense option you choose to protect yourself from a life threatening event by a criminal suspect is that you must posses the skills to stop or avoid the threat, above all you need to undergo the necessary training and skills to use the self defense device of choice, whether it be a lethal or non-lethal device. If you do not posses these skills you’ll have little or no chance of stopping the threat, in fact you may well increase the ability of the threat by the criminal suspect to cause you harm, or cost you your life.
You need to understand some basic rules of the road when you find yourself in a life threatening encounter with a criminal suspect if you choose a non-lethal self defense option like the Byrna Launcher.
- The majority of people are not aware that an attacker with a knife can sprint (run) at a speed of approximately 18.23 miles per hour and cover approximately 60 feet in 2.24 seconds, the estimated effective range of the Byrna Launcher.
This means that on average, you only have approximately 2.24 seconds to assess and acquire the target of the criminal suspect, that you need to possess the training and skills to acquire the target quickly and place the shot accurately, whether with a lethal firearm or non-lethal pepper ball device like the Byrna Launcher placing the shot at center mass of the suspect and hopefully disable the criminal suspect.
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If the criminal suspect is armed with a firearm he/she will most likely be attacking you with a non-lethal or lethal weapon (knife or firearm), you must possess the skill set to use and discharge your firearm both quickly and accurately, otherwise you will be wounded or dead, you must also have the psychological makeup to respond by an attack from a criminal suspect. Of course the best self-defense option when being assaulted is to “RUN” and immediately get out of harms way if at all possible.
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If the criminal suspect is high on drugs like PCP, Cocaine, or other highly intoxicating drugs, a pepper ball device may have little or no affect on suspect and they may well be able to still continue their assault overcoming your response to them, which may render you either wounded or dead.
Is it OK to purchase and possess a Byrna Pepper Ball Launcher, in general I would say YES, but personally you need to be able to quickly assess the threat, this may be very difficult, especially if it’s as night, in a crowded establishment, size of the suspect, what the suspect is armed with, are they high on drugs, etc., keeping mind that you will only have a few seconds to assess the threat and respond to the threat, I would still highly recommend a standard firearm, I carry a 9mm automatic for personal protection.
I’m not to keen on carrying several self dense options, carrying two self defense options on my body, the added weight including holsters and carry bags is just too cumbersome and uncomfortable.
Even though the Byrna Pepper Ball Launcher is advertised as being legal in all states, keep in mind that some states, local establishments like restaurants, department stores, malls, theaters, establishments that serve alcohol, libraries, court houses, schools, and etc., may still consider them “NOT ALLOWED.”
Anyway, this is just my opinion, in the end it’s your choice to choose your self defense options.
Bob
Welcome to the forums Bob!
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I dont know about the Byrna. I did think about them for my wife but then I went back to my military days and gas chamber. Seen to many guys where the CS gas didnt really effect them. Yes their eyes were watering and snot running everywhere but totally coherent and fully functional. Used to mess with those guys. One thing we had to do was undo the guy next to you his filter and he had to put it back on and then Don and clear the mask. Id drop the filter and kick it across the room. Was funny at the time…
Rubber bullets id be all for. Im sure those things can hurt
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One thing to remember about any type of spray is that it dries fast outside in the wind. The adverse effects diminish real fast.
We were a recon unit and 1 problem were having were our teams were running into bears. 6 guys crawling through the woods, etc.
REI donated some bear spray to our unit. Cool. Better than a sharp stick. That weekend my supply Sgt was over and we wanted to see the spray pattern. Wind was in our favor and pulled the trigger. Go figure, wind shifted and blew it into the house. Go figure(again) wives got pissed real fast. Brought them outside and within about 5 minutes they were fine. Still pissed, think I should have left them in there…..
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