[hogship]

There has been a major push for the Byrna non-lethal gun lately.

Byrna | Best Non Lethal Self-Defense Products

This might be a solution to self defense for those who work in, or frequent gun-free zones, but I'm feeling skeptical about how well they will work. Personally, I'd like to see teachers, postal workers, etc. have the Byrna rather than nothing at all to protect themselves to a deadly threat.

It seems to me that up close and personal, the Byrna might incapacitate YOU, as well as your attacker.....so, as long as your attacker is some distance away, a Byrna user might or might not be as safe as one might think.

It's true that deadly response could have legal repercussions, but it's an undeniable stopper to a deadly threat.

Your comments...

 

[mj9mm]

I am not convinced it will stop a determined or psychotic attacker, or groups of attackers…. It will take more than some advertising to convince me…

 

[BigBluefish]

I've not really investigated it, but my concern is, if you are in an encounter that does not yet justify lethal force, your opponent might think it is a REAL gun, level up and waste your butt.

Until we get Type II Phasers, I'll stick with a .380, .38 or 9mm.

 

[mj9mm]

I've not really investigated it, but my concern is, if you are in an encounter that does not yet justify lethal force, your opponent might think it is a REAL gun, level up and waste your butt.

Until we get Type II Phasers, I'll stick with a .380, .38 or 9mm.

My thoughts as well.. I hope people don’t start using them as a stick to scare someone off, because when it doesn’t work they will end up dead at worst or in jail if they are lucky..

 

[Sheepdoggie]

I bought one of these to see what all the fuss was about. I'm not at all happy with its reliability. It seems to shoot the hard plastic balls and the pepper balls OK but the eco-friendly ammo jams constantly. I started out by using a 5/8" section of plywood as a target to see how much force was delivered at various ranges. Within 20-30' the hard plastic balls will leave a pretty good depression in the plywood. At the same range the pepper balls break up on impact so don't leave as much physical damage and I was pretty disappointed with how small the "cloud" of dust is after impact on a hard surface. I think that could easily be avoided by the attacker and if the shot lands on a few layers of clothes I'm not sure it would sufficiently break up to release any effective pepper cloud.

It's not incredibly accurate at any range over 10-15'. I could hit center mass body shots at 30' with it but a head shot - forget it. I think if they were right no top of you they would not enjoy being shot in the head with a hard plastic balls but that's a case in which you wouldn't want the pepper balls loaded.

Final note, I don't think it's up to being considered as a self defense weapon. I thought I might just use it for some backyard practice but the discharge of the shot is actually pretty loud. Not quite .22 loud but loud enough that your neighbors will wonder what's going on over there. I'll probably keep it handy for the occasional coyote or raccoon visits we get. It might be useful if there's dangerous dogs around on your daily walks as well. I think I'd rather pop the aggressive German Shepard that lives nearby with this thing than have to explain to the police why I discharged my normal carry weapon and killed the guy's dog.

 

[nedsled]

There has been a major push for the Byrna non-lethal gun lately.
View attachment 1363459 Byrna | Best Non Lethal Self-Defense Products

This might be a solution to self defense for those who work in, or frequent gun-free zones, but I'm feeling skeptical about how well they will work. Personally, I'd like to see teachers, postal workers, etc. have the Byrna rather than nothing at all to protect themselves to a deadly threat.

It seems to me that up close and personal, the Byrna might incapacitate YOU, as well as your attacker.....so, as long as your attacker is some distance away, a Byrna user might or might not be as safe as one might think.

It's true that deadly response could have legal repercussions, but it's an undeniable stopper to a deadly threat.

Your comments...

Took one to the indoor range.

People got mad for some reason. I think they were just jealous.

 

[Tvov]

My two concerns with that type of gun.... 1. It is a gun. If people see it, they could call the cops on you as "a man with a gun". If cops see you holding one, they may very well treat it as a "real" gun which could cause a very tense situation.

2. Those CO2 powered guns leak CO2 over time. If I had one, I would not leave it "loaded", with the CO2 cartridge installed / loaded. Which means in a self defense situation you need to take the time to load the CO2 cartridge.

Just seems like a small can of pepper spray would work just as well.

I can certainly see those pepper guns being used by police for crowd control.

 

[Dr. Leaky]

I'd kinda like to see it modified to augment a rifle, like an M203 grenade launcher. You would be ready to use deadly force but could try less than lethal first if appropriate.

 

[John_AZ]

Just carry pepper spray. That things bigger than a Glock 43 b

 

[Cola War Vet]

. If you are going to be Armed Carry a Gun, not a Look a like Gimmick that may fail to stop an attack and get you killed.

 

[mj9mm]

I saw it mentioned that it is legal and safe to carry where a real gun isn’t.. I’ll bet it would be quite the attention getter if someone saw it in a place such as a school…

 

[Sheepdoggie]

Yeah, the only place I can see for using a Byrna Launcher is if you were a security staffer at a place that did not allow you to have a real firearm. Wearing this thing on your hip might be all the deterrent required at a church, school, jewelry store, etc. I wouldn't be ok with that but some might be.

 

[GucciGlockMane]

Someone posted an article the other day of a garbage truck driver in Chicago who got jumped, I dont think this thing would have helped in that situation.

 

[CobraBG]

A poor liberal excuse for self defense.

 

[Jackfish2021]

Final note, I don't think it's up to being considered as a self defense weapon. I thought I might just use it for some backyard practice but the discharge of the shot is actually pretty loud. Not quite .22 loud but loud enough that your neighbors will wonder what's going on over there. I'll probably keep it handy for the occasional coyote or raccoon visits we get. It might be useful if there's dangerous dogs around on your daily walks as well. I think I'd rather pop the aggressive German Shepard that lives nearby with this thing than have to explain to the police why I discharged my normal carry weapon and killed the guy's dog.

The owner of the said aggressive dog should be able to control their animal. If it attacks my harmless Beagle, I may hit it with pepper spray or my little LCP, Reggie. Vet bills are expensive and I am likely SOL of getting any money back from that irresponsible owner.

 

[NAZG26]

Lol gun free zone. As soon as those start popping up in communist American cities there will be legislation against them too.

 

[hogship]

Some very good thoughts expressed here......I'm not interested in getting one, but I can certainly see their usefulness for some people.

2. Those CO2 powered guns leak CO2 over time.

CO2 leakage would be a consideration. I'd think one would insert a new cartridge every time it's in use.....or at least on a time schedule that would assure it's up to power.

Just seems like a small can of pepper spray would work just as well.

That's probably true.

I'd kinda like to see it modified to augment a rifle, like an M203 grenade launcher. You would be ready to use deadly force but could try less than lethal first if appropriate.

That's a great idea! I'm sure some police, or security would be interested in that on their ARs, where less-than-lethal situations often come up too far for using their tasers. Gives them a choice at an instant.

 

[hogship]

Lol gun free zone. As soon as those start popping up in communist American cities there will be legislation against them too.

I don't know where you are, but just about every state has gun free zones in schools, government buildings, banks, and such.......

 

[azmercedes]

They advertise "stops an attacker for up to 30 minutes", seriously doubt that. Safe for travel? Sheepdoggie, put that on your hip next time you go through TSA and report back. Sure like to hear the results.
My CPA bought one for his desk drawer 'cause he's scared of his G26. I told him to get some range time with the G26. Where his office is located, I'd be suspect of the G26 being enough.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

It is not legal to carry it without a handgun permit in Marylandistan! Eventually some idiot is going to jail for carrying it without a permit because the commercial implies it is lawful.