A Byrna is a handheld launcher, held and fired like a pistol, that uses a CO2 cartridge to shoot a round projectile instead of a bullet. It is not a firearm under federal law, so in most of the country it needs no permit, license or background check to buy, though you must be 18. The projectiles are hard polymer kinetic rounds or chemical rounds that burst into a pepper cloud, effective to about 60 feet. This guide explains what a Byrna is, what it is for, the models, and how people carry one.
What it is for
Self-defense for people who cannot or do not want to carry a firearm: because of where they live, where they work, their household, or their own preference. A Byrna gives you a tool that stops or deters an attacker at a distance without the legal and moral weight of lethal force. Byrna and the industry call these launchers less-lethal, not non-lethal: a hard projectile at close range or to the eye can injure someone, and a Byrna deserves the same handling rules as a firearm.
How it works, briefly
A 12-gram CO2 cartridge sits in the grip. Byrna's Pull-Pierce system leaves it sealed until the first trigger pull, which punctures the cartridge and fires a round in the same motion, so the launcher can sit loaded and holstered for months without losing pressure. The magazine holds five rounds; each pull fires one.
The models
- Byrna SD and the lower-cost EP: the everyday launcher, .68 caliber, the one most people buy first.
- Byrna LE: the same platform with higher velocity, .68 caliber, for home and vehicle.
- Byrna CL: the compact launcher, .61 caliber, smallest and easiest to conceal.
- TCR and Mission-4: rifle-format launchers for home defense.
See Byrna SD vs LE vs CL for the full comparison.
What it shoots
Kinetic rounds (hard polymer), Eco-Kinetic practice rounds, Pepper rounds that burst into an OC cloud, and Max rounds with a stronger chemical payload. The chemical rounds do not have to hit the person; a burst nearby still works. Kits ship without chemical rounds so they are legal in all 50 states; you buy those separately where allowed.
How it is carried
Like a pistol, in a molded kydex holster. We make one for each model: the SD/EP holster, the LE holster, and the CL holster, all molded in .08-inch kydex with an audible click, a full-length sweat shield, folded edges, a belt clip that cants 20 degrees either way, adjustable retention, right or left hand, handmade in the U.S.A. by a military veteran, lifetime guarantee, $44.99. See the Byrna holster collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Byrna a gun?
Not legally. It is a CO2-powered launcher and is not classified as a firearm federally. Some states and cities regulate it anyway; check yours.
Do I need a permit for a Byrna?
In most of the U.S., no. You must be 18.
How far does a Byrna shoot?
Effective to about 60 feet.
Can a Byrna kill someone?
It is designed not to, but it is less-lethal, not non-lethal. A hit to the eye or at very close range can cause serious injury.
How many shots does it hold?
Five rounds per magazine.
The bottom line
A Byrna is a CO2 pistol-shaped launcher that fires kinetic or pepper rounds to about 60 feet, needs no permit in most places, and carries like a pistol in a kydex holster.
Related reading
Byrna SD vs LE vs CL
How does a Byrna work?
Best Byrna holsters (all models)
