Byrna LE Launcher...anyone here have one?

[Bullitt01]

I was considering buying one of these, till i found out there is a 'California' legal version. Meaning WE living in this state can't buy the pepper/chemical balls for it....unless you have a guard card!

WTF!

Every other state can (cept NY and CA)

So please tell me...what good is it!?

[Quiet]

Due to their success in countries that prohibit the ownership/possess of firearms for protection, some manufacturers are selling impact launchers in CA as a CA legal less lethal device.

CA laws prohibits the use of pepper balls for non-exempt persons in CA.
^Exempt person = Gov/Mil/LE agencies, LEOs, BSIS licensed security with tear gas permit while in uniform and in performance of their duties.

The impact launchers being sold in CA are regulated under CA imitation firearm laws.
^They are CA legal when used with impact and paint projectiles.

Which means...
1. Must be 18 years of age or older to buy it.
2. Can be legally concealed carried in non-prohibited areas of public places without needing a valid CA CCW permit.
3. Can be legally open carried or displayed in areas where it is legal to discharge a firearm.
4. No requirement to be a non-prohibited person to legally own/possess/use it.

Depending on the launcher; it will discharge a .38 caliber, .50 caliber, or .68 caliber projectile made of plastic or rubber or metal that will be traveling between 250-450 FPS.


Byrna is the most prolific in their advertising, but they are not considered the best impact launchers.

Currently, the FN 303 launcher is the only impact launcher that has been used to kill a person in the USA.
^In 2004, Boston PD, while trying to disperse rioters, shot a person in the head with an impact projectile from a FN 303 launcher at approximately 20m, the projectile penetrated that person's skull and sent bone fragments and projectile fragments into that person's brain, killing them. As a result; the Boston PD, Seattle PD, and several other US LE agencies banned the use of the FN 303 launcher as a less lethal device.

[buttfish]

Amazon has sling shot ammo, that might fit these. I have 1000 round of 9mm for my Wrist-Rocket. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=slingshot...opnav-of-top_2 But, I think I will stick with my crossbow pistol, and wrist rocket for NON-LETHAL.

[Quiet]

[Bullitt01]

Is the FN 303 considered the best of the launchers? What is the projectile size?

[Quiet]

Is the FN 303 considered the best of the launchers? What is the projectile size?

Not sure if they are considered the best.
I do know that they are the hardest to get for a non-exempt person (FN policy is Gov/Mil/LE sales only) and they are the most expensive ($1500-$2000 per launcher depending on model type).
They use a propriety .68 caliber projectile with a reported effective range of 50 meters.

One case of 150 rounds of FNH .68 caliber impact projectiles = $760.

[Bullitt01]

Thank you Quiet! Much good info!

[Quiet]

Thank you Quiet! Much good info!

A friend of mine in the UK looked at less lethal launchers for home defense.

He ended up getting the Umarex HDR50 revolver, over the Byrna SD pistol.

He said the Umarex HDR50 was more accurate, reliable, and the projectiles penetrated deeper than the Byrna SD.