Pepper Ball Guns

A pepper ball gun gives you something no handheld spray can: distance. These launchers fire .68 caliber projectiles that burst on impact into a cloud of irritant powder, which means you can stop a threat from across a driveway or a parking lot instead of within arm's reach.

The range is the whole point. The models below reach from 60 feet up to 175 feet, and they work the same way police and security teams deploy pepper balls. They're also legal to own in far more places than a firearm, and they require no permit in most states.

We carry launchers from Byrna, Umarex, and Streetwise, from a $109 compact pistol up to a magazine-fed rifle. Every one of them fires both pepper and non-irritant kinetic rounds, so the same launcher works for training, for California residents, and for live defense.

What is the best pepper ball gun? The comparison table below can help you decide, and we also cover what is considered legal in California.

Compare Pepper Ball Launchers

Pepper Rounds or Kinetic Rounds?

This is the decision that matters, and it comes down to where you live and what you're preparing for.

Pepper rounds burst on impact and release an irritant powder that causes burning eyes, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The cloud affects an area rather than a single point, so a near miss still works. This is what you want for actual defense.

Kinetic rounds are solid projectiles that deliver blunt impact with no chemical irritant. They hurt and they deter, but there's no cloud. Their real advantage is legal: California prohibits civilian pepper projectiles, so the kinetic bundles are the version California residents can buy. They're also the right choice for practice, since you can shoot them at a target without gassing your own garage.

Every launcher here fires both. If you're outside California, most buyers get a pepper bundle and a pack of inert practice rounds. Launchers are one of several non-lethal self-defense weapons we carry if you want to compare categories.

What Is a Pepper Ball?

A pepper ball is a .68 caliber frangible sphere filled with powdered irritant, usually PAVA or OC. It's designed to break apart on contact rather than penetrate, releasing the powder as an airborne cloud.

They're the same class of projectile law enforcement uses for crowd control, sold in packs of 5, 10, 25, or 95 depending on the brand. A launcher uses CO2 cartridges rather than gunpowder, which is why pepper ball guns aren't classified as firearms.

The Home Security Superstore is not responsible for any physical harm or damage from the use or misuse of self-defense weapons including pepper spray. By purchasing, you acknowledge you have determined legality before purchasing and are an adult of at least 18 years of age.

Pepper Ball Gun FAQs