I want to start by saying I have not used these products, but as a firearms instructor I have some insights to share.
First, you would have to modify an airsoft gun to a high degree because airsoft uses 6mm projectiles while Byrna uses 17mm projectiles, essentially three times the size. Airsoft is designed to shoot the smaller projectile, so a “simple” barrel change would probably result in a significantly reduced fps as the mechanics aren’t designed to push that large of a projectile. Also weight factors as well. The heaviest airsoft projectile comes in at .03oz and the Byrna is .1oz, so significantly heavier, again major loss of fps. By the time you modified an airsoft platform to effectively use a Byrna projectile, you will have essentially built one from scratch, not sure how that compares in cost and reliability?
Now on to the use of a less-than-lethal launcher. The popular ones, like Byrna, are shaped like a firearm. This is likely to appeal to firearms users as an alternative, use the advantage of tried and true design platforms, and the psychological aspect of at night or “in the moment” the offender might not quickly recognize the difference. That being said, in the moment, you might get shot for drawing a “firearm”. Remember perception is reality, especially in self defense.
As a firearm type platform (and a weapon in general) training to use it effectively in a self defense situation will be paramount. Luckily, the same skills such as drawing and acquiring target are essentially the same as with a firearm so plenty of good training systems and fundamentals out there. However, like a firearm, there are the same considerations with fighting to your weapon, useable distance, etc.
Now you can engage a threat much further away, but why would you engage a threat from that distance with a pepper ball unless your law enforcement, security, etc.? If our goal in self defense is to create space to get away so we can live and go home, might as well run away at that distance. If you can’t run, then pepper balls employed at distance would only be slightly more advantageous than to pull your gun, knife, cane, pepper spray, etc. Not to mention you still gotta hit the target with a small projectile more easily affected by wind.
All that to say, it’s a tool. If you want a gun in looks and performance but not lethality, cool. If you think it’s going to provide some sort of clear advantage where other tools wouldn’t, I don’t think that is accurate.
I think it’s a fun toy and have been looking into getting something along those lines for fun. But CO2 is too expensive to treat it like a serious gun trainer, especially when they already have gun replica CO2 training platforms.
If you do get one, let us know how it goes.
*I also want to be clear there is a definite use for these products in the LE, Security, Military fields. Primarily as crowd control, which is where pepper balls shine. Again it’s a tool with a purpose, what’s your purpose for it?
