Byrna Technologies has become a prominent name in the less-lethal self-defense market, offering innovative solutions for those seeking alternatives to traditional firearms. As concerns about personal safety continue to grow, especially in unpredictable environments, the demand for non-lethal options has surged. One of Byrna’s standout products is the Less Lethal 12 Gauge kinetic round, designed for use in standard shotguns.
Less-lethal weapons are designed to cause injury or discomfort that is less likely to kill or permanently injure when used in the prescribed manner. Kinetic rounds provide a reliable means of self-defense with a lower risk of causing fatal injuries, making them an attractive choice. The Byrna shotgun and its 12 gauge round offer a versatile and effective solution in today’s uncertain world.
Byrna’s Less-Lethal Product Line
Since its founding, Byrna’s mission has been to empower individuals to protect themselves without causing irreversible harm. The passion with which they pursue that mission has led to an extensive lineup of less-lethal defense measures. In addition to its less-lethal pistol or rifle projectile launchers, Byrna also offers a line of “Bad Guy Repellant,” self-defense sprays utilizing a mixture of tear gas* and OC pepper spray. For states with tear gas restrictions, Byrna also produces a hell pepper spray.
Along with defense sprays, Byrna produces a high-intensity emergency alarm system called the Banshee designed to draw the attention of those around you. Though not stated, the Banshee may be successful in warding off aggressive dogs as well. Byrna’s defense sprays and the Banshee alarm are reasonably priced for the average consumer. To round off its defensive product line, Byrna launched a line of backpack body armor known as the Ballistipac.
Less-Lethal 12-Gauge Shotgun Rounds
When it comes to less-lethal kinetic rounds, 12-gauge shotgun ammunition typically falls on the lower end of the spectrum in terms of impact force. This might seem surprising given the renowned power of a standard 12-gauge load like 00 Buckshot. However, when loaded with less-lethal ammunition, the performance of a 12-gauge shotgun changes significantly, especially if the projectile’s design isn’t optimized. In my opinion, Byrna’s projectile design stands out as the best available on the market today.
In my book Gun Digest: The Tactical Shotgun, I covered a number of civilian 12-gauge, 20-gauge and .410-gauge less-lethal impact rounds from the Lightfield Home Defender Line. Lightfield also produced a line of law-enforcement-specific impact rounds, as well as hunting ammunition. Lightfield went out of business several years ago, leaving a gap in the less-lethal market for civilians and law enforcement.
With Lightfield’s exit, Byrna has admirably filled the void by offering a new, high-quality less lethal 12-gauge kinetic round for civilian use. Their innovative design not only provides effective self-defense but also ensures that civilians have access to reliable non-lethal ammunition options.
About the Less-Lethal Shotgun Round
The Byrna Kinetic 12-gauge round is a lightweight 2 ½-inch plastic shotgun hull with a plastic rim designed for use in pump- or break-action single- and double-barrel shotguns. Kinetic rounds cannot be used in semi-automatic shotguns because they are only primer powered. The .61 caliber cantilevered fin-tailed plastic projectile weights 69 grains. It is designed to be accurate to 100 feet and is housed in a two-piece clamshell. The sabot halves fall away upon firing, leaving the cantilevered fins to spin the projectile, somewhat like a bullet being spun by rifling.
The Byrna 12-gauge kinetic round should be fired through Cylinder Bore or Improved Cylinder Bore Chokes only. With a velocity of 312 feet per second, the kinetic shotgun round delivers 13 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. That doesn’t sound like much, but it is designed to be less-lethal, and will still discourage most criminals from inflicting further harm.
Test Firing Byrna Kinetic Shotgun Rounds
I test fired the Byrna Kinetic Less Lethal Shotgun Rounds through two different shotguns on separate occasions. he first test was conducted with my Ithaca Model 37 Defense Gun, a new production shotgun I obtained in 2011. The Ithaca 37, introduced in 1937, has a long history of police and military service and has always performed exceptionally well for me over the past 13 years.
However, given its older design, the Ithaca 37 struggled to cycle the 2024 Byrna Kinetic shotgun shells from the magazine tube to the chamber. This issue likely stems from the Ithaca’s single shell entrance and exit point at the bottom of the receiver. Despite this, I successfully fired three rounds, which made a loud “ping” on the steel silhouette target at 20 yards, demonstrating the significant impact force of the Byrna Kinetic rounds. This is definitely a round by which you wouldn’t want to be hit.
Recoil was, of course, non-existence, and noise was minimal. The mild “pop” emitted is so quiet that ear protection isn’t necessary. The 12-gauge round flies more accurately than a round ball projectile fired from a CO2 launching system.
The Byrna round would likely fire better from more modern shotguns like the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 590, which have separate loading and ejection ports. Although I didn’t have another pump-action shotgun on hand, I did have Mossberg’s new O/U Silver Reserve Eventide HS12 short-barrel tactical shotgun, which I was evaluating for Concealed Carry Magazine. A few days later, I fired six Byrna rounds from the HS12 at the same distance. All rounds hit the steel silhouette target with precision, confirming the reliability and accuracy of Byrna’s 12-gauge kinetic rounds.
Maximize Your Home Defense with Byrna’s 12 Gauge Less-Lethal Rounds
The Byrna Kinetic Less Lethal 12 Gauge shotgun rounds represent a significant advancement in non-lethal self-defense options. The kinetic slug extends the defensive perimeter from a less-lethal projectile out to 100 feet. With their impressive impact force, low recoil and quiet firing, these rounds are an excellent choice for civilians and professionals alike who are looking for reliable, less-lethal alternatives to traditional ammunition. A 10-pack of Kinetic rounds is $39.99.
Byrna: Byrna.com
*Tear gas is restricted in New York, Alaska, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Michigan, and New Jersey. Neither Byran repellent spray can be shipped to New York, Alaska, Hawaii, or New Jersey.
