Whether you’re evaluating PepperBall for the first time or looking to optimize an existing program, we’ve assembled our most frequently asked questions to support your research, planning, and deployment. Our FAQs are organized into four sections: General Questions covering the PepperBall system and its capabilities, Getting Started for agencies new to PepperBall, Advanced Operations for experienced users and tactical teams, and Procurement & Program Management for administrators and budget planners.
General Questions
- Psychological shock: the surprise of being “shot.”
- Powerful kinetic impact: for pain compliance with less-than-lethal results.
- Potent super irritant: PAVA (capsaicin II) pepper powder causes incapacitating coughing and a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, throat and skin. These are three main products in our product line:
- Launcher Systems as described above including SA10, SA200, and TAC700 launchers which work with a variety of PepperBall® projectiles and launcher accessories.
- ImpactPlus 12-gauge projectile launched from a 12-gauge less-than-lethal shot gun.
- PAVA Pepper Spray. A faster acting, hotter, more consistently effective spray. ImpactPlus also uses Chem-netics to achieve suspect compliance. PAVA Pepper Spray uses our unique active irritant, PAVA, to achieve superior results.
PepperBall Technologies, Inc. seeks to bring less-lethal technology to the next level by offering extremely effective solutions which also lower the risk of fatality, blunt trauma or other serious injuries to affected parties. PepperBall Systems and ImpactPlus rounds rely upon PepperBall’s proven Chem-netics technology to effectively gain suspect compliance. Affected individuals experience the combined affects of:
- Psychological shock: the surprise of being “shot.”
- Powerful kinetic impact: for pain compliance with less-than-lethal results.
- Potent super irritant: PAVA (capsaicin II) pepper powder causes incapacitating coughing and a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, throat and skin.
The compliance power of these combined effects means PepperBall products remain extremely effective while also lowering the level of kinetic impact relied upon by other earlier less-than-lethal weapons. PepperBall products thereby also lower the potential for serious injuries to suspects, and the risk of litigation and associated costs faced by agencies around the world.
Capsaicin II is a super-irritant used in products from PepperBall including our “live” or “red” projectiles, and PepperBall pepper spray. Capsaicin II naturally occurs in pepper plants and is classified Generally Regarded as Safe by the Food and Drug Commission. Capsaicin II is one of a family of molecules called Capsaicins that are responsible for the “heat” found in hot peppers. Each capsaicin comes with various heat generating qualities. Capsaicin II is the hottest molecule in the capsaicin family, and can be thought of as the “essence” of what makes hot peppers hot. PepperBall produces Capsaicin II in a powdered form to a specific quality, quantity, and percentage in our agent formula. This ensures effective dispersal of a chemical agent cloud that is fast acting, super “hot,” and consistently effective. Oleoresin capsicum (OC) used in most pepper spray and other products is derived from pepper plant oil and is therefore a comparatively heavy irritant that is difficult to aerosolize. OC therefore offers a limited range dispersal of greasy droplets. These droplets contain capsaicin, but their oil base prevents the bio-availability and detains their effectiveness. OC “heat” levels can also be inconsistent due to variations in the concentration and mix of capsaicins found within pepper plants from crop to crop. PepperBall therefore chose to produce a more pure and powdered form of Capsaicin II for its active irritant to offer a hotter, faster acting and more consistently reliable effect – round after round, spray canister after spray canister.
Since its introduction in 1999 the PepperBall system has been deployed by more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the world. PepperBall users include the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Border Patrol, and police and sheriff’s departments of major US cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Salt Lake, San Diego, Seattle, and more. They have been proven to be safe and effective in the savings of lives at the World Trade Organization riot in 1999, the NCAA 2002 basketball playoff riot, and the 2002 Winter Olympics riot in Salt Lake City. They also have been proven safe and effective in countless one-to-one or one-to-many scenarios such as “suicide by cop,” violent suspects, domestic dispute, barricade busting, and other law enforcement encounters.
No. PepperBall projectiles are the same caliber (.68) but the similarities end there. PepperBall projectiles are a hard frangible sphere with an operating temperature range of -30°F to 150°F. In contrast, paintballs are made from a soft gelatin that is highly sensitive to changes in temperature. PepperBall projectiles are available in live PAVA (Capsaicin II) and inert training rounds only and should never be used for recreational purposes.
No. PepperBall Technologies, Inc. does not suggest nor can we warranty your purchase of our projectiles or launchers should use them in any products other than those you purchase from PepperBall. This policy protects our customers from potential problems at the time of product usage. Because our products are used primarily to defuse and resolve dangerous situations where lives may be at stake, it is important that your launcher and rounds work together flawlessly. PepperBall has therefore designed, manufactured and tested our launchers and rounds to do just that.
- Will not break in the launcher chamber
- Will launch with accuracy
- Will break upon impact with their target
PepperBall has often heard of our rounds jamming and breaking inside Paintball launchers. We have designed and tested our launchers and projectiles to prevent jamming so you may avoid this annoying, disruptive, and potentially dangerous occurrence, and therefore highly recommend you use only PepperBall launchers together with PepperBall projectiles.
No. We do not warranty the use of PepperBall projectiles in any launchers other than those sold by PepperBall, which have been tested for accuracy and reliability.
PepperBall projectiles subdue suspects with a combination of kinetic impact, psychological shock, and PAVA (Capsaicin II) powder. The sting of the impact of PepperBall projectiles causes a psychological impression of being shot, which is combined with the strong irritation of the PAVA powder to the suspect’s nose and lungs. When inhaled, the PAVA powder within the PepperBall projectiles leads to coughing, shortness of breath, and, in some instances, vomiting. Some individuals may also experience eye irritation. All officers should be aware that up to 14 percent of the general population might not be fully affected by chemical agent exposure.
Paintball rounds have a gel coating that can distort or blister in extreme heat or cold. Beanbag rounds can break skin and must be fired at least 15 feet from the target and only rely on pain compliance. PepperBall projectiles have an operating temperature range of -30°F to 150°F. The projectiles are built to burst on impact and can be safely fired at point-blank range delivering a combination of psychological, kinetic, and chemical effects.
Suspect clothing is an important consideration when evaluating individual targets. For example, if a suspect is wearing a heavy jacket or very loose clothing, there is a possibility that the PepperBall projectile could impact without breaking. In these cases, lowering the suspect target zone to impact on the lower torso and legs, or striking projectiles off nearby walls are often effective solutions.
Yes, if you are the target. Although the eyes, face, and throat should never be targeted, PepperBall projectiles will leave welts or bruises on unprotected skin. There are some sensitive areas of the throat and neck that could become injured if accidentally hit. Throat protection is suggested when training with PepperBall projectiles to prevent injury.
We recommend a full-face mask, as well as throat and groin protection for training purposes. Training staff also should be cognizant of providing additional chest protection to officers as necessary.
PepperBall projectiles will leave welts or bruises on unprotected skin. Although hits to exposed skin are discouraged, much of the value of projectile-based training comes from the pain aversion associated with the sting of the impact from a PepperBall projectile. It is possible that by eliminating the sting and the “I’ve been shot” psychology inflicted by the projectiles, some of the training value of the PepperBall system is lost. Trainers should decide on how much pain penalty is permissible in their unique training environment and pad students accordingly. It may be advisable to pad role-players and training staff with protective vests since there is no training value in pain consequences to these personnel. Training staff should be careful to provide additional padding for officers to protect soft-tissue areas.
- Mission & Use-Cases → Match Platform Capability
- Law & Policy Compliance → Federal/State/Local Restrictions and Use Rules
- Effect Profile → Kinetic Energy, Ammo Type (PAVA Vs Inert), Accuracy, Range
- Training & Medical Risk → Required Training Hours, Medical Mitigation
- Accountability & Policy Limits → Reporting, Video, Targeting Rules
- Logistics & Costs → Ammo, Maintenance, Storage, Spare Parts
- Community Acceptance & Transparency → Community Notice, PR Risk
- Procurement & Vendor Support → Manuals, ROI, Warranty, Testing
The PepperBall system integrates into a department’s existing use of force policy by adding a layer of non-lethal capability and providing a stand-off control tool when close contact, CEDs or higher-energy options are unsafe or impractical.
Classified as non-lethal, PepperBall launchers deliver projectiles from a distance. These projectiles produce an organic irritant effect and when appropriate, a limited kinetic impact generally positioning them between OC spray and CEDs or impact munitions on the force continuum and allowing officers to address active resistance or emerging threats while reducing the need to escalate to options with higher injury risk.
Effective integration depends on clear policy, training, and accountability that emphasizes sound decision-making, clear differentiation from other less-lethal tools, and the officer’s ability to explain why PepperBall was the most appropriate option under the circumstances.
This topic is addressed in the PepperBall Instructor/Armorer training. Environmental factors as well as operational conditions should be taken into consideration.
Selecting the right mix of PepperBall Inert, LIVE, LIVE-X, and LIVE-MAXX projectiles is not a fixed, one-size-fits-all allocation. Quantities should be based on an agency’s mission, typical call types, training requirements, and budget. Below is a sample, practical approach to begin with:
- Start with agency data. Review recent call types and use-of-force history (routine patrol resistance, barricaded subjects, crowd events, and training volume) to understand what is most common and what is predictable.
- Make INERT the largest share. Use INERT projectiles for training, qualification, zeroing, and routine practice, and for situations where an irritant effect is not needed.
- Use LIVE-X as the standard operational baseline. LIVE-X projectiles are typically the day-to-day option when an irritant effect is required for most patrol-level resistance.
- Maintain smaller quantities of LIVE for lower-risk situations. Reserve LIVE for predictable encounters where increased effect is not necessary.
- Reserve LIVE-MAXX for controlled, specialty use. Because LIVE-MAXX is a higher-effect option and typically higher cost, it should be tightly managed, with clear issuance and authorization guidance.
- Check the finances. Budget planning should support sustained training (Inert), routine readiness (LIVE-X and LIVE), and controlled access to higher-effect options (LIVE-MAXX), supported by clear guidance so if necessary, officers can articulate why a given option was selected and supervisors can ensure consistent, appropriate use.
Instructors must (re)certify every 2 years by attending the manufacturer’s training. End users will recertify annually within the agency.
Under most normal environmental conditions, projectile performance should be similar. However, there are a few exceptions to be aware of. Deployment in heavy rain will reduce the cloud size and hang time of the powder as well as potentially impact the observed accuracy of the projectiles. Keeping the projectiles dry and moisture out of the barrel of the launchers will help to reduce any effects of wet conditions. High humidity or fog should have minimal impacts to performance if the launcher barrels and projectiles stay dry. Wind direction and severity will change the size and location of the affected area. Given the lightweight nature of the powder, wind can potentially carry active ingredients significant distances. This effect will be more noticeable with the Live-Maxx formulation. How the wind is altered by environmental objects should also be considered. For example, swirling wind between buildings or trees may cause more unpredictable travel than a steady wind in a field or open parking lot.
Do not store where temperature may exceed 150°F. or below -30°F. While PepperBall projectiles are waterproof, it is recommended to store them in a dry location.
Best practices include First In First Out (FIFO) inventory rotation, clear differentiation of projectile types to prevent cross-loading, and documented disposal procedures for expired or compromised projectiles.
This question is addressed in the Instructor / Armorer Training course.
Getting Started
- Area Saturation (Round Projectiles) 0-150 Feet
- Area Saturation (VXR Projectiles) 0-390 Feet
- Direct Impact (Round Projectiles) 0-60 feet
- Direct Impact (VXR Projectiles) 3-150 feet
The PepperBall system is dramatically different from traditional OC spray or impact munitions in delivery, safety and decontamination.
PepperBall versus OC Spray
Distance
Compared to traditional OC spray which is designed to be used at a close range. PepperBall is designed to work at greater distances, up to 150 feet for direct impact, helping officers avoid close contact.
Decontamination
OC personal decontamination is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process that causes significant, lingering discomfort, often lasting 24–36 hours or more. Surface decon is complex including extensive ventilation and can take hours, potentially disrupting operations. In some cases, professional remediation is necessary to remove residues from HVAC systems, walls, and furniture.
PepperBall irritant exposure typically incapacitates an individual for up to 15 minutes, and the influences of PAVA exposure are temporary with no permanent effects. Personal decontamination is easy, with most instances needing only fresh air and cool water. Physical surfaces may be cleaned with a sprayer and wet vac.
PepperBall versus impact munitions (12-gauge / 37/40 mm baton or foam)
By definition, “less-lethal” munitions are less likely to cause death. However, less-lethal munitions, by manufacturers design, have a greater likelihood of SERIOUS bodily injury or death over “non-lethal.”
By NATO definition, PepperBall is a non-lethal system that combines organic irritant exposure with kinetic impact and pain compliance and provides law enforcement an intermediate option between verbal commands and more lethal alternatives. While there are many fatalities that can be attributed to less lethal impact munitions, there are no direct fatalities attributable to the PepperBall system.
Yes. All officers should be trained in the use of the PepperBall system before deploying. PepperBall offers Train the Trainer classes that certify officers for training in their agencies. These officers are then empowered to deliver PepperBall training in their agencies that will provide their officers with safe, effective, and accountable tactics for non-lethal engagement, while adhering to their agency’s policy.
All PepperBall trained agency instructors must re-certify every two years.
When the PepperBall projectiles are launched, the kinetic energy it carries terminates on impact causing the projectile to shatter. Inert projectiles should be used for indoor training because they only have a scent of baby powder and do not have any live chemical.
Any structure that PepperBall is to used in or around should be evaluated for the possibility of damage. For instance, even PepperBall non-glass breaker projectiles can sometimes break single-pane windows or could mark drywall. Every structure should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
PepperBall projectiles should be used within three years of opening the airtight seal on the product packaging or within five years of the date of purchase.
Do not store where temperature may exceed 150°F. or below -30°F. While PepperBall projectiles are waterproof, it is recommended to store them in a dry location.
Best practices include First In First Out (FIFO) inventory rotation, clear differentiation of projectile types to prevent cross-loading, and documented disposal procedures for expired or compromised projectiles.
PepperBall accessories can be found here.
PepperBall offers a variety of magazines and hoppers for mission specific requirements. For example:
- The “standard” VKS magazine holds 15 round or VXR projectiles.
- The VKS Phantom standard magazine holds 10 round or VXR projectiles
- The PepperBall drum mag holds 32 round or VXR projectiles
- The PepperBall large hopper holds 160 round projectiles and does not accept VXR projectiles
- The PepperBall small hopper holds 60 round projectiles and does not accept VXR projectiles
Advanced Operations
The velocity setting are set by the PepperBall factory, and any changes should be discussed directly with PepperBall or a PepperBall Master Instructor.
For magazine-fed systems, eject the magazine, pull back the charging handle, and clear the malfunction from the breach. For hopper-loaded launchers, roll the hopper back on its rail and clear the malfunction from the breach.
Although both projectiles are accurate at their respective distances, the VXR projectiles are more accurate at longer distances due to their design and shape.
What is the optimal projectile choice for large-scale crowd control versus pinpoint cell extraction?
The use of both the round 68-caliber and VXR projectiles is covered in the PepperBall instructor/armorer class.
Keep the high-pressure air tank topped off and the on/off valve in the off position during non-use.
PepperBall projectiles can develop micro-cracks in them when hoppers are repeatedly filled and unfilled. And as a result, if the projectiles are breaking at the muzzle, those projectiles should be rotated out and new projectiles should be used.
What considerations should be made when integrating PepperBall systems into SWAT or CERT operations?
Stand-off should always be considered as well as the possibility of cross-contamination in enclosed environments. Advanced operational uses are covered in the PepperBall instructor/armorer course.
This is covered in the PepperBall instructor/armorer class. However, launchers have more o-rings in them and use compressed air vs. the pistols that use CO2 and Nitrogen.
This is a topic that is addressed in the PepperBall instructor/armorer class.
Once an officer attends the PepperBall instructor/armorer class (which is a train-the-trainer program), he or she will then go back and train their agency’s officers as users.
Procurement & Program Management
Every facility and agency has different needs in their less lethal program, and their questions can be addressed at the PepperBall instructor/armorer training.
What documentation or certifications are required to purchase PepperBall systems through our agency?
Although no certification is required to purchase a PepperBall system, all officers should be trained in the use of the PepperBall system before deploying. PepperBall offers Train the Trainer classes that certify officers for training in their agencies. These officers are then empowered to deliver PepperBall training in their agencies that will provide their officers with safe, effective, and accountable tactics for non-lethal engagement, while adhering to their agency’s policy.
Minimum number of training projectiles that officers should deploy in their classes is addressed during the PepperBall instructor/armorer course.
Depending on your agency’s needs, it can be more cost effective. But if a bundle does not fit your needs, it is better to purchase the products individually. Either way, Less Lethal Products guarantees the lowest pricing on all PepperBall products.
PepperBall factory warranty information can be found here.
PepperBall offers Instructor/Armorer courses which can be found here. For large-scale purchases for larger agencies, this can be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
As PepperBall’s largest stocking distributor, we have an inventory that no other distributor has. As with all our products, our goal is to ship same-day. However, there are times when products are back-ordered with the PepperBall factory. Therefore, if we don’t have, it is because PepperBall doesn’t have it. But the good news is our stocking orders are shipped to us before other distributor’s dropped-shipped orders. Bottom line, with Less Lethal Products you will get the best prices, the fasting shipment, and the best service because we are open 24 hours a day. No other distributor can say that.
This is addressed at the PepperBall instructor/armorer class.
Every agency has a different schedule for maintenance and armoring launchers. In addition, this is also dependent upon the type of launchers and the amount of use.