| Manufacturer | Salt Supply Co. (USA) |
| Launcher Type | Pistol — semi-automatic |
| Power Source | CO₂ — 12g cartridge |
| Caliber | .68 caliber |
| Projectiles | Salt S1 OC pepper rounds, Salt inert training rounds |
| Weight | ~1.4 lbs unloaded |
| Cloud Diameter | ~5 feet on impact (S1 rounds) |
| Best Suited For | Maximum chemical deterrence range — users who prioritize irritant deployment over kinetic impact |
Design & Build Quality
The S2 was designed specifically to not look like a paintball gun. Salt Supply understood that the visual association between standard CO₂ launchers and paintball equipment was a liability in a self-defense context — the S2’s silhouette is clean, compact, and distinctly pistol-like. The polymer frame houses a 12g CO₂ cartridge in the grip and feeds from a 5-round front-loading magazine. At 1.4 lbs, it’s slightly lighter than competing .68 cal platforms and holds well in a standard IWB or OWB holster.
Construction is solid for the price point. The S2 does not have the metal-reinforced internal components of higher-joule platforms like the IntruBuster or Pistelle, but its design goals — 350 FPS chemical delivery — don’t require them. The trigger pull is manageable and consistent. A laser sight add-on package is available from Salt Supply directly for users who want an aiming assistance option for the 100+ foot engagement range the S2 is capable of.
Performance & Ballistics
The S2’s headline specification is the 150+ foot effective range for irritant cloud deployment — and this claim is more nuanced than it appears. At 350 FPS, a .68 cal projectile retains kinetic energy to approximately 60 feet in the same manner as competing platforms. The 150-foot figure refers specifically to the OC cloud delivery from Salt’s S1 rounds: the round travels 150 feet, impacts, and the OC powder payload aerosolizes into a ~5-foot cloud at the point of impact. Kinetic pain compliance at 150 feet is minimal; the deterrence mechanism at that range is chemical, not kinetic.
In enclosed spaces — hallways, stairwells, rooms — the 5-foot cloud has a near-miss tolerance that kinetic impact rounds do not. This is the S2’s most distinctive tactical advantage. Outdoors, wind is a significant variable: a crosswind at 150 feet will substantially deflect an OC cloud and may render it ineffective. The S2 is optimized for indoor defensive use at medium-to-long range, not outdoor field deployment.
CO₂ System
The S2 uses a standard 12g CO₂ cartridge, providing broad supply chain availability. Approximately 15–17 shots per cartridge at 70°F. The cartridge piercing system is conventional — the CO₂ is activated before use rather than on first trigger pull as with Byrna’s Pull-Pierce system. This means a deployed S2 is expending gas from the moment the cartridge is pierced; plan deployments accordingly.
Cold weather performance follows the same CO₂ curve as all 12g-based platforms: below 50°F, velocity and shot count both degrade. Salt Supply does not publish specific cold-weather performance data, but real-world user experience mirrors that of the Byrna LE under similar conditions. For home defense staging in a climate-controlled environment, cold-weather performance is a non-issue.
Projectile Compatibility
The S2 is designed around Salt Supply’s proprietary S1 OC pepper rounds, and that’s where its performance specifications originate. The S1 rounds contain a measured OC powder fill calibrated to produce the 5-foot cloud at impact. Standard .68 cal rubber balls, chalk rounds, and third-party pepper balls are dimensionally compatible — the S2 will fire them — but the extended range and cloud-deployment performance is a product of the S1 round design specifically.
Salt Supply offers inert training rounds in the same format as S1, enabling dry and indoor practice without chemical exposure. For sers who want kinetic impact capability alongside the S2’s chemical delivery option, standard .68 cal rubber balls are a viable supplement. However, buyers committed primarily to kinetic impact would be better served by a higher-joule platform; the S2’s value proposition is chemical range, not kinetic punch.
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Salt Supply offers inert training rounds in the same format as S1, enabling dry and indoor practice without chemical exposure. For users who want kinetic impact capability alongside the S2’s chemical delivery option, standard .68 cal rubber balls are a viable supplement. However, buyers committed primarily to kinetic impact would be better served by a higher-joule platform; the S2’s value proposition is chemical range, not kinetic punch.
Known Issues & Limitations
- The 150-foot effective range applies to irritant cloud performance only — kinetic impact at that distance is minimal.
- Wind substantially affects irritant cloud deployment outdoors; S2 performs best in enclosed spaces.
- 5-round magazine requires frequent reloads; spare magazines are essential for any multi-engagement scenario.
- S1 proprietary rounds are the primary ammo source for optimal cloud performance — supply chain dependent on Salt Supply.
- CO₂ performance degrades in cold weather like all 12g platforms.
- Aftermarket is limited compared to T4E or Byrna; very few third-party mod options.
Accessories & Upgrade Ecosystem
- Salt S1 pepper rounds (OC — 5-foot cloud on impact)
- Salt inert training rounds (same format, no chemical fill)
- Laser sight add-on package (Salt Supply)
- Spare 5-round magazines
- 12g CO₂ cartridge multi-packs
Platform Summary
The Salt Supply S2 earns its place on this list by doing one thing better than any other CO₂ pistol in this category: chemical deterrence at extended range. The 150-foot effective range for OC cloud delivery is not marketing language — the S1 round design genuinely delivers an irritant cloud at distances where other platforms’ projectiles are kinetically spent. In enclosed home defense scenarios, this changes the tactical calculus meaningfully.
Where the S2 is not the right choice: buyers who want kinetic impact authority, buyers in windy outdoor environments where OC cloud is unreliable, or buyers who want a robust aftermarket and upgrade path. At $299 for the starter kit, it is competitively priced for what it offers. For buyers whose primary concern is maximum effective deterrence range in an indoor defensive context, the S2 is the only purpose-built option in this category.
Video Resources
Suppliers & Resources
🛒 Suppliers
- Salt Supply (Official)Direct source — launcher, S1 rounds, training rounds, laser add-on
- Amazon — Salt Supply S2Sold via Amazon; check for current bundle configurations
- Breach Bang Clear — ReviewDetailed independent field review with performance data
🔧 Mods & Accessories
- Salt Supply AccessoriesLaser sight add-on, spare magazines, holster options — all from Salt Supply directly
- Amazon — .68 Cal HolstersThird-party IWB/OWB holsters dimensionally compatible with S2 profile
🎯 Ammo Suppliers
- Salt Supply — S1 RoundsOfficial S1 OC pepper rounds and inert training rounds — optimal for S2 cloud performance
- PepperBallStandard .68 cal PAVA rounds; compatible for kinetic + chemical use
- Self Defense ProductsThird-party .68 cal ammo inventory
- Discount Paintball.68 cal round selection; training and impact rounds