Net Gun Troubleshooting: Why Your Net Gun Won't Fire (And How to Fix It)

If your net gun will not fire, the cause is almost always the CO2 cartridge, a worn seal, or a net head that is not seated correctly. The launcher body itself rarely fails. This guide walks through every common net gun problem in order, from no gas discharge to weak launches and tangled nets, with the fix for each one.

Quick Answer: Why Won't My Net Gun Fire?

A net gun that will not fire almost always has a CO2 problem. Confirm you are using a 16 gram non-threaded cartridge, that it is seated fully, and that the piercing pin makes contact when you close the chamber. A hissing sound points to a failed seal. A dead trigger usually means the safety is still engaged.

What Are the Most Common Net Gun Problems?

Five issues account for nearly every service question we get: no gas discharge, weak launch, tangled net, partial net spread, and cold weather pressure loss. Each has a short list of likely causes, and most are fixable in the field in under two minutes.

Symptom	Most Likely Cause	Fix
No gas at all when trigger is pulled	Safety engaged, cartridge empty, or cartridge not pierced	Release safety, swap in a fresh 16g non-threaded cartridge, reseat and retighten
Hissing before or after the shot	Worn or dry seal at the cartridge housing	Inspect and replace the seal, keep a spare set in the case
Net launches but falls short	Partially used cartridge, cold temperature, or oversized net	Use a fresh cartridge, warm the gun, close the distance to about 20 feet
Net tangles in flight	Net was refolded incorrectly after the last shot	Refold following the original fold pattern, keep weights separated
Net opens only partway	Missing or uneven net weights, or shot taken too close	Check all weights are attached, back up to at least 15 feet
Slow, sluggish shot in winter	Cold CO2 produces lower pressure	Keep cartridges warm in an inside pocket until loading

Why Is There No Gas Discharge When I Pull the Trigger?

No gas discharge means the CO2 never entered the chamber. Work through these four checks in order before assuming anything is broken.

1. Check the safety. A trigger that feels solid and will not move is usually a safety issue, not a mechanical failure.
2. Confirm the cartridge type. Our launchers use 16 gram non-threaded CO2 cartridges. Threaded cartridges will not seat correctly.
3. Confirm the cartridge is not already spent. A used cartridge weighs noticeably less and has a visible puncture in the neck.
4. Retighten the housing. The cartridge is pierced by pressure from the cap. If the cap is loose, the pin never breaks the seal.

If all four check out and you still get nothing, the piercing pin may be worn or bent. That is a parts replacement, not a field fix. Our guide to CO2 cartridges covers cartridge selection and storage in more detail.

Why Did My Net Gun Fire Weakly or Drop the Net Short?

A weak launch nearly always comes down to gas volume or net size. A fresh 16 gram cartridge drives a net up to 35 feet of maximum travel, with an effective capture range of 15 to 25 feet. If you are getting significantly less, something is reducing available pressure.

Reused or Partially Discharged Cartridges

A cartridge that has already been pierced starts leaking immediately. Load a fresh cartridge for every shot when the capture matters. Cartridges are inexpensive, and a missed capture is not.

Net Size and Drag

Small nets fly farther than large nets. A 6 ft small net carries much less mass and mesh drag than a 10 ft large net, so plan on the shorter end of the range whenever you load the large net. Our full range guide breaks down what to expect from each size.

Shot Distance

Optimal shot distance is about 20 feet. Farther out, the net loses spread and speed. Closer in, it may not have room to fully open.

Why Did My Net Tangle or Only Partly Open in Flight?

Tangling is a folding problem, not a launcher problem. Nets are packed in a specific pattern so that the weights pull the corners outward evenly. If that pattern is broken during reload, the net will roll or knot instead of spreading.

Check these three things after every reload:

• All net weights are present and attached at their correct corners. A missing weight causes a lopsided spread every time.
• The weights are separated in the head, not stacked on top of each other.
• The net is folded in the same accordion pattern it shipped in, with no twisted sections.

Reloading is a skill that improves quickly with practice. Our step-by-step reloading guide shows the fold pattern in detail. This is also why professionals carry multiple preloaded heads instead of refolding on scene.

Does Cold Weather Hurt Net Gun Performance?

Yes. CO2 pressure drops as temperature drops, so the same cartridge that performs well at 70 degrees will produce a noticeably softer shot near freezing. This is normal physics, not a defect.

Three practical fixes work well in winter conditions in 2026 and every year before it. Keep spare cartridges in an inside jacket pocket so body heat maintains pressure. Load the cartridge immediately before you expect to shoot rather than hours earlier. Close the distance to the shorter end of the effective range, around 15 to 18 feet, to compensate for reduced velocity.

What Should I Check Before Every Shot?

A 30 second pre-use check prevents almost every field failure. Run this list before you approach an animal.

1. Confirm a fresh, unpierced 16 gram non-threaded CO2 cartridge is seated and the cap is snug.
2. Confirm the net head is fully locked onto the launcher.
3. Confirm all net weights are attached and separated.
4. Confirm the net is folded correctly with no visible twists.
5. Check the seal area for cracking, dryness, or debris.
6. Confirm the safety is set until you are ready to fire.
7. Confirm your distance is roughly 20 feet and your backdrop is clear.

If you are new to the tool, read our complete safety guide before your first live capture.

Should I Repair or Replace a Part?

Replace consumables, repair almost nothing. Seals, weights, and nets are wear items and are meant to be swapped out. The launcher body, valve, and trigger group are not user serviceable.

Use this rule of thumb:

• Replace immediately: cracked seals, frayed net cord, missing or damaged weights, spent cartridges.
• Contact us: a bent piercing pin, a valve that vents continuously, a trigger that will not reset, or any crack in the housing.

The Platinum Pack includes a 1 year parts replacement warranty, which covers exactly this category of issue. It also ships with 8 total nets, extra net weights, and 12 CO2 cartridges, so you are rarely waiting on a part in the first place.

Common Questions About Net Gun Troubleshooting

Can I use a threaded CO2 cartridge in my net gun?

No. Our launchers are built for 16 gram non-threaded cartridges only. Threaded cartridges will not seat properly and can prevent the piercing pin from making a clean puncture. Always check the packaging before buying in bulk.

How many shots do I get from one CO2 cartridge?

Plan on one cartridge per shot. Once a cartridge is pierced, the remaining gas begins to escape, so a second shot from the same cartridge will be noticeably weaker. Full details are in our net launcher ammo guide.

My net gun hisses after I load it. Is that dangerous?

It is not dangerous, but it means you are losing pressure and the shot will be weak. A hiss almost always indicates a worn or dirty seal at the cartridge housing. Replace the seal and wipe the seat clean before loading again.

Can nets be reused after a capture?

Yes. Nets are reusable as long as the cord is intact and the weights are still attached. Inspect for frays and cuts after each capture, and retire any net with broken cord rather than risking a failed catch.

Why did the net bounce off instead of wrapping the animal?

That usually means the mesh was too large for the target or the shot was taken at the far edge of range. Match mesh to animal size, and take the shot near 20 feet where the net still has spread and momentum.

Do all three packages perform the same?

Yes. The Starter Pack, the Hero Net Gun, and the Platinum Pack all use the same launcher and fire the same distance. The price difference reflects how many nets, cartridges, and accessories are included, not launcher performance.

Get a Setup That Keeps You Firing

Most net gun failures trace back to a missing spare, whether that is a cartridge, a seal, or a preloaded head. The Net Gun Mega Pack at $949 is our best-selling package for exactly that reason, with 8 nets, 12 CO2 cartridges, extra weights, a locking metal case, and a 1 year parts replacement warranty. Shipping is free, domestic and international.

Not sure which package fits your work? Browse our full net gun lineup or visit TheNetGunStore.com to compare all three side by side.