New · 3.0Salt gun for flies
The salt gun
flies hate.
Bug-A-Buster salt guns are pump-action blasters that knock house flies down with a pinch of ordinary table salt. Wait for the fly to land, get within 2 to 3 feet and fire. No spray near your food and no fly smeared on the wall. Choose the 2.0 or the upgraded 3.0, with or without an aiming laser.
✓ No chemicals ✓ Runs on kitchen salt ✓ 10 colours, with or without laser
Salt gun at a glance
2–3 ft
The sweet spot for a solid hit
1 pinch
Of ordinary table salt per shot
1 pump
Sets the spring and loads the next shot
0 sprays
Nothing chemical near your food
Choose your model
Choose your salt gun: 2.0, 2.0 Laser or 3.0
Every Bug-A-Buster is pump-action and runs on ordinary table salt. Pick the model first, then the colour.
2.0
Bug-A-Buster 2.0
The simple one. Pump, line up the pop-up sight, fire. Ideal for house flies on the patio, the deck and in the garage.
- Pump-action spring: no CO2, no batteries
- Runs on ordinary table salt
- Colours: yellow, blue, white, camouflage
$47.99
2.0 + laser
Bug-A-Buster 2.0 Laser
The 2.0 plus an under-barrel aiming dot that shows where your shot is headed. Worth it for mosquitoes, small flies and shooting at dusk.
- Under-barrel aiming laser (3 AAA, not included)
- Same pump action and salt hopper
- Colours: yellow, blue
$47.99
New · 3.0
Bug-A-Buster 3.0
The upgraded design, rated by our supplier as stronger than the 2.0, with the aiming laser included.
- Upgraded pump-action salt gun
- Under-barrel aiming laser (3 AAA, not included)
- Colours: yellow & green, yellow & blue, white & blue, white & green
$47.99
Owner tip: a laser mounted under the barrel lines up best at one distance. Check where the dot sits against your salt pattern at about 2 feet before you go hunting.
Load. Pump. Bust.
How does a salt gun work?
One pump compresses a spring and drops a measure of salt from the hopper into the chamber. Pull the trigger and the spring drives a burst of air through the barrel, throwing the salt out in a short, widening cone. Get the fly inside that cone and it drops.
1
Load dry table salt
Fill the top hopper with ordinary fine table salt. Keep it dry: damp salt clumps and clogs.
2
Pump once
One full pump back and forward sets the spring and loads one shot of salt.
3
Aim from 2 to 3 feet
Wait for the fly to land, line up the sight or the laser dot, and squeeze the trigger.
Why distance matters: too far and the grains slow down and scatter; too close and the cone has not opened yet, so the air blast can push the fly aside. Owners find that 2 to 3 feet hits hardest and misses least.
The honest answer
Does a salt gun really kill flies?
Yes, at close range. Salt does not poison a fly; the impact knocks it down, usually dead or stunned on the floor. A salt gun is a tool for the fly in front of you, not a cure for an infestation. Owners who use it that way are the ones who love it.
What it does well
- Drops landed house flies from 2 to 3 feet
- Reaches spots a swatter cannot: blinds, plant leaves, window frames
- Usually leaves the fly in one piece instead of smeared on the wall
- Makes fly control something you actually enjoy doing
What it won’t do
- Clear a swarm: one shot is one fly
- Reliably kill wasps or hard-shelled beetles
- Hit a fly from across the room
- Stop flies breeding. For that, find the source: kitchen trash, drains, pet waste or rotting fruit
Pest guide
What bugs can a salt gun kill?
Salt guns are made for small, soft-bodied insects. The harder the shell, the less a pump-action gun can do. Here is what to expect, bug by bug.
| Bug | Verdict | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| House flies | Works | Its main job. Best when the fly has landed |
| Horse flies and deer flies | Works | Bigger, slower targets |
| Mosquitoes | Works | Easy to drop, hard to see. The laser helps |
| Moths | Works | Soft body, slow flight |
| Small spiders | Works | Get close and aim carefully |
| Fruit flies and gnats | Limited | Tiny targets. A vinegar trap does more |
| Spotted lanternflies | Limited | Often only damages the wings. Aim at the head from close range |
| Stink bugs, roaches, beetles | Limited | Hard shells. Expect several shots |
| Wasps, yellow jackets, hornets | Not recommended | A pump gun often only angers them |
| Honeybees | Never | Pollinators. Leave them alone |
Made for
Where a salt gun earns its keep
BBQ & grilling
Flies on the burgers? Drop them without spraying anything near the food. It is the use owners mention most.
Patio, deck & porch
Outdoors a little salt on the floor doesn’t matter, and flies land on rails and walls where they are easy shots.
Garage, barn & stable
Near horses, chickens and trash cans the flies never stop. Hang traps for the crowd and keep a salt gun for the ones that land near you.
Camping & RV
The 2.0 without a laser needs no power at all and runs on salt you already packed. Keep the salt sealed: camp air is damp.
Owner tips
How to hit more flies with a salt gun
Most “it doesn’t work” stories come down to distance and timing, not the gun. These six habits come from long-time salt gun owners.
- Wait for the fly to land. A fly on a wall or rail is an easy shot. One in the air is a bonus round.
- Move in slowly. Flies react to fast movement. Close the gap a step at a time.
- Shoot from 2 to 3 feet. Close enough for force, far enough for the spread to open.
- Keep the hopper well filled and give it a light shake after pumping. A low hopper can mean a thin, weak shot.
- Shoot at a slight angle, not straight into a hard surface, so less salt bounces back at you.
- Be ready to double tap. A stunned fly on the floor is an easy follow-up.
Test your aim in 2 minutes: tape kitchen foil to a cardboard box and fire once each from 1, 2 and 3 feet. The dents show exactly where your shot lands and how wide it spreads.
What salt goes in a salt gun?
Plain, dry, fine table salt. It is what salt gun makers recommend, it costs almost nothing, and it flows through the hopper without jamming.
- Table salt: the safe default.
- Kosher salt: some owners swear the bigger flakes hit harder; others see no difference. Watch for clogs.
- Coarse sea salt, rock salt, Himalayan chunks: too big for the chamber and more likely to clog.
- Never sand, sugar or pepper. They jam the mechanism, and sugar attracts more bugs.
Salt pulls moisture from the air, and damp salt is the most common cause of clogs. Keep it sealed, and do not store the gun loaded in a humid shed or garage.
Is a salt gun messy indoors?
A little. Each shot is only a pinch of salt, but it lands somewhere, and a miss spreads it wider.
- Outdoors: it does not matter. This is where most owners use theirs.
- Indoors: a quick sweep or vacuum picks it up.
- Kitchen: never fire over open food, plates or prep surfaces. Wipe counters after.
- Keep clear of electronics, glass, fresh paint and plants. Salt plus moisture corrodes metal, and salt harms soil.
Compare
Salt gun vs fly swatter, zappers and traps
No single tool does everything. A salt gun is the best tool for the one fly bugging you right now; traps handle the crowd while you are away.
| Method | Best at | Weak at |
|---|---|---|
| Salt gun | Single landed flies, awkward spots, no chemicals | Swarms and hard-shelled bugs |
| Fly swatter | Cheap and instant | Needs a flat surface and leaves a smear |
| Electric racket swatter | Flies and mosquitoes in the air | Tiny fruit flies; needs batteries |
| UV light trap or zapper | Small flying insects at night | Results vary on full-size house flies |
| Sticky traps and fly paper | Catching flies while you are away | No instant result |
| Insect spray | Fast knockdown | Chemicals near food and pets |
The setup that works: remove the breeding source, hang a trap for volume, and keep a salt gun handy for the fly that lands on your plate.
A gift that actually gets used
Salt guns are a favourite gift for dads, grill masters and anyone who sits outside in summer. Plenty of owners got theirs for Father’s Day, Christmas or a white elephant swap, and many joke that the family now fights over who gets to use it.
⚠ Is a salt gun safe? Bust bugs, not people
- Protect your eyes. Salt can bounce back off hard surfaces, so wear glasses or safety glasses.
- Never aim at people or pets. Owners report that a close shot stings and can raise a welt.
- Adults only. Children should use it only with an adult right there.
- Store it unloaded and out of reach of children.
- Not for self-defence. It will only annoy a person and could hurt an eye.
Read the full salt gun safety guide before your first shot.
Salt gun guides
- Best salt gun for flies: 2026 buying guide
- What is a salt gun and how does it work?
- Is a salt gun safe?
- Best salt for a salt gun
- Salt gun vs bug zapper
- Salt gun for mosquitoes, spiders and roaches
- Does salt kill flies?
Salt gun FAQs
What is a salt gun?
A hand-held, spring-powered blaster that fires a small spread of table salt to knock down flies and other small insects at close range, with no spray and no chemicals.
How far does a salt gun shoot?
The salt travels several feet, but it only has enough force to drop a fly up close. About 2 to 3 feet is the sweet spot that salt gun makers and owners agree on.
What salt do I use?
Ordinary, dry, fine table salt from your kitchen. Damp or coarse salt can clog the hopper. Never use sand or sugar.
Does a salt gun kill mosquitoes?
Yes. A mosquito is soft and light, so a hit usually drops it. The hard part is seeing it, which is where the laser model helps.
Will a salt gun kill a wasp?
Not reliably. A pump-action salt gun often only stuns or angers a wasp or yellow jacket, and an angry stinging insect is a real risk. Use a wasp-specific product instead.
Can I use a salt gun inside the house?
Yes, if you don’t mind sweeping up a little salt. Don’t fire over open food, electronics, plants, glass or fresh paint.
Does getting hit by a salt gun hurt?
It stings, and owners report welts from close shots. Salt in an eye can cause injury, so never aim at people or pets and wear eye protection.
Why didn’t my salt gun kill the fly?
Usually one of four things: you were too far away, too close for the spread to open, the hopper was low, or the salt was damp and clumped. Move to 2 to 3 feet, refill with dry salt and give the gun a light shake after pumping.
What’s the difference between the 2.0 and the 3.0?
Both are pump-action and run on ordinary table salt. The 2.0 comes with or without an aiming laser, in yellow, blue, white or camouflage. The 3.0 is the upgraded design, rated by our supplier as stronger, and always comes with the aiming laser in four two-tone colours. The laser runs on 3 AAA batteries (not included).
How fast do you ship, and can I return it?
See our Shipping page for delivery times and our Returns & Warranty page for the return window and warranty cover.
More answers: Full FAQ · Does salt kill flies? · Salt gun for flies · Contact us
Fly season always comes back.
Be ready.
Pick your model and colour, and take back the porch, the grill and the garage.