A line launcher (110) capable of firing a projectile (117) and an attached line (125) up to about 70 meters. It has a barrel (113) large enough for a resilient projectile attached to a line. It has a pre-charge chamber capable of storing a pressurized gas from a pressurized gas cartridge. A trigger mechanism vents the gases in this pre-charge chamber into the barrel to expel the projectile and line. Gas from the pressurized gas cartridge (e.g. a CO2 bulb) is released slowly enough to pressurize the pre-charge chamber but without the cartridge freezing as might occur if the gas was discharged directly from the cartridge into the barrel to directly propel the projectile.