A cartridge assembly that includes a non-lethal projectile and a carrier configured for retaining and launching the non-lethal projectile. The carrier includes a housing including a combustion chamber, at least one escape aperture, a primer, and a case connected to the housing. The case encases the non-lethal projectile. The case and the housing collectively define a launch chamber that is fluidly connected to the at least one escape aperture. The launch chamber is configured for launching the non-lethal projectile out of the case. The at least one escape aperture is configured for metering pressurized gas from the combustion chamber to the launch chamber for launching the non-lethal projectile.