Peformance of a pulsed DF‐CO2transfer laser was investigated both for photolytic initiation and for transverse initiation by a magnetically‐confined electron beam. Laser output is presented as a function of e‐beam charge fluence, O2concentration, F2and D2concentration, diluent gas, initiation level and total mixture pressure. The experimental results are in agreement with a comprehensive DF‐CO2laser model. The DF‐CO2laser performance is found to be comparable to that of a DF chain laser using mixtures of comparable chemical energy content.