How Far Can A Police Taser Shoot?

Are you a law enforcement agency looking to add taser guns to your arsenal? Are you a supporter of law enforcement and interested in the equipment they carry? In this article we’ll unpack the question “how far does a police taser shoot?”. We’ll cover the weapons used by law enforcement along with their functions and features.

The two current taser gun models used by law enforcement can be loaded with cartridges that shoot further than those that can be purchased for civilian use. The law enforcement Taser X2 can be loaded with cartridges that have wire lengths starting at 15 feet that increase to 25 and then 35 feet. X26P model cartridges for police use can be purchased with conductive wire lengths from 15-25 feet. Cartridges with a range greater than 15 feet are not available to the public.

Also, here’s the civilian version of the police officer taser the X26C.

The Taser X2

The X2 is a good taser model for law enforcement to carry because of its two-shot ability. If an officer misses their target on the first shot, they don’t have to reload a new cartridge before firing again. This saves time when diffusing a dangerous situation. When a cartridge is deployed from the weapon, successive charges can be administered to the initially fired probes without firing the second cartridge. This allows the officer to deliver more than one shock to an assailant to further subdue them without burning through their second cartridge.

It’s important for a law enforcement official to assess where they want to hit their potential target when using a taser to subdue them. When loading longer range cartridges, the probes that are shot out of the device and attach to the target will spread out further from each other as they travel. This can affect how an officer aims and their intended probe placement. The 15 and 25 foot range cartridges eject a top probe that travels straight out and a bottom probe that will fall 7 degrees lower than the top. In the long range 35 foot cartridge, the top probe will shoot straight and the bottom will shoot at a 3 degree lower angle. While a greater distance between probes will make the weapon more effective, it can be harder to ensure each probe connects to the target as the spread gets greater.

The X2 also has a “warning arc” signal. This signal can be used to deter a dangerous subject to avoid using the force of an electric shock against them. In the X2 model, the warning arc can be triggered without removing or firing the live cartridges that are installed in the weapon.

This taser gun can be used as a stun gun, too. While not as powerful a shock as what is delivered through traditional firing, the back up stun feature causes immense pain and encourages compliance from an unruly individual.

The Taser X26P

The Taser X26P is another great weapon for police officers to carry. Unlike the X2, the X26P features a single cartridge design. It does need to be reloaded with a new cartridge after each firing. The X26P is a much smaller, more compact device than the X2. It’s designed with a larger handle so that officers can be confident in handling the weapon, despite its smaller size.

The X26P can be loaded with cartridges that feature 15 foot conductive wires that graduate to 21 feet and then 25 feet in length. The spread between probes on this model equates to about 1′ for every 7 feet the probes travel from the weapon. Aiming these weapons and accounting for that spread is an important part of police training for taser gun carry and use.

This model features a laser and front and rear mechanical sights for aim. The mechanical sights line up with the trajectory of the top probe when firing the weapon. The dual sight options allow an officer to use what is most comfortable for them and what will be most effective in their current situation.

Another feature of the X26P is it’s fully integrated LED flashlight. In the dark or in poorly lit areas, an officer can choose between using only the laser, only the LED flashlight, or using both the laser and LED flashlight together to illuminate their area. This keeps them safe from attack and allows them to find an assailant faster. Using the laser with the LED flashlight aids them in successfully hitting their target and subduing them as quickly as possible.

Like all other taser models, the X26P can be used as a stun gun. This does require close contact with an assailant but is still a way for an officer to regain control of a situation.

Shared Features

Both taser models carried by law enforcement have Central Information Display (CID) screens that show and record data from the weapon. Battery life and system status icons are shown on the CID. An officer can view how long a deployment cycle has lasted, if there are any faults with the weapon, and track the health of their battery.

These models have data storage capability related to use that can be downloaded at the police station for event review and used as evidence if necessary. Logs tracking pulse data (how long the weapon was discharged and the strength of each charge), engineering (the health of the weapon and any malfunctions that occur) and an event log are recorded. The event log tracks time and date of any event, the weapon status at the time of an event, duration of each event, internal temperature of the weapon, and battery percentage. These data logs can protect an officer against claims that a weapon was used in an inappropriate or excessive manner.

How far does a police taser shoot? That depends on what model they are using and which cartridge they have loaded. The minimum distance an officer can shoot their taser gun is 15 feet. That distance is far enough to keep them safe and close enough to take down even the largest opponent.