Taser's electrifying new XREP shotgun-fired projectile

Police will soon have a new weapon in their growing "non-lethal" arsenal in the form of a Taser-brand, shotgun-fired projectile that nearly quadruples the range of traditional stun guns while maintaining the same immobilizing-goodness we've come to expect from Taser products. The new XREP, which stands for Extended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile, contains a fully functional Taser circuit payload inside the shell housing for a 12-gauge shotgun, which is apparently among the most common "shoulder fired launchers" in use by law enforcement and military personnel. Unlike handgun-style Tasers, there is no wire tethering the payload to the gun, which allows for a 30-meter range but takes away the shooter's ability to lead the "non-compliant" around on a de facto leash. The response from the 35 lucky folks who field-tested (read: got shot by) the XREP was overwhelmingly positive: 100% said they would not recommend the sensation to friends and family. Protesters worldwide should start seeing these new superbullets whiz by sometime next year.

[dreampc @ Feb 15th 2006 8:12AM]

until they shoot somebody at point-blank range...

Two Austin Texas cops had a suspect grab their tasers and tase BOTH of them...

nice...

[smudley @ Feb 15th 2006 8:28AM]

wait till cheyney sees this...

[Sirius @ Feb 15th 2006 8:32AM]

um.. don't shotguns kill people?.. or are the rounds like made of foam or sth.. since the 35 'lucky ppl' lived to give a response for the field test..

[Casey @ Feb 15th 2006 8:51AM]

That is SO Splinter Cell, it's spooky.

What about "Air Foil" rounds has anybody seen those in real life yet?

[Mark @ Feb 15th 2006 9:05AM]

Can I get this at Wal*Mart? My neighbors dog has been poopin' in my yard!

[Onie @ Feb 15th 2006 9:34AM]

I for one find this whole concept shocking.

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

[alex @ Feb 15th 2006 9:59AM]

Damn, you beat me to that one Smudley

[Sean Barton @ Feb 15th 2006 9:59AM]

i think the whole concept is hilarious. obviously the other countries wanted to go all american on the design of this 'weapon' by making it look like a big gun. one question though, wouldnt the design be better to make it work like a rifle and not a shotgun. bit much. i suppose soon we'll see the rocket launcher and mine versions. :)

[teodoro @ Feb 15th 2006 10:02AM]

Maybe if Threshold had these they wouldn't have cancelled the show. Look how many aliens you could taze with a shotgun blast!

[PodMonkeys @ Feb 15th 2006 10:07AM]

"the shell housing for a 12-gauge shotgun, which is apparently among the most common "shoulder fired launchers" in use by law enforcement and military personnel."

From Site: "This was a major technological breakthrough -- a wireless projectile that
contains a fully operational TASER circuit payload, packaged in a non-lethal
12-gauge shotgun round,"

Thats why it shows a shotgun. Its not a system that looks like a shotgun so that it can "look like big American guns". Its a system housed in 12 guage shotgun shells, which are fired by the most common shoulder fired launcher used by the military and police. aka: The 12 guage shotgun.

[Eric @ Feb 15th 2006 10:08AM]

The shotgun pictured is NOT what the product actually is. The product is actually rounds that would be loaded into the shotgun. Usually this involves having a shotgun round made with the payload (instead of BB's or a slug) being the electrodes and everything needed in one package. Obviously the positives being that almost all police stations and army forces already have shotguns, it would just be new ammo for it. Lock and load the non-lethal shock rounds!

[Chad @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:41AM]

what happens when the officer grabs his gun thinking its loaded with taser rounds and instead fires a live round? good luck with that. Thats a lawsuit no one can win.

[n8 @ Feb 15th 2006 10:10AM]

The more non-lethal options law enforcement has the better. A major problem facing police these days is that while the weapons they carry are mostly lethal, most of the situations they encounter do not call for lethal force - even when an alleged criminal flees, most of the time an officer cannot use deadly force, which means that they have to run after them trying to get them in the eye with pepper spray or something. While this Tazer thingmajig is available for shotgun use right now, one could easily imagine a single service weapon with an over-under configuration that would allow the officer to choose between lethal and non-lethal force from the same gun. That would be pretty cool, and likely save a lot of lives.

@smudley: heh. Actually, I'd guess that you could probably hunt pretty effectively with this Tazer round (not birds, of course) and avoid lethal hunting accidents altogether.

[Paul @ Feb 15th 2006 10:22AM]

Just a thought, but on the idea of Lethal/Non-Lethal in the same weapon, just jack the power of the taser rounds up a lot, and electrecute them.... but with the limited range I think they had better stick with the normal gun.

[DMIlls @ Feb 15th 2006 10:28AM]

@smudley

You're so clever and funny, if only you could spell the Vice Presidents name.

[Eric @ Feb 15th 2006 10:32AM]

Another though @ Lethal/Non-Lethal posted by n8. I think that most Over-Unders usually have one trigger that fires both barrels. Even if, as in most side-by-sides, there are two triggers in the heat of the moment I would hate to see the wrong one pulled. I think that it's application will be in special situations (as most shotguns already are). The sidearm of a police officer can't be readily replaced as a shotgun doesn't have the range or accuracy of the sidearm.

[Jake @ Feb 15th 2006 10:51AM]

@ Sirius
Shotguns don't kill people, buckshot/slug ammo kills people. The police already use "non-lethal" rounds made out of rubber in 12ga shotgun shells. They're not too pleasant though and can kill at close range.

@ Sean
Uh, rifles are far more powerful than shotguns. The only reason shotguns are "big" is because they house a larger shell. Those shells aren't very powerful, they're simply designed for different usage. Shotguns fire their projectiles with a very slow velocity. Rifles, on the other hand, fire at an extremely high velocity that would pass through a person no matter what the shell contains. Finally, I'm sure the electronic mechanism inside each shell requires a lot of space, hence the 12ga container.

The idea of more effective, non-leather means of dealing with suspects is great. And people, these aren't meant to replace gentler methods of dealing with perps, they're meant to replace DEADLY methods of dealing with perps.

[Gabe @ Dec 14th 2007 7:27AM]

12 gauge .00b has a muzzle velocity of about 1200fps, and 1oz slugs have about 1450fps. In fact, I just picked up some ammo for my 12-ga a couple weeks ago that has a 1900fps muzzle velocity. That translates to over 1200mph, or roughly twice the speed of sound. Not exactly sluggish, especially when it's a 300+ grain projectile. That's a LOT of takedown power. And while high-powered rifles do fire their projectiles much faster, the 12-gauge rounds are still faster than just about any handgun out there.

[Tobor is Robot spelled backwards @ Feb 15th 2006 11:12AM]

This technology is great....until the first cop fires what he thinks are taser rounds and blows an uruly drunk away. "I could have sworn I loaded taser rounds"

And it WILL happen. Only a matter of time.

[David @ Feb 15th 2006 11:25AM]

Interesting... But the potential for misuse is what scares me. There have been cases where the lethal sidearm was mistaken and used instead of the less-than-lethal taser.

But the police already use bean bags, cork, rubber, and who knows what else in their shotguns. (rock salt anyone?) It is important that these weapons are known and used as 'less than lethal', as they can cause death. Even pepper spray has claimed lives. http://mediafilter.org/caq/CAQ56pepper.html

[Mandarin @ Feb 15th 2006 11:50AM]

I can't kill zombies with that!

[smudley @ Feb 15th 2006 1:06PM]

@DMIIIs

doh! although if were goin after grammatical errors then might i suggest an apostrophe in president's !!

i bet you know how to spell Dick too... dont ya!

[Moshe @ Feb 15th 2006 1:08PM]

I am not a fan of police having weapons that readily kill people. If instead of actual 12 gauge rounds they are issued these, I would feel slightly safer from the small percentage of power-drunk officers who think it is their duty to abuse the power bestowed upon them. Also, at what range did they test these? I would assume the furthest possible. Do they know the close range affects? It would not be a pleasant thing to get a blast from that in close proximity.

[trev @ Feb 15th 2006 1:19PM]

This is a great idea, eventually they might be able to minitureize the round so that it can be loaded into pistols, making poliece officers more likely and more comfortable using this system... However I agree with #16 Eric - in the heat of the moment the wrong ammo/selection could be made.

I think a dedicated weapon which has a distinctive appearance/feel would be ideal, weather or not its prticle to carry one around as well as a handgun is a different matter.

[GDude @ Feb 15th 2006 5:04PM]

Couple things folks...

First, typically the less-lethal rounds (bean bags) are fired from a COMPLETELY SEPARATE shotgun. Usually with a different colored stock so cops will not make the mistake of blasting the unruly drunk. They already thought of that.

Second, a less-lethal device will not take the place of a standard, death producing, firearm in the policeman's bag of tricks. When a crack addicted parolee bent on killing your child points his Ak-47 at little Poindexter, you wouldn't want a device that only works 63% of the time. Would you? The future might bring something that you can "set for stun" but not anytime soon.

Finally, #21's not a fan of having cops with weapons that "readily kill people?" Nice...what kind of weapon stops a violent person immediately AND leaves them refreshed, sweet smelling, and cuddley soft???

The rise of the ignorants has begun. All hail.

[anti-g @ Dec 10th 2007 12:27AM]

Kinda like that dude that would not show his ins card or the other one that did not sign the ticket....time for the taser...yep

Dont tase me bro!

I suppose Gdude means "govt dude" cool. I see these weapons as a key tool to insure to early retirement due to lawsuits against the users. Perfect for the police unions. Problem is the taxpayers pay the cop, the gun and the for the tased dudes suit!!! doh!

[Peter Frampton @ Feb 15th 2006 8:18PM]

A major problem facing police these days is that while the weapons they carry are mostly lethal, most of the situations they encounter do not call for lethal force - even when an alleged criminal flees, most of the time an officer cannot use deadly force, which means that they have to run after them trying to get them in the eye with pepper spray or something.

[Rivendale286 @ Feb 15th 2006 9:48PM]

That was a disappointing article... Cheney needed to somehow be in the article or title. Come on Engadget, Vice Presidents don't shoot people very often...

[Marty @ Feb 16th 2006 2:52AM]

I couldnt imagine it wouldnt be pretty if one of these hit you in the face.. its not easy trying to hit a moving target at range with a shotgun (at least in cs anyway lol)

[Nick @ Feb 22nd 2006 2:10PM]

This is a pretty nifty invention, however please don't think that we don't need REAL guns in our police officers' hands. I can see some situations in which they could be used, but if ever the police officer is dealing with a life or death situation, I would have no problem with them firing about 8 .357's into a person. Screw the "non-lethal" stuff in certain situations. There are too many liberals out there who think all guns are bad until some psycho breaks into their house at 3AM A&D. If that happens, it's shoot to kill. That's right, I said it. If you break in a house, an owner should have EVERY right to KILL you. No questions asked. Go ahead, libs... Start your bitching. Please visit NRA.org for more unbiased information on this contentious issue.

[Emceay @ May 8th 2007 3:01AM]

He's getting belligerent! Shoot him!
The people (or as you call 'em libs) have reason to complain. Cases of mistakes and abuse come up too often to be swept under the rug of American minds.
I agree that in a breaking & entering situation lethal force is acceptable. But there are quite a few situations where officers are pushed too far by paranoia.
Granted, their jobs put their life on the line. However, do you really think that every time they reach for their cannon is appropriate?

"Please visit NRA.org for more unbiased information on this contentious issue." ...really.. the rifle association isn't the least interested in it's own self-preservation?

[Mike @ Feb 23rd 2006 2:30PM]

I look at it this way, if they are "running away" and they get hit in the face, to bad. Maybe they should have stopped running when they were told to.

"I'm a firm believer in giving one warning shot to the head before you shoot"

[Lee @ Jul 6th 2007 11:03AM]

Your life is not going to end from being shot, stop worrying about someone breaking into your house and killing your family. Statistically, you WILL die from heart disease (aka eating crap) or cancer. Violent crime is such a rare event, stop watching local news.

Cops are the people who deal with this stuff, give them the tools and go about your life.

[joe @ Jul 15th 2007 8:22PM]

I say thay should just use buckshot against crowds of protesters that would slove there problem next time some gay rights are imagration rally turns bad like thay always do and blams it on the police just use doudle "00"buckshot that will get the job done......

[mike @ Jul 25th 2007 2:13PM]

as the son of a retired police officer, who was involved in two officer involved shooting's, I can tell you that when an officer has to use deadly force it is something that he can never ever forget. I wonder how many of you have had to sit up with their dad and just comfort him over the nightmare of having been the person who took another persons life. I was also a paramedic in south central and have seen the effects of gun violence, and the nightmares that I sometime's have to deal with.

[John @ Nov 30th 2007 12:50AM]

I'm really curious to find out how much this kind of high-tech round is going to cost? This "less-than-lethal" force is going to save lives but it's going to imprison a lot of people that would otherwise have died in tense situations. Think about it for a minute... crazed bi-polar / drug addicted gunman holding people at gunpoint in the belief that Satan is out to get him and the only thing between him/her and Hell is some innocent person and thethen the cops show up... What's the headline in the paper the next day - "Cops Kill Crazed Gunman" or "Crazed Gunman Caught!" - Trial and Subsequent Lifetime Incarceration With Legal Bills ....expected to cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for each person incarcerated instead of killed at the scene of the event. Prisons, their building and maintenance, and staffing is one of the largest and fastest growing businesses in the entire United States. It makes financial "sense" to imprison people. Fear of death is what keeps at least some people from hurting/robbing/killling other people. I think I'm going to pray that this doesn't turn into a tax-payer funded (tax -payers buying the bullets for the police)way of putting the protesters/hostage takers/murderers, etc., in prison (to be paid for by tax payers). Things get bad when money can be a motive for finding a reason to make sure that people go to jail. I think it is good for humans to have a fear of death, and if everyone had a gun with real bullets, it would be lesss likely that strange people would break into other people's houses.

[Femacamper @ Feb 14th 2008 2:42AM]

This is clearly a weapon meant for tyranny. Goodbye freedom.