Taser International announced a new electronic control device (ECD) at the recent SHOT Show. The weapon is designed for non-law enforcement use and is called the Pulse. Unlike the existing C2 weapon designed for civilian use, the Pulse is handgun shaped and is a bridge between the C2 and the X26 frequently used by police departments.

Taser designed the Pulse to be more of an intuitive use device since many people are familiar with the way a pistol works. It has a low profile thumb safety and angled sights to make it more amenable to concealed carry. The replaceable cartridge has a 15′ range.

Much like the X26, the unit has a built in red laser for aiming. Additionally, the unit uses a LED white light for illumination. Based on my experience with the X26 in actual deployments, I found the laser worked well, but the light was woefully underpowered. Nothing in the Taser documentation indicates how bright the light on the Pulse is supposed to be.

Like the C2, the Pulse is designed to deliver a variable electrical pulse over 30 seconds. The idea is this will enable the user to flee the scene if the probes are properly deployed. This is different from the units sold to law enforcement where the pulse duration is much less: 5 seconds.

Units are expected to start shipping in the later days of Q1 2016. The MSRP is $399.99. The MPH Taser Holster is not included.