Best TASER guns & Stun Guns for Self-Defense

Overview

In many states, law enforcement sometimes use stun guns to subdue targets. But these self-defense tools aren’t only for police officers. If you’re looking for a stronger alternative to pepper spray, civilians can use stun guns and TASER devices to help defend themselves from an attacker when they’re leaving work late or walking the dog in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

Stun gun vs. TASER gun

Don’t know the difference between a stun gun and a TASER gun? Stun guns have prongs that have to make direct contact with a target. TASER devices are a type of stun gun that shoot probes at a target. TASER guns work over long distances and are much more expensive than standard stun guns.

Ahead, we’re looking at the best stun gun devices.

If you’ve never operated a stun gun, the Vipertek VTS-989 is a good place to start. Roughly the size of an iPhone XR, the VTS-989 has super sharp spike electrodes so the stun gun’s electrical charge penetrates through thick clothing.

It is also rechargeable, comes equipped with an LED flashlight, and has shock plates on the side of the unit. If an attacker tries to snatch the stun gun away from you, they’ll get a powerful, high voltage shock.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The VTS-989 is a convenient size and comes equipped with both an LED flashlight and snatch prevention shock plates. It’s a great weapon to have if you live alone.

>>Buy the Vipertek VTS-989

The Viper VTS-880 is small and light enough to fit in your pocket or your purse. Plus, it has a non-slip rubber coating, so even if you’re prone to clammy hands in high-stress situations it’ll stay put. It’s not as powerful as the VTS-989, but it’s still a solid weapon that can boost your personal sense of safety.

If you’re not comfortable with the idea of zapping someone to a level of incapacitation, the VTS-880 also works well as a deterrent. Customers describe the sound of the electrical charge as loud and menacing.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Vipertek VTS-880 is a great stun gun to keep in small places, from your purse to your pocket. Use it for self-defense on the go.

>>Buy the Vipertek VTS-880

The Vipertek VTS-T01 looks like a tactical flashlight, and it works like one too. It’s got a 450 lumen bulb that lasts for 100,000 hours, adjustable light focus, and three modes: high, low, and strobe.

 It also functions as a good old-fashioned stun gun. Upon contact, the VTS-T01’s high voltage shock can cause loss of balance and muscle control, as well as disorientation, giving you enough time to get away from an attacker.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Vipertek VTS-T01 is a great pick if you regularly walk your dog in a secluded area or on a dimly lit street. You’ll be able to see enough to put one foot in front of another, pick up your dog’s business, and protect yourself if need be.

>>Buy the Vipertek VTS-T01

Despite being only a little bigger than a tube of lipstick, the very portable Guard Dog Hornet is a powerful stun gun. Customers say the sound of the electrical charge is loud enough to scare away any potential criminals. It’s not as powerful or bright as our first pick, but it’s still a decent portable stun gun.

The Hornet also functions as a mini flashlight so you’ll be able to see a few yards ahead. And with its key ring attachment, you can keep it on you at all times for an added sense of security.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The Guard Dog Hornet is a portable, minimalist self-defense weapon. Keep it with your house keys so you’ll have it if you ever need it.

>>Buy the Guard Dog Hornet

The TASER Pulse+ is chock full of features. It has a built-in laser to help you aim true, and it’s effective both up close and up to 15 feet away—so you don’t have to wait to act until an assailant gets up close and personal.

Once activated, the Pulse+’s high voltage will immobilize your attacker with a total nervous system override that lasts for 30 seconds—that’s more than enough time to get away. And if you need a bit of practice, the Pulse+ comes with a practice target and a lithium battery that’s good for 50 shots.

The TASER Pulse+ can also be used with the Noonlight app on your mobile device. Noonlight dispatches law enforcement to your location when the Pulse+’s trigger is pulled so you won’t have to call the police yourself.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: The TASER Pulse+ is a versatile, heavy duty TASER gun with a lot of power. It’s a great buy if you’re looking to get serious about your personal safety.

>>Buy the TASER Pulse+

The TASER Pulse is the predecessor to the Pulse+, so it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles. The Pulse doesn’t connect to the Noonlight app, and it doesn’t have a laser to help you aim. We noticed that some customers complain about the longevity of the included batteries.

Despite all of that, the TASER Pulse is still a solid weapon that can protect you from up to 15 feet away. And like the Pulse+, it’ll incapacitate an attacker for 30 seconds.

 ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you want a cheaper TASER gun, or you never miss when you’re playing darts, try the TASER Pulse. It lacks the bells and whistles of the Pulse+, but it’s still a solid TASER device that does what it’s supposed to.

>>Buy the TASER Pulse

The TASER X2 is a professional-grade TASER gun with an LED flashlight that can be engaged up close or up to 15 feet away. It also discourages criminals with a visible electrical arc. And like the TASER Pulse+, the X2 has built-in laser targeting to make sure you don’t miss. It also has an immediate back-up shot, so if there’s more than one potential target, you won’t have to reload.

The X2 also comes with a holster, which can come in handy. But you likely won’t be able to choose whether you get a left-hand or right-hand holster: some customers say they requested a specific holster and got the other one instead.  

ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you’re a security guard looking to take your personal protection up a notch, the TASER X2 should do the job. You can use it up close and up to 15 feet away, and its built-in LED flashlight can be especially helpful at night.

>>Buy the TASER X2

The TASER X26P is a serious stun gun. So serious, in fact, that it’s the same one used by law enforcement and police officers. It limits a target’s muscular control for five seconds; comes with a powerful LED flashlight and laser targeting; can be used either as a contact stun gun or with a 15-foot range; and comes with a Performance power magazine (PPM) that lasts for 500 five-second firings. If you run out, replacement PPMs are costly at $80 a pop.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: If you’re in bed when your home security system notifies you of an intruder, the TASER X26P is a solid stun gun that can help defend your home. Keep one somewhere you can get to quickly in case of an emergency, like your nightstand.

>>Buy the TASER X26P

Safety system

Fortunately, most stun guns and TASER guns have a safety mechanism. And it’s a good thing: without the safety mechanism, you risk firing it accidentally on yourself.

Restrictions

Stun guns can be used for civilian self-defense in 48 states and Puerto Rico. But some states have restrictions. New Jersey’s attorney general’s office recently ended a ban on stun guns in the state. Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin require a permit to own a stun gun. In other states, like Rhode Island and Hawaii, stun guns are illegal. Before you buy a TASER device or stun gun, check local laws and restrictions in your state.

Stun guns make a good, less lethal alternative to hand guns. Stun guns work by delivering an electric shock that temporarily disrupts muscle functions and causes pain without inflicting serious or permanent injury. It can be used to subdue an attacker by immobilizing or incapacitating them. They’re a less lethal alternative to handguns.

TASER is a brand name and specific type of stun gun. Most stun guns require contact to deliver an electric shock, but TASER guns shoot probes that are connected to wires. The probes penetrate a target’s clothing and emit an electrical current that can cause temporary paralysis.

These self-defense products can be purchased in a variety of places: Amazon, the Home Security Superstore, and TASER's own website.

Stun guns usually cost between $10 and $30. TASER devices have a lot more power and are a lot pricier because of that. Expect to shell out anywhere between $450 to $1,100.

In rare cases, targets have gone into cardiac arrest and died after being shocked in the chest with a stun gun.¹ According to data collected by Amnesty International, between 2001 and 2012 at least 500 people died in the United States after being shocked with Tasers.² That study says that although most deaths were attributed to other causes, medical examiners have listed Tasers as a cause or contributing factor in more than 60 deaths

When used correctly, stun guns and TASER devices are effective self-defense weapons. For most people, the Vipertek VTS-989 will be the best choice. It requires direct contact, but it’s affordable at just under $25. And with super sharp electrodes that penetrate through clothing, it’s effective too.

>> Bzzzzzz. Buy the Vipertek VTS-980 here.

Sources

1. “Why Tasers Sometimes Kill,” Live Science.
2. “Amnesty International Urges Stricter Limits on Police Taser Use as U.S. Death Toll Reaches 500,” Amnesty International.