Captive Bolt Pistol - Use

Use

With cattle, goats, sheep, and horses, a penetrating stunner is typically used since it destroys the cerebrum while leaving the brain stem intact; this results in a more consistently reliable stun, and ensures the animal's heart continues to beat during the bleeding process. Captive bolts allow for meat trimmings from the head to be salvaged. In some veal operations, a non-penetrating concussive stunner is used in order to preserve the brains for further processing.

Captive bolt stunners are safer to use in most red meat slaughter situations. There is no danger of ricochet or overpenetration as there is with regular firearms.

The cartridges typically use 2 to 3 grains (130 to 190 mg) of smokeless powder, but can use up to 7 grains (450 mg) in the case of large animals such as bulls. The velocity of the bolt is usually 55 metres per second (180 ft/s) in the case of small animals and 75 metres per second (250 ft/s) in the case of large animals.

There are certain specific stunning sites for various animals:

• Polled livestock generally: At the center of forehead, the shot being directed towards the gullet. Some animals, such as old Hereford cattle, which have too much hair on the forehead, and bulls, which have too thick a skull, are stunned at the back of the poll. This is known as "poll knocking". It can render livestock unconscious, but may require more attempts since the placement of the bolt is more difficult.
• Other cattle: At or below the point of intersection of two imaginary lines drawn from the base of each horn to the inner canthus of the opposite eye.
• Pig: On the forehead at a point 25 mm above the eyes, with the stunner directed towards the gullet.
• Sheep and goat: Below the ridge which runs under the base of the horn. The direction of the shot is towards the gullet.