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Acaptive bolt pistol (also known as acaptive bolt gun, acattle gun, astunbolt gun, abolt gun, astun gun and astunner) is a device used for thestunning of animals prior toslaughter.
A captive bolt pistol is intended to deliver a single, powerful strike to theforehead of an animal in order to quickly induceunconsciousness by either inducing a concussion or directly destroying brain tissue. Depending on the variation and usage, the bolt may or may not penetrate theskull and cause direct damage to thebrain.
The bolt consists of a heavy rod or piston, typically made of a corrosion-resistant material such asstainless steel. The bolt is actuated by atrigger pull and is propelled forward by eithercompressed air, aspring mechanism, or by the discharge of ablank round. After moving a short distance, spring tension causes the bolt to recoil back into the barrel.
The captive bolt pistol was invented in 1903 by Hugo Heiss, the former director of aslaughterhouse inStraubing,Germany.[1]
Captive bolt pistols are of three types: penetrating, non-penetrating, and free bolt. The use of penetrating captive bolts has largely been discontinued in commercial situations in order to minimize the risk of transmission of disease.
In the penetrating variation, the bolt penetrates theskull of the animal and catastrophically damages thecerebrum and part of thecerebellum.Concussion causes destruction of vital centers of thebrain and an increase inintracranial pressure, causing the animal to lose consciousness. This method is considered the most effective type of stunning. It ensures a high probability of a successful stun by physically destroyingbrain matter but does not damage thebrain stem; as a result, the heart continues to pump after the animal is incapacitated, which aids in theexsanguination process.[2] One disadvantage of this method is that brain matter is allowed to enter theblood stream, possibly contaminating other tissue withbovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, colloquially known as mad cow disease).[3]
The action of a non-penetrating stunner is similar, but the bolt is blunt with a mushroom-shaped tip. The bolt strikes the forehead with great force and immediately retracts. The subsequent concussion is responsible for the unconsciousness of the animal. This type of stunner is less reliable at causing immediate unconsciousness than penetrating types; however, it has undergone a resurgence of popularity because of concerns about mad cow disease. In theEuropean Union, this captive bolt design is required for slaughter of animals that will be used forpharmaceutical manufacture.[4]
The free bolt stunner is used for emergency, in-the-fieldeuthanasia of large animals that cannot be restrained. It differs from a true captive bolt gun in that the projectile is not retractable; it is similar in operation to apowder-actuated nail gun or a conventionalfirearm. Capable of firing only when pressed firmly against a surface (typically the animal's forehead), the device fires a small projectile through the animal's skull. Theveterinarian can then either leave the animal to die from the projectile wound or administer lethal drugs.
Withcattle,goats,sheep,rabbits, andhorses,[5] failure to adequately stun using a penetrating stunner can largely be attributed to incorrect positioning.[2] In commercial operations, rates of failure can be significant and multiple shots are often used. One study looking at cattle found that 12% were shot multiple times, and 12.5% were inadequately stunned.[6] Other research has recorded higher error rates, such as a study looking at youngkangaroos which found that 38% of attempts failed to adequately stun the animal.[7]
Captive bolts allow for meat trimmings from the head to be salvaged. In someveal operations, a non-penetrating concussive stunner is used in order to preserve the brain of the animal for further processing. Captive bolt stunners are safer to use for operators in mostred meat slaughter processes. There is no danger ofricochet oroverpenetration as there is with regular firearms.
The cartridges typically use 2 to 3 grains (130 to 190 mg) ofsmokeless powder but can use up to 7 grains (450 mg) in the case of large animals, such asbulls. 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 have been a number of cases where a captive bolt pistol has been used for homicide, including:
In medical literature, at least onecase report ofsuicide by captive bolt pistol has been published. The report states this method of suicide is not uncommon in central European countries with less strict laws surrounding the possession and use of such tools.[11]
Benny's Video from 1992 uses a captive bolt pistol in a murder.
A captive bolt pistol is used byAnton Chigurh as a murder weapon in the 2005 novelNo Country for Old Men and its2007 film adaptation.
The farmers in the 2011post-apocalyptic filmHell use captive bolt pistols to slaughter people.
In the season finale of the Fox police procedural seriesBones, protagonistTemperance Brennan's mother Christine is found dead in storage of her office of employment, murdered from a shot to her head with a captive bolt pistol.
In the season two finale ofSeverance, a blank round style pistol intended for the sacrifice of a younggoat inadvertently kills Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson).
