A second look at the lowly stun gun

[Dr_2_B]

Now hear me out on this before you pounce. We all know that stun guns are less-than-ideal (laughed at) because we never wanna get that close to the scumbag. I totally agree. For regular guys who wear regular clothes and don't carry a badge, pepper spray is the way to go, backed up by a handgun that carries a round that begins with a '4.' However, we do often carry a kubotan-type device - either a keyring or a flashlight or a tactical pen... whatever.

I'd like you to think about something. In those cases when one would have to use a kubotan, wouldn't a stun gun make more sense?

 

[hso]

"more sense"? No.

Sense, yes. One self defense tool doesn't make another not useful. Most "stun guns" work by causing pain to get the BG off of you, but they don't provide any mechanical advantage to force the guy to back off. They also don't provide the option of striking to disable limbs or to provide knockout potential.

What would make "sense" would be to see a "stun gun" using new energy storage technology to allow a practical self defense impact tool to have real shock potential as well.

 

[Dr_2_B]

heh heh... sounds like a light saber to me. I like it.

 

[Sox]

These no doubt will evolve and become smaller. I would like to see a really good T&E on the main brands. I think a developed technique applied is necessary. For example, the noise and spark may be intimidating, but to use it as a disabling weapon you would need to employ empty hand skills to control them, and then using a solid grounding in anatomy, apply the weapon to the large neural networks in the Neck, Axilla, Groin and delivery the energy with some enthusiasm. I don't think it is effective when used "Johnny Knoxville" style as seen on the gimmicky youtube vids.

 

[leadcounsel]

IMO, from experience of being shot with a stun gun in a controlled environment, stun guns are very powerful and effective.

That said, they are useful for police due to their requirement for a continium of force. As a civilian I have three stages. No threat, nonlethal threat, and lethal threat.

I can leave nonlethal threat situations hence a stun gun is not useful. For lethal threats I will return with lethal force, not a less than lethal stun gun. Injuring a violent criminal who had threatened your life opens your world up to a sympathic person who will sue you or retaliate. Better IMO to end the lethal and violent attack with the barrel of my gun; and the law recognizes that and allows for it.

 

[RyanM]

There is a huge difference between a stun gun and a tazer. Tazers work, stun guns don't. I've zapped myself, and been zapped with stun guns dozens of times, just to prove a point. I've burned small holes in a couple shirts doing that. Big puff of smoke, if the lighting is right.

But the things do absolutely nothing. It feels like a small child pinching you, while another one flicks you with a rubber band a couple dozen times a second.

 

[shockwave]

I'd treat a taser like a knife. No brandishing. Conceal until ready to deploy then launch it by surprise. Given the complexity of these and the need to use them correctly, high-power pepper spray seems more useful.

 

[TimboKhan]

Stun guns are totally worthless. The maybe look and sound a bit scary, but they simply don't cause enough pain to be considered a deterrent in any way, shape or form. I am being very serious when I say I would rather throw the average stun gun at an assailant, because I might hit him in the eye or something.

Tasers, on the other hand, rock. Like anything, they have pros and cons, but when they work they really work.

 

[Gord]

Good to know that my 9mm is inadequate as per the OP.

Case of "read too much, experienced too little" perhaps?

 

[Hann]

At the last gun show I attended someone was selling a 5.8 million volt stun gun. I'm pretty sure 5-10 seconds of contact would incapacitate anyone reading this. That said, the problem is still being that close but some times it's unavoidable.

 

[RyanM]

At the last gun show I attended someone was selling a 5.8 million volt stun gun. I'm pretty sure 5-10 seconds of contact would incapacitate anyone reading this. That said, the problem is still being that close but some times it's unavoidable.

Small, sickly frogs can read? News to me!

Try one of those fancy schmancy things on yourself right in front of everyone, at the next gun show. I can guarantee the seller will turn red in the face, start yelling, and try to get you thrown out, after you go "owww, it feels like being pinched by an angry 3-year-old."

 

[Dr_2_B]

But the things do absolutely nothing.

I hadn't heard this. Anyone share this opinion or experience?

 

[Hann]

Try one of those fancy schmancy things on yourself right in front of everyone, at the next gun show. I can guarantee the seller will turn red in the face, start yelling, and try to get you thrown out, after you go "owww, it feels like being pinched by an angry 3-year-old."

You're saying that having it pressed firmly into your skin for 5-10 seconds or longer won't incapacitate someone? A 1/10th second zap obviously won't do anything more than annoy. If it were a 30k volt gun I might agree with you.

 

[conw]

^5-10 seconds would be pretty hard to achieve in a real-life fight

 

[glistam]

You're saying that having it pressed firmly into your skin for 5-10 seconds or longer won't incapacitate someone? A 1/10th second zap obviously won't do anything more than annoy. If it were a 30k volt gun I might agree with you.

Volts are irrelevant. I want to know amps. Besides, what do to you mean by "incapacitated?"

 

[The Highlander]

Would you guys be interested in a kubaton style shock weapon? Would you prefer rechargeable batteries or standard C/AA/AAA or 9V batteries? Polymer or Alloy body?

 

[Dimis]

glistam the reason they dont advertise amps is because it would be such a small number compaired to the rediculous bajillion volts and there lies the problem

amps are exactly what help "incapacitate" the attacker but it will never be of a value greater than 1 amp because thats all it takes to stop the heart so most of them would be measured in milliamps

the only thing ive ever known to do with a stun gun is use it as a trigger for potato guns lol

Highlander if we could build a perfect stun gun there should be two types a baton type like cattleprod and the same style available now the only difference needed would be that they provide actual stopping power and work

 

[RyanM]

What Dimis said. Even a 5 million volt stun gun will have such a pathetic number of amps that it will do nothing but sting.

The only functional "stun gun" design would be one that uses Taser technology, which would basically be something like a bangstick. It would need barbed probes and a detatchable head, and you'd need to jab the bad guy hard enough for the probes to break skin, and the barbs to catch (like a fishhook). Otherwise, the tasing effect stops as soon as the probes come out, and that means they'd be pissed.

And like a taser, each "head" will work only once, and you'd need to drop the entire thing unless you're going to stand there and hope the police arrive before the bad guy's friends and/or before the batteries wear out. And if you cut and run, the bad guy gets a nifty toy to try out on his next victim.

 

[Katana8869]

Just search stun guns or pepper spray on YouTube. There are plenty of a**hats out there shocking or spraying themselves on video. Based on what I have seen on there, stunguns have left me less than impressed. Pepper spray looks to be a bit more effective.

 

[Hann]

Volts are irrelevant. I want to know amps. Besides, what do to you mean by "incapacitated?"

It's a literal term.

 

[TimboKhan]

You're saying that having it pressed firmly into your skin for 5-10 seconds or longer won't incapacitate someone?

To answer your question directly, no, it won't.

To answer your question more indirectly, seriously dude? 5 seconds of close personal contact to incapacitate someone just means that you are going to get stabbed or something at least once if not multiple times. In 10 seconds? Any attacker that is even slightly inclined to murder you will have either turned you into a corpse or have gotten you pretty far along the road to corpseville.

Both drunk and sober, I have shocked myself many, many times with a wide variety of stun guns over a long period of years. They do not work as a deterrant at all. Even less when you are drunk, by the way. There might be some very, very marginal defense value in the fact that they are loud and scary sounding, but counting on that is a fools bet at best. I genuinely regard stun guns as nothing more than ever so slightly dangerous toys.

Pepper spray looks to be a bit more effective

I suppose it depends on the spray, but generally speaking it is more effective and not just by a bit.

 

[conw]

^this guy has no shame, I love it

 

[Dr_2_B]

Both drunk and sober, I have shocked myself many, many times with a wide variety of stun guns over a long period of years.

Timbo I believe we've discovered the real issue here... you've simply run out of nerve cells.

Is it just me or does this seem like Darwin at work?

 

[RyanM]

Is it just me or does this seem like Darwin at work?

Considering that zapping yourself with a stun gun is about as dangerous (and about as painful) as being shot with an airsoft gun (could do severe eye damage)... no?

 

[TimboKhan]

Is it just me or does this seem like Darwin at work?

Well jeez, it isn't as if I am some lush that walks around half in the bag at all times. I went through a party phase in my early 20's while in the USMC, and yes, we did a lot of stupid things. A lot. Including buying stun guns somewhere and then walking around zapping each other for fun. I am happy to report no nerves were killed in those escapades.

Since I feel like I need to defend myself a little bit, the truth is, I haven't been drunk in 4 years, and hadn't tied on on for maybe two or three years before that. Other than special occasions, since about the age of 25 (I am 38 now), if I drink more than 12 beers a year, I feel like I am hitting it hard and heavy!

So no, it isn't Darwin at work.