Stun Gun Basics

Stun guns are now legal in Massachusetts!

What is a stun gun?

A stun gun is an Electrostatic Discharge self-defense device. A stun gun is hand held, and is applied by touching the electrodes to an assailant. The strong electrical signal disrupts the nerves that control muscles, and can cause intense pain.

Are stun guns and Tasers the same thing?

No. While a stun gun is a contact weapon, the Taser is a projectile weapon that shoots small barbed darts using a charge of compressed nitrogen. The darts are connected to the "gun" by wires (15 feet long for "civilian" versions, 35 feet for law enforcement Tasers). Tasers are much more expensive than stun guns, and each cartridge can cost up to $40. A stun gun can be used 100s of times on a single charge.

Sabre Security manufactures high quality stun guns suitable for self defense.

How do I get one?

MA residents must have a License to Carry firearms (LTC) to purchase a stun gun, which can only be purchased from a licensed firearms dealer. (Please note that any restrictions for carrying firearms on your LTC also apply to stun guns.)

How much voltage does a stun gun need in order to be effective?

That's a trick question. Voltage alone doesn't tell the story of stun gun effectiveness. Voltage without current or duration won't get the job done. For a stun gun to be effective it has to deliver sufficient current, at a high enough voltage, for a long enough time, to create pain. This factor – voltage times current over time – is called the “charge weight”. For stun guns, charge weight is measured in micro-coulombs ( µC). The higher the charge weight, the more effective the stun gun.

The table below shows the determinations of a stun gun's effectiveness as tested by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Stun guns range in power from .250 µC to >3.000 µC.

Do they need batteries?

The cheap ones do. Better quality stun guns use internal rechargeable batteries. "Bargain" stun guns often use inferior rechargeable batteries that do not hold a charge over time. Better quality devices will hold a charge for a long time. I demonstrate a Sabre 1009 in my classes that I charged over a year ago. It still delivers a massive shock on demand.

Does the stun gun have to contact bare skin to be effective?

No, but clothing reduces the effectiveness of the stun gun. The more layers, the greater reduction. The best transfer of energy is through direct skin contact, however in a defensive situation, you have to take what you can get. When a direct shot to the bean bag (or meat wallet) is impossible, anything is better than nothing, and some stun guns are more forgiving in this area. Some, like the Sabre 1009 in the photo above have pronounced electrodes to deliver a higher percentage of the available charge through heavy clothing. Others are disguised as a flashlight and have lower profile electrodes.

Where is the best place to stick a stun gun on an attacker?

The short answer is, "Anywhere you can". When stuff goes bad, it usually goes bad really fast. You won't be able to play a methodical game of Pin The Tail On The Donkey, so if you can poke somebody anyplace, do it.

With that said, a stun gun causes violent uncontrollable muscle contractions so it's better to hit a big muscle group than an extremity. The chest, upper shoulder, back, stomach, hip, thighs, and groin area are effective points of contact. The face and neck are effective and painful targets as well.

I hope you found this post informative. If you would like more information about obtaining a stun gun, feel free to contact me here, or message me on Facebook (Jim Finnerty).