How Long Does A Stun Gun Incapacitate

So, how long does a stun gun incapacitate someone? Perhaps you are thinking about buying a stun gun and you are wondering if it will be an effective tool for self-defense? Maybe you’re not sure if you would rather buy a stun gun or a taser or even what the difference is?

Regardless of which of these applies to you, I am very glad you made it here. I will make sure that you are fully informed on how a stun gun is used to be most effective in a combative situation. Also, you’ll get some details on the difference between a taser and a stun-gun to see which self-defense tool will be best for you! Awesome!

The simplest answer follows a set of ‘general rules’. The first thing to understand is that a stun-gun requires you to be within the physical range of the attacker and for you to physically touch the device to the person that is assaulting you.

The incapacitation time is directly related to how long you hold the stun gun against the attacker. .5 seconds or half a second will generally startle an opponent and potentially cause them to jump back. 1 to 2 seconds will cause muscle spasms and a dazed mental state, sort of like feeling dizzy. Anything over 3 could cause actual incapacitation which can last from 5 minutes up to 60 minutes depending on the person. Remember, 3 seconds may not seem like a long time, but it is quite a long time when you’re in a physical struggle!

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how long does a stun gun incapacitate

How A Stun Gun Works

A stun gun issues a high a voltage shock to an attacker that will immobilize and incapacitate them, but due to the low amperage, there is no permanent damage done to the attacker. The electrical current itself interrupts the communication between the brain and the central nervous system so that the muscles can no longer work efficiently. 

With the muscles having so much energy dumped into them it causes them to operate extremely rapidly and forces the blood sugar to be converted into lactic acid almost immediately.

You will want to try your best to hold the device to the attacker for more than 3 seconds to cause the desired effects. This will cause them to be incapacitated for 5 minutes and up to 60 minutes depending on the individual.

What Type Of Stun Gun Do You Need?

The first thing to understand is the type of stun gun you have. Manufacturers will make wild claims of a million to tens of millions of volts. Although these claims are true, you can disregard the voltage. All the voltage does is ensure that the current will pass through heavy clothing and skin to deliver the current.

How many volts do you need? 25,000. Yup, that’s all! But don’t worry if you have more – it’s perfectly fine if it’s higher than 25,000 volts even if it’s up in the millions.

What you care about is the number of amps in the stun gun. Most stun gun amperage will range from 2-5 milliamps or .002-.005 amps. It takes 100 milliamps to start reaching lethal levels.

Almost all advertising refers to voltage, so you won’t find any stun guns that advertise their amperage. The most widely recommended stun gun – even by reviews that acknowledge the amperage to be the determining factor of strength – is the Vipertek VTS-989.

Getting Used To Your Stun Gun

One very important thing is to familiarize yourself with the device. You’re going to only be using it seriously in a very high-stress emergency and if you just buy it and carry it around it would be like buying a gun for self-defense but never learning how to load it.

Some good ideas might be to place it next to you and with your eyes closed and then reach and grab it and hold it in an offensive position. If you do this even just 5-10 minutes a day you will be able to naturally grab it more effectively than if you have never touched it since you purchased it. Another thing this will help with is getting you used to turning the safety switch on and off in an efficient manner.

One other thing is to just be mindful of the batteries. If it just sits in your pocket or purse for 3 months the battery may have lost its charge naturally. This is another good reason to be testing it periodically to ensure that it works when you really need it!

Where To Shock The Attacker

Ideally, you want to use the stun gun on the attacker somewhere from below the neck and above the waist. If you are disabled from the encounter, then just make sure you get some sort of contact with the stun gun and then hold the button for at least 3 seconds. 3+ seconds of active contact will cause the attacker to lose balance and be delirious for several minutes and allow you time to get away.

Don’t worry! There is no risk of you being shocked if the attacker is touching you because the current becomes completely absorbed in the attacker’s muscles.

The Difference Between A Taser And A Stun Gun

There is a lot of misuse of the term between the term of the taser and the stun gun. A stun gun requires you to be at close range and touch the device to the attacker. The taser has 2 electrodes that shoot out when you pull the trigger that has prongs on the end to attach themselves to the clothes, or even the skin, of the attacker. If you keep holding the trigger, then the taser will keep shocking.

A taser is sometimes a better option because it gives you the ability to stand at range, but you do have to ensure both the electrodes hit the target. They are also expensive compared to a stun-gun.

Now You Know

We’ve covered how long does a stun gun incapacitate someone. Now you should understand that it takes a stun gun a minimum of 3 seconds contact to incapacitate the attacker for 5-60 minutes. You also have some more knowledge on how to use your stun gun effectively and if you should have a stun gun or a taser! This will help you on your pursuit of finding the best self-defense weapon that suits your needs. Again, if you decide on the stun gun the best one, I’ve found is the Vipertek VTS-989.

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