Captive Bolt Stunner Care

By Chuck Bildstein, BPD Humane Stunning Product Specialist

Captive bolt tools are used extensively throughout the world as a primary harvest method of slaughter for many species of animals. The primary species are beef, pork and lamb. They are much safer than weapons and are a very effective method of slaughter. The key to achieving top performance from a stunner is the cleaning and maintenance of the tool. My standard advice for plants that use captive bolt tools is, “if you shoot it – clean it.” This does not mean after each shot, but at the end of the work day. There are many plants that I visit that have either never cleaned their stunner, or they only do it occasionally. If your plant is using a captive bolt tool, it is arguably the most important piece of equipment in your plant. If it fails to stun the animal properly on the first shot, you run the risk of being shut down for inhumane treatment of the animal – a risk that can be substantially reduced by taking care to ensure the equipment is operating properly before using it.

It is important that you establish a good working relationship with your vendor of choice for captive bolt equipment. Make sure you understand what level of support they can offer to you. For example, do they have an expert on staff that can answer your questions when needed? Do they offer on-site service and training? Where are the tools manufactured? The old adage of “you get what you pay for” is applicable when considering your options of which tool to purchase.

All captive bolt stunner manufacturers should have a manual included with the purchase of the tool. The manual will typically cover everything from how to use the tool properly and safely to cleaning, maintenance and trouble-shooting suggestions. I highly recommend that all users of captive bolt tools read and understand these instructions before ever using the equipment. Some manufacturers now include a video on these subjects.

For smaller plants with minimal usage, it is recommended that the barrel/breech assembly be cleaned and inspected each day after use. This assembly would include the penetrating rod, barrel/muzzle, bumpers, washers and breech. These are the primary wear parts of most captive bolt tools, so it is important that they are inspected on a regular basis. Cleaning procedures can vary, but I suggest that equipment should be cleaned with a gun cleaning solution (do not use a penetrating oil like WD 40) to remove rust, gun powder residue or any other contaminate from the parts.

If the stunner you are using has rubber bumpers to stop the penetrating rod travel, do not use any cleaning solvents on them. They should be wiped clean with a dry shop rag and inspected for excessive wear. If any of them are cracked, split or show excessive wear they should be replaced. It is not necessary to replace all of them, just the ones that show wear. All washers and O rings should be inspected and cleaned in the same manner.

The penetrating rod should be cleaned and inspected for damage, and to make sure it is not bent. You should never use anything that removes metal on the penetrating rod. These include files, grinders, sandpaper and emery cloth. The penetrating end of the bolt is designed to cut through the hide and skull and should have a sharp edge to it. Some manufacturers have sharpening tools for their equipment.

The barrel should be inspected for rusting, metal pitting and cracks. A steel or brass brush should be used to clean the inside bore of the barrel. A small amount of gun cleaning solution can be used to help loosen built up debris. Be sure to wipe clean excess cleaning solution from the inside bore. If the barrel has a penetrating rod retention system (a system that holds the penetrating rod in the proper position), the components of the system should be inspected for proper function. The easiest way to test this, on most models, is to push the bolt into the proper position for use and shake the barrel/breech assembly in a downward motion. If the penetrating rod falls out of position easily, the retention system is not working properly and should be repaired. Refer to the manufacturer’s maintenance manual for these procedures.

The breech should be cleaned and inspected in the same manner. Be sure to check for pitting on the inside bore. If there is severe pitting present, it can impact the performance of the tool, and the breech should be replaced in this case. A steel or brass brush should be used to clean the breech. A small amount of gun cleaning solution can be used to help loosen built up debris. Be sure to wipe clean excess cleaning solution from the inside bore. The chamber should be cleaned as well. Some manufacturers include a chamber cleaning brush and cloth for this operation.

These are the minimal cleaning and inspection recommendations for captive bolt tools. It is important that you educate yourself, or any-one that you have doing maintenance on them, on how to do it properly and how often.

If you have questions, or would like to schedule a consultation for your equipment, contact Chuck Bildstein by email at [email protected] or by phone at 319-573-6121.

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