# How do tranquilizer darts work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 16, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398 "2013-01-16T17:15:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398/1 "2013-01-16T17:15:36Z")

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How do tranquilizer darts work? Specifically, how does the tranquilizing fluid get injected into the animal?

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**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398/2 "2013-01-16T18:44:31Z")

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The impact causes a trigger to move which allows a compression mechanism to inject the liquid through the hollow needle.

[Here is a link](http://www.patentgenius.com/image/4103893-2.html) to a diagram of a dart which uses the release of compressed air to push the plunger.

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398/3 "2013-01-16T18:44:50Z")

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From the [Wikipedia article on tranquilizer guns:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquilizer_dart)

> [@Wikipedia](#):
>
> On impact with the animal, the momentum of a steel ball at the rear of the dart pushes the syringe plunger and injects the dose of barbiturate or other drug into the animal.

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**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tranquilizer-darts-work/647398/4 "2013-01-16T21:00:22Z")

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The darts we use actually have a small powder charge. Rather than rely on a fairly heavy slug in motion to impart its energy (momentum) to the plunger and thus send the drug out through the needle, a smaller ball hits a (rough equivalent of a) percussion cap. The small explosion drives the plunger. We find these to be lighter, permitting longer aimed shots, and more reliable.