den Otter wrote:
>
> ----------
> > From: Michael S. Lorrey <retroman@turbont.net>
>
> > > [dart guns]
> > The problem with the shotgun blast idea is that the spreading
> > phenomenon. Round lead shot does spread, but not by much because of its
> > ballistic stability and simple aerodynamics. Needles, on the other hand,
> > would generate much more drag (more surface area to a given mass) than
> > can be overcome by inertia, and there will be more chaotic turbulence,
> > causing much greater spreading. It might even be so bad that the shooter
> > might hit himself with one or two needles looping around.
>
> That would be nasty indeed. Perhaps the good old single-heavy-
> needle approach (used to sedate wild animals) is still the best. Or,
> as a compromize, you could fire 2-5 medium-sized projectiles
> at once.
Anything not round or not spinning from rifling will tumble and loop. You don't need a needle to penetrate to deliver a drug, just use a fine shot, maybe #12 or #16 or so would do, coated with the drug.
>
> > WARNING: Potentially graphic descriptions of violence:
> > CIA typically relies on rohypnol, pentathol, and the other reliables
> > when it wants its victims intact. They usually only do this when they
> > want to either help someone defect, or to interrogate or reprogram a
> > targeted person. If they want to put the prisoner back where he came
> > from afterward (i.e. no visible marks), they will use a sensory
> > deprivation chamber, with hydrophones on the victim, for a period of
> > several hours.
>
> Hydrophones? I suppose you don't mean the notorious head drip
> method (allegedly also very effective)?