The nail gun is used to fire nails into steel, masonry and wood. Compressed gases are capable of firing projectiles up to 10 cm into fully stressed concrete at velocities as high as 1,400 feet per second.
Some guns eject nails by detonating an explosive cartridge placed directly behind the gun barrel.
Most nail guns eject nails by activating a captive piston with either an explosive cartridge or compressed air. Nails are preloaded into the nail gun.and are often joined by copper wires or adhesive. In a nail gun injury, these barbs can fragment and further contaminate the wound. There have been numerous cases of operators, as well as bystanders being injured when both of the activation mechanisms- usually a safety wire at the muzzle and the trigger are simultaneously depressed unintentionally. The nail may strike and cause sever injury.