I just read a report from a muslim doctor who was doing a study between the Islamic method and bolt-gun method in comparison, he said there was no evidence the animals suffer from the stunning method. However it can happen that too much is used and the animal dies from heart failure, but again, the effect is instantaneous. In regards to halal, in the UK all meat that is certified (legal) the animal is stunned before it is killed using a knife. As long as the animal is unconscious and not dead it is still halal.
