Hurricane ties – GreenBuildingAdvisor

You can use a nail gun to attach connectors like hurricane ties, you just have to use a “positive placement nailer” such as this model from Paslode:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Paslode-Pneumatic-30-F150S-PP-1-5-in-Positive-Placement-Metal-Connector-Air-Tool-Framing-Nailer-515850/314572454?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&srsltid=AfmBOopoynB0Xm9gk9wxHmsLXVuPD3_mq32HZrIPECLo40KfuoKTj3tGGQY&gQT=1

Note that there are plenty of other similar products that can do what you need. The “positive placement” part is basically a special tip on the nailer that makes sure you can get the nail into the hole in the steel strap part of the connector.

That said, the purpose of hurricane ties — and there are TWO PARTS to them (one ties the rafter/truss, top plate, and stud together, the other ties the stud, sill plate, and foundation together) is to resist uplift forces that are created by high winds. The idea is to keep the structure tied together so that it can hold up better in high winds. Without hurricane ties, you have forces acting to pull nails straight out, not unlike the force exerted on a nail when removing it with a hammer’s claw. The hurricane ties put the forces on the nails in shear, where they have more resistance to pulling out of the wood framing members.

Bill