[mr_dove]

No, its not me. I'm just curious because I've seen reloading presses for sale on E-bay several times that state "health reasons" as the reason for selling the setup.

For the life of me I can't think of any health problems severe enough to have to stop shooting or reloading.

Are there any health risks inherent in the reloading hobby (other than blowing yourself up)?

I've heard similar statements regarding shooting in general and have the same question about that. I have a friend with only 1 arm and he shoots an SKS without any problems. I think having only 1 arm would qualify as a health problem but it doesn't keep you from shooting.

[oscar]

I can think of several. Bad eyes, arthritis, bad back, bad elbow, emphysema, and a variety of terminal problems.

[stans]

Or his wife has proclaimed that she will no longer feed him until he gets rid of that @#^* gun stuff and he is slowly starving to death!

[Frohickey]

The only thing I can think of is lead poisoning.

When you shoot a *LOT*, in poorly ventilated indoor ranges, you are exposed to lead styphenate in the primers. Do that multiple times a month, and with other people adding their own primer dust in the air, and you could get lead poisoning.

As to reloading, there is lead primer dust after you tumble your empty brass. That black powder stuff coating the bowl, the media and the outside and inside of the case (not a heavy coat on the brass) is lead dust, as well as carbon from the powder. If you sift your brass from the media inside, you could get lead dust all over you. And its not really lead dust, but a lead compound dust, which is worse. Elemental lead is not as readily absorbed by the body. Lead compounds on the other hand are easier to absorb.

I think that you can mitigate the risks if you wear one of those disposable masks when you sift brass/media. Do it in the garage, with the garage door, and patio door to the outside open, so you get a bit of airflow. Also, wear a pair of latex/rubber gloves when you do it. You will get a lot of black stuff on your hands. And of course, wash hands before eating, rubbing your eyes, etc.

Another thing to do is wear latex/rubber gloves when reloading. The thin latex ones they sell at Home Depot in the Paint Department are pretty good. After a session of reloading, the gloves are black in the finger areas. Thats lead primer dust that you won't have in the pores of your fingers.

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

The main reason is age and the lessening of abilities. I am 69 and still shoot and have a lifetime of ammo in many calibers that I will not get around to shooting. Weapons and reloading gear is hard to let go but I have provided all my family with their desires and when I pass on why leave a lot of stuff for my spouse to wonder about the value of and how to sell it for the best price? So I am selling constantly as I know my values and where to sell what I have.

Many returning war veterans wished to keep their shooting skills and thousands of WW 2 Vets are passing on daily and Korean Vets like myself aren't as able for many activities we once enjoyed. There is nothing worse than seeing guys wanting to rip off the widow of a old buddy on the goodies he left behind. I am going to travel with my wife with the proceeds of my hobby stuff whenever I get it all sold and I had better get busy as most of my friends older and younger are gone already.

Fitz

[Cortland]

For the life of me I can't think of any health problems severe enough to have to stop shooting or reloading.

How about just old age? People get old, their eyesight gets poor, they become weak, they have trouble walking and keeping their balance, they may not be able to drive anymore to get to the range, etc.

While I would call shooting (and reloading) a "life-long" hobby, clearly there are limits.

[JuniorG]

The only thing I can think of is lead poisoning


I've had my lead levels checked twice a year for 3-4 years now. So far so good.

[Jaywalker]

Hearing degradation is another potential. I double-plug, but have had ringing in my ears due to years around jet engines. You might get to the point where a doc will tell you that you shouldn't shoot anymore.

Jaywalker

[Tinker]

Could also be a terminal illness in the seller. A "you've got 6 months" report could change your perceptions.

[Poodleshooter]

I'd have to vote that old age is the culprit. Sadly I know of no reloaders amongst my under 30 shooting friends. Most reloaders I know are grandfathers. :(
Ditto JuniorG's experience with lead. I've had tests and zero problems. About the worst thing you can do to cause lead poisoning is to eat or drink while handling lead, not wash your hands afterwards, or shoot in a poorly ventilated indoor range.

[raz-0]

artrhitis, lead poisoning, and repetitive stress injury. All will make reloading more of a PITA than buying cheap boxed ammo.

[Coltdriver]

I have a friend who "quit for health reasons" after he had a stroke.

I know of others who have developed arthritis that is so painful that shooting a hand gun or a rifle it not an enjoyable experience anymore.

When I look at something on ebay I just look at and and occasionally read the feedback the person has received.

Quitting for health reasons may be a catch all, but there are, unfortunately, a lot of reasons that are valid that fall under the category of health.

[The_Antibubba]

The wife says, "Maybe you should sleep with the reloader, since you spend more time with it than with me!"

:evil:

[Tommy Gunn]

I wish that we could all be physiologically 25yo for our allotted time in this world.

Aging, it is actually dying as our bodies just fall apart and decay years before we actually die.

[Sunray]

There's nothing about reloading that's inherently dangerous. Even shooting inside. It takes a long time for enough lead to get into you to effect you. Any indoor range should have proper venitaltion anyway. If not the range should be closed.
Casting your own bullets in an inadequtely ventilated space will speed this up considerably. Used to shoot with a guy who had to pack it in for a while as he was doing just this. Mind you, he's also a Hydro type of some kind, engineer, I think, so that may have had something to do with it, but plain old reloading is completely safe. No smoking or open flames while you are loading of course.

[Fatnhappy]

"Or his wife has proclaimed that she will no longer feed him until he gets rid of that @#^* gun stuff and he is slowly starving to death!"


ROFLMAO!

When my wife cooks she only needs to speed dial








The only risk in reloading is terminal stupidity. Don't smoke,Wash your hands after handling lead don't RWI (reloading while intoxicated).
Honest to God, I know an idiot that flicked his cigarette ash into the powder hopper because it was, relatively speaking, where he normally kept the ash tray. Luckily he ony needed to replace drywall.

[mete]

You can also become allergic to the components especially the solvents in the powder.

[Art Eatman]

Hey, I'm turning 70 on July 6th.

Any of you Old Farts out there wanna part with a set of .45 Colt dies?

:), Art