Ranges requiring no exposed lead bullets

[627PCFan]

A buddy of mine was asking me about the difference between FMJ and TMJ bullets today. Aside from the obvious, a couple of local ranges have switched over to "no exposed lead" on their ranges because they refuse to update to sufficient airflow systems, probably cost related. I suggested he continue to use plated bullets which all lead is covered and then thought about it, who are we kidding? Do the ranges really expect a 38 special or other plated, TMJ or FMJ impacting a slopped steel plate at 500MPH to not break/shatter at some point and expose lead to the area? Thats not even accounting for rifle rounds which most of us have seen the ultra high speed video of on the internet.

 

[Sam1911]

No, they don't. But they probably are thinking that containing the airborne lead mostly in the bullet impact zone is better than having all the atomized lead from lead bullet bases exposed to propellant gasses.

 

[MErl]

Ranges have such a rule with a hard steel backstop and not a soft capture? That is a sign that there is a regulation to comply with. Bullets aside I thought the primers were the bigger contributor of airborne lead.

At least plated bullets are inexpensive.

 

[Ryanxia]

Glad our range is outdoors (covered but no ventilation system) and we can shoot whatever the heck we want.

 

[joem1945]

Outdoor cowboy range has sign "lead bullets only'.

 

[Sunray]

"...they refuse to update to sufficient airflow systems..." You ever look into the cost of doing that? Range owners are usually doing what their liability insurance carrier has told 'em to do. Generally with an "or else" tacked on.
"...difference between FMJ and TMJ bullets..." An FMJ usually has exposed lead on the base while a TMJ does not.

 

[hso]

TMJ or FMJ impacting a slopped steel plate at 500MPH to not break/shatter at some point and expose lead to the area

As Sam1911 gently pointed out, the lead at the stop is more easily addressed than the vaporized lead at the shooter's position. Lead "splatter" is larger particle size with most of it being in visible fragments representing no health hazard to the shooter while the lead vaporized of the base of a partly jacketed bullet (along with any old style lead primer) if very fine particle and has to be handled with that expensive air filtration system.

 

[jcwit]

While I still believe the dangers of lead are way overstated, I will admit the future looks bleak for lead bullets and lead base bullets at indoor ranges.

Heck I think the days are numbered even for the outdoors.

But then what do I know, I'm only old.

 

[svtruth]

Does anyone know of any studies of blood lead levels in shooters?

 

[kitsapshooter]

The average shooter will not have elevated lead levels at any time in their life. One guy I shoot with had no high lead and he was exposed to it everyday for over 10 years either shooting or reloading.
Now the facts - You are going to get more lead exposure from lead styphnate in your primers then you will get from bullets unless you are firing 10's of thousands of rounds.

 

[Coyote3855]

Outdoor cowboy range has sign "lead bullets only"

Same at my SASS range. Intended to prevent damage to steel plates and targets. We've had jerks shoot those targets with AP rifle ammo.

Does anyone know of any studies of blood lead levels in shooters?

I don't know of any, might try a google search. Friend who shot a lot of lead at our indoor range before the circulation system went in was tested with high levels in his blood. He started wearing a high quality respirator when shooting and the levels went back down. At least that's his story, I cannot confirm if it's true.

 

[JSH1]

Does anyone know of any studies of blood lead levels in shooters?

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6025a2.htm

 

[80Goat]

My local range prohibits lead bullets. Jacketed Soft Point are allowed.

 

[Jim Watson]

hso has it.
There was a study published in IDPA Tactical Journal that concluded bullet spatter against a hard trap was too large particle size to be airborne for any distance, especially against any sort of ventilation.
It also concluded that fume eroded from the bullet was a greater contributor to airborne lead than lead styphnate priming, which runs counter to the common wisdom.

 

[LiveLife]

Does anyone know of any studies of blood lead levels in shooters?

On 4/24/14, CDC released a 10 year study of elevated lead levels from indoor range shooters - http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6316a3.htm?s_cid=mm6316a3_w

During 2002–2012, a total of 2,056 persons ... this report document serious lead exposure from indoor firing ranges ... BLLs (blood lead levels) should be kept below 10 µg/dL for all adults, and below 5 µg/dL for children and pregnant women.

The findings in this report also suggest that firing range customers and family members of firing range employees, in addition to employees themselves, can be exposed to hazardous amounts of lead.

... The number of persons with elevated BLLs from firearms use during 2011–2012 highlights the need to increase prevention activities. Airborne and surface lead levels in firing ranges can be greatly reduced by using lead-free bullets, improving ventilation systems, using wet mopping or HEPA vacuuming instead of dry sweeping, and having a written protocol for range maintenance.

My blood lead level quickly increased from 8 to 12 within a short period of time I shot and collected spent brass from indoor ranges. At the recommendation of my doctor, I stopped shooting at indoor ranges and my lead level dropped - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9625420#post9625420

Unless the indoor range has proper ventilation system and cleaning procedures, I prefer to shoot outdoors.

 

[Deanimator]

I wouldn't shoot at such a range. I couldn't afford to.

When I can afford to shoot, I shoot a lot, all lead bullet handloads.

 

[George Dickel]

One of the local indoor ranges where I shoot was closed for a few days earlier this year because the air filters in the filtration system were dirty and his filter supplier had sent the incorrect filters. The owner told me that if he kept the range open using the dirty filters and an inspector from one of the alphabet soup agencies (I forget which one he stated) did an inspection and discovered the dirty filters, it could result in a fine in the thousands of dollars. He didn't like having the range closed because he lost revenue but the fine would be much larger than his profit.
Also, the filters are not cheap so the dirtier the air in the range the faster the filters become clogged and don't clean the air any longer requiring more frequent changes.

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend of a friend in the environmental services of my agency said that the indoor range was ok on lead... but the vegetation near the exhaust was scary. The exhaust air was not filtered, just blown out into the world. But that was a number of years ago.

 

[rodinal220]

The culprit is the primers,not so much the bullets.I have yet to see any real research on the "vaporization" of the lead bullet,whether all lead or the exposed base types.

 

[skeeziks]

Rodinal220 has it right. It's about 90% the primers.

 

[CountGlockula]

FMJ and TMJs are only allowed at my indoor range. Hollow points aren't allowed because some shooters can't shoot and hit the target hangers that particles can't bounce back.

 

[CoffeedrinkerinNC]

Do powder coated count, as no exposed lead?

 

[Kaeto]

I'm glad there is a range near me that allows all lead projectiles.

 

[wgp]

Attended a pistol class last weekend and we got a speech from the instructor about lead. He said safe levels were up to about 10 (as noted in another post). His were over 55 and he was suffering pretty severe physical effects that caused him to see a doctor, which is what prompted the diagnosis. He is now on expensive medication to purge the lead from his system. He works at indoor ranges 4 or so days a week, and now understands exposure to lead from bullets, primers, lead dust accumulating on shoes and gear sitting on the range, drinking from bottles or cans sitting on the range, etc. Lead on your hands from reloading lead bullets is in there, too.

I do almost all my shooting outdoors. A "no lead" sign on an indoor range would cause me to think their air handlers weren't up to what they should be and to likely go somewhere else.