I started reloading in 1973. When I first started it was common practice to clean primer pockets with a small screwdriver, the black soot went everywhere. I no longer clean primer pockets, not because of exposure but because of not being needed.
There's always duct tape ...I've tried shooting with a 3M mask, but it is difficult to get a cheek weld
A great signature line right there.Even back in the day we knew to vent the air and not lick the bullets
Were you shooting lead bullets, or jacketed? Does jacketed make a real difference?In my case it was inhaled particles, made significantly worse by shooting with a suppressor. It's one downside of shooting suppressed, especially with .22LR
Does jacketed make a real difference?
The main issue would be if he ate or smoked after the range, without washing his hands. A bigger issue at indoor ranges would be breathing the lead fumes or particles if there isn't sufficient air circulation. Ingestion and inhalation of lead are much bigger concerns than skin contact.Last time I was at the range there was a guy shooting with nitrile gloves on. I asked him what was up and he said he shoots weekly and he's trying to avoid lead issues. I never thought that much about it even when I was reloading. Any words of wisdom on this?
The linked information is very useful. It is reassuring to know that the body can and will eliminate lead.
A great signature line right there.
Were you shooting lead bullets, or jacketed? Does jacketed make a real difference?
Ah, yep. Good point and important distinction..22 LR bullets aren't jacketed. At most they are plated with an extremely thin coat of copper.
Lead pipes in the water system are not normally a health problem. In a properly maintained system water system, lead pipes naturally develop a surface coating that prevents lead from dissolving into the water. The problem in Flint MI (for example) wasn't that they had lead pipes, but that they mismanaged the system and destroyed that natural coating, which allowed lead to leach into the drinking water (and then tried to ignore and deny there was a problem).Only if he’s making the bullets via smelting and or he has lead water pipes in his home.
It is if you bend down towards the floor to pick up spent brass and inhale lead dust as lead dust settles on the floor. And depending on the ventilation system, can stir up lead dust from the floor.IMO the amount of lead exposure during a typical indoor range session shouldn't be an issue to someone not already diagnosed with lead exposure.
... this report document serious lead exposure from indoor firing ranges ... BLLs (blood lead level) 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. There are an estimated 19 million active target shooters in the United States.
... 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.