Reloadron
Contributing Member
Same here. My primary care guy wants to see me twice a year and once a year full bloodwork. My VA primary care is the same. They know I am an active range rat including indoor ranges.
Ron
Anyone Get Black Nose From an Indoor Range?
- Thread starter DMW1116
- Start date
Ron
I shoot outdoors about once a week. I started getting lead checked at my last checkup but haven’t had a checkup yet for this cycle.
Not that smell is a reliable indicator, but the only thing I regularly smell at my local outdoor range is the couple of dedicated black powder guys’ guns.
Not that smell is a reliable indicator, but the only thing I regularly smell at my local outdoor range is the couple of dedicated black powder guys’ guns.
Considering indoor ranges are full of unburnt powder. I am not sure that is the safest way to check.
Pete D.
Member
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2010
- Messages
- 2,659
I shoot at an indoor range near my home in Brooklyn, NY. Some years ago, with a full line shooting a Bullseye match, the air would get a bit smoky during the sustained fire stages. That was not good..there is nothing in “range smoke” that you want to be breathing in. We upped the Hepa filter change schedule and installed a secondary blower above the head of the shooter in each of the points. The blower forces the air in the points to move downrange more quickly. Smoke tests indicate that it is working .
TheHermit
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2021
- Messages
- 36
If the range has poor ventilation, it is normal (and not healthy). I'd recommend finding a range with better ventilation and shooting plated or jacketed bullets instead of cast lead indoors to reduce your lead exposure.
armoredman
Member
I used to WORK at an indoor range with "almost substandard" ventilation - I never had that issue or had anyone on the line with that issue. Do not use that range again until they fix the ventilation.
Get a respirator and do your best Darth Vadar.
I bought one for shooting plate matches indoors and have used it for other things since.
A mask like these:
Amazon.com : respirator mask with filters
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I've only shot at an indoor range one in my 45+ years of shooting so I have nothing personal to contribute.
However, since I have been shooting (and tumbling, smelting, casting, reloading etc) I asked my doctor to do a lead test while having routine blood work done.
He asked why and I told him.
He said he'd ordered a few tests over the years and only ever had one come back high.
It was a police officer who shot in an indoor league for many years.
BTW, mine came back with "no measurable levels detected".
However, since I have been shooting (and tumbling, smelting, casting, reloading etc) I asked my doctor to do a lead test while having routine blood work done.
He asked why and I told him.
He said he'd ordered a few tests over the years and only ever had one come back high.
It was a police officer who shot in an indoor league for many years.
BTW, mine came back with "no measurable levels detected".
Riomouse911
Member
Since the nearest outdoor range is 30 miles away, and has been closed due to high water in the creek crossing since January, I am limited to a 75 mile one-way desert run or 3 miles to the indoor range. I choose to shoot indoors out of convenience.
I switched to loading only plated/coated bullets for indoors because of smoke not only obscuring my vision briefly shooting through a complete cylinder, but others shooting next to me aren’t thrilled either. The lead/lube bullets are now all outdoor only range fodder, once the water recedes they will be perfect.
I have had lead levels checked numerous times, so far I have never had a Pb level the MD has ever mentioned was a worry.
Some folks who may have a greater exposure risk than I should certainly keep having their Pb levels checked.
Stay safe.
I switched to loading only plated/coated bullets for indoors because of smoke not only obscuring my vision briefly shooting through a complete cylinder, but others shooting next to me aren’t thrilled either. The lead/lube bullets are now all outdoor only range fodder, once the water recedes they will be perfect.
I have had lead levels checked numerous times, so far I have never had a Pb level the MD has ever mentioned was a worry.
Some folks who may have a greater exposure risk than I should certainly keep having their Pb levels checked. Stay safe.
Ignition Override
Member
No. Had never heard of this.
Just “Black Pinkie” after barely touching the PTR-91’s chamber after forty rounds of .308.
When it’s very difficult to determine/see whether a chamber is empty…Pinkie Method.
Just “Black Pinkie” after barely touching the PTR-91’s chamber after forty rounds of .308.
When it’s very difficult to determine/see whether a chamber is empty…Pinkie Method.
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Ignition Override
Member
Could there also be Black Lung if you shoot there very often?
SterlingBullet
Member
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2015
- Messages
- 305
I never have gotten a black nose from an indoor range, but I did once, get a black eye from indoor rage.
375supermag
Member
Hi...
I used to shoot indoors at a range that hosted a couple of matches every week.
They had a pretty good ventilation system that cleared the smoke out of the shooting area quite quickly.
Still, I was never really comfortable shooting indoors for several reasons, one of which possible ingestion of lead particulates.
I only shoot outdoors these days at a couple of gun clubs.
I used to shoot indoors at a range that hosted a couple of matches every week.
They had a pretty good ventilation system that cleared the smoke out of the shooting area quite quickly.
Still, I was never really comfortable shooting indoors for several reasons, one of which possible ingestion of lead particulates.
I only shoot outdoors these days at a couple of gun clubs.
jlmwrite
Member
During my misspent twenties, I remember coming out of Army shoot houses after 4 hours of exercises with blackface and tasting lead. The only ventilation on those was from doors and leaks in the ceiling. As an aside, that's where I began development of my military grade tinnitus.
These days I have it good with my upscale local indoor range where the air completely turns over every three minutes.
These days I have it good with my upscale local indoor range where the air completely turns over every three minutes.
I got it a few times but mainly because of the configuration of the gun I was firing and the number of rounds. It was a SIG522 with an ASE-Utra Dual Rimfire suppressor. There is quite a lot of back pressure when firing with a suppressor, and the SIG had a reputation for being "smoky" at the rear of the receiver.
That, combined with several hundred rounds fired in one session (because I had two 50 round drum mags and five of the 25 rounders) caused that black residue in the nose.
That, combined with several hundred rounds fired in one session (because I had two 50 round drum mags and five of the 25 rounders) caused that black residue in the nose.
The one I have went to is bad enough with one person on the line.
Even then I find myself holding my breath and stepping back after a mag, kinda like I'm spray painting real quick.
The last time with a full line was bad enough that I wished I had a respirator and wound up leaving.
They have fans but they don't seem to move the air very well.
Even then I find myself holding my breath and stepping back after a mag, kinda like I'm spray painting real quick.
The last time with a full line was bad enough that I wished I had a respirator and wound up leaving.
They have fans but they don't seem to move the air very well.
