Avoiding lead when tumbling brass

[Schwing]

My experience is not at all what I am reading here. I have only been reloading for about a year but I have been shooting for about 20 years. I do tumble (used to anyway) in my basement with a covered tumbler. I will be moving that outside. I wear gloves. I only shoot in an outdoor range but I am there 4-6 hours per week. No, I don't rub my eyes, pick my nose, eat the lead or scratch my bum.

I was just tested and was 32. A friend of mine who goes shooting with me nearly every week was chuckling that I had done something wrong or the test was wrong. He was tested and was 17.

I had my family tested to be sure it was not my property and they were all <3. Several folks at my work have been tested and are <5.

I think the bottom line for me is that I, for whatever reason, don't get the lead out of my system as much as some folks. Now I either get more serious about prevention or quite shooting.

I have a lot of reservations about wearing a mask at the range but I just bought one and am going to do it from now on. Just within my own circle, I have already taken a lot of ribbing over it but 20 years ago when I first started shooting, hearing protection was not mandatory at my range and a good number of folks didn't wear it... I am sure their TV's are turned up pretty loud these days.

I know a lot of you have been doing this for years while smoking, eating tea and crumpets and sucking on lead sinkers without a problem... I envy you.

 

[dmazur]

... only shoot in an outdoor range but I am there 4-6 hours per week.

That is 300 hrs/yr of exposure to powder residue!

A respirator should help, but it should be one which actually creates a face seal if you expect it to make any difference. The so-called "dust masks" sold at hardware stores are a waste of time and money. Also, you need a HEPA filter, not something designed for paint fumes.

Based on your description of events and conditions, it sounds like the shooting is more of an exposure than the reloading.

 

[W.E.G.]

+1 on the tumble-outdoors to minimize the mess.

That's what the outlet by the back door is for.

 

[Schwing]

That is 300 hrs/yr of exposure to powder residue!

A respirator should help, but it should be one which actually creates a face seal if you expect it to make any difference. The so-called "dust masks" sold at hardware stores are a waste of time and money. Also, you need a HEPA filter, not something designed for paint fumes.

Based on your description of events and conditions, it sounds like the shooting is more of an exposure than the reloading.

Ya, I already bought one.... it is nothing but sexy

 

[ssyoumans]

2 years ago a new shooting range opened up less than a mile from my house. I joined the range and began shooting there about 2-3 times a month (1.5 hr/visit). Along with the increased shooting, I began reloading a lot more as well. At last weeks physical I asked for my lead levels to be tested. They came back at 14. This surprised the heck out of me. I have always been a very careful reloader and followed strict hand washing techniques anytime I went shooting or did any part of the reloading process. I tumble my brass using bounce dryer sheet and the lid is on. It was done in my basement, about 20' from my reloading bench. I am struggling to figure out what/where the cause is?

I wonder how much is from "reloading" vs "shooting". On each trip to the range, I typically shoot 80-100 rounds of 22's (which are plated) and 75-100 rounds of centerfire ammo, mix of Berrys plated (9mm, 40 S&W, 380) except for 38/357 and 45 ACP which are MBC lead. I'm to the point that I am going to start using a 3M respirator when shooting or reloading. I have to go back and be retested in 6 months, so if you've never been tested, i would not listen to all those people who say it is blown out of proportion. I thought my practices were fine.

 

[fguffey]

Just about the time I am almost on the verge of taking someone serious about lead and the harm it can not do along comes more information, I believe I will attempt locating litmus paper.

http://leadcheck.com/blog/lead-exposure-porcelain-enameled-bathtubs

F. Guffey

 

[readyeddy]

Add water to keep the dust down. Add a wet paper towel and the paper towel will grab the dust, then you can remove the dust by throwing away the paper towel.

 

[ranger335v]

"Apparently, spent primers contain lots of lead "

Not so. There's precious little lead compound in primers and virtually all of it's blown out the muzzle. Don't hold your head over the tumbler bowl and breathe while it's working, don't lick your fingers clean afterwards and all will be well.

Most of the dust from tumblers is from grinding the cob or nut shells; it's harmless.

The frightening "lead" gray cake that builds on the media is excessive metal polish that has dried and then makes it's own dust cloud; don't add it to your eggs and grits for breakfast and it too will be harmless.

Adding an ounce or so of mineral spirits/oderless paint thinner to "dirty" media will reactivate the dried polish and help hold dust down.

Adding a few 2" squares of any open weave material (such as used dryer sheets) will trap a lot of the dust so it can be tossed out.

 

[ssyoumans]

So if shooting plated bullets, where does the dangerous lead exposure come from? What's driving up my lead levels?

 

[Hondo 60]

Washing brass in soap and water and rinsing well is probably a lot safer but not as shiny.

True, but where are you washing it?
In the kitchen sink?
And you do dishes in that sink?

I probably didn't word that well.
I'm not trying to flame.

I sure as heck wouldn't wash brass.
Unless you have a dedicated sink, but then where's that water going?
If you live in a city, the waste treatment plant.
I don't want lead going there.
If you live in the country, it's going into the ground water.
That doesn't sound good either.

 

[Hondo 60]

So if shooting plated bullets, where does the dangerous lead exposure come from? What's driving up my lead levels?

Lead styphnate! (Think Primers)
Are you shooting indoors?

Mine went from 29 down to 7 in well under 2 years, just cuz I stopped shooting indoors.

 

[ranger335v]

"...where does the dangerous lead exposure come from? What's driving up my lead levels?"

I don't know if your test was accurate. I don't know how long your lead has been high nor anything about your work, living and life style so I haven't a clue. But I've been casting bullets and fishing lures/sinkers, reloading and shooting reloads for about 45 years (and using an indoor vib tumbler in a small room for 30 years) with common sense precautions - no gloves, goggles or masks - and my lead count was quite low the only time I had it tested; that was some ten years ago.