Do you always wash your hands after touching bullets?

[Mark1964]

Generally, yes.
And I keep a packet of hand wipes in all my range bags.

 

[tark]

I have never washed my hands after coming in contact with anything shooting related. Been checked for lead levels and all kinds of other levels......everything is in the normal range. I'm just disgustingly healthy. Last time I ran a fever was 1986. Can't remember ever being sick since then. If you want to hate me I'll understand....Lol.

 

[memtb]

Only if hand loading......wash before and after! memtb

 

[sequins]

I Do NOW, after testing positive for elevated lead on my blood work. Gloves and I wash anyways, same with casings too im sure all my reloading brass is covered in lead. I worry about dumping my tumbling water in my septic as its polluting my yard. Lead is serious. Get tested and wash with cold water and dled soap every time please

 

[CapnMac]

Generally, only after handling fired brass and/or cleaning.

And, I probably ought be better when handling older, collectible, ammo, too, especially if it has exposed oxidized lead, or been near any.

RNL or wadcutters and all the exposed lead rounds do not have exposed, friable, lead, typically.

The lead styphanate in many primers is chemically active (or it would make a poor primer) in raw state, and is very bio-absorptive after being fired. Bullets splashed on metal plates will create fine particulate matter, if of largely inert lead. This is what can make indoors ranges more complicated.

People who smoke need to be extra careful. For one, they are getting trace quanta of lead from smoking. But, you are changing how receptive your body is to chemicals. So, you want to get a no-water cleanser on after handling spent brass and before lighting up.

Lead absorption is complicated. The retention is slow, and builds up equally slowly. By the time outwards symptoms develop--blue lines at nails and gums, your level is very high. Correcting excess accumulation of heavy metals in humans is very complicated. It's a slow and not-fun experience. The mechanism involves introducing compound the metals will be inclined to bond to, but are also disinclined to be retained in the body. This is referred to as Chelation therapy. And with lead, EDTA chelation in adults is under-fun (can lead to kidney issues for needing to pass all the calcium out).

Now, to be entirely fair, all humanity exists upon a spectrum (several spectra, really), so everyone is just a bit different. Your Mileage Will Vary.

Gloves are cheap, life is not.

 

[Skeptic13]

I try to wash my hands periodically but not because I have handled bullets. Most of what I reload is jacketed except shotgun shot.

 

[Cypress]

Still crimping split shot weights on my fishing line with my teeth. Probably be dead tomorrow. Nice knowing y’all!!!

 

[Bfh_auto]

After reloading ammo or shooting.
But if I load the magazine for hunting etc. I don't worry about it.
There's enough dust, lube, etc that reloading requires it.

 

[wiscoaster]

No I don't. But I played (bare-handed) with mercury as a kid, do my brain is already addled.

 

[PWC]

Always taught in the Jr. shooting program to wash hands after shooting. Not just Purell; that just moves it around on your hands; cleaning requires running water to carry contaminants away. Either range bathroom, resturant bathroom, or home, made sure to tell parents over the PA too while kids were putting equip. away. They always stopped on the way home to get something to eat.

Didn't this last year teach you how to, when to, and for how long to wash your hands? LOL, LOL, LOL

 

[Virginia Jim]

Eventually.

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, I wash my hands after shooting, gun cleaning, reloading, casting, and bullet sizing and lubing.

But, I also wash my hands after working with the dogs and horses, working on the race car, and fabrication work in the shop.

Generally, I do not touch bullets unless I'm reloading, they are contained in boxes and bags where I do not have to touch the actual bullet.

 

[BigBore44]

No. If my hands feel or are visibly dirty, I’ll wash them.

 

[RETG]

I could say I only wished that places I used to operate had hand washing locations for use after I re-loaded a mag; that's in the past and cannot be changed. However, even here in the states, I have to say....NO, I do not and plan not to wash my hands only due to touching ammo. I wash my hands when they get dirty and before eating, but not just due to ammo.

And since I have a few pieces of (presumably) lead shrapnel in my left thigh that have been there now for 54 years and I don't have any signs of lead poisoning; not going to worry.

I'm 73 and no health problems, other than a problem with my sciatic nerve.

However, if others want to wash their hands there might be a good reason to do so, just have never seen any firm evidence that a person can get lead poisoning from handling lead ammo.

 

[Gary Gill]

Yep, sure do. After any activity like reloading, handling my guns, or when I'm done shooting at the range I always wash my hands. If I'm some place without access to soap and water I will use some sort of Handi-wipe to clean my hands with.

I do as well

 

[WheelGunMan]

Yes! After shooting..after reloading..after touching shopping carts in a public space!

 

[Space Ghost]

I have an immune system...

I even blow the dirt off my food when I drop it, and eat it anyway.

5 second rule.

 

[AK Hunter]

I wash my hands after doing anything with my firearms or ammo. Specially before eating.

 

[GBExpat]

Do you always wash your hands after touching bullets?

Yes ... o'course I have always been a Hand Washer, even long before it was de rigueur. I go thru a LOT of both hand soap and GOJO.

 

[jr_watkins]

Yes, wash hands with regular soap and water then follow with lead removing soap. I do this every time I reload, shoot, or clean guns.

 

[RCB]

Harbor freights XL nitrile gloves. I use it when cleaning the rifles too. But on the average day shooting, no. Just when cleaning or maintenance. Keeps debris and oil from getting into freshly cleaned parts.

 

[vintovka]

Yes! After shooting..after reloading..after touching shopping carts in a public space!

Part of Masters program in Hazardous Materials and Epidemiology was a contaminant transfer class. The use of luminescent powder showed how easy it was to spread a contaminant with simple dermal contact on "public" surfaces. Use of non hazardous bacterial material added to the learning experience. Just a bit on the classroom doorknob spread to 90% of class. A bit on the restroom push plates and or stair grab rails got to everyone. The one on the wash room faucets alone got 80-100% of class.

 

[wiscoaster]

Part of Masters program in Hazardous Materials and Epidemiology was a contaminant transfer class. ...

Just curious (and honestly don't know the answer): is transdermal absorption of a new contaminant more or less after hand washing? My logic says one of the body's natural defense systems is skin oil.

 

[CapnMac]

is transdermal absorption of a new contaminant more or less after hand washing?

I believe the answer is "It depends."
There's lead and there's lead.
Lead alloy as a bullet or shot is chemically pretty stable. Unless you start abrading it to make fine particulates.
Lead as a compound, though can be more chemically reactive. And can have an affinity with neurochemistry.

 

[CDW4ME]

After shooting, loading bullets into magazine at the range, yes.
After loading defensive ammo? No, its unnecessary; I use my wife's panties to keep ̶f̶i̶n̶g̶e̶r̶p̶r̶i̶n̶t̶s̶ oil from my fingers off the bullets.