"Lead free" ranges in the DC/MD/VA area?

[K-Romulus]

As some here know, I favor the "better safe than sorry" route when it comes to lead exposure and my 10 month-old. In past posts on lead poisoning I outed myself as "that guy" at the indoor range with respirator/hat/coveralls/range shoes, etc.

My current "lead free" range in Rockville (yes, The Range That Shall Not Be Named :eyes: ) has switched to that crappy Fiocchi "lead free" pistol ammo with the exposed lead nose . It seems they are going to use this from now on (you have to buy their ammo). In addition, the range uses lead shotgun slugs, .22lr lead ammo, and leaded-primer FMJ rifle ammo.

I've been reading more on the lead/range connection (other than the VPC crap) and medical literature on the consequences of childhood lead exposure and am no longer satisfied with ANY potential lead exposure for my kid if there are other available options.

I have seen that there are truly "lead free" ranges in other parts of the US. Any one know of any truly "lead free" ranges in the DC area? Indoor or outdoor doesn't matter.

Ft. Mead Rod & Gun Club is "lead free" on the base pistol ranges, but there isn't enough club interest to have regular shoots when the base gives them the range time. (I'm a member - I know)

I talked to Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly, and they seem to be the closest thing I have found to a truly lead-free range around here (putting in a new ventilation system, they require lead-free slugs but allow FMJ everything else, and you can bring your own ammo). It's not perfect, but may be the best option I have.

 

[whm1974]

Keep in mind that your and your kid can be more exposed to lead due to where you live and work then you being on a range all the time.

-Bill

 

[pauli]

going to blue ridge arsenal for health reasons would be... quixotic, at best. now, i'm really hoping that changes when they FINALLY refurb the range, but we shall see. as it stands, i generally go home when i decide my sinuses are sufficiently full of partially burnt powder.

the ammo rules are going to change when they finish the remodel; when i go up tomorrow, i may find out what the rules are *now.* see if they've changed since the last time i read them.

 

[K-Romulus]

thanks for the reply on BRA

I have only stopped in there once a few years back when I lived in Arlington, and didn't get past the showroom.

I appreciate any info you get . . .

We also checked out the house (built 1956) for any lead issues. So far the only "hit" was on the firearm-cleaning table in the basement. I attribute that to cleaning the 12 guage down there after slug shooting. Pistol/rifle ammo has been lead-free from the get-go . . .

 

[-C4-]

I'm just looking for a nice cheap range in the same area.... DC Meto area. Don't care about lead. .

-C4-

 

[MikeK]

I'm just looking for a nice cheap range in the same area.... DC Meto area. Don't care about lead

If you shoot enough the cheapest route is a range membership. I belong to Monumental www.monumental.org near Baltimore. $195 a year range fee and club membership. On Target near Ft. Meade, an indoor range, offers annual memberships also. When I had one there it was ~$150 plus an initiation fee. I'm sure it's higher now.

 

[Smurfslayer]

going to blue ridge arsenal for health reasons would be... quixotic, at best

Ain't that the truth! The vents & climate control at BRA are practically non-existent. They also have the distinction as the most expensive range around NoVA. Oh, and they've been crowing about refurbishing the range for about 4 or 5 years now. It gets pushed back every year. The range is *so* dirty, that if you do not use some sort of respiratory filter, let's just say ... things will smell and taste ... very unusual... for a while...

NRA is probably the best ventilated / climate controlled indoor range around, but there is no requirement for the use of 'clean' or lead free ammo. Still, you at least feel 'clean' when you leave the line at NRA HQ...

 

[MechAg94]

Doesn't Washington D.C. have a very big problem with lead water pipes in the city water infrastructure? Seems I heard about that a while back. Kind of explained why all the Congressmen go nuts after spending time there.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Do those "lead free" ranges require non-lead styphnate primers,as are loaded in WinNT?
Some of the airborne lead floating around comes from lead based priming compounds.
Simplest answer for a lead free childhood IMHO: high quality BB guns,followed by a transition to shooting at an outdoor range,and no gun cleaning by the kids.

I'm not a fan of the whole "lead free" range concept as it seems to emphasize form over function. It's a nice idea, but makes a darn good way to demonize traditional ranges out of existence.