Shooting poly coated (or non-coated, for argument sake) cast indoors.. Anyone been checked?

[taymag]

I know everyone says its fine, and it probably is, especially with coated, but does anyone shoot a massive amount of cast indoor that's been checked?

The main things Ive ever seen as warnings are birth defects, and I'm not done having kids... Not that I would want to have lead in my blood after I have kids [BD]

I know its 1/10000 but when it comes to that, sometimes those odds are enough to question.

Outdoor range is definitely my preference but I live in South Florida, I'm in it for the fun and 100+ degrees isn't that sometimes. Plus I live 2 minutes from the indoor range (sweet sweet a/c)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Coated bullets have no exposed lead so it would be difficult for lead fumes to get into your lungs.

As for cast bullets indoors, if the range had a good exhaust system that is working correctly it will minimize the chance of lead buildup in your blood. It doesn't matter if anyone here was checked, only your blood test counts.

 

[Laphroaig]

I think that shooting indoors carries a risk of increased blood lead levels. Not only bullets, but most primers are lead based.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lead-in-primers.138308/

A buddy of mine who shoots a lot indoors has lead levels through the roof, and is taking steps to bring them down. Our range has a ventilation system, but people can't wait to turn it off, like the noise bothers them or something. Handloading also carries a risk if you aren't careful about wearing gloves or washing hands.

I had my blood level checked for the first time recently but don't see my doctor for another week so I don't know what it is. But our indoor season just started, so it might not tell the whole picture in my case.

 

[Rule3]

Primary exposure to lead is the PRIMERS.

Coated or plated bullets are little to none.

If an indoor range is lead free they usually do not allow leaded primers.

 

[Dudedog]

If you shoot indoors you should get you level checked. Most insurances will cover it.
I had major lead issues and I traced them to the indoor range I shot at a lot.
I still shoot the but just not much and wear a 3m 8515 welding vapor mask when I do.
You can feel fine and have really high levels. At one point in time I was over 60 (down around 8 now)

 

[dh1633pm]

How does one tell which primers are leaded and which ones are lead free?

 

[Rule3]

How does one tell which primers are leaded and which ones are lead free?

Not sure if non toxic or lead free primers are available as components but factory loaded ammo has them and listed on the box.

Around here, most indoor ranges do not allow handloads anyway, so you must buy their expensive lead free stuff. But they have liability insurance and very expensive to run a indoor range.

 

[cheygriz]

If your range has an approved ventilation system, don't worry about it.

 

[mstreddy]

Taymag, where do you shoot in South Fla? I'm here as well.
I shoot mostly indoors, I reload. I just had my blood levels checked about 2 months ago. It came back at 12. Which is within the safe zone, but above 10, so I got a phone call from the state health folks. They wanted to know why I had "elevated" exposure level. I asked, if the safe range is up to 19, then why would it be "elevated" at 12? They said, they check any above 10. Explained to the lady that I shoot often, no other exposure to lead, I don't go around licking the paint or chewing on Chinese made toys. Offered to teach her if she wanted to learn.
This was my first test, so it serves to establish the baseline for me. I'll see how it is next year.

 

[dh1633pm]

So I read all the posts. Poly coated bullets add little to the lead in the air compared to non coated. However note that primers are the main problem with shooting when it comes to lead. Lead free primers are available only with certain factory ammo marketed mostly to indoor ranges. People that shoot a lot should be tested for lead exposure. Did I miss anything?

 

[Rule3]

So I read all the posts. Poly coated bullets add little to the lead in the air compared to non coated. However note that primers are the main problem with shooting when it comes to lead. Lead free primers are available only with certain factory ammo marketed mostly to indoor ranges. People that shoot a lot should be tested for lead exposure. Did I miss anything?

Seems you have the main points.

It really depends on how much you shoot indoors and what kind of ventilation they have. Does your indoor range allow handloads /factory ammo or just lead free ammo?.

Lead exposure is primarily through inhalation, through the eyes and ingestion, The "dust" in the air say from sweeping the brass on the floor gets airborne. It gets on you clothes, hair and you your gear. So after shooting, wash your hands and arms before eating or smoking (if you do) take a shower, wash your clothes. You do not need Lead Away magic soap or wipes. Any soap with EDTA in it (most do) will work fine.
I shoot outdoors and always wash my hands arms, face after shooting I bring a jug of water and some soft soap

A blood test for lead is a easy and inexpensive. Get one to establish a base line.

Here is a long drawn out thread on lead , Don't freak out, it;s not that bad.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lead-poisoning-valuable-health-information.307170/

 

[Malamute]

So I read all the posts. Poly coated bullets add little to the lead in the air compared to non coated. However note that primers are the main problem with shooting when it comes to lead. Lead free primers are available only with certain factory ammo marketed mostly to indoor ranges. People that shoot a lot should be tested for lead exposure. Did I miss anything?

Possibly.

I didn't read the linked thread here yet, but a discussion elsewhere also indicated primers were the main cause of lead intake. Reloading being one of the main issues. Dry tumbling of brass is one easy way to get lead exposure depending on how you separate the media and brass. Lead dust easily becomes airborne from that, decapping, and generally handling empty cases. One guy thought he was being careful, but still had elevated levels. It was eventually determined he was making lead dust in the basement reloading, then was tracking it through the house and up to his kids room on his feet. He went to wet tumbling and eliminated that aspect. Many guys like wet tumbling before de-capping, as it reduces their lead exposure, and the media cleans out and dries well if using a purposed food dehydrator or similar to dry the brass before decapping. The whole thing has me more interested in wet tumbling.

One guy was using a cement mixer as a wet tumbler, using 5 gal buckets of brass. way out of my league quantity wise, but he had a system that made it relatively simple and quick to process his brass.

 

[Slamfire]

Double post, this one deleted

 

[Slamfire]

There are many articles on lead toxicity and shooting. The Oct 2014 Shooting Sports magazine has a good one: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nra/ssusa_201410/index.php

It is my opinion that the greatest source of lead exposure is shooting cast bullets. The primers we use are lead lead styphnate and they are also a significant source of elemental lead. The following charts from a study where the elemental lead was measured after firing one bullet from a 38 Special revolver. The current standards for lead exposure keep dropping, but at one time 80 micro grams per cubic meter was the OSHA limit. As can be seen, one round of a 158 grain lead bullet puts out 5643 micrograms per shot! The primer puts out 400 micrograms by itself.


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This elemental lead is blown out of the barrel and into the air in front of you. You breath this stuff in, it goes directly into your lungs, and thence, into your blood stream.

This 2014 article shows that many indoor ranges are not doing an adequate job of keeping lead away from workers, and I assume, shooters.



Loaded with Lead http://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/loaded-with-lead/1/



I prefer to shoot outside, I want as much air ventilation around me.



You can reduce the amount of lead you pump out by shooting plated or jacketed bullets. I don't know where to get lead free primers, but a combination of a plated bullet and lead free primer is a good idea if you are shooting in an indoor range.

 

[kingmt]

I don't think I want any lead free primers.

A few years ago I bought a Tarus titanium slide. I was feeding it Federal fodder 9mm plated stuff. I never did pull one of these apart to inspect it but across the chrono they were only moving in the 700's fps.

After a few months I notice pits on the face of my side. I called Tarus which picked up my pistol & they contacted Federal. They gave me a call saying they couldn't find a reason for it & that Federal informed them it couldn't have been there ammo ether so they would just put a new slide on it & send it back to me. I got a call from someone at Federal the same day asking if they could pick up any more ammo & spent brass I had in hand. I gathered all that I hadn't shot & the spent brass sending it back. I got some new boxes of ammo a few months later from them & bought some more. That was when I first discovered crimped primer pockets.

I believe the two things has something to do with each other. However no one ever said what the cause was. My gun was fixed. I got an extra couple of boxes of ammo & I didn't even have to pay gas to send the package off so I didn't press for a answer.

I always assumed it was something to do with lead free primers.

 

[Slamfire]

I don't think I want any lead free primers

I don't understand how primers, lead or otherwise, could have caused your problem. I do know that literally trillions of lead free primers were shot out of rifles, shotguns, and handguns prior to the 1950's, when the US Armed Services transitioned to lead styphnate primers.

The old primer mix was the FA70, based on other posts, it was adopted in 1918. The mix may date to 1911. https://books.google.com/books?id=d...Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=FA70 primer mix&f=false