Cloud of . . . lead?

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Prof Young

New member
Loaders:
I bought some 9mm cast lead bullets from the local range a while back. Have shot most of them up. I don't think I ever shot any of them at an indoor range until a few days ago. I'm shooting them out of my Beretta 92 fs. For the first time I notice that I get a large grey cloud when I shoot them Fortunately this range is very well ventilated and the cloud is gone instantly. I don't think I'm shooting Dementors or Bodachs out of my gun so it must be lead dust. Right? Thoughts and comments?

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
I have similar issues with some of my reloads, I've chalked it up to either the cloud of lube exiting the barrel from the lead rounds or the powder. It could be vaporized lead though I don't think that's the case. I could be wrong
 
If you dont use gas checks with lead bullets...you have a hot gas explosion against a lead base until the bullets clears the muzzle. This is why ventilation systems became standard at indoor ranges and remain so today. It's one of the many reasons to move to plated bullets, in my opinion.
 
... I notice that I get a large grey cloud when I shoot them...
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Conventually lubed (grease lubricants), cast lead bullets are notorious for being smoky. Are you sure that is not what you are seeing? Along with the smoke, they will blacken your hands especially if you are shooting them in a revolver.
 
"Conventually lubed (grease lubricants), cast lead bullets are notorious for being smoky. Are you sure that is not what you are seeing? Along with the smoke, they will blacken your hands especially if you are shooting them in a revolver."

This is more likely than "a cloud of lead". If your loads were blowing a cloud of lead, your bore would be a cobblestone appearing tube.
 
I stopped buying Missouri brand lead bullets because of the lube issue.
With in 3 rounds the target was obscured by smoke.
I have pretty much gone to all plated lead bullets now.
The cost difference is nominal when you consider there is no leading of the barrel.
 
The smoke you are seeing is mostly the lube that sits in the grooves of a lead bullet; seen here in blue: http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=118&category=5&secondary=9&keywords=. Then the propellant itself contributes some smoke - like any other round. And then there's lead. Lead contributes a teeny tiny amount of the smoke you see - not likely to be enough to see if you could somehow remove the powder and lube smoke from the plume, but it's there.

I shoot my fair share of lead ammo. And I've been tested for lead. My lead levels are very low. But I don't shoot indoors. I would only shoot lead indoors if the ventilation was excellent - maybe not even then. I've never been to an indoor range; I thought lead wasn't allowed at most of them. (?)
 
I've used lead bullets for most of my life.
The one and only time a test for lead showed high was not from shooting, but from working on cars indoors before lead free fuel.
After getting far more active in shooting later in life, lead tests never again showed high numbers.
A lot of the time I was shooting indoors with less than great ventilation.
Don't sweat it.
Like the others said, it's doubtful the cloud you see has lead.
 
It's the lube used on the bullets. If the lead was melting your bore would be a mess like like Mobuck mentioned.

That lube is why lead bullets are known for being dirty. That cloud of lube also gets all over the internals and externals of the gun. Try powder coated lead bullets - they are much cleaner.
 
Notice the direction of the cloud to find out how the air handlers in your inside range are working. There is one place where I live that you'd better wear a hepa mask so I don't shoot there.
 
For a "lead dust cloud" to happen, I believe you would have to send your cast bullets down range at several times faster than "normal" 9mm velocities. I've fired plain based cast lead bullets (air cooled wheel weight alloy) at over 1300 fps outta my .357 with no more than normal lube smoke. Prolly lube and powder smoke is what you're seeing.
 
Thanks you all . . .

Thank you all. Yes these lead bullets have that blue ring around them as a lube or gas check or whatever it is. That must be what I am seeing.

Gotta love this forum.

Live well, be safe
Prof Young
 
I don't make lead bullets. But I seem to have read about the poor gas check or soft (brinnel???) causing lead issues in the air. Don't hold my feet to the fire on that as the recollection is rusty. May be some one can correct this for clarification.
 
I don't make lead bullets. But I seem to have read about the poor gas check or soft (brinnel???) causing lead issues in the air. Don't hold my feet to the fire on that as the recollection is rusty. May be some one can correct this for clarification.
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More important than hardness (BHN) is bullet to gun fit to eliminate lead fouling. I believe "hard cast" bullets are mostly unnecessarily hard, and the commercial casters have convinced new lead bullet users that "harder is better". I have personally shot cast bullets in my 357 Magnum to well over 1300 fps. without lead fouling (158 gr. SWC, wheel weight alloy, air cooled). I had an "almost" OOPS! with a max.+ load of TrueBlue. The cylinder throats measured .359" the barrel was .357", and my bullets were sized to .359". I doubt if any friction, or gas cutting will result in airborne lead. If anything, lead from primers is more of a problem than lead bullets, and it's prolly just part of "the lead poisoning scare"...
 
It's been known that personal at some indoor ranges think the smoking is due to the powder but the powder is smokeless so if you should run into that you can set them straight.
 
All of the indoor ranges in my area prohibit the use of lead / or non FMJ or non plated bullets.......even with very good ventilation systems behind the shooters forcing smoke, lead dust, etc downrange.

I understand there is still smoke coming off a FMJ bullet because the base is not jacketed like it is on a CMJ bullet...as well as lead dust from primer ignition ( unless shooters are using the NT primers )....

But I appreciate their efforts to make the ranges a little more smoke and dust free.
 
Some of it is lead. Probably more from the primers than the bullets, but it comes from both. But most of what you are seeing is smoke from the bullet lube. Some powders make this worse; Titegroup is particularly smokey with lead bullets. Red Dot is not so bad.

I've started wearing a N-95 dust mask when I shoot indoors.
 
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