Hi all. As not to hijack another thread I thought to ask this: What precautions for lead contamination should the average user of an indoor range use? Not really sure what constitutes average, but I use mine about 2x per month. It seems well ventilated with fresh air intake blowing down range from behind you. That's all I know about it. Thanks.
Indoor range precautions?
- Thread starter baddarryl
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Mike Irwin
Staff
Don't eat, drink, or smoke during shooting.
After shooting, wash your hands and your face.
Don't suck on your bullets.
When you get home, change and wash your clothes.
The primary source of lead contamination that is of concern is from the lead in primers. That's an organic lead, which is readily absorbed into the body. Elemental lead (bullet lead) isn't nearly as readily absorbed, and is also easily avoided.
After shooting, wash your hands and your face.
Don't suck on your bullets.
When you get home, change and wash your clothes.
The primary source of lead contamination that is of concern is from the lead in primers. That's an organic lead, which is readily absorbed into the body. Elemental lead (bullet lead) isn't nearly as readily absorbed, and is also easily avoided.
g.willikers
New member
At the range, wear a hat, full length clothes and some kind of a mask.
It's just about guaranteed that some contaminants will follow you out the door.
There's not much that can be done to prevent them from getting in the car, short of changing clothes and bagging them.
But before entering the house, shoes should be hosed off, clothes should go into the wash and shower before eating.
It's just about guaranteed that some contaminants will follow you out the door.
There's not much that can be done to prevent them from getting in the car, short of changing clothes and bagging them.
But before entering the house, shoes should be hosed off, clothes should go into the wash and shower before eating.
Good advice so far...
Good bits so far,
...
I'd add:
Wear a t shirt or upper garment that is not open collar, like a polo shirt or henley type garment. I'd avoid tank tops or "halter tops"(females).
Spent cases can come flying from all angles with semi auto or class III weapons.
In 2009, my friend had a hot brass case pop down his polo shirt with my PX4 C 9x19mm.
About a year ago, I read a local media item about a young woman who was hit by a spent case. It went down her blouse & in a panic, she shot her fiancé on the range.
Id also wear proper foot gear. Something comfortable but with traction so you don't slip or fall over while holding a loaded weapon. It's easy to slip or tumble if excessive amounts of loose brass are laying around a indoor range.
Proper eyewear is a smart idea. If you shoot often, get a high quality brand. You might also consider a over-size protective cover even if you use regular glasses like I do.
A few weeks ago in PA, at my friend's private gun range, I had a older .45acp case from my M&P .45acp Compact fly up and bounce off my forehead. It slowed down but the hot case slid right past my eye socket, .
My friend saw the fired round & was concerned. He said I needed better safety eyewear to put over my corrective glasses.
I'd agree too with proper cleaning & hand-washing. Always clean up your immediate area. Police up your spent brass & sweep up if the range has a broom or cleaning items. Be considerate of the next gun owner.
I sometimes stop & do a quick field cleaning of my firearms to avoid excessive amounts of carbon, lead, toxins, smoke, etc. It will keep the weapon(s) clean & reduce the amount of pollutants around you if you plan to be there for a few hours.
A few ranges are strict & do not permit field strips or basic service for liability reasons. The Gander Mountain Academy near me has CCTV units on every lane.
Clyde
Good bits so far,
...I'd add:
Wear a t shirt or upper garment that is not open collar, like a polo shirt or henley type garment. I'd avoid tank tops or "halter tops"(females).
Spent cases can come flying from all angles with semi auto or class III weapons.
In 2009, my friend had a hot brass case pop down his polo shirt with my PX4 C 9x19mm.
About a year ago, I read a local media item about a young woman who was hit by a spent case. It went down her blouse & in a panic, she shot her fiancé on the range.
Id also wear proper foot gear. Something comfortable but with traction so you don't slip or fall over while holding a loaded weapon. It's easy to slip or tumble if excessive amounts of loose brass are laying around a indoor range.
Proper eyewear is a smart idea. If you shoot often, get a high quality brand. You might also consider a over-size protective cover even if you use regular glasses like I do.
A few weeks ago in PA, at my friend's private gun range, I had a older .45acp case from my M&P .45acp Compact fly up and bounce off my forehead. It slowed down but the hot case slid right past my eye socket,
.My friend saw the fired round & was concerned. He said I needed better safety eyewear to put over my corrective glasses.
I'd agree too with proper cleaning & hand-washing. Always clean up your immediate area. Police up your spent brass & sweep up if the range has a broom or cleaning items. Be considerate of the next gun owner.
I sometimes stop & do a quick field cleaning of my firearms to avoid excessive amounts of carbon, lead, toxins, smoke, etc. It will keep the weapon(s) clean & reduce the amount of pollutants around you if you plan to be there for a few hours.
A few ranges are strict & do not permit field strips or basic service for liability reasons. The Gander Mountain Academy near me has CCTV units on every lane.
Clyde
If you are really worried ask your doctor for a lead levels lab test so that you have a base line. The younger you are the more careful you should be over time. With good ventilation as you describe and only twice a month you have little to worry about. A mask is just overkill IMO. Lead poisoning is by ingestion and inhalation, not through the skin. Using TMJ bullets (totally jacketed in lead) will reduce air contamination.
BTW, I thought primers were now lead free. Are they?
BTW, I thought primers were now lead free. Are they?
For the situation the OP describes, I agree absolutely. However, for those of us who shoot in indoor Bullseye leagues over the winter and are spending, between matches and practice, perhaps 4 or more evenings a week in the range, a respirator can make the difference between being able to shoot and finding another hobby.
I've had my serum lead concentrations tracked carefully for the last several years, after an initial test came back very high (just over 30 mcg/dl). After a year of wearing a respirator, I got my lead down to about 12 mcg/dl, and a year after that it was down to around 7. The current guideline for adults in the U.S. is 10 mcg/dl. And that was all with making no other changes in my shooting habits. Unless I'm in an unusually well-ventilated range (I think I've seen maybe one or two of those in my life), or maybe if I'm the only one shooting, I'm wearing my respirator and consider it as important a part of my PPE as glasses and muffs.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Can't say that I've seen that as a standard practice at the ranges I've gone to."
You're not going to the right ranges.
You're not going to the right ranges.
Just use common sense and you'll be OK. OOPS! maybe more specific instructions are necessary since it appears that common sense is in such short supply these days.
Common sense is one thing, and going completely over board is something else. For instances. It wasn't that long ago that there was a small spill of diesel fuel on a local highway. I'm talking about less than a gallon. The driver sat idle watching helplessly while a "special haze mat team" was rushed to the scene in suits, masks, gloves and booties to clean the contaminated highway. It didn't take long and it cost the company several thousands of dollars.
Common sense is one thing, and going completely over board is something else. For instances. It wasn't that long ago that there was a small spill of diesel fuel on a local highway. I'm talking about less than a gallon. The driver sat idle watching helplessly while a "special haze mat team" was rushed to the scene in suits, masks, gloves and booties to clean the contaminated highway. It didn't take long and it cost the company several thousands of dollars.
Safety first!....
Always remember; safety is no accident, .
About 3 years ago, I was doing a security detail at a low end hotel near a major urban area.
A few power lines were sparking up periodically & burning the tree branches near the poles.
It was nothing serious but the minor flare-ups could have spread.
I called the local FD who rolled out, IDed the problem, then called the city's utility provider. They for some unknown reason sent every emergency crew in the metro area,
Soon about 12 guys were standing around at 330am in the hotel parking lot as 2 utility workers fixed the power lines & cut down the tree branches in the way.
The fact that the sparks were next to a occupied building(two story hotel), made it a "emergency".
Always remember; safety is no accident,
.About 3 years ago, I was doing a security detail at a low end hotel near a major urban area.
A few power lines were sparking up periodically & burning the tree branches near the poles.
It was nothing serious but the minor flare-ups could have spread.
I called the local FD who rolled out, IDed the problem, then called the city's utility provider. They for some unknown reason sent every emergency crew in the metro area,
Soon about 12 guys were standing around at 330am in the hotel parking lot as 2 utility workers fixed the power lines & cut down the tree branches in the way.
The fact that the sparks were next to a occupied building(two story hotel), made it a "emergency".