Poor indoor range ventilation

S

StainlessSteel215

Moderator
I want to ask those with any experience with indoor air quality and effects of inhaling concentrated amount of powder discharge....exactly how damaging are those effects over time?

I am lucky to live between two great gun shops, however one of them has very poor ventilation in their indoor range. You can literally watch the puff of smoke after each round just sitting in the air....and just like clockwork my mouth and tongue begins to go numb after about 10 minutes. Sometimes after long shoots I even notice mild headaches. That CANNOT be healthy. Im just curious to know if the threat level is mild...or high after months of exposure

Until they improve their ventilation system I refuse to go back to range X but its unfortunate because they have some of the best prices and knowledgable employees around. The resident 'Smith is one of the most knowledgable guys Ive ever spoken with...and 2 of the other guys teach various levels of Self-defense/fighting pistol classes, which from the reviews Ive heard are very successful and I'm currently looking into taking them. Thus, the reason I'm concerned.

So....I want desperately to say something to the owner without offending him but I'm curious to get some background first on the topic. Anyone have experience with this issue?
 
In a properly set up indoor range you should feel a light breeze from behind you moving downrange, those puffs of smoke should immediately start to go down range. The major concern would be lead in the air from the primers and lead particles from bullets with exposed lead on surfaces.

Lead poisoning is a serious and dangerous thing. I would be concerned if they have such lackluster air circulation and possibly filtration, that the rest of their lead abatement processes are also poor. I would not spend my shooting dollars there, saving a few bucks on the shooting up front would not make up for the medical costs later if you get lead poisoning.
 
I want desperately to say something to the owner without offending him
Click to expand...
Chances are, he's already heard about it. It's expensive to build proper ventilation for a range, and many owners can't afford the retrofit.

That said, I wouldn't risk it. Lead poisoning is unpleasant at the least. I've been there. For the most part, symptoms do not manifest immediately. They show up after lead has built up over a period of time. It's difficult to diagnose in adults because the symptoms can be mistaken for several other conditions, including hypertension or diabetes.
 
It doesn't take a lot to be a problem.

I shoot at an older indoor range. Normally, the ventilation seems ... adequate. There are two HUGE suction fans down-range, and then a make-up duct running along the ceiling behind the stalls with an outlet behind each station to dump some fresh air and allow the suction fans to pull the smoke away from the shooters.

However, on one evening per week, the range closes one side (there's a 12-inch concrete wall running the full length of the range) and sets up mini combat shoots for competition. For those, we go out on the range floor, away from the make-up air outlets.

I was a regular competitor for a year or two. Then I went for an annual physical at the VA hospital, and my doctor just about went through the roof over my blood lead level results. I don't recall the number, but according to her it was WAY too high. And that reminded me that, about a year earlier, I had overheard a conversation at the range between the owner and a guy who actually works at the VA, whose blood lead level was severely elevated.

What I did was to stop competing entirely, cut back somewhat on my shooting, and move my reloading tumbler from the basement workshop to the garage (where I only use it outdoors). Six months later, my blood lead level was nicely back in the green. I am thinking about starting competitions again, but perhaps only once or twice a month. And I'll be less "helpful" -- no going down-range with target pasters to repair the holes in the targets after the scorer has seen them. I'll stay back by the fresh air vents except when it's actually my turn to be on the floor, shooting.

I didn't notice any symptoms ... or, at least, none I can remember. (That's a pun.)
 
If you do a Google search, you'll find numerous indoor ranges that have been fined by OSHA and successfully sued by both employees and patrons. The terms "OSHA inspections indoor shooting range" will bring up lots of links, with the one in Chicago coming up first.

I want desperately to say something to the owner
Click to expand...

I'd be concerned mostly about the lead exposure to daily and frequent visitors, members and employees. You can talk to the owner... or you can talk to OSHA, who is actively working to identify ranges that don't meet standards of safety.

C
 
^I went to that range a few times when I lived in Chicago, it's unsurprising they got busted. The place is ancient and poorly maintained.
 
As an NRA instructor I spent some time teaching on indoor ranges. Never again. I shoot outside or not at all.
 
As a pharmacist by training, I've seen enough cases of lead poisoning and what it does to the human body to be very wary of indoor ranges.

We only have one in the area, and I'd rather freeze my butt off shooting outside in the winter than patronize the place.

I would recommend having OSHA check the place out, it's a danger if it isn't up to standards.
 
I am fairly concerned about this now because I've spent HOURS in that damn range and only recently questioned its safety. They shoot everything in there up to and including .50 cal firearms.....except muzzleloaders, muskets, etc.

Never again. Thanks for all of your feedback on this.
 
Years back our local range was causing problems .I tried to educate the members . The most active of us displayed symptoms of lead poisoning .Interesting that each displayed different symptoms so be aware that it's not just one thing !! The NRA had information available and with the help of a HVAC engineer member we improved things greatly. We also reduced our shooting time .It's not just discomfort but serious medical problems will result in long term exposure. Understand that the most sensitive are pregnant women who I think should not be permitted and young children.
 
For indoor ranges, even well ventilated ones, consider using a filtration mask, to keep the nasty stuff out of the lungs.
The local hardware stores have them from $!0 to $35.
And wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to keep the nasty stuff off the skin.
And, if you're really careful, change clothes at the range before getting in the car, and definitely before going in the house.
The shoes, especially.
Of course, you will still die of something, sooner or later.
 
There is a difference in lead and lead compounds .Some of the compounds will be absorbed by the skin but very little from the metal. The vapor is the main source .There are many non-lead bullets that are now available often called "frangible" Or green , etc they're much safer though expensive .

Bullet Lubricant is another source of problems as are gun cleaners !
 
Lead is absorbed through the skin. I have been in bullet casting factories and all employees wear gloves all the time. Playing with guns and ammunition is lots of fun but it does carry risks. And not just from lead bullets. Most of the lead problems on indoor ranges comes from the lead styphnate used in all primers. A cloud of this stuff hangs over the shooting line when you shoot. Try to limit your exposure as much as you can. Find an outdoor range facility.
 
Lead is absorbed through the skin.
Click to expand...
That's one vector. It can also enter through breathing or ingestion.

"Ingestion? I don't eat the durned stuff!"

Ah, but do you wash your hands after shooting? Many folks don't. Heck, I used to start the morning with a cup of coffee on the bench, and I didn't think of washing my hands before stepping out for a smoke.

I'm smarter than that now, but it was an unpleasant learning curve.
 
Yikes....
Just found out via local word of mouth that SAID gunshop/range has upwards of a million dollar levy against them. No specific details as of yet, but its brand new news. Wonder of OSHA and air quality inspection is involved in any way. Stay tuned...
 
Thats a great idea Glenn.
I honestly became paranoid and guilt stricken the day I realized how potentially bad over exposure can be based on this thread...and how loose I was with contaminated clothing after lengthy range shoots. I will have to start stripping down in the garage as well after any indoor shoots but honestly I dont think Ill be shooting indoors for a while. It must be 35 degrees or under from here til Spring until I consider going back into one unless the ventilation is top notch!
 
been to 2 ranges that had poor ventilation.Havent been back either.Left with eyes burning and coughing for hours afterwards.Places charged 10 bucks an hour plus had to buy their ammo, and wouldve thought they at least turned on a fan or something.One place looked like a converted storage-barn with dirt floors lol believe their ventilation was all the cracks in the frame of the building. The other was fairly decent except had "apparently" non functioning vents that afternoon.Cloudy from all the shooting.

Always cleaned up when I got home.I dont go to them anymore,prefer outdoor ranges now.
 
No joke, I was just there to make a payment on a layaway 1911 gun and by the end of the day when I was there, the fumes actually permeated into the store room. Not good! I could smell it and taste it.

Never again shooting indoors over there. Although its a hike, my outdoor private range is the best choice
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top