Shooting poly coated (or non-coated, for argument sake) cast indoors..

T

taymag

New member
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)
 
I've had my lead blood levels checked many times, along with general blood tests.
Shooting, indoors or outdoors, doesn't seem to have much of an effect.
Even with winter long indoor shooting at least twice a week for years.
The highest lead count was from working on cars back in the leaded gas era before exhaust cleanup rules.
From my own experience, gotta' say don't sweat it.
Just be sure to wash hands lead free before eating.
Apparently ingesting lead is more dangerous than inhaling.
If the range is not real clean, a simple inexpensive construction worker dust mask will protect you.
 
Just a suggestion: There's a product called "Lead Away" and it's a container of wet-wipes (like baby wipes) if you haven't seen/heard of it before. You can wipe down yor hands or whatever after handling lead products and/or shooting. Ad in a gun magazine (forget which one) said they worked well and rated them good. I ordered som from (I think :o) Midway and they weren't that expensive.

If you're concerned at all, it's something to think about. I wipe off my hands an wrists after shooting at the indoor range.
 
Its about minimizing risks, not avoiding all together. We know lead is toxic, which means it builds up and gets bad at a certain point. You will get lead in your system, just try to keep it at a level that you body can handle. As stated above, wash yer mitts, wash your clothes, dont eat/drink while shooting or reloading. So that being said will Poly coat bullets lower lead ingestion, most likely, but dont let that be your only guard against toxicity. Not that you would.

As far as an indoor range, so long as they have a good vent system that feeds in from the backs of the shooters you should be fine.
 
I shot weekly matches at an indoor range that only allowed jacketed or plated bullets, for about two years. The club quit holding matches there because all of us "regulars" had elevated lead levels.

So, if you hang out long enough at an indoor range and ventilation is not adequate it won't matter what kind of bullets are being shot there.

That said if your not breathing or come in contact with lead, you can shoot cast bullets with out effect.

After I quit shooting indoors except for a hand full of sanctioned matches over the years, my lead levels have dropped back to "normal" and I still cast, load and shoot lead bullets.

FWIW I would question "proper" ventilation with a climate controlled indoor range (why we all like to go to them right) because most people that own buildings don't like to throw away money and evacuating cooled or heated air vs recirculating it is a huge difference in cost.
 
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Interesting. When I touched on this a year ago most said "never a level"

I needed to hear a few people that have been exposed, it will keep me outdoors and safer on the washing, etc.

My new club is outdoors, unfortunately with mile high berms so not a single mph of wind, but still outdoors
 
Interesting. When I touched on this a year ago most said "never a level"
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The "levels" have been a moving target over the years.

pbaction_level.png


The above are "recommended action" levels for children from the CDC over time.

More information here.

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=7&po=8
 
There are independent labs all over the country. Access, the one I have here, will perform a lead test for $89, all inclusive. I have had them run on my regular physical exams at no charge.

I don't care whAt it takes, a person who burns up or handles a lot of lead ammo should get one every year or two, at less than $100 there's no excuse.

It sure as beck wouldn't hurt to use medical gloves if you're going into a marathon handling session and when scrubbing fouled barrels.

Chelation therapy is easy, and in fact, lead can work through the system naturally sometimes.
 
I have had them run on my regular physical exams at no charge.
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Yes, once a year and they won't test for lead unless you tell them to. They are already drawing blood so you might as well do it.
 
Yes, you must ask for almost any out of the ordinary, non preventive testing. It makes no sense at all to routinely test for heavy metals since only a small fraction of people are in a position to be exposed to a significant level of them. No organization or individual will do that.

The average shooter is wasting time and money. Otoh, millions of people were sickened by lead glazed pottery, and thousands were sickened here just by breathing the air laden with dust..
 
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