[soverystout]

Very fortunate to have access to a great outdoor range and a phenomenal indoor range @ Mainline Armory in Malvern, PA. The facility was built in 2020 with all of the finest filtration systems available.

Main Line Armory | Malvern, PA

A range experience like never before. Main Line Armory is open to the public. Our luxury indoor range offers a one-of-a-kind experience. We have 21 state-of-the-art lanes, large training classrooms, and a retail area in one location for all your firearm needs.

mainlinearmory.com

 

[ChrisLunker]

These go with me in my range box. I use the wipes when I’m done shooting on the line or in the pits, so I don’t get lead on my steering wheel and stick shift,

door handle, etc. And then when I get back into the clubhouse, I use the hand soap, followed by washing up with regular soap.

 

[DRD]

I have never shot at an indoor range. Always out doors.

Ditto.
Great post. Issues I'm well aware of.

 

[Greenleader]

I go to GP 2X a year for wellness, labs for Lipitor use and general stuff they always test for, cholesterol, liver function. What do ask him to ask to my next round of labs? It’s the fasting one
I have next.

Not totally off the subject I am in a lot of infusion pharmacies and labs where they mix chemo. For 13 years nothing has shown up as a weird liver thing, but they say the residual is in the air. Is that where LEAD would show up or another type test?

 

[Apollo99]

I only shoot outdoors, and bring 1 spray bottle of simple green and another spray bottle of water. After shooting and picking up brass, I spray the simple green, wash, then spay the water to rinse. I use paper towers to dry. I also pretty much gave up beer and liquor a few years back. So I hope I'm good.

 

[PeterParker56]

Thanks. Good information. I’ve started looking into some products even though I always shoot outside.

 

[Bleusharque]

View attachment 1836284
I have a 1911 Instagram account and every year I do a public service post about preventing lead toxicity in shooters. Somebody reached out to me from Addicts and asked if I would mind posting it here. Given that I took an oath as a doctor to help people, I am happy to do that.

Lead toxicity is an absolute killer. Most avid shooters and gunsmiths (who don’t think about lead toxicity) die at an early age of cancer. The ones that don’t die from cancer usually suffer early onset neurodegenerative disease. So, if you dig guns, and want to make it to your daughter's wedding, here’s some free advice.

1. Stop shooting at indoor ranges if at all possible. Most don't have (nor will they buy) the necessary ventilation equipment to protect you from lead dust inhalation.

2. Use lead wipes or lead soap on your hands when you are done shooting.

3. Use lead wipes or lead soap on your hands whenever you are done handling or cleaning your gun. I use both.

4. Do not eat, drink, or smoke ANYTHING at your work bench.

5. Use designated clothing and shoes to shoot in. Keep them in the garage in a garbage bag after you are done shooting. They are covered in lead dust. When they are too gross to wear anymore, throw them away. Don’t contaminate the washing machine which will be touching your children’s clothes.

6. Check your lead level annually. It's a simple blood test your doctor can order with your routine bloodwork every year. Mine was moderately high after shooting at an indoor range for years. I freaked out and made all the changes above and checked it the next year and it was normal. I have checked it every year since and it has remained normal. I handle and clean guns daily and I shoot one time per week.

Have a great weekend. Huskers by 14.

After a 40 year layoff, I resumed shooting a year ago. Since then, like "IllinoisSucks" and other IL Addicts, I'm stuck with indoor ranges, at which I've fired exactly 100 rounds of cast lead bullets - WC SWCs. Every other ammo I've used has been FMJ with a smattering of JHP, here and there.

I'll be 82 in November, so healthwise my die has long ago been cast. Therefore, while I quit smoking in 1984 and generally avoid obvious risk and excess in any area, I don't plan to give up my one evening Martini, daily 6 ounces of tomato juice (potassium), nor target shooting.

However, I do appreciate those who, like Alpina9, are looking out for our best interests. Alpina's post has alerted us to an area of risk I would never have thought of. Not to mention the array of high-risk behaviors we should avoid, and the preventive measures we can and should adopt.

And yes, I know "We" includes me. 🦈

 

[Alpina9]

 

[Hoss Sauce]

This is timely as I’m just starting to get back into the hobby heavily and have been solely visiting indoor ranges as they’re my only option around here. I should get more serious about my protocols and try to find an outdoor range.

There are so many things to be aware of these days that it’s become hard to prioritize. As a kid I had no clue, and the amount of golf tees I’ve picked up after using and thrown in my mouth number in the thousands. I also knew nothing of lead growing up and the amount of lead fishing tackle that I’ve had in my hands and promptly eaten or tied off and cut with my teeth are also in the thousands.

None of that probably helped much with my stage 2 Melanoma diagnosis at 33. But I am now ultra aware of sunlight and burning as well. Anyway, always good to know so we can make more informed decisions. Thanks for sharing!

 

[schmidtg]

You would be better served buying Ozempic to achieve the same end.

Or Tirzepatide which is more suited to those who buy high end 1911s/2011s.

Peformance gains!

 

[schmidtg]

Great thread @Alpina9 , the risk cannot be stated enough with Pb poisoning. Nobody seems to be taking the risk (or other health risks) seriously based on the responses, though.

My recent PB test came back at 23.5 / ug/dL, which is on the high side. BEI's threshold for lead poisoning is 30, and OSHA's is 40.

To treat my toxicity, I am taking Zeolite/EDTA/Garlic (yes, Garlic has shown to be a lead chelator - check out the PubMed studies on it) and practicing better sanitization routines (mostly keeping LeadOff soap in my range bag).

I first thought lead poisoning might be a problem when I was getting more irritable and angry while driving on the road, and felt more exhausted than usual. My suspicion was correct.

 

[IronBalaclava]

I was an indoor Range Master (reluctantly)/trainer for 8 years, constantly up & downrange all the time, in addition to being tasked to maintain, repair, and troubleshoot all range and ventilation equipment.

In addition to suffering from PTID (Post Traumatic Idiot Disorder) and constant, severe tinnitus, we took bi-monthly blood tests and our lead levels were consistently through the roof.

During the end of my tenure, and several years later, my ability to retain almost any short term memory has severely declined.

I have to write everything down, or I will forget. I forget (lol) the unit of measurement (micrograms?), but if I recall, our lead levels were around the 90-120 microgram range (horrific) on a regular basis.

ETA: I’m a fitness nut (alternate between lifting weights, running 3-5 + miles a day) and a religious counter of carb intake. In addition to cognitive impairment, I am now suffering from 2 (what I suspect to be cancer) ailments & symptoms, that I suspect have direct correlations to my prior line of work.

 

[TangoHotel]

Will wearing a mask help?

I’m not a doctor but I’m guessing only somewhat. It can still be absorbed through the skin, and if your clothes are saturated with it you’re not safe just because you’ve left the range

 

[IronBalaclava]

@None.Ya

I’m not a doctor but I’m guessing only somewhat. It can still be absorbed through the skin, and if your clothes are saturated with it you’re not safe just because you’ve left the range

Yes and yes.

Any mask/barrier will help to some degree, as most lead particulates are airborne.

For indoor range staff, the OSHA occupational line/cold range requirement mandates at minimum, a half face respirator in conjunction with NIOSH P100 filters.

Downrange/equipment maintenance requirement : Full face respirator with Niosh P100 filters, Full MOPP Level 4 (full length Tyvek or + suit with hood, gloves and booties taped off at each extremity). Hot and uncomfortable as Satan's balls for any time period, especially in humid-ass summer conditions.

Still...Lead dust is completely inescapable.

Next time you are at an indoor range (no matter how good the ventilation system is), run your finger across any surface on the line. See all that thick, grey dust? Straight up lead.

You know what's the worst thing you can shoot on the line? Non-Jacket Lead Rounds. We could always tell who was shooting them, as NJLRs produce a large, distinctive grey cloud of smoke that jacketed or semi-jacketed rounds do not, eveytime a single round is discharged. You are breathing in just about ALL of those particulates.

 

[Jimhoag]

Can leas toxicity cause neurological disorders like essential tremors. Which I've been diagnosed with

 

[Greenleader]

Wondering if it’s worse thru the skin or inhaled.

 

[IronBalaclava]

My recent PB test came back at 23.5 / ug/dL, which is on the high side. BEI's threshold for lead poisoning is 30, and OSHA's is 40.

I first thought lead poisoning might be a problem when I was getting more irritable and angry while driving on the road, and felt more exhausted than usual. My suspicion was correct.

Oh, yeah-due to my extreme occupational memory loss, I completely forgot about the anger, irritability and exhaustion. But then again I'm sure little things like this played a role:

This is some of the more tame stuff, BTW.

 

[Jimhoag]

Wondering if it’s worse thru the skin or inhaled.

Good question

 

[IronBalaclava]

Can leas toxicity cause neurological disorders like essential tremors. Which I've been diagnosed with

Yes. Lead will cause a plethora of neurological disorders, ailments and cancers.

Wondering if it’s worse thru the skin or inhaled.

Definitely inhaled.

On skin, you can use D-Wipes/Delead wipes as Alpina9 and others have pointed out, or just basic soap and water works just fine. Wash up to your elbows after a range session.

 

[WVsig]

Great info and I will add one thing. If you shoot outdoors it has always been my understanding that the highest exposure to lead will be the within a few yards right infront of the firing line. The majority of the lead released is going forward out of the barrel downrange. It does not get very far and when you walk to change targets or check targets most people will walk right through the path the lead takes once it leaves the barrel.

When I am shooting especially at a public range I always walk down range outside of the line of fire until I am 5 yards past the firing line. This avoids the area with the most risk of exposure. I also bring a second pair of shoes which do not get worn on the range. The range shoes go into a bag and get left in the back of the truck. They are then left in the garage and never enter the house. I wipe them down with lead wipes every couple of range sessions.

If you shoot outdoors your hands and your shoes are the two spots where you are most vulnerable IMHO.