Lead dangers from Unfired ammunition?

[superduty]

I have been trying to do some reading and research into determining whether there is a lead poisoning (or other illness) risk from unfired ammunition.

 

I've seen a lot of information about firing ranges, reloading, cleaning, picking up brass, etc-   however, I have not seen anything about potential dangers from unfired ammunition.

 

Obviously, you wouldn't want to put a handful in you mouth or anything like that-  but, would any of you know anything about any possible dangers that might exist?

 

My dog sleeps very close to where I keep ammo stored (within 1 foot), and I'm trying to figure out whether I need to move the ammo to another room to be safe, or if it's not a big deal.

 

Thanks-

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Nothing to worry about.

[mcurrier]

Just don't sit there licking it like a lollypop and you'll be ok.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Or, you could try leadfreekids.org :D

[Jonnin]

pure lead is mostly an issue if eaten (or dissolved and drunk), touched constantly, burned and inhaled (casting your own), etc.  Its not radioactive, it wont mess you up thru a box.  Copper plated bullets are OK to touch just do not eat them.  

 

Risks include touching targets that have lead on them (metal targets for example), touching during reloading, or shooting lead bullets without ventilation, etc. 

 

Lead can form a whitish oxide that can dust up and get inhaled or eaten by animals and kids or the like.  Its still heavy enough that it should not be a big problem, but if it is turning white, you might want to wipe it down and control it just the same.

[MacGyver]

Keep it out of your mouth and you'll be fine.

[leroy]

Used to do some of this lead related stuff.  Lead bullets (...that means with lead exposed....) wont hurt you unless ya get shot with them.

If you handle bare lead, wash your hands before you eat or drink.  The main way to get lead into your body is thru ingestion. 

All said, all done; this is a "...no, nevermind....".  Another case of nanny state scare tactics.

Hope this helps.

leroy

[Dolomite_supafly]

Be aware of dust as well. Not an issue with loaded ammunition but at the range it is possible to be exosed to lead dust from either the targets or dirt backstops. Anytime you touch lead make sure to wash your hands before injecting anything.

 

I am having my lead levels checked this week because I cast my own bullets.

 

Dolomite

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Have read that lead can dust out of old fired primers enough to be a hazard if you breath it routinely. Dunno how big a hazard. Read an article by one reloader, who didn't give the impression of being a nut. He said that keeping fired cases with the primer in em a long time, the black stuff in the container is dusted out lead powder from primers. He described that he decaps range brass as soon as he comes home, then tosses it in for cleaning right away, then takes a shower. Dunno if that precaution is silly or smart. I don't do it, so dunno if I'm foolish not to take precautions. Sniffed electronic solder fumes for years, so maybe thats what is wrong with my brain.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Keep it out of your mouth and you'll be fine.

And the dog's mouth!

[leroy]

Lester.  Ya remembered right.  The stuff in old primers wuz Lead styphnate .  There aint anything wrong with your brain brother!

We might could quibble about mine a bit though.

 

leroy

[Flyboy]

Never cast bullets, looking to in the future. I pour tons of lead jigs and lures for years. Just had my blood checked and its fine(twitch twitch).
Just clean your hands good after messing with it.

Flyboy

[Dolomite_supafly]

I have had some symptoms come up recently that are concerning. It is better to eliminate lead as the source.

 

Dolomite

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Lester.  Ya remembered right.  The stuff in old primers wuz Lead styphnate .  There aint anything wrong with your brain brother!

We might could quibble about mine a bit though.

 

leroy

 

Thanks Leroy. Are primers no longer made with lead styphenate? Bringing home fired cases from usa made commercial ammo, or fired cases reloaded with recently manufactured USA primers-- Are those things made lead-free nowadays?

[Oh Shoot]

Be aware of dust as well. Not an issue with loaded ammunition but at the range it is possible to be exosed to lead dust from either the targets or dirt backstops. Anytime you touch lead make sure to wash your hands before injecting anything.

 

 

 

...Anytime you touch lead make sure to wash your hands before injecting anything.  ...I have had some symptoms come up recently that are concerning. It is better to eliminate lead as the source.

 

I've told you to stop injecting all that stuff !

 

- OS

[Guest Ditchdigger]

Hope all goes well with your tests Dolomite.

[Dolomite_supafly]

And for those who want to know the blood test costs $100. Blood is generally where the largest concentrations show up first. Than as the blood levels subside the levels increase in bone marrow.

Not sure how long it will take or if there is even an issue. In speaking with the doctor he made it sound very remote but the symptoms seemed to come on as I ramped up my cleaning up lead from dirty wheel weights.

Dolomite

[RED333]

What are you using for flux?

[Guest Fruit jar]

I use to stand over a pot of lead sitting on one of those fryer bases on the ground. I made a short table to sit it on and a fan blowing on my back or to the side. Now the lead is out in front of me, not under my head at any time when casting.

 

Stop reading bad reports.

[Dolomite_supafly]

During the cleaning process I don't use any. I toss the sorted wheel weights, to remove zinc, in a pot and melt over propane. I scoop out the clips then pour the lead into ingots. This is where the majority of the smoke comes from but I wear a mask when working with it. But sometimes when I am waiting on it to melt I will remove the mask and go inside. And when I come out I sometimes I inhale some smoke before getting my mask on.

Then in the pot itself I allow the oxidation build up on top to keep the air out of the lead. Then I cast the bullets from s bottom pour pot.

I used to flux often only to have the crust build up. I have used wax as well as wood shavings. But when I just let the crust build up it rarely smokes.

Dolomite

[Guest Fruit jar]

If I have a lot of range bullets I'll lay down a few ingots of wheel weight lead or wheel weights, if I have them. Then fill the pot with the bullets. After about 30 minutes I put 2 cups of sawdust in the pot and let it smoke and burn. I made a 2x4 frame with 1/4" hardware cloth. sift the copper out of the mix into the screen. The crud will fall through into a pan. If I need some large sinkers, I'll pour them up after I get all the crud out of the lead. The rest goes into ingots.

[leroy]

Thanks Leroy. Are primers no longer made with lead styphenate? Bringing home fired cases from usa made commercial ammo, or fired cases reloaded with recently manufactured USA primers-- Are those things made lead-free nowadays?

Lester:___________

I dont think that they use lead styphenate now; but i aint sure what they use.

 

leroy

[Jonnin]

Diazodinitrophenol is the green primer compound.  No, I have no idea what that is or how to make it, its just what the web says.  

 

The lead whateveryousaid is also still in use apparently (?) -- the above being new or expensive or both (?).   Its hard to say .... the data online is sketchy.

 

 

Its not easy to find a recipe for any of the compounds -- I suppose a jar of the stuff would be *quite* explosive after all.   But as far as I can tell lead is still a primary ingredient of most primer compounds at this time,  and the above clean one does not seem to work in rimfires.

 

A DIY prepper friend of mine said you can just use black powder as a compound as it will pop on impact.  I have not tried this.  Presumably this would be about like old time paper cap pistols?

Edited February 6, 2013 by Jonnin