Is shooting lead .22 ammo potentially poisonous? For kids??

[Cameron SS]

There is a foam soap at our indoor range used for removing lead after shooting.
I heard there are also wipes. It would be great to have both for trips to the outdoor range.
Especially so for when someone wants a snack.

The stuff is not expensive. Most gun shows and trade shows I go to people are giving away tons of samples.

Sorry I’m dumb does this mean don’t let the kids handle the spent casings? Where does the primer risk come from and how is it avoided?

It means minimize the handling. If you insist on having kids participate in cleaning up the range after shooting, picking up brass isn't so bad. Give them PPE and teach them about washing their hands afterwards. Dont let them keep a handful of them as souvenirs and toys that they be fondling for days without supervision or clean up.

All the burnt primer residue contains small amounts of lead. In small amounts its mostly harmless. But it bio accumulates over time and if you inhale/ingest at a rate faster than your body can process it can get stored in places that your body can not easily remove it.

All these guys swallowling pellets are missing the point. Whole lead is mostly harmless, and I would suspect more than 99.99% of the mass of those pellets came out the back end looking much the same way it went in. Crush that same pellet into a fine dust and inhale it and it will be a very different story.

 

[.22LRGUY]

If you load for them they shouldn't get much exposure on their hands, if they do they should be aware and try and wash their hands before eating or picking their noses....
Some nitrile loading gloves would keep the hands clean for sure and the wipes idea makes sense.

When we were kids lead was "the chewy metal" and we crimped on fishing weights with our teeth.... being conscious and aware and limiting exposure is not a bad idea.

^lol...had to laugh at that. I remember as a young lad putting a few lead airgun pellets in my mouth for short-term storage if I (though I) had to get some shots off in quick succession. Only did that a few times before wondering whether the lead in paint I'd heard about was the "same" lead I knew the pellets were made of. Stopped that right away.

I just got back from Alberta where I was shooting gophers for over a week, mostly 22...some 17HMR. Even at my age, and having been a shooter for over 40 years...it crossed my mind (shooting into the wind) whether or not there were lead particles in the gas that invariably blew back in my face. I get my blood checked about every 4 months anyway, I'll ask my doctor if lead levels can be measured in the same test I'm getting anyway.

 

[Cameron SS]

^lol...had to laugh at that. I remember as a young lad putting a few lead airgun pellets in my mouth for short-term storage if I (though I) had to get some shots off in quick succession. Only did that a few times before wondering whether the lead in paint I'd heard about was the "same" lead I knew the pellets were made of. Stopped that right away.

I just got back from Alberta where I was shooting gophers for over a week, mostly 22...some 17HMR. Even at my age, and having been a shooter for over 40 years...it crossed my mind (shooting into the wind) whether or not there were lead particles in the gas that invariably blew back in my face. I get my blood checked about every 4 months anyway, I'll ask my doctor if lead levels can be measured in the same test I'm getting anyway.

Its usually just another vial of blood taken at the same time, and tested separately. Annually is usually fine.

 

[Kayser Sose]

I was reading through the thread, but heres my 2 cents; how i handle this issue:

My range has a bathroom with a sink and soap. Before i leave, after collecting my plinking plates, i wash my hands thoroughly. If i need to piss/etc while at the range, I wash my hands.

I do my eating before i attend the firing line.

I dont have access to an indoor range, so i guess thats good...

I look at all the crap on my hands after shooting, and im pretty sure i dont want it in my body, so there ya go.

Unfortunate to hear that the lovely smell of burnt powder at the range is where the problem lies...

OP, if your kids listen to you well, they'll get it and wash their hands before doing anything else other than shooting (eating, drinking, bathroom breaks, picking their nose, etc. Happy Fathers Day!

 

[struff55]

You don't have to lick your fingers to obsorb lead it leaches thru your skin just like all other chemicals .