After Range Clean Up...

[BaiHu]

A while back I was reading a thread about reloading and the dangers of spreading lead throughout the house and how some of you handled your clothes, boots, etc in order to prevent lead levels from rising.

Some questions to get the thread started:

1. Range to car: do you change clothes? Wipe car down?
2. Car to home: do you wipe your shoes down? Leave them somewhere? Bag your clothes?
3. Home to laundry: do you separate your clothes in a bag until you wash? Wash separately? Have a particular detergent? Do you rinse your washer out after you've washed those clothes?

My current routine is relatively lax IMO. I just collect 'gun' clothes and wash them separately from other clothes and the move along, but I was interested in how some of you handle your clothes afterward. Especially those who shoot indoors often as I primarily do.

TIA

[SAWBONES]

I don't do any of that, and I don't separate post-shooting clothes from other clothes before washing, but then I typically only shoot between 50 and 200 rounds per practice session, and I shoot indoors at a well ventilated range.

I don't mean to make light of the dangers of lead poisoning, but as a doc I'm certainly aware of the issues, and unless you're shooting 1000 rounds in a short time and standing next to people on either side of you shooting 1000 rounds each, all in a non-ventilated area, and doing it daily, it's probably not a serious safety issue as regards blood lead accumulation.

(I'm exaggerating, of course, but if you're a typical range shooter like me, shooting less than weekly, you're not expected to be at significant risk of lead poisoning effects. Airborne lead is the main issue, though obviously you shouldn't lick your fingers or eat without washing your hands after shooting. :p)

[Trooper224]

1. Range to car: do you change clothes? Wipe car down?

No, but I always wash clothes after a range session, before wearing them again.


2. Car to home: do you wipe your shoes down? Leave them somewhere? Bag your clothes?

No, that's going overboard.


3. Home to laundry: do you separate your clothes in a bag until you wash? Wash separately? Have a particular detergent? Do you rinse your washer out after you've washed those clothes?

No. I've been shooting, not handling uranium.

Honestly, all of this paranoia over lead exposure is just that. Breathing in lead vapors on an indoor range is the most hazardous thing you can do in terms of lead exposure and I've been doing that for over thirty years and the vast majority of my shooting is done with cast bullets. I always have my lead levels checked during my yearly physical and there's never been a cause for concern. You're in more danger driving to and from the range, or changing a light bulb in your house than you are from lead exposure through shooting. The best thing you can do for yourself post shooting is simply wash your hands.

[SecondsCount]

I shoot, reload, go to indoor ranges, volunteer at an outdoor range, etc. and my lead levels were in the normal range last year when I had them checked. All I make sure of is that I wash my hands after doing anything with firearms or reloading.

YMMV.

[TGS]

I don't do anything other than wash my hands (and usually face) with cold water before leaving the range, if I'm at an indoor range. If I'm at an outdoor range, I just non-urgently wash my hands when I get a chance.

Clothes get worn for the rest of the day and then thrown in the hamper with everything else.

No special procedures for my shoes.

[Sigfan26]

The only folks I strongly encourage to do more than was their hands after shooting are people with young kids. Former coworker had his young child get elevated lead levels from exposure due to improper clean up after shooting/work. While we were exposed to higher than normal levels, it's not a bad precaution to change clothes and shower after going shooting if very young children are around. And, don't let them play with your shoes/ clothes post range session. Separating laundry is a bit much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jared]

I shoot outdoors. I do wash my hands at the first available opportunity. I do shower after everything is put away at home. I do not let my daughter play with my shoes. I do wash my clothes separate from my wife and daughters, but that really only started when my wife was pregnant.

All that said... I've been shooting since I was ten and used to be a LOT less diligent about post shooting clean up. When my wife got pregnant I got really worried about my child's potential for exposure so I had my doc test my blood lead levels. Everything came back completely normal.

One thing I absolutely quit doing after a thread on PF was tumbling brass in the house. That process got moved out, and I did a lot of cleaning before my daughter was born, plus had some carpet replaced.

ETA: on the laundry thing, I do wash all of my clothes together. I dont separate my shooting clothes from my regular stuff. There is an order to it. It goes:. Wife and daughters clothes, then mine, then whites, then towels. Each is a full load. That give the machine a couple loads before my daughter's clothes are in there again. Keep in mind that I'm perhaps a bit OCD with my kid because she's only 15 months old.

[Gray222]

I don't do anything other than wash my hands (and usually face) with cold water before leaving the range, if I'm at an indoor range. If I'm at an outdoor range, I just non-urgently wash my hands when I get a chance.

Clothes get worn for the rest of the day and then thrown in the hamper with everything else.

No special procedures for my shoes.

This, emphasis on cold water.

I also blow my nose a bunch of times.

[hufnagel]

Here is how I frame it from a shooting only stand point, as I don't reload:
Is there lead in the powder or primers?
Is there exposed lead from plated or jacketed projectiles?
Where is the highest concentration of lead located in the range?

Since I only shoot jacketed or plated projectile ammunition, my understanding is that all or nearly all of the lead contamination is in or on the back stop and the immediate area surrounding it. While i'm not saying you should eat a heavy mayo'ed ham and cheese sammich in the range proper, I'm pretty confident my actual lead exposure concerns are highly minimized. Most of the contamination I find on my hands seems to come from powder residue as well as case lube left on the .22lr ammo from manufacturing (specific vendor, which i'll never buy again, FYI.)

I don't do anything special with my clothes after shooting. I wouldn't consider it smart to visit an airport shortly after a session though, especially if going into the sanitized areas.

If i'm wrong on any of this, please let me know.

[GardoneVT]

I don't know about the rest,but definitely wash your hands and clothes after a Range trip. You might be shooting clean ammo....but Cletus next to you might not. Every time I've washed my hands post shooting the rinsewater was tinted black.

The clothes one I learned the hard way. I flew on spring break years back,and as most college bachelors tend to do I tossed some clothes basically at random in the suitcase before flying out. Fast forward a week,and I get picked for special attention at the TSA counter on the trip out.

After swabbing my clothes the TSA agent sticks the cardboard sample into the grey test box. It was at that moment I remembered the jacket and jeans I was wearing were the same ones I wore 8 days earlier at the range: I hadn't washed them before packing , which meant .....

"Beep"

Fuck.

"Sir you tested positive for explosives presence. We're gonna need to search you in the next room .Come follow me please ...."


Note to self- don't fly out of LAX with gunpowder contaminated clothes next time......

[Peally]

I wash my hands after reloading or going to the range, that's it. No need to be eating lunch while you have powder residue or lead or something all over.

As far as clothes and shoes and crap they get washed at the regular intervals regardless of range trips.

[BaiHu]

Thanks for the input guys. You've all sated my curiosity.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[Vinnie Bagadonuts]

Thanks for the input guys. You've all sated my curiosity.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

It was a good question. And it made think of a related question. If a person goes to a doctor annually for a physical, and donates blood, urine and about a hundred twenty five bucks, wouldn't high lead content be noted?

[RJ]

Good thread. Other than hand washing after a range session, I was oblivious to this subject.

I was at an outdoor range Friday at a class. My lunch was bagged cold tortilla wraps I'd made, an apple, and water.

If I add some wipes and Purell to my lunch bag, I'm good to go, I'm assuming? Or should I take some hand soap and water w/hand towel as well?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rsa-otc]

As one who had "significantly" elevated blood lead levels in the mid 80's, so much so that I was part of a national study I will put my 2 cents in.

We had an indoor range in the basement of our terminal and we shot strictly lead ammo. At the time of our problems we had OSHA in collecting samples from all over the building. Even though we took no precautions the lead was confined to the range. Even my desk was sampled and no significant lead contamination was found. The gun cleaning table was "remarkably clean” according to the inspector.

What I did to lower my levels.

I removed myself from the range rotation for approximately 6 months which allowed my system to expel the excessive lead. No more eating or drinking while on the range. Hands and faces were cleaned when we came upstairs or ate and drank anything. No special care was taken with regards to clothing. I also stopped casting my own bullets. I am not sure that casting was an issue since my asst instructor also had elevated levels and wasn't a caster himself. Lead level testing every 6 months thereafter and we never had an issue after that.

My elevated levels came before I had kids and I now have 2 highly intelligent and successful children in their late 20's, so there doesn't seem to be any long term effects.

Currently I continue to make sure I wash my hands and face after every range session or before eating or drinking anything on an outdoor range. I do not eat or drink during a indoor range session, reserving that until I am done shooting which is usually an hour at a time. From March thru October my shooting is done on outdoor ranges. The remainder of the year it is usually one time per week at a local indoor range for about an hour and 150 rounds with a monthly IDPA match thrown in for good measure. Blood is tested annually when I have my physical and no issues have risen.

With regards as to where the lead comes from it is my understanding that one of the worst offenders is the primers.

[TGS]

If I add some wipes and Purell to my lunch bag, I'm good to go, I'm assuming? Or should I take some hand soap and water w/hand towel as well?

D-Lead makes no-rinse skin wipes. I shoot at a range with D-Lead soap, so I haven't bought them. If I get into a routine of shooting at a range with limited facilities I'd buy them since it's pretty routine for me to grab something to eat or drink after shooting.

[martin_j001]

I try my best to shoot outdoors only, and shoot plated and/or coated bullets only. I make sure to wash my hands before eating, and again before I touch anything related to my daughter. No special routines regarding clothes/shoes, other than to be sure my daughter doesn't get a hold of anything specifically related to the range. With reloading, I just wash my hands really, really well. I figure if I got the smurf piss from Blue Bullets of me, my hands should be clean enough at that point.

[TiCo]

It was a good question. And it made think of a related question. If a person goes to a doctor annually for a physical, and donates blood, urine and about a hundred twenty five bucks, wouldn't high lead content be noted?

I use to work at the blood bank here in the southwest. They would only relay the results of blood testing to the donor if they tested positive for a disease (and cholesterol, but apparently that's an easy/cheap test). It was usually an STD situation. Other blood banks may vary.

[Robinson]

I always wash my hands immediately after shooting, then my face when I get home. That's about it.

[Matt O]

I used to be pretty relaxed about this, but have gotten more OCD in an effort to protect the rest of the fam, particularly the little one(s).

I wash hands and face immediately at the range. Range bag and shoes get wiped down at the car with D-Lead wipes. Get home and range bag goes downstairs to a spot by the safe without touching anything else and clothes go in the washer with D-Lead detergent. I then go up and take a shower right away.

In general, if I touch my guns to do dry fire or I do any reloading, I wash my hands with D-Lead soap as soon as I'm done. I used to only shoot CMJ bullets and am now shooting coated.

For the record, I could be being completely overkill on this and have never had my lead level tested.

[Vinnie Bagadonuts]

Thanks TiCo. And Matt I didn't know D Lead wipes existed. Just ordered them from Amazon. Thanks

[cclaxton]

I went through a period where my lead level was high. I found it was related to indoor shooting in ranges where ventilation and cleanup was inadequate. It's good to wash hands with D-Lead after shooting indoors or outdoors. But I have not had my lead go up because of outdoor shooting. Cody

[Matt O]

Thanks TiCo. And Matt I didn't know D Lead wipes existed. Just ordered them from Amazon. Thanks

D-Lead wipes are somewhat overpriced on Amazon. Best places to purchase them are Ben Stoeger Pro Shop (http://benstoegerproshop.com/search.php?search_query=D-Lead&Search+for+product=) or, if you want them in bulk (or want some of their soap/detergent, etc) is go directly to esca-tech.com (https://www.esca-tech.com/).

[Hot Sauce]

I'm on the more overly cautious side of this, but once you get into a habit of it, it doesn't seem like a big deal.

Big emphasis on using D-lead, as regular soap and water is not going to do nearly as well at getting heavy metals off.

-I use d-lead soap if there is running water to wash my hands/arms/face. If not, I do that with the d-lead wipes.
-I use d-lead wipes to wipe down the front of my shirt and both the tops and bottoms of my shoes before getting back in the car. I also use the d-lead wipes on parts of the car I touch like the door/trunk handles.
-When I get home, I plastic bag my range shoes and put them back with my firearms gear, and wash my range clothes using Hot water.
-I take a solid shower to get anything else off of me.

[RJ]

Thanks TiCo. And Matt I didn't know D Lead wipes existed. Just ordered them from Amazon. Thanks

Link please?

[Vinnie Bagadonuts]

Here ya go Rich.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_rsis_1_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=d-lead&sprefix=D-%2Caps%2C972

[OlongJohnson]

With regards as to where the lead comes from it is my understanding that one of the worst offenders is the primers.

Likely true.

Unfortunately, lead-free primers in "clean" ammo produce other metallic compounds that may be even more toxic in the short term than lead. So using "clean" ammo to address an inadequate ventilation system is not a solution.

Many indoor ranges don't meet state-of-the-art standards for ventilation. Out of the six indoor ranges I've been to here in Houston, only two of them are adequate. They are the big, shiny, new, expensive ones: Saddle River and Athena Gun Club. If you're in the area and haven't been, go some time and check it out, then compare it to where you usually go. With all the engineering capability there is around here, it amazes me that so many people can't figure out this simple airflow problem.

[rsa-otc]

Likely true.

Unfortunately, lead-free primers in "clean" ammo produce other metallic compounds that may be even more toxic in the short term than lead. So using "clean" ammo to address an inadequate ventilation system is not a solution.

Unfortunately this is too often true with our attempts at a safer less polluting option. NJ required an additive in our gasoline during the winter months to reduce Hydro carbon emissions. The unfortunate side effect was that the chemical ended up in our water supply and it wasn't exactly healthy. It took a lot of fighting to remove that requirement because the clean air buffs didn't really care that their additive was polluting the water supply and fought us tooth and nail.

[rsa-otc]

As one who has actually suffered elevated blood lead levels I understand everyone's concern. But since all I needed to do to alleviate this issue was to clean the hands and face after shooting and before eating, while still using indoor ranges, lead bullets and non lead free primers; I don't get overly concerned about the issue. In my classes I do a block on lead exposure and the dangers.

Maybe some people are more susceptible to lead poisoning than others.

[OlongJohnson]

Unfortunately this is too often true with our attempts at a safer less polluting option. NJ required an additive in our gasoline during the winter months to reduce Hydro carbon emissions. The unfortunate side effect was that the chemical ended up in our water supply and it wasn't exactly healthy. It took a lot of fighting to remove that requirement because the clean air buffs didn't really care that their additive was polluting the water supply and fought us tooth and nail.

Yup. Happened in CA, too. MTBE. Methyl tertiary butyl ether.