Lead poisoning, primer residue

[tangolima]

Do you guys worry about this? I found there was a layers of black dust covering area near the ram of my reloading die. It is primer residue. When I decap, the spent primer cup falls out of the slot in the ram, and lands in the catcher. But there is a small "spray" of residue following the primer cup. I didn't pay too much attention till recently I learned primer residue was mostly lead salt dust. Thanks in advance for your comments.

-TL

[precision_shooter]

I don't worry about it, just clean it when it becomes bad. I ALWAYS wash my hands after I handle anything firearms/ammunition related. I also keep a fan going overhead, on low speed, to push dusts and such in the air to the floor.

[madmo44mag]

After many years in a machine shop and the chemicals used a little lead will be the last thing that kills me.
I just keep the area from getting really bad and always wash my hands.

[Jeff2131]

Check this out on Amazon:

D-Lead Abrasive Hand Soap - 16oz
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009PA6WP8/..._am_us?ie=UTF8

[tangolima]

Thanks gentlemen for your input. I understand the common sense approach dealing with anything dirty. But I guess it would require more than washing your hands in this case.

It is lead salt dust that can go airborne. When it gets in your lungs, the absorption is rather efficient, much more than pure lead. Blowing it just spreads it and makes it more difficult to recover. Blowing it to the ground and threading on it, and you will bring it to the carpets in your house. A little bit of lead won't kill you, but it may make you and your family sick, especially young children. I know a gunsmith who had massive lead poisoning and he had to take medication to control it. He is now at an advanced age, and still quite alive. But he will swear he did NOT like the medication he had to take. It made he very sick in other ways.

Perhaps not allowing the residue to come out is a better solution. I was told a few models of reloading presses had these sorts of recovering system built in. I know around for those, and I do like the Forster Co-ax. It is probably the best design among the others.

I am a newbie when it comes to reloading. Any information and comments are much appreciated, especially something from your real experience.

-TL

[rclark]

Nope, never have worried about it.... and never will. Neither did all those that went before us either. Just clean up the area after your done and wash your hands with soap. Keep It Simple ....

[Ozzieman]

Yes I do worry about it, or did. I shoot thousands of rounds a year and 70% of those are lead and I have been doing that for over 30 years. Also I breathe a lot of solder fumes from work.
Several years ago I asked by doctor to do a lead test when I was having my blood work done. He said that my lead number was higher than a normal person but well below the damaging level.
High levels of lead in your blood are nothing to joke about but even with the small amount in primers I do use a respirator when I dump brass from my tumbler. Lot of dust and I just don’t want to breathe that crap.
Next time you have your blood tested ask your doctor to have your lead level checked.

[myfriendis410]

Most primers sold today are made out of something other than lead styphnate. Clerinox is one name used.

[jcwit]

Post a link verifying that.

[tangolima]

I beg to differ. Almost all currently available primers contain lead unless marked "lead-free". Manufacturers all try to produce lead-free primers, they all have performance issues.

-TL

[HeadHunter]

Having had an elevated lead level, which was very unpleasant, I try to minimize my exposure as much as possible. I wear nitrile gloves when I reload. I'll have to think about the primer funk, too, though.

[James K]

I would not minimize the problem of lead in primer dust, but I would be far more concerned about fumes from molten lead and metallic lead absorption from handling lead bullets.

Jim

[jcwit]

I would not minimize the problem of lead in primer dust, but I would be far more concerned about fumes from molten lead and metallic lead absorption from handling lead bullets.

Do you heat up your melt to 1,100 degrees to the point the lead really vaporizes?

Explain how you are going to absorb elemental lead AKA metallic lead?

Now oxidized lead and lead compounds are an entirely different story.

[jcwit]

I beg to differ. Almost all currently available primers contain lead unless marked "lead-free". Manufacturers all try to produce lead-free primers, they all have performance issues.

Correct, that's why I asked for the link.

Also the lead-free primers are very expensive.

[Hammerhead]

Lead free primers are expensive, nearly impossible to find, and only come in small sizes.
I worry more about primer dust and cleaning media dust than I do about handling lead bullets.

[Hammerhead]

disregard please.

[Slamfire]

UncleNick created this sticky, and based on the numbers I posted, lead particles in the air, after shooting cast lead bullets, is a significant source of lead exposure. It is orders of magnitude higher than lead vapor over casting pots, which is a source of lead inhalation.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...highlight=lead

I have not found data on primer residue, but lead is not only the nasty heavy metal in primers, and I am careful to clean my hands after primer pocket cleaning. I do not have a factual basis for my concerns about primer dust, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

[jcwit]

I have a few thousand lead ingots that are vaporizing before my very eyes causing untold harm to the entire town.

Just wait till I smelt the rest of my 800 lbs of range lead. The folks in hazmet suits may come after me.

[TimSr]

I don't worry a lot about lead, but I have more concerns about breathing lead when shooting than from punching out primers. Filling the primer catch tray with water should help with airbourne lead if its a concern.

[tangolima]

Thank you guys for your input. Here is what I can extract from all the replies.

1. No big deal. Wash hands, with D-lead soap. Clean reloading area.
2. Ventilation, perhaps a fan.
3. Wear gloves.
4. Fill spent primer catcher with water.

More?

-TL

[Mike Irwin]

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling loading components, don't smoke, eat, or drink while reloading, and you'll be fine.

If you're REALLY worried, wear a respirator designed to filter lead styphenate dust.

[Hammerhead]

Separate your media from your cases outdoors.

[precision_shooter]

What kind of media is everyone using that creates a lot of dust? I'm using regular ol' corn cob media and I don't notice any dust really...

[tangolima]

Walnut shell is quite dusty.

-TL

[tangolima]

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling loading components, don't smoke, eat, or drink while reloading, and you'll be fine.

If you're REALLY worried, wear a respirator designed to filter lead styphenate dust.

It makes sense not to eat, drink, smoke while reloading, or near the firing line in the matter, although I see plenty of people doing that.

So airborne dust is a non-factor? Respirator is to keep the dust from getting in your lungs when you wear it. What about the dust that is already in your garage? It will be there till you somehow remove it.

-TL