[racershooter]

Hello, I'm new here , usually shoot at 2 or 3 outdoor GSSf matches per year and a bunch more indoor. Recently found out I have lead poisoning, more than 2x CDC maximum.
Wondering if folks use those nitrile gloves for cleaning? I tried disassembling and reassembling my G19 and just could not get the firing pin cups on with gloves on. Everything else yes, clunky but it worked.
Any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on this.

 

[NicholsT55]

You may need to try a thinner glove, although I can imagine that particular task being difficult with any gloves on! I got into the habit of wearing nitrile gloves while working on firearms at Yuma Proving Ground. I spent a lot of time disassembling the firing mechs of 60mm mortars and cleaning the accumulation of carbon and crap out of them, and used a lot of chemicals in the process. Along with working on numerous other types of weapons. My conclusion was this: gloves thin enough to allow good 'feel' are fragile and tear easily. You may go through multiple pairs during one job. Gloves sturdy enough to not shred on contact with any sharp edge do not allow good tactile feel, but they will last through the entire job. Usually, anyway. Once I finish the job, I remove the gloves and pour the sweat out of them. They keep me from being exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, so that's a definite plus.

 

[norton]

Might want to find an indoor range with better ventilation. Much lead exposure is due to breathing the dust of fired primers.

 

[ssweet97]

You might want to try nitrile gloves with little ridges on them for better dexterity, just a thought.

 

[racershooter]

You may need to try a thinner glove, although I can imagine that particular task being difficult with any gloves on! I got into the habit of wearing nitrile gloves while working on firearms at Yuma Proving Ground. I spent a lot of time disassembling the firing mechs of 60mm mortars and cleaning the accumulation of carbon and crap out of them, and used a lot of chemicals in the process. Along with working on numerous other types of weapons. My conclusion was this: gloves thin enough to allow good 'feel' are fragile and tear easily. You may go through multiple pairs during one job. Gloves sturdy enough to not shred on contact with any sharp edge do not allow good tactile feel, but they will last through the entire job. Usually, anyway. Once I finish the job, I remove the gloves and pour the sweat out of them. They keep me from being exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, so that's a definite plus.

Thinner gloves, good idea. Thanks

 

[racershooter]

You might want to try nitrile gloves with little ridges on them for better dexterity, just a thought.

Good idea if thin. Will try to locate them locally. Thanks.

 

[DirectDrive]

Might want to find an indoor range with better ventilation. Much lead exposure is due to breathing the dust of fired primers.

This ^^^
I think inhaling airborne lead is the main culprit here.
Stop the indoor matches and see if your bloodwork gets better.

 

[Taz]

Inhalation is the most likely the culprit. I doubt that you are getting that much exposure from cleaning. Sucks as the indoor ranges are far more accessible, but they do pose another worry regarding their ventilation. Wife and I shoot indoors about 1 day a week and this thread reminds me to get levels checked. May want ditch the indoor matches fro a month or so and get re-checked to see what happens. Not sure how fast the levels drop after exposure.

What prompted the check? Routine or were you having symptoms?

 

[racershooter]

Inhalation is the most likely the culprit. I doubt that you are getting that much exposure from cleaning. Sucks as the indoor ranges are far more accessible, but they do pose another worry regarding their ventilation. Wife and I shoot indoors about 1 day a week and this thread reminds me to get levels checked. May want ditch the indoor matches fro a month or so and get re-checked to see what happens. Not sure how fast the levels drop after exposure.

What prompted the check? Routine or were you having symptoms?

Good thoughts. One indoor IDPA match I was shooting at used brooms to cleanup, lots of dust raised. I have doubled up on drinking (water!) and am getting retested in 35 days. Going forward plan only doing matches indoors, no practice and really doing everything I can to minimize exposure including those heavy metal reducing soaps and wipes.
Of course once I got the result I stopped all shooting and firearm handling until I get back to normal, which is really 0.

 

[9x45]

If you had lead poisoning, you'd be in the hospital for chelation. That's usually around 60 ug/dl. Most avid shooters are around 12-25, depending on the number of matches you shoot. Lead is inhaled. Only full metal jackets with non toxic primers are lead free. Cast lead is the worst, shearing thru the barrel, vaporizing the base of the bullet and from the primer, lead styphnate. I shoot once a week outdoor and am at about 6. Indoor ranges are the worst by far. Best protection is an N95 mask. You can wear gloves all you want, but lead cannot be absorbed thru the skin (only tetraethyllead lead as in leaded gas). However gloves are a good idea to protect against cleaning solvents, like Hoppes #9. If you shoot at all, you will never get to zero, especially in a match because you breathing everyone else's gun exhaust. Lead wipes are good if plan to eat right after shooting.

 

[DSP24]

Just wondering how much lead are you absorbing working with the firing pin assembly?

 

[njl]

I suspect it’s the indoor range time that’s getting you, assuming you’re not dumb enough to be snacking or putting your hands in your mouth while cleaning guns (or before washing after). First time I cleaned an AR, I realized nitrile gloves for gun cleaning are a necessity, and I’ve worn them for gun cleaning ever since.
You might look into how well ventilated the indoor range is and if any other regulars there are having lead issues. You should probably also assume all surfaces inside the range are contaminated with lead residue.

 

[FrDoc]

Yeah, you wanna make sure you never miss out on a hand modeling opportunity.

 

[LivingUpNorth]

Gloves help if you plan on eating/drinking immediately after your activities, but that's about it as far as lead goes. Respiratory protection is what you need if you shoot indoors frequently.

Out of curiosity, I got my blood tested for lead and it was slightly high* (I don't remember the exact value). After a year of wearing a P100 HEPA half face mask indoors, minimizing my time at one particular indoor range with notoriously poor ventilation, and using lead wipes post-shooting, my lead level went back down to the normal range. That was only a change in PPE and shooting locations; no change in shooting frequency/volume or firearm cleaning.

I also get fitted yearly for a HEPA mask at my work as it's important to know how to wear one effectively. No lead risks at my work, if anyone is wondering.

*There is no "safe" limit according to the CDC. Their limits are continuously updated (i.e. lowered), so you may hear anecdotes about blood levels that were "safe" at one time, but no longer are.

 

[racershooter]

Just wondering how much lead are you absorbing working with the firing pin assembly?

Good observation. After the doc told me i had lead poisoning and to stop giving blood and platelets i wanted to see if i could minimize exposure by completely disassembling and assembling a g19 With gloves on. Although the majority of lead is from inhaled lead there is lead absorbed into your pores firearms is absorbed into the skin. You are absolutely correct that exposure from the firing pin cups is minimal.

just wanted tomget some ideas about using gloves and i Got some. Grateful for the objective suggestions.

 

[racershooter]

I suspect it’s the indoor range time that’s getting you, assuming you’re not dumb enough to be snacking or putting your hands in your mouth while cleaning guns (or before washing after). First time I cleaned an AR, I realized nitrile gloves for gun cleaning are a necessity, and I’ve worn them for gun cleaning ever since.
You might look into how well ventilated the indoor range is and if any other regulars there are having lead issues. You should probably also assume all surfaces inside the range are contaminated with lead residue.

Thanks very much for your thoughts About using nitrile gloves. i suspect your thoughts about ventilation at indoor ranges may be less than Optimal.

what originally alerted me to this was a couple i shoot with would not be at the next indoor match due to high lead levels. Very glad they mentioned it. I thought hmmmm, never thought of that and got tested. mentioned it to guy in charge of another rangemi shoot at and he thought hemwould get tested.

 

[racershooter]

Gloves help if you plan on eating/drinking immediately after your activities, but that's about it as far as lead goes. Respiratory protection is what you need if you shoot indoors frequently.

Out of curiosity, I got my blood tested for lead and it was slightly high* (I don't remember the exact value). After a year of wearing a P100 HEPA half face mask indoors, minimizing my time at one particular indoor range with notoriously poor ventilation, and using lead wipes post-shooting, my lead level went back down to the normal range. That was only a change in PPE and shooting locations; no change in shooting frequency/volume or firearm cleaning.

I also get fitted yearly for a HEPA mask at my work as it's important to know how to wear one effectively. No lead risks at my work, if anyone is wondering.

*There is no "safe" limit according to the CDC. Their limits are continuously updated (i.e. lowered), so you may hear anecdotes about blood levels that were "safe" at one time, but no longer are.

Leo, thanks for your thoughts. They are appreciated. So you wear a mask shootingnindoors?

 

[Hoss]

Years ago I shot at a indoor range that had poor ventilation and I did have an issue with lead build up. The guys are right it is more than likely a inhalation issue over a contact one. I don’t wear gloves when cleaning my guns… did not like the pinching when fitting parts. If I thought I was handling more residue than safe I would come up with something else.

 

[racershooter]

Years ago I shot at a indoor range that had poor ventilation and I did have an issue with lead build up. The guys are right it is more than likely a inhalation issue over a contact one. I don’t wear gloves when cleaning my guns… did not like the pinching when fitting parts. If I thought I was handling more residue than safe I would come up with something else.

Thanks hoss.

 

[Bren]

I don't shoot indoors. Been shooting all my life with no lead problem.