reloading precautions with powder and spent primers
 

how worried should i be about exposure to smokeless powder and spent primers? should i be wearing nitrile gloves? a dust-mask?

i reload nearly exclusively .223 and .308, but occasionally reload other rifle calibers for my friend.

TIA,

d.

I just wash up real good after reloading. My powder measure is capped so no "dust" comes out from it.

Dave

I usually wear a lot more than that. At least jeans and a tee shirt.

Seriously, though, not a thing to worry about. I've been reloading for over forty years, and other than when casting bullets, I have never taken any special precautions nor have I worn any sort of protective gear. I've never run into anyone who does. Total non-issue.

jeff, you made me laugh... :)

thanks!

Go to the airport and get in the vacuum scanner. If the gunpowder residue is too high you will get a free prostrate exam. :)

I'm with Jeff on this. I do wash my hands pretty good after reloading though, but mostly because the carbon just likes to stain stuff. I don't let my kids touch powder or primers (or in the room while reloading), but I do let them pull the lever on the press while depriming.

I do wear my welding jacket, apron, respirator, and safety glasses while bullet casting in my garage with a back and front door open.

i am thinking that the dust from the powder is mainly graphite. i could be wrong.

I take a lot of precautions that others don't, under many circumstances. If you have sensitive lungs, you don't need permission to do so.

Listen to your gut, and follow your own instincts.

I never worry about powder or primers. Just clean up good afterwords…But I don't use any fine powders.

It's the cleaning solvents that we should be protecting ourselves from. Lead and copper solvents are really bad.

yeah, i always wear gloves when messing with solvents and i started using 'gunzilla' to clean my spoons because there are zero fumes.

i guess my main concern is lead from the primers and adverse effects from the volatile nitrogen compounds in the powders. i did look up the MSDS on the powders and found they are not water soluble at all, so that made me feel better.

I don't handle lead projectiles. All mine as copper electrolplated or something like that.

I've heard shooting in indoor ranges where you can smell the burnt gunpowder is a concern as fired primers blast a bit of lead into the air.

Yeah, lead styphanate is one of the main ingredients in modern primers. Several manufacturers now make lead free "indoor" primers.

Most of my shooting is done with cast bullets. I've never shown elevated lead levels in my yearly blood tests. I cast with both garage doors open and a small fan blowing across my workbench, but I have never bothered to wear a respirator. I exercise no other special precautions in handling lead bullets. All of my shooting is outdoors, however, effectively minimizing my exposure to airborne particulates.

Funny, a couple of local indoor ranges do not allow lead bullets (other than rimfire). Yet they have no idea that the primers are the primary contributor to airborne lead.

it seems that a lot of the handgun bullets have a lead base, too.