Separate clothes for gun range?

[Krusty]

I didn’t even know this was a thing, I’m about to go to the range in dress shoes and button up shirt on my way home from the office today

It’s kinda fun to shoot dressed up and pretend you’re James Bond or something lol

I don’t think I’ve ever seen special soap at ranges either, where are you located that you see that?

Im with you. If I was going to die from lead poisoning, it would have happened a long time ago from pinching fishing weights with my teeth as a kid! Go figure...

 

[BBCAP]

I wrap myself in bubble wrap before I even go out of the house, so I’m good. All kidding aside, Uncle Sam did make us put on special clothes before firing weapons when I was in the Navy. It was called a uniform.

I'm glad there's at least one more Gen X'er on this site.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

I'm glad there's at least one more Gen X'er on this site.

IKR, fished as a kid, lead weights. Played Battletech as a kid, lead figures, some of my toys had lead paint, been shooting over 30 years with no special lead precautions and some how I’m fine.

 

[phonso302]

Anyone else grow up playing with Dor Mei dinosaur toys

 

[Mr.Cip]

Thirty years ago when I shot more and shot competitions, when I got home I would wash all my clothes and have dedicated shoes for the range. During those years I didn’t think about the lead, it was mostly because I was dirty, sweaty, dusty and smelled bad. Of course, I also took a shower.
These days I make sure I wash my hands especially if I plan to go out for lunch. I do keep in mind that I don’t use the same shoes or bags when traveling through TSA security.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

Mandatory Military Service would do wonders.

I remember firing thousands of rounds through my M249, only to fire few hundred more with an M4, which also lead to firing hundreds more via M2, only to finish with fire-for-effect with a 81mm Mortar. Then come time for sleep and going into my bivy/sleeping bag with everything I wore during the day including my uncleaned M249 and zipping it all closed from toe to head.

And I wasn't the only one. Some of you youngins' older relatives and/or fathers did the same.

 

[psun786]

You get WAY WAY WAY more lead in your nose, eyes, mouth and lungs than what would be left on your clothes. I bet none of us wear a respirator or nitrile gloves, or sealed goggles while shooting. Just saying

Actually, I do wear black n95/p95 mask when go shooting.

 

[Deleted member 6005]

Actually, I do wear black n95/p95 mask when go shooting.

I hope you don't think it protects you from lead inhalation.

 

[HarleyLowRiderST]

I hope you don't think it protects you from lead inhalation.

What do ya mean? It has to be good for lead as it’s good for protecting against Covid and those suckers are even smaller.

 

[H. Bowman]

I am around ammo, spent brass, and reloading more than most people. I don't wear gloves when handling anything, including cleaning guns, and I don't have range clothes or range boots or any of that. I wash my hands with soap and water, don't eat sandwiches while there's range/reloading dust on my hands, and don't touch "the dip" after cleaning my Glock barrels. I get my blood lead level checked about every other year and have no discernible amount. I also don't shoot indoors.

If I had kids at home I'd take precautions to keep them safe but what I've been doing for 30 years seems to be working just fine.

Literally check the 7th reply. I cant mark other peoples replies as “best answer” for some reason. Also ive seen a couple of before and after blood tests on reddit

Literally check the answer of the guy who has done the medical testing and had far more experience than asking an internet forum.

theyre afraid of getting banned. They cant have a conversation without making fun of someone.

I saw Dlead laundry detergent today in person, didnt even know it existed.

Can't be afraid of what already happened sir. I was booted from here for a week or two after providing science and kedical based answers to questions, only to have you and Mr. Mister go on some weird defensive offensive attack over god knows what. I'd be happy to discuss lead contamination in various circumstances, including showing blood lead level results before and after the 30k rounds I've been through since the year started. My most recent lead test, just under two weeks ago, showed no change from last year's. Not sure what to tell ya since you choose to remain ignorant about it when actual science is available.

Anyway, wash your hands and don't shoot indoors. Those two things go a LONG way towards safety. And get your blood checked annually. It's cheap and easy.

 

[ptmn2]

Nothing wrong with performing lead abatement procedures. D-lead wipes, D-lead soap, not eating, dipping or smoking on the range, wearing gloves to pick up brass and clean weapons and changing out range clothes are all simple and non invasive methods to reduce contamination.

I was a LEO range master and we have an underground range. Even with powered ventilation, the airborne lead from the primers became an issue during EH&S testing. We finally had to pay tens of thousands to have the range decontaminated of lead, then switched to lead free ammo only for use in the underground range, expensive stuff. For outdoor range (and duty ammo) we do use standard leaded ammo to save on cost.

Another HUGE source of lead contamination is specific to reloaders. Specifically brass tumblers. If you use a dry media brass tumbler (corn cob or walnut shell), they are known culprits. Nothing wrong with them, but use them outside in the backyard, not in the garage. Another option is to use a rotary stainless steel pin wet tumbler, just wear gloves so the dirty lead filled water doesn't come in contact with your hands. Then wash your hands with soap and water after your done

 

[Warpspeed]

Honest question, how many people in this thread have actually had their blood levels drawn before? Including the ones on here who are flippant in regards to lead exposure?

Back in 2024, I had it checked and it came back 2,4

I cast, load, shoot, etc plus live in a 150 yo house that I am sure has lots of lead paint. For whatever reason, my habit seem to be protecting me so I'm going to just not overthink it and keep on keeping on.

 

[RustyIron]

Wow. I wonder how some of you manage to cross the street without too much fear. LOL. The only thing I worry about is using a backpack that has held my gear as a travel bag through TSA. I've been called out for that a couple times.

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, but I had to retreat to my safe space after you triggered me with your micro-aggressions. I shot my first gun nearly sixty years ago--back when jacketed bullets were expensive and lead was all we could afford. I wish I had known the dangers of wearing shooting clothes to church and eating potato chips while reloading. All those years of negligent gun handling have taken their toll, causing constant ringing in my hears, turning my hair gray, and severely limiting the distance at which I can pee.

P.S. I thought I was the only one who got hassled at the airport because my bags show the chemical signature of explosive materials.

 

[Deleted member 6005]

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, but I had to retreat to my safe space after you triggered me with your micro-aggressions. I shot my first gun nearly sixty years ago--back when jacketed bullets were expensive and lead was all we could afford. I wish I had known the dangers of wearing shooting clothes to church and eating potato chips while reloading. All those years of negligent gun handling have taken their toll, causing constant ringing in my hears, turning my hair gray, and severely limiting the distance at which I can pee.

P.S. I thought I was the only one who got hassled at the airport because my bags show the chemical signature of explosive materials.

I'm not too far behind you time wise. It's amazing how many things the younger generations seem to have to worry about now.

 

[adrkwan]

I get annual tests. Was 0 before I owned firearms or went shooting regularly. Usually 1-3 when I was shooting outdoors exclusively. About 5-9 when shooting indoors weekly. Back to 4 now with mixed indoors outdoors, 2/2 a month.

Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, but I had to retreat to my safe space after you triggered me with your micro-aggressions. I shot my first gun nearly sixty years ago--back when jacketed bullets were expensive and lead was all we could afford. I wish I had known the dangers of wearing shooting clothes to church and eating potato chips while reloading. All those years of negligent gun handling have taken their toll, causing constant ringing in my hears, turning my hair gray, and severely limiting the distance at which I can pee.

P.S. I thought I was the only one who got hassled at the airport because my bags show the chemical signature of explosive materials.

Not the only one. TSA bomb dogs and security at the court sniffed me out last business trip. Just keeping my spare dress shoes in the trunk with the range bag was enough to trigger the dogs.

 

[AlphaQUhp]

A colleague of mine said he tested for high levels of lead and it so far has taken him a year or so of avoiding shooting at all to bring it back down, and is still a bit higher than normal acceptable levels. Granted, he admitted to frequenting an indoor range a few times a week and would stay 2-3 hours at a time, regularly. Likely an extreme case, but apparently it does happen. He didn’t have any ailments when he tested and he felt fine, but decided to test anyway.

Regarding soap, a now closed indoor range I use to go to had Gojo soap to wash with. It’s also said to wash hands with COLD water only.

 

[peahi2]

your efforts are better spent cleaning up your diet and getting excercise. Diabetes/heart disease/strokes/cancers are the major killer

 

[Warpspeed]

When I go through TSA, I always get my hands swabbed and run through the machine; I cannot go through the metal detector so I get extra special attention. I am always afraid that I'm going to pop but never do.