Above is just one link to some very interesting information on the lead pollution contributed to shooting ranges. I have never really thought about this much but the more I read the more I am concerned. I live on a few acres and have literally shot many many thousands of pellets and hundreds of rimfires that may be somewhere in the soil . According to some of the literature, I may have a problem equal to a super fund status. Now I don't know about going that far but I would like to know if others are concerned about this and what they may be doing to prevent such pollution. I am seriously considering only shooting into lead collection devices such as traps to try and eliminate much of the lead ending up in the soil. Thoughts anyone?
Or reduce the amount of contamination using things like putty traps. I was thinking about shooting in the backyard but I now have a dog and wouldn't want doglette to pick up lead on her paws, especially splash from a steel type trap. Now I've found I can't legally shoot in the yard, anyway, but it was a real concern.
Out local range had to have more soft dirt added to the berm to retain spent lead. I think we will have to periodically remove/replace it.
The source of the article is questionable at least. Google them and you will find out they are a liberal leftwing environmental 501c group specializing in fear mongering with a political agenda. I like the part about how one 22 caliber bullet dissolved in water contaminates 51,000 gallons of drinking water. I am not a chemist, nor do I view myself as an idiot, but lead does not dissolve in water. I think before I started worrying, I would look for credible sources. I've been fishing for over 50 years and handling lead jigs and sinkers all of that time. I don't think I've developed lead poisoning or health issues as a result. Have eaten many pheasants through the years and hate to get a piece of lead in a bite, but have on a few occasions, guess I should clean the bird mmore thoroughly. Going on the way they report health issues, if you had a dog that took a dump in your yard and you were using a well for you your water source, you better start drinking bottled water as you would more than likely be getting ecoli or cryptosporidian germs from your well.
I feel this group is part of the movement to eliminate firearms from the private sector. If you can't shoot your bullets, your guns are useless. Another nail in the coffin of the 2nd Ammendment.
And I was on a nukier submarine and it never, ever affected me. (Of course, I don't have to turn on the light when I go to the bathroom.....)
Lead deposits in ranges are a very real problem now, 501c's aside. We had to redo our range a while back. 80 foot berm on the back, high berms on the sides and, as I said, several feet of screed dirt to cover the back berm. Also had to put in telephone poles at twenty yards or so with heavy plywood sheets screwed front and back, the center of this "sandwich" filled with pea gravel. This to stop any stray rounds which may go over the berm. They are making it harder and harder to keep a range going. And, Heaven forbid, if there is ever an accident, the insurance company will likely drop us with the prospect of new coverage zero. Don't know if they will let reloaders mine the berm when time comes to remove the lead. Been done elsewhere but that was before the new regs went into effect.
Will lead dissolve? If it does, then, brother, you've got more than a lead contaminated water problem. You've got something like high acid levels in your soil/ground water. Plenty of Minie balls still turning up from the War Between The States in these parts!
You remember when they had all of the lead based paints? Couldn't use it on cribs or any kid toys. Banned it from use in cooking utensil handles as it may drop into the food you were eating. Now you can't even get lead based paint for your car. Look at the price of car paint now. You know they put a primer on, then a base coat, then use a clear coat to seal it. I can't figure out what the danger is in a lead based car paint. Are they worried some little kid is going to go and take a bite out of your car? Maybe we shouldn't be hand washing and waxing any classic cars, might end up dead. Pretty soon it will probably be illegal to drive a classic car as the lead based paint might evaporate into the air or if it rains, the paint will dissolve and work its way into the ground water supply. Thank God our government looks out for us. If it weren't for them, we'd probably all be dead.
Larry
P.S. RedFeather, glad to see your doing your part to help conserve electrical energy.
Yea, Larry, the left wing fear mongals have invaded Tidewater Virgina too. Seems then want to get rid of Lead shot has it is destroying marshland and the coastal inland waters and wildlife.There are even against developers from building condo's on the wetlands. There is a major argument in this area now. There is a pristine area that the nature lover's have talked about for years. One of the last natural areas near the inlet. The mongals want to preserve it. What is it that they have against high rise condo's? Now get a load of this! They actually wanted developers not to cut down the native Oak Trees near the beach, an area near new development. Preserving wildlife, Natural habitat, and even trees. God they are a bunch of nuts!
Thanks Larry. I read your link and now have pause not to think the worst. I did find quite a few other links to sounding the alarm for lead contamination from shooting. I did not think to consider the source but I will definately do that from now on. It does appears that that organizations credabilty is questionable at best. I guess I will still consider some form of lead containment solution just incase. The point of lead fishing weights is very valid as if there was truly an issue, these types of weights would be banned rather quickly I would presume.
Not sure they used it there but maybe. As to lead house paints, those were, indeed, bad. Kids in rundown houses would eat the peeling paint or teethe on cribs, ingesting it. That's for real.
The clear coat on cars is to offset oxidation in the metallic paints and also counter-act acid rain. If you remember the early metallic paints, they were good for a couple of years, tops, before they chalked/faded. And, having helped my dad paint a couple of cars, I wouldn't want to shoot one with lead in the paint vapors.
Now, mercury, there's a real problem. Used to break thermometers and play with it as a kid. Jiggle it into a thousand little silver beads and watch them flow back together. Make pennies into dimes by rubbing it on. (Had a real greasy feel to it.) Adverse effects? Nonsense! Liberal trash! Can't see where it has had any adverse addlj nlvgjl b=[opubjfkljdf. What am I doing here? Oh, yes, it's Saturday.
If you have ever seen a trap or skeet field, there is plastic wads, targets and lead shot scattered around. You could lime the area and till it in since lime will take a year to reach an inch of soil depth. This is just an extra precaution to make sure the lead does not break down.
Last year we limed the trap/skeet field at our local Izaak Walton club here in northern VA to be on the safe side. Tests were done before any work was done and no problems were found with the lead in the soil. It was limed to be on the safe side anyway.
I have read some articles where the lead particles on any indoor range could cause problems if it is not ventilated properly.
Red...have you shot on the indoor airgun range? Would be nice to test some pellets for best accuracy. I have two Air Arms TX200 that I bought in the last two months that need to be sighted in.
Last year I was so busy, I didn't get to use the place at all. The shotgun range is packed on Sundays with the matches.
1.- Making pellet traps is easy and inexpensive, if the only pellets that get into your section of countryside are the misses, you're OK, there's less lead in a few missed pellets than in the years and years and years of lead anti-detonant used in gasoline some years ago.
2.- Lead does get dissolved in water, but so slowly it took 800 years to tumble the Roman Empire. It is important not to LEAVE anything behind, so clean up, but you should not worry in your lifetime. Again, like any good kindergarden kid, clean up after yourself; or better yet, do not mess up, go to step 1.
3.- Wax in some way those pellets. Either Pledge or Krytech, or whatever, to seal them off from your hands and contact with your skin.
4.- Get yourself some D-Wipes (lead removing hand moistened towels)
5.- Write to the pellet manufacturers stating that you are concerned and that you would buy non-lead pellets as long as they are as good as lead pellets. Manufacturers have to hear from serious consumers that they are interested in something. Current technology would allow pretty darned good non-lead pellets, but manufacturers seem to think there is not enough demand for them and the tests that have been done with lightweight metals and plastics are no good.
At the price of lead, which doesn't look to abate any time soon, it would be better in the long run to go with other metals. And manufacturers would find themselves in the good graces of environmentalists, instead of worrying about their market being legislated away.
Any volunteers to do just do a simple test, especially those of you that do not believe in lead poisoning?
TEST: 1 8oz glass of sparking mineral water\ 1 tin of crosman premier's.
Mix tin of pellets into glass and stir vigorously- let sit for 30 days and then drink.
If you do not turn green and blue,or glow in the dark and die withing 30 days, then we can assume you are right. If we do not hear from you, then we can assume the experiment went wrong.
