Has anyone varnished lead-tip ammo?

[RenoHuskerDu]

I carry a few loose rounds of 357 in my pocket for my backup revolver. They are soft flat nose. I wonder if I could dip the lead tip in varnish to reduce any lead to skin contamination.

Anybody done that? I know you reloading guys do occasionally coat the whole bullet. This would only be the tip, up to the copper jacket.

 

[Ruger 13]

I think it would work!

 

[elpac3]

I carry a few loose rounds of 357 in my pocket for my backup revolver. They are soft flat nose. I wonder if I could dip the lead tip in varnish to reduce any lead to skin contamination.

Anybody done that? I know you reloading guys do occasionally coat the whole bullet. This would only be the tip, up to the copper jacket.

Try using some nail polish

 

[Eric300]

Don't eat the lead tip and you won't have any worries. You digest more lead eating fish than you'll get from handling semi-jacketed ammo.

 

[Alk8944]

WHY???? Lead is only toxic if ingested. I have been casting lead bullets and handling lead for over 60 years. Several years ago I asked my General Practitioner to run a "Lead-Screen" as part of an annual physical and the result was that my lead level was actually below the level considered to be "normal".


Don't eat or lick the bullets, or lick your fingers and there is nothing to worry about! Lead is not absorbed through the skin.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

I had elevated lead levels after doing a lot of IPSC training in poorly ventilated ranges.

 

[IAM Rand]

I had elevated lead levels after doing a lot of IPSC training in poorly ventilated ranges.

I believe that your lead exposure would be more from the primer and powder than the bullet. I believe you hit the nail on the head, "poorly ventilated ranges." There might be some lead from the bullet on a revolver going into the forcing cone but, not sure any of that lead came from a lead core bullet that has an exposed tip or even a cast bullet that is not coated.

Just sayin

 

[Borderboss]

I believe that your lead exposure would be more from the primer and powder than the bullet. I believe you hit the nail on the head, "poorly ventilated ranges." There might be some lead from the bullet on a revolver going into the forcing cone but, not sure any of that lead came from a lead core bullet that has an exposed tip or even a cast bullet that is not coated.

Just sayin

There are issues of lead contamination from the exposed lead base from an FMJ bullet when it's fired, as the burning of the powder vaporizes the exposed lead and throws it into the air. Inhale enough of that over a long period of time, and you'll see elevated lead levels. This occurred to several shooting friends.

That said, the OP's issue is a non-issue. He won't get lead imbedded into his hands enough for the lead to then be transferred to whatever food he's eating. Something as simple as washing his hands before eating would mitigate whatever very small possibility of transfer that there is.

 

[DWalt]

Like Mercury, Lead toxicity is very low in its metallic form. Soluble Lead and Mercury compounds can much more readily get into the bloodstream.

 

[pharmer]

Lead styphnate been working steadily for a hundred years. KDNP looks promising but y'all go on up ahead with it and I'll be along sometime.

"Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (PacSci EMC) in Chandler, AZ, in conjunction with chemists at NSWC-IH, has been involved since 1999 in a program to develop existing or new materials which would serve as a drop-in replacement for LS and which incorporate no toxic or environmentally undesirable elements. We investigated a wide variety of chemically distinct materials in order to find a green replacement for LS with suitable sensitivity and output characteristics and selected 4,6-dinitro-7-hydroxy benzofuroxan, potassium salt (KDNP). KDNP completed 8020.5C evaluation testing in 2007 and, based on the results (NSWC Contract #N00174-06-C-0079), Naval Sea Systems Command qualified KDNP as a primary explosive in accordance with the requirements of NAVSEAINST 8020.5C and identified it as a safe and suitable for service use, and qualified for weapons development."
Joe

 

[DWalt]

Lead styphnate been working steadily for a hundred years. KDNP looks promising but y'all go on up ahead with it and I'll be along sometime.

"Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (PacSci EMC) in Chandler, AZ, in conjunction with chemists at NSWC-IH, has been involved since 1999 in a program to develop existing or new materials which would serve as a drop-in replacement for LS and which incorporate no toxic or environmentally undesirable elements. We investigated a wide variety of chemically distinct materials in order to find a green replacement for LS with suitable sensitivity and output characteristics and selected 4,6-dinitro-7-hydroxy benzofuroxan, potassium salt (KDNP). KDNP completed 8020.5C evaluation testing in 2007 and, based on the results (NSWC Contract #N00174-06-C-0079), Naval Sea Systems Command qualified KDNP as a primary explosive in accordance with the requirements of NAVSEAINST 8020.5C and identified it as a safe and suitable for service use, and qualified for weapons development."
Joe

There are at least three different primer mixtures I am aware of now in use that are noncorrosive and lead free. One of them, DDNP, was even used for some primers during WWII. Federal is now making lead-free primers based on the thermite reaction. See: CCI, Speer Announce Lead-Free Catalyst Primer Production In U.S. | An Official Journal Of The NRA. The current 5.56 lead free training ammunition (AA40) made by Federal and now used by all three US military services uses DDNP primers. The only downside is that DDNP primers are unreliable at very low temperatures. But that is not a consideration for ammunition used only for training, not combat. I was the developer of the AA40 round nearly 20 years ago. Federal Ammunition Awarded $114 Million U.S. Army Contract | An Official Journal Of The NRA

 

[LVSteve]

Dunno if they still do, but one range in Vegas had lead wipes for your hands to use as you left.

 

[rwsmith]

This is one reason...

I use coated bullets instead of cast lead. But I only use hollow points in my defense loads which I don't handle or shoot at the range enough to worry about.

When I used to reload EVERYTHING I was a little concerned, but any more......

 

[handejector]

I carry my ammo and donuts in different pockets. Haven't had any problems except for lint sticking to the jelly.

 

[stansdds]

I carry my ammo and donuts in different pockets. Haven't had any problems except for lint sticking to the jelly.

ROTFLMAO! Too funny!


Lead poisoning does not come from handling lead, it comes from ingesting lead or inhaling vaporized lead. The same goes for mercury.

 

[mtgianni]

I would not want to have any "modified" bullets involved in a shooting in any way whatsoever.

 

[chief38]

I'd personally never mess with carry ammo - but that's me. If an exposed portion of lead bothers you, change your bullet type or incase the ammo. Even if you did coat it, I doubt it would stay put for very long due to rubbing around.

When I carried a revolver I always had back up ammo in a thin nylon pouch that was quickly opened. Protected me and the bullets, saved wear and tear on my pockets and was flat enough so that I never left it home. Also kept them all together for a nice, thin neat package.

 

[Green Frog]

If you want coated bullets, hunt up some of the old S&W or Federal “Ny-Clad” rounds with the shiny blue coating. No lead will rub off of them!

Froggie

 

[tmd17]

I hand load and shoot more than 100 rounds / week on average. The only lead exposure I am concerned with is a chunk of lead traveling toward at a relatively fast rate.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Thanks for all the thoughtful answers, guys