Newbie question about primers and lead poisoning

[Tennjed]

I am a newbie and have a question concerning lead posioning and primers. I want to start out loading with a Lee Classic loader (uses a rubber mallet instead instead of press) that I got for $8 at a pawn shop (no funds for a press and like the idea of loading a few rounds real slow and learning the process)

Anyway after reading and watching youtubes of the Lee Loaders it looks like I should expect a primer to go off here and there. As a matter of fact I have loaded 12 dummy rounds without powder and have had 2 primers go off on me.

I will be loading in a bedroom my 14 year old son stays in about every other weekend. This bedroom is next to my 6 month old son's bedroom, and the living room him and my 3 year old girl play in every day.

I will not load while they are in the adjacent rooms, but I am concerned that the primers going off and the depriming (messy) will lead to lead poisoning risk. The dummy round I loaded while setting on the floor because it was more comfortable.

As a matter of fact I am worried that the 2 primers that went off already and the 500 or so round I have deprimed on the floor could already have caused a problem. My little girl likes watching movies in this room.

And to top it off I plan on loading lead cast bullets

Am I being too paranoid? I am not so much worried about me (I am a little) as I am for my children.

Any thoughts.

 

[Nozzelnut]

I don't have a ton of reloading experience, but I would think 2 out of 12 primers going off while priming is too much.

How about a hand primer? RCBS, Hornady, and Lee make them. iirc the RCBS and Hornady are about $45 or so and the Lee is $25ish.

No more mallet hitting something designed to go off when something hits it...

The lead would be a concern especially for young kids. I'd find a place to reload away from where my kids played.

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
I started reloading with one of the Lee tools in 32 Win Special. I still do many of my odd calibers using hand tools and do not remember any primer detonations.
Are you striking the primer ? My common routine is to place the primer on a flat piece of steel, place the unprimed case on the primer, inset a solid plastic, wood or brass dowel and give the projecting end of the dowel 2 taps with a 1# hammer.
But as mentioned above the hand held primer units are very fast to use. I use the Lee brand and as long as you are not too heavy thumbed they will last many years. They just do not make them for 44-77 and others or I would never need to thump seat a primer again.

 

[Rule3]

I would not use anything that made primers go off, period.

Yes,you should be concerned, primers are very "dirty" when they go off and to have the junk in the bedroom (or anywhere in the home) is not a good idea. Plus exploding primers are a fire hazard and can put your eye out.

Take a primed case with no powder or bullet and fire it in a previously totally clean gun barrel. Now clean the barrel and see how much comes out, you will be very surprised.

Try to get a different press and if not at least get out of the house.

Lee Breech Lock Hand Press Kit - MidwayUSA

 

[goldenbb]

It's not the lead in primers, it's the mercury, or maybe I'm making that up...

Anyways, what you describe sounds like a very inefficient, albeit, inexpensive, way to reload. When I got started I bought a used RCBS press and a nearly complete set of accessories from someone. I lived in an apartment at the time, so I used two pieces of plywood with felt glued to one side and two c-clamps to attach the press to a desk. I had a Lee powder measure, also clamped to the desk. I reloaded thousands of rounds of .223, .38, .357, 9mm, and 45ACP with that setup. Never had an incident.

 

[gregintenn]

Buy a Lee hand primer. They are very inexpensive. I've almost worn one out over the last 20 years, (if that's possible), and I've yet to detonate a primer.

 

[PhilOhio]

Tennjed,

Whatever you are using/doing to seat primers, stop doing it. I have primed umpteen thousands of cases in nearly 40 centerfire types over 51 years...with three or four presses and a number of seating devices. Not one primer has accidentally fired. That's zero. Your method or equipment has serious problems. I suggest you find a nearby experienced reloader who can help troubleshoot the problem.

As for the chemical nature of priming compound, the old corrosive stuff was called fulminate of mercury. They switched to noncorrosive lead azide. I'm not sure about the correct chemical names. And I believe some other compounds are in use now.

Is it dangerous to us? You bet, both are. It nearly killed a very prominent gentleman of my acquaintance. He is a well known firearms author, collector of Class III firearms, and past dealer in high end collectible and repro things. He had a fine basement indoor range in the east, where I have shot, but the ventilation was less than ideal. It's one of those things we too easily ignore.

Over some years, a strange chronic ailment slowly developed and became serious, which got him to a hospital where tests revealed high levels of both lead and mercury in his system. He nearly died and spent at least a year in recovery, I am told. He has since moved to a northern Great Lakes state with much fresh air. Some may know to whom I am referring.

So this is a real world problem, not a theoretical one dreamed up by lefty hand wringers.

Do not underestimate the risks of indoor shooting, even with fairly good ventilation. Lead and mercury build up within the body. They are not eliminated quickly or easily or naturally. And remember, the lead can come from both priming compound combustion products and vaporized bullet lead. That's why we have plated bullets, which still don't deal with primer problems. Outdoor shooting is better and safer all around.

On the other side of the coin, handling lead bullets and casting them is a much lower risk. Do it outdoors (just my thoughts) and wash your hands very well. Never eat before doing so. The lead does not seem to be easily absorbed through the skin...or I would have been dead decades ago.

And remember, primers don't just pop every now and then in the normal course of reloading. There is enough force to drive one deeply into body tissue, or destroy your eye.

 

[JohnnieB]

Popping 2 primers out of 12!!!!!! I believe something is definitely wrong with either the equipment or how it is being used.

I've never used a Lee Classic Loader, so my only advice in that area is to call Lee Precision at (262) 673-3075 or contact them on-line at https://leeprecision.com/xcart/help.php?section=contactus&mode=update
Tell them you are getting a very high number of primers explode while seating and proceed from there.

On the other hand, I can help you out a bit with the dirty/messy depriming. Wash the cases first.

The least expensive would be to fill a quart or half gallon jar with a water tight lid about full of dirty brass.
Add a squirt or so of dish-washing liquid and enough water to completely cover brass.
Shake for 15-20 sec, let set for 5-10 minutes and shake again.
Rinse thoroughly and air dry or use hair drier.
They won't be nearly as pretty as tumbled brass, but they'll be a lot cleaner than they were before.

I don't think you are being paranoid. In fact, I commend you for your concerns for your kids health and safety. You sound like a good Papa.

Wear eye protection at all times while reloading and gloves when handling dirty brass, or lead bullets.
Lead gets into your body by inhalation and ingestion, so wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

BTW - Welcome to the forum and welcome to reloading.

John

Added: Your 14yo is probably no more vulnerable to lead than you are, but the younger ones have less body mass and may venture into his room.
Wiping down all the horizontal surfaces with a damp cloth should collect most of the lead residue generated by the two primers that went off. Just don't pop any more inside.

FWIW. I have an indoor rimfire range (well ventilated) in my basement that I use when it's too cold or messy to go to an outdoor range and I handled a lot of dirty brass and lead bullets before I knew better, but my lead levels are not elevated. (I have them checked every other year) I keep wet-wipes in my car and use them to get the GSR off before I touch the steering wheel of my car after a range session. Not as thorough as washing hands, but better than nothing.

 

[thndrchiken]

One primer going off is too many. Like has been suggested take safety seriously and buy a priming tool.

 

[snowman]

Tennjed:

Check your PMs.

Andy

 

[TSQUARED]

There is either a problem with your technique or the Lee product. I load ca 15,000 rounds of pistol and rifle ammo a year and have never had a primer ignite in or near the press.

 

[Tennjed]

Thanks for the info guys. I ended up buying a RCBS hand primer to go with my lee loader.

Also the loader equipment is fine. A quick google or internet search on "primers going off lee loader" will show you it is DOES hanppen with people using thie Lee Classic Loaders. It looks like it shouldn't happen as often as 2 of 12, but those were my first 12. But it does happen. Again this is not a press.

Anyway ya'll inspired me to get a hand primers and it works much better.

Thanks

 

[Rule3]

Here is a good thread on lead. Not specifically primers but it's all related.Probably more than you may want, but if you skim through it, there are some other links.

Glad to see you got a hand primer. No fun haveing those things go off and not only startle or scare someone, but it's a health and fire risk inside the home.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/164214-lead-vs-jacketed-bullets-only-facts-please.html

 

[Paul5388]

I see a lot of questions similar to this one, so let's look at the level of hazard in some common items. This is the MSDS for SnF2 (stannous floride) that is found in tooth paste. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925082 The significance of the MSDS is the LD50 of 184 mg/kg, or 92 ppm (in a mouse). Rats must be tougher, since their LD50 is 377 mg/kg, or 188 ppm.

If you look at the MSDS for bullet lead, https://www.rotometals.com/v/vspfiles/downloadables/MSDS_Tin_Antimony_Lead_Alloy.pdf you'll notice the LD50 for lead is less than Sn or Sb (antimony), since it's only 790 mg/kg or 395 ppm.

The hazard associated with lead is grossly over stated when compared to other items and especially since you don't put it in your mouth, like you do tooth paste.