Yesterday I was scrounging brass from the bucket at the range. Our club was shooting a bolt gun match, and most of the ammo was WWII surplus. 8mm, 6.5mm 30-06 and a few other odd calibers, also some overseas surplus 5.56mm.

About 35 min after digging through the bucket of semi wet brass, I began to feel very dizzy and have symptoms of an allergy attack. This got worse until I was barely able to walk and had some difficulty seeing. A day later, I still feel weak. These symptoms are similar to ones I experienced the first time I loaded Bullseye, a double base powder.

While I may be getting a cold and the timing is incidential, it seems like too much of a coincidence not to ask the question.

The only angle I could come up with is that maybe those older powders used a lot of nitro and I absorbed some through the skin, digging in the damp (just fired) brass.

Has this ever happened to any of you, or have you heard of this? I do not have this problem when I load fresh powder.
Thanks

Some of it could have been corrosive ammo, but I don't know what specific chemicals it would have to make the symptoms. It doesn't seem like fired cases would have enough nitro in them to cause problems like that, but who knows?

When I handle cheap norinco ammo for my sks my eyes start to itch and my nose tingles sometimes, this is with loaded ammo though. I don't know what it is, but for me its not as bad as what you described.

Brett

I've policed a lot of range brass and never had a problem. Maybe you're just extra sensitive to what was in contact with your skin/respiratory system. Ragweed is what gets me.

I work at a manufacturing plant now. Speaking with some of the guys who have been sheetmetal painters for 25 - 40 years, I've learned that allergic reaction can build over time in a person. Some of the solvents and paint components that didn't bother these guys when they first started their careers cause such reaction now that they can't come near the stuff.

Don't know what the deal is with you but you might consider using some non-latex gloves and possibly a breathing filter before you go digging around in that stuff again. Your tumbler is also a source of crud you don't want to intake. A few pieces of brass isn't worth your health.

Paul

Bullet_Proof: Your case is a little different. That's your body's natural reaction telling you to SHOOT THAT AMMO!

Paul

Nitroglycerin is a vasodialator. A large dose and you may feel some weakness in the limbs but this would be accompanied by the most massive, crushing migraine you would have ever had. The headache alone would have disabled you.

I think it was something else.

Viejo,
I've scrounged brass forever and have never experienced the symptoms you describe. You mentioned the brass was wet and in a bucket. What kind of bucket? Have you all used any insecticides on your range recently. Your symptoms sound like those associated with contact with certain kinds of insecticides. I'd be careful with that. Ku-dude

I agree that you probably had an allergy attack from pollen and that it came on coincidentally while you were handling cases. You might try taking a Sudafed next time you go out and scrounge brass.

H. C.

I shot some of my Aguila 22 Ammunition.
The smoke smelled like poison.

Hey Roger - where did you learn about NG Headaches? My first one I thought that I was going to die - took an couple of headache tablets and things got worse. Dragged myself off to the company doctor - zero sympathy - "you'll get used to it!"

At the time I was too weak to kill him - but he was right - eventually the body compensates for a lack of blood pressure.

cheerts edi

I wonder if there is enough mercury in those old mercuric primers to have an effect? Dutch.

Edi,

I grew up on a farm, my dad used to have dynamite to use to blow up stumps and the occaisional ditch.
I was always fascinated by the absolutely wonderful scent of the things. I unwrapped (heavy waxed paper) a stick one day so I could smell it while we were working on setting up a ditch. Bad mistake.
In Davis' Chemistry of Powder And Explosives this is detailed in the description of the DuPont nitroglycerin works.
It is an experience that no one will ever forget.

El Viejo:

You said the brass was semi wet. Are you sure it was water? Maybe someone dumped some chemicals or something in the garbage can. Just a thought.

Ryan

Not sure if this matches your symptoms, but if you are interested in a short article on lead poisoning at the range, go to:

http://www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/police/academy/lead_poisoning.html

It could not be mercury or lead poisoning since these are cumulative and would not give immediate reactions.AS for nitroglycerin or nitrocellulose most of this would be burned up. The most logical cause would be mold due to the wetness, molds can grow very quickly under the right conditions.

It wasn't allergy to weeds, I have a horse farm and handle hay a lot, as well as Roundup. It wasn't mold, the bucket was emptied the day before, and it was the same bucket they use all the time, an old 5 gal paint bucket. The moisture was water, it was next to the cooler and some idiot dumped a half full cup of water into the bucket. If felt like a NG headache, only a lot worse. I too have been a brass rat for years and this is the first time I ever had this happen.