I was talking guns with someone else at work, and the subject of cast bullets came up. He is primarily a shooter of 1911's and disdained cast bullets, pointing out that handling the lead is a health hazard. His solution is to shoot only jacketed or plated bullets. Well, that's his opinion, but I'm still a big fan of cast bullets, hell they're half of the bullets that I shoot in my handguns, be they auto or revolver. I treasure every CPB I load in the 44. Something I thought of, though, was that all of the cast bullets that I buy are already lubed; wouldn't that cut down on the amount of "lead" that the reloader is really "in contact" with? My reply for him was that we get more lead exposure from expended primers.

You may ahve a point if they are hard wax lubed. As long as you wash your hands after loading (no eating while you handle lead), shoot in a well ventilated place, you're fine. I think most non lead shooters have a fear of lead poisoning & they are just dirtier to shoot than jacketed but as you stated, they are quite a bit cheaper.

Come to think of it, does he use full serve gas? You probably do more damage to your body standing right over your gas tank pumping gas than shooting lead bullets.

The way I look at it, if I were going to die from lead poisoning it would have happened a long time ago. I just use the usual precautions and dont concern myself further.

My biggest #1 rule is to NEVER let children anywhere near while Im casting. As for handeling them, I probably got more lead in my pores wiping away pencil lead in school then I ever will from loading bullets. If everyone heeded the "known to the state of California" warnings we would all be wearing plastic bubbles by now.

The danger from lead bullets usually comes from shooting them at a poorly ventilated indoor range.
You guys are absolutely right about casting outside when the breeze is blowing.
Lead exposure is much more dangerous to children. It can cause them all sorts of problems.
The lube does not offer much protection. The flame cuts into the base of the bullet and creates lead vapor and suspended lead particles.
I use Rainier bullets, which are lead plated with copper for my practice shooting.
Again, no problems if you do things outside.
JCN

John I ment while handling, not shooting.

I have to chime in with a few words about lead exposure and how to minimize it...



The exposure to lead from shooting is primarily from lead oxide transfer from the surface of the bullet to the hands and from lead styphnate in the primer and not from the bullet (sorry about that, but I can't waste a perfectly good pun!



Although there can be some minor gas cutting of the bullet and release of lead oxide from the surface of the bullet (particularly in a revolver), the bullet (not even its base) does not get hot enough to cause any appreciable volatilization of lead. Sceptical? Recall that paper jacketed bullets work very well, but if you bother to look you will find that even the paper at the base of the bullet is unscorched after firing.



Furthermore, the vapour pressure of lead is not high, even when molten (and a bullet isn't even close). For example, the vapour pressure of lead is only 1.3 mm Hg at 970�C (1778�F -- and that is WAY hotter than any normal lead melting pot can reach). So, if you are boiling your lead you are getting some significant volatilization, but you are not at high risk if you are casting in a normal melting pot.



One should use good ventilation when casting, but it isn't because of the molten lead per se, it is because of the lead oxides which are powders and can be stirred up into the air. These lead oxides are much more bioavailable than metalic lead, and are a real concern (as is the lead styphnate from primers).



Make sure that you put the crap that you skim off a melt into something like an airtight paint can and not into a garbage can where the next thing you drop in will cause clouds dust contaminated with lead oxides and lead salts. Also, wash your hands before you eat or smoke after handling metallic lead to avoid lead oxide ingestion.



Finally, don't keep your case tumbler in your house -- the clouds of dust that eventually result have LOTS of lead oxides from the lead styphnate in the primers... This is a more likely route for lead ingestion than shooting cast bullets!



So, keep making and shooting those cast bullets - lead exposure can be easily avoided, particularly when you know the most likely sources.



And now, we return you to our regularly scheduled sermon...



jpb