Indoor range and cast lead bullets

[chickenfried]

Is shooting cast lead bullets at indoor ranges something to be avoided? I've been shooting miwall swc lately and the smoke cloud is a little disconcerting. The ventilation takes care of it in a few minutes.

About to buy some bullets to start reloading for my revolvers. If 90% of my shooting is at indoor ranges should I stick with fmj or tmj?

[Snapping Twig]

Although there is a trace amount of lead when shooting cast, with proper ventilation, IMO, it's a non issue.

We are getting too sensitive about such things as a culture.

When I was a kid we had chemistry sets sold at toy stores that today would be the subject of a HAZMAT team and potentially close down a neighborhood.

Too much water will kill you.

Consult the individual range for its policies and shoot cast as needed. IMO, there are no better bullets to be had.

BTW, much of the smoke (not all) is from two sources:

1.) low power charge inefficiently burning the powder.

2.) Lube. I switched from alox/beeswax to White Label BAC and cut the smoke by 70%.

[eaglemike]

Try the moly-coated stuff from Bear Creek. You will like the smoke reduction, cleaner dies, and decreased barrel cleaning.
all the best,
Mike

[tankerman]

Smoke cloud could also be from Miwall using some "smokey powder".

I try to avoid shooting at indoor ranges with poor ventilation.

[gunboat]

ST - " we are getting too sensitive about such things as a culture "
I give you a +10 for that -- Don't forget all this nonsense keeps lawyers working full time -

[rayra]

Most of the smoke from cast lead bullets is the lube burning off.
So many ranges don't allow firing lead indoors that I thought CA banned the practice in their phobic BS about lead.

[CSACANNONEER]

Most of the smoke from cast lead bullets is the lube burning off.

Yep, the amount and smell of the smoke will change with different lubes.

So many ranges don't allow firing lead indoors that I thought CA banned the practice in their phobic BS about lead.

Until last summer, I worked at an indoor range that allowed lead to be shot. I know of no out right ban on shooting lead indoors but, most, if not all, new ranges don't allow the practice. I'm assuming that it has to be some kind of EPA requirement that applies to new bussinesses only.

[gunboat]

No lead indoors, no lead hunting, no magnetic ammo here -- increased taxation - why worry about more gun control legislation - it is already here :-(

[knucklehead0202]

+1. all this lead paranoia cracks me up. i'm a plumber, which is still a pretty lead-heavy industry. back in the good old days when EVERYTHING was made of lead and asbestos, things lasted longer and less people died of cancer. figure that one out.

[Asphodel]

I can't speak for any other indoor ranges, obviously, but you're welcome to fire cast lead....or linotype....or wheel-weight alloy, whatever.... projectiles at the old San Jose 10th St. range.

Copper-plated lead or jsp/jhp bullets are alright also, but not military hardball. (Hardball has sometimes, albeit rarely, caused bounce-backs from the old style back-stop)

cheers

Carla

[mike100]

I like the savings of lead and do shoot a bit here and there indoors, but if you ever take note of employee habits at ranges, you'll see that some of them never ever go into the firing range unless they have to. They are trying to extend their lifespan from both forms of lead poisoning, vapor/dust and direct impact.

It's all about the amount of exposure and how much you shoot. You could wear a dust mask like they the girls in China do.

[CrippledPidgeon]

As long as it's not steel or aluminum cased, and isn't steel cored, any pistol ammo is fine at reed's