It wasn’t long ago that .22LR ammunition was nearly impossible to find, and people were just happy to find any at all. Things have changed for the better in the last year and now we finding ourselves discussing the question that many have debated for years, Lead or Copper .22LR which is safer and which is better? In the day of old there weren’t many choices for bullet types, lead was king and that was all there was, luckily things have progressed and copper jacket rounds came on the scene and took over in terms of popularity. That is everywhere except in .22LR where inexpensive lead rounds still seem to hang on, but is that a good thing?
Why are we talking about Lead ?
Most all of us in the gun industry or even recreational shooters know that the cheaper a round is the shoot the better it is for the consumer. Many times in the name of cost effectiveness or saving a dollar or two we are willing to subject ourselves to potential toxins such as lead. I use to think this way until recently when I had to take a blood test to confirm the level of possible lead exposure in my system to due my previous career in the plumbing and heating industry. That’s when I began to look very closely at my exposures to all chemicals, not just lead.
Lead is classified as a heavy metal and is naturally occurring and has been used in many building material such as paint, water piping, among a laundry list of other things. The mineral isn’t some evil elixir that kills on contact but repeated low doses over time will cause issues with almost every major system of the body. There is enough documentation over the last few decades with lead that has pushed the Department of Defense to change bullet construction, as well as lower the safe and acceptable level of lead detection in humans. Everyone thinks the DOD changing bullet design is about going “Green”, when it fact its equal parts improving lethality while increasing safety for all involved with producing, handling and ultimately disposing of the waste from munitions.
Safety vs Cost
In particular with .22LR I use to think that there were few alternatives to the tried and true 40 grain Lead .22LR rounds that were available everywhere in bulk packs. There were always the Remington “Golden Bullet” packs but they were either always sold out or priced so much higher that the simple lead round nose bullets. It was by blind luck that I stumbled onto a situation at least with .22LR ammunition that made me change my view on things. While stocking up at my local Sportsman’s Warehouse I noticed the price difference between the Aguilla 50 rounds boxes of lead tipped and it’s copper tipped cousin and the price was actually higher for lead than for copper. At $2.99 a box for copper versus $5.99 a box for lead I was shocked and thought it was a mistake. After checking with the clerk and having her recheck the prices I noticed across the board .22LR’s with copper tips were cheaper than the lead versions.
So if copper is cheaper than lead why was I subjecting myself to being exposed to a more toxic material that was more expensive ? The answer is equal part laziness and complacancy There are some out there that will drone on an on about how lead isn’t a problem for them and how granddad used it and didn’t kill him so they use it now. If that’s you, then that is your prerogative but lead toxicity is being looked at in a whole new light as modern science and medicine unlock more about its longterm acute effects. In fact some studies that have been performed are showing that shooting lead particularly at indoor ranges lead their test subjects to lead levels twice as high as normal non shooters, and in those studies more than half registered an average of eight times the “normal” level of lead in their bodies.
Not all is Lost, Don’t lose your minds
Now don’t everyone wig out and think we are turning into some limp wrist anti gunner bunny loving fascists hell bent on banning lead ammunition. We all know that life is about risks and sometimes you can take small steps to mitigate those risks while increasing your protective posture. In simple terms, think about your potential hazards and take steps to minimize it’s potential effects to you and your loved ones. It’s no different in the gun world, it’s prudent to look around and see if you can do things a little safer. Lets be adults and be honest, there are some products on the market such as lubricants, cleaners and compounds that contain some funky chemicals that can cause some issues.
There are simple steps that shooters should be taking when working around firearms or cleaning them and they are so simple I feel like I am insulting people by reciting them, but I listed them below to make it really simple.
SIMPLE STEPS
- Know what you are working with (Chemically): Know your lubricants and cleaners and the Safety Data Sheets (Old MSDS) for them. Know what risks you face and how to treat inhalation etc.
- Wear gloves when cleaning your guns: Simple nitrile gloves work, and you can ever get them with textured fingers
- Wash your hands at the end of every range session: Even with gloves I would recommend washing your hands, ask yourself, would you stick your fingers in your mouth if that dirt, lead, or chemical was on them?
- Always use proper ventilation when cleaning guns: Pretty simple fresh air is a good thing
- Finally, avoid eating or drinking on the range: Easy way to inject mad things into your body is to get distracted and forget to wash that debris off your hand while eating and the range and you eat some solvent or lube.
We aren’t the only ones talking about your health and safety when it comes to lead toxicity, if you don’t believe us, take a look at the links in the bottom to other sources of information on a silent issue that could potentially effect many unsuspecting gun enthusiasts in the years to come. What are your thoughts on Lead vs Copper bullets ?
Article from BioMed Central on Lead : Exposure at firing ranges
Article from NPS on Exposure: Dust at Firearms Ranges Poses Health Risk
Article from Guns.Com :Study Gun Ranges Pose Significant Risk
