So I Might Start Wearing Gloves: Notes on Gunpowder Safety
Posted on March 13, 2012 by Natalie in Advice, Expert Advice
This is what my hands looked like the last time I went shooting. Not ok.
For the record, the nails were already that gun metal color.
This is a problem for a couple of reasons:
1) my gun was ridiculously dirty and was clearly screaming for a cleaning.
2) gun powder is bad for you. So is lead.
After reading Julie Golob’s Book SHOOT a few weeks ago, I was reminded of the fact that the chemicals released when shooting can be toxic and can have lasting negative effects on your body.
Sure, we all know to wash our hands after we shoot, but it turns out that the reasons for doing so are far more important than keeping black stains off those cute new Sevens. After doing a little internet research, I learned that gunpowder is a blood toxin as well as a skin and eye irritant. It can potentially cause nerve damage and memory loss in the long term. This explains why I have the urge to rub my eyes every time I shoot. Know the feeling? Lead, too, is released when after you fire a round. Small doses can be metabolized by the body, but if you are an avid shooter (and I know you are) there are some safety precautions you should take.
A few tips you should consider are the following:
- Try to shoot outdoors as often as possible.
- Bring a rag or baby wipes in your range bag to use when you take a break or when you start feeling irritation on your hands or in your eyes.
- Add a little nail salon nail brush to your list in order to get the gun powder residue out from under your nail beds and cuticles. Both of these areas allow the toxins easy access to your blood stream. Head them off at the pass.
- Try shooting with gloves.
- Julie suggests in her book that you should consider getting your blood levels checked by your doctor to make sure you are in a safe zone. She is right on about that.
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Another excuse to go shopping
BTW- SHOOT is an amazing book with tons of helpful tips. Get a copy as soon as humanly possible.
A little info for you reloaders or those who might come in contact with gunpowder…
Found at: http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f30/gunpowder-7850/
Eyes – Immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes lifting upper & lower eyelids, if your eyes keep bothering you see a Doctor.Skin – Immediately flush for 15 minutes, call a DOCTOR, if you clothing has it on them make sure you wash them before you wear them next time.
Ingestion (eating) – Drink large quantities of water, induce vomiting, call a DOCTOR. Do not give anything by mouth if the person is unconscious or having convulsions.
Inhalation – If you’re dizzy or have a headache or are experiencing nausea, stop working immediately get into fresh air and call a Doctor.
Be safe out there! These safety tips are equally as important when cleaning your guns, so keep chemical safety in mind any time you are handling your firearm.
10 Responses to “So I Might Start Wearing Gloves: Notes on Gunpowder Safety”
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March 13, 2012
[...] to Guns for the reminder about possible lead contamination in shooters. Her recent post, “So I Might Start Wearing Gloves: Notes on Gunpowder Safety,” cautions us to be diligent about washing our hands after shooting, shooting at an outdoor [...]
I have been looking for a pair of shooting gloves for quite some time, but I can’t find a decent pair that fit my hands (probably an XS) and that aren’t overly bulky for shooting. Keep us updated on any good gloves you find! The Gander Mountain ones look great – but I’m not a fan of brown
PS – I’ve heard good things about Mechanix gloves, but I don’t like the style. I’m looking for something more subtle. I heard batting gloves are also a good idea.
Latex disposable gloves, OK not stylish but will not retain any power in the fabric and you just throw them away. Thin enough to have same feel as not using them.
D-Wipes.
https://www.esca-tech.com/ProductDetail.php?category=1100&productnum=WT
Also you can buy from other online places like Brownells, Dillon Precision. There’s also a D-Lead hand soap, which does something similar and has pumice. Looking at their website, seems they have more stuff too now:
https://www.esca-tech.com/ProductList.php?category=1000
Point is, this stuff is great because it actually works to remove heavy metals from your skin. Having some D-Wipes in the range bag is a must so you can always have some way to get the stuff off your hands; not just a surface clean, a real clean. Then having the soaps where you can (e.g. your utility sink, the range bathroom, etc.) is great for a more proper clean.
Plus, the D-Wipes are useful for quick cleaning of your gun.
Great reminder, Natalie. I’ve linked to it on my site. Something we definitely need to be aware of.
This is something that I always teach in my classes. We have so many toxins already in our environment…and we certainly don’t need to add to it intentionally. I have a couple of guns that have some serious blow-back and they remind me of how messy that stuff is. However, I’m most reminded when I’m shooting my black powder rounds in Mounted Shooting. That stuff is just nasty!
Thanks for the great reminder Natalie. We want to make sure that our shooters stick around for a long time!
If you shoot with gloves all the time, you might not be able to shoot as well without them in a critical situation. The old saying is: “You practice as you fight.”
Just a thought…
Really good point, Terry. That is definitely a factor to consider.
I have shot with gloves that had one hole cut out of the index finger. That might be a good way to protect your hands and keep the training consistent with what could happen in real life.