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Most gun owners use lead ammunition, yet half don’t practice hygiene behaviors after shooting (hsph.harvard.edu)
submitted 1 week ago by to c/science@lemmy.world
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[–] 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Lead from the bullet does actually come out of the barrel in a particularly impressive plume of particulate matter that you then breathe in. It’s caused by friction with the barrel and cuts from the rifling, but it’s very effectively reduced by using jacketed bullets. Just FYI.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    Yeah, I probably could have made that a little more clear on that, I did mention jacketed bullets help mitigate your lead exposure, and that it's not necessary 0 exposure from the projectile, but probably could have given a little more details on that

    In my defense though, I don't think I've actually even seen unjacketed ammo in person since I was in boy scouts shooting the cheapest bulk .22 ammo known to man at the summer camp shooting range. I'd almost have to go out of my way to find unjacketed ammo around me these days, even most cheap bulk .22 I see is jacketed now.

    It's definitely out there for some rounds though, and of course reloaders.

    Closest I've seen in some time is softpoint .45-70 my friend has for his lever gun, and now that I'm thinking about that I'm curious how that stacks up against FMJ as far as lead exposure, since presumably that exposed lead soft point probably shouldn't really be engaging with the rifling or sides of the barrel.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 week ago

    Good discussion! Most ammo is jacketed these days, but if you ever shoot any non-jacketed ammo you’ll get lead coming out of the barrel for a long time afterwards. Even after pretty thorough cleaning.

    The stuff on .22 bullets is plating, not jacketing, and doesn’t really cut down on the lead plume at all. It’s nowhere near as thick as the depth of the rifling. Shooting .22 is like huffing lead plume, with a side of dirty primer and powder smoke. It’s so good for plinking though.

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