FIOCCHI USA to offer non-toxic (lead-free) primers in Sept 2008
In a previous thread someone said that FIOCCHI make non-toxic primers, and another user said that after calling a few retailers that he could not find anyone selling them. Based on this, today I called FIOCCHI USA and asked them about the availability of non-toxic primers. Here is the skinny:
1. For 15 years FIOCCHI have made non-toxic primers for the Eurpoean market where environmental regulations are more strict than those in the US.
2.
FIOCCHI USA do plan to sell non-toxic primers for large and small pistol and rifle (NOT magnum, primers) in the US beginning September 2008. This date could change based, among other things, on US State Department import approvals.
3. FIOCCHI expects these primers to show up in retail first at Graf & Sons and Midway USA.
4. FIOCCHI plan to sell . They do NOT plan to sell MAGNUM PRIMERS for either pistol or rifle.
5. FIOCCHI have not announced pricing, as price can change based on changes in the US dollar vs. Euros, etc.
6. The primers are fully non-toxic; they have not replaced lead with some other heavy metal.
7. FIOCCHI USA do not have load data yet, and do not know if the load data will vary from standard load data. However, they have been making 40 S&W, among other calibers for some time, so the data do exist. They do plan to provide load data.
8. FIOCCHI USA state that standard flash hole sizes will work.
I found the lady with whom I talked very nice, cooperative and helpful.
Here is a link to the FIOCCHI USA website:
http://www.fiocchiusa.com/Contacts.html
I want to thank those who have contributed to this thread! It is both alarming and helpful. Since I shoot frequently in USPSA and also hunt, I plan to assess the entire shoot-reload-shoot activity cycle for opportunities to reduce lead exposure to me, my family, and to others, and may post my progress here if people would find it useful.
In the short-term, I plan to move tumbling operations outside, use a mask approved by OSHA to limit lead dust (I'll research this with mask manufacturers), move reloading operations from inside the house into the garage, and wash my hands after shooting in matches and at the range where I pick up a lot of brass. While unfair, when given a choice of tasks to volunteer for at matches, I'll choose pasting targets and timing shooters over picking up brass. I'm going to add a lead blood level test to my physical exam. I'll leave my range bag in the garage, and possibly have a dedicated set of range shoes to leave in the garage.
I am still unsure of the best way to dispose of contaminated reloading materials, but will research. I do not want my yard to become a mini-EPA superfund site, nor expose other people to unreasonable risks.
This has also encouraged me to select less- or non-toxic chemicals for weapons cleaning due to the frequent exposure that comes from shooting in matches 2-3 times per month - it all adds up.
As an aside, I am quite conservative politically, and do have a background in healthcare. My hope is that by looking at each step in the shoot, recover brass, clean brass, reload, shoot cycle, I can find opportunities to dramatically reduce the amount of lead to which I expose myself and others, and validate these changes with feasible tests (periodic blood tests, surface area tests, etc.)
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Update on PMC primers---------------
UPDATE 20070410:
Bottom line: PMC does not, and has no plans to sell non-toxic primers.
Background: Talked today with a man at PMC, which used to sell non-toxic primers that they imported from Russia. See this old and no-longer accurate press release:
http://www.bluewaterbiggame.com/new_products/pmc_non-toxic_primers_2003.cfm
PMC withdrew the primers from the market becuase there were unspecified problems with them. At this time, due to the price of component materials, and the difficulty of making money given the cost, PMC does not sell any components, and has no plans to sell any components, including non-toxic primers.
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Update on Magtech ---------------
Magtech offer Clean Range ammo, so I contacted them to see if they sell, or plan to sell non-toxic primers. Talked with Troy today, and he was very helpful.
Magtech have a non-toxic small pistol primer, but they need to perfect the packaging that will provide the shelf life that their customers want before they can sell the primers as a component to reloaders. They have an active effort to develop this packaging, but do not have dates for completion at this time. In their loaded ammo, cost is about 8-10% higher, but they do not have pricing yet for the non-toxic small pistol primers.
Magtech website:
http://www.magtechammunition.com/sitepages/pid62.php
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Effectiveness of using TSP to remove lead Dusts from Hard Surfaces---------------
UPDATE 20070410: On using TSP to remove lead dust: Various government agencies have stated that one can use TSP to improve the removel of lead dust. Of course, when we deprime or tumble we create lead dust.
According to a 2005 publication in a scientific journal, all-purpose household detergents can work as well as TSP. Vaccuming should be done with a HEPA vaccume first.
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2006/40/i02/abs/es050803s.html
My take: Since I can buy concentrated lead removal liquid at a reasonable price, I'll use that since it is proven effective and moderate in price. See below information on Esca-Tech products.
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Information on how to reduce lead contamination---------------
I did some research to answer the question for myself: What products can I use to conveniently remove lead from my hands at the range, after reloading, and dust from surfaces related to reloading, such as the reloading press, bench, floor, and brass tumbler.
As a result, I found a company that began making products for companies that use lead in their manufacturing process, such as battery companies. They were smart enough to learn of the needs of shooters, and understand shooters’ needs.
I just had a great conversation with George at Esca-Tech.
Esca-Tech offer disposable and surface wipes in plastic canisters and individual use envelopes (think baby wipes for lead removal); hand/body soap, laundry soap, lead test kits for skin and surfaces, and solutions for cleaning various surfaces, such as concrete floors, wood, etc.
I asked if they had a product to pre-clean fired brass. For example, mix a solution in a 5-gallon bucket with water to reduce lead dust on fired brass before tumbling. He said that they had not tested this for effectiveness, or for effect on the strength of the brass, but that they would discuss it.
He also said
they offer limited sponsorship of shooting clubs with samples of their products. E-mail them for more information.
I was impressed with their knowledge and helpfulness. I did order several of the products and will try them. I’ll use the surface test kit to test my cleaning technique of my hands and surfaces. While some of the initial quantities are a bit larger, it's like stocking up on anything else, and I'll try to share with shooting buddies, as we do with primers and powder. However, if I cannot share product orders, I'll buy it anyway. It's a no brainer to protect my brain and nervous system, and to protect my family members as well.
Here is the website where you can get product and contact information:
http://www.esca-tech.com/index.html
Here is contact information:
ESCA Tech, Inc.
3747 North Booth Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
Phone: (414) 962-5323
(877) 532-5323
Fax: (414) 962-7003
E-mail:
[email protected]
Below are some product images:
Respiratory protection while habdeling tumblers and brass seperators, and possibly de-priming brass
Ideally, one would sample the concentration of the lead dust in the air while seperating tumbled brass from the media. But assuming that I'll do this outdoors, limiting duration and concentration exposure as much as possible, looks like the North Safety 7700 series half-face mask respirator and P100 HEPA filter will do the job (about $25 bucks for the whole rig, plus shipping, or visit your local inductrial safety shop to try things on for size):
http://www.airgas.com/browse/product.aspx?Msg=RecID&recIds=47823&WT.svl=47823
http://www.airgas.com/browse/product.aspx?Msg=RecID&recIds=13230
These masks are sized by face size, so check your size.
The filters are removable, which is nice, because they are replacable, and you can buy filters for painting, ammonia, etc.
You can determine which gloves and respirators will protect you from specific chemicals by going to the product selector at the North Safety site:
http://www.northsafety.com/
To determine what you need to protect yourself from, don't guess! Go to the manufacturer's website, for say bore cleaner, primers, etc., and download the Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS. See section 7 and also see what chemicals the product contains.
For example, if you Google "winchester primer msds" you can quickly find this link:
http://www.winchester.com/pdf/MsdsPDF/msds_w60.pdf
While I think Winchester does not do a good job of identifying risks associated with cleaning spent brass, they do identify the chemicals in the primers. Use thin information to select a mask and/or gloves, etc.