Shooting gives allergy???

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Ironbarr

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Had a 3-hour indoor range session with my AR last week (scope sighting), running out some 40+ rounds of Win Q3131A (Israeli made). As time got later I noticed that the Win Q3131A left an ugly aroma which got into my nose and overnight I had a heavy sinus drain - all the indications of bad week to come. Two days later, feeling a bit better, I ran more rounds with a different scope. Again got the odor stuffed up the nasal tubes, and the "drip" began again. It was much like an oily ammonia feel/odor. Hadn't noticed that in other times out with that ammo. I'm not normally into allergies.

Finally got an anti-histimine [sp] and one pill stopped it.

So - the question:

Anyone have a similar experience with this or other ammo?

-Andy
 
There are certain chemical sensitivities that some folks endure.

You can go years without knowing you have it.

For example I sneeze when I inhale wolf ammo smoke.

But for $75 per thousand I can keep a tissue handy.
 
I avoid indoor ranges for that very reason. Even on an outdoor range, I try to shoot when no one else is around. During classes I try to pick the end of the line upwind from everyone else.

My allergies aren't just sniffles, but wheezes. If the allergies get worse, I suppose someday I'll be out there wearing a respirator.

Darth Vader meets Annie Oakley. :D

pax
 
Darth Vader meets Annie Oakley.
Click to expand...
Now how is anyone to follow a post like that, I hope Marty make you wear that get-up under threat of his hand- held shocker...what a mind pic...:D
NOT due to your allergies pax, or wishing anything negative...

I was gonna sayI haven't shot many indoor ranges, most have been out of state. The one local hasn't bothered me-yet. We do shoot rubber bullets indoors in a freinds shop, primer only , too much fun. My allergies instead give me fits outdoors when ragweed comes out...Have noticed certain molds and must be another something or other, two. Indoors my biggest allergen is chlorine...if someone has cleaned with it, I leave and start eating Benedryl.
 
Allergic reactions can be almost anything not just the 'typical ' ones of sinus etc. Allergies to chemicals did not fall into the original definition of allergies , in fact they are now called MCS ( multiple chemical sensitivity ). For the shooter there is a long list of chemicals that can cause the problem; solvents and other things in the powder, cleaners and solvents , lubricants, preservative greases etc. Sometimes it's hard to discover what the problem is especially if it's something someone else is using. I finally found one nasty lubricant used by another shooter, he agreed to change it , though I would have gladly offered to buy lub for him.
 
I react to something in various gun cleaning preparations.

When I'm burning powder I usually feel better than when I'm at home. I love the smell of Unique in the morning!
 
I feel your pain..........:D I too try to avoid indoor ranges because my beak seems to be sensitive to high concentrations of particulates. Unless the ventilation is excellent I prefer an outdoor range.
 
The only allergy I seem to have related to shooting is money. Can't seem to keep much when visiting gun stores, gun shows or reading C&R ads.
 
Not so much allergies, but I do get all clogged up, looks like I'm leaking motor oil out my snout for the next day or so and then I'm better.
Our indoor range as no circulation. I try to stay away from it as much as possible.
Which stinks, (pun?) because they have some fun competitions there. Oh well.
 
Look Iron, the ammo is probably bad for your health, so let me take it off your hands. No need to pay me. Heck, your AR probably has the same stuff on it, so I'll take that too, just to keep you safe. :D
 
Well, I guess I'm not alone in this, huh?

What gets me though is that I hadn't had this effect with the Win Q3131A before - but then, these were the first times I'd run so many rounds at one time. Maybe the quantity has meaning.

pax: re1973 one-upped me on a retort (now there's a word: "re" as in let's do it again and "tort", an illegal action. No wonder "English" is difficult for folks to learn).

Wanderer: I wonder how long it'd take to "wander" over here IF I were actually to take you up on your kind offer. Gonna practice?? :D

-Andy
 
I can sympathize. I had sinus surgery this year. Been taking allergy injections for 5 years. Not fun, of course. My allergies run the gamut of molds, pollens, dust, everything to take me around the whole freakin year. I'm allergic to the weld slag at work also, and I have to smell the smoke from that every day.:( Allergies are a real pain in the azz!
 
socialism = commie - hmmmm

Anyway, sounds like an allergic reaction to me. When you say sinus drain do you mean rhinitis (nasty taste and incredible ''thirst like'' pain in the throat)?

People are allergic to all kinds of things, my cousin was a good hairdresser until she started getting incredible skin rashes. Turned out it was the chemicals used in perming etc. She had been hairdressing for years. I developed allergies to cashew nuts and honey simultaneously after having had no problem with them for the previous twenty years of my life.

The theory on allergies is a ''straw and camels back'' one. Essentially you have allergies but your body can handle them until a certain number come along and when the camels back is broken your body throws a fit. Is it possible that you are being exposed to something else which is filling up your ''quota'' (cat hair, feathers, grass, pollen - anything) and the chemicals at the range are the ''straw''?

If it bothers you get tests. I suggest that you probably have hayfever allergies (it being summer over there I am assuming) that your body can deal with and an allergy to something in those chemicals and both are set off when you are exposed to both.

Hope you can understand that.
 
Not just respiritory allergies.

Awhile back I developed a skin rash on the back of my shooting hand which was between my thumb and forefinger. It was itchy, red, annoying and people would ask me what the heck that was. Finally went to the dermo to get it taken care of. He identified it as some sort of allergic reaction and asked me if I had any hobbies that involved that part of my hand. For example he had one guy who had a similar condition that was traced down to a golf glove. After thinking about it in his office I realized that this rash had started just about the time I had purchased my Glock 29 and had joined an indoor range, so I was shooting it a LOT, like every other day. Since that is the part of your hand where the slide travels over and lots of neat gasses and unburned powder makes contact at fairly high speed, I put two and two together. I'm about 99% sure that shooting and an allergic reaction was what caused it.

He perscribed a tape that took care of it.
 
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