Top 3 reasons why lead shot reclamation at a shooting range is a good idea

Lead, including lead shot from shooting ranges, can be recycled over and over. That’s why lead shot reclamation from shooting ranges is a good idea for several reasons.
Here’s the top three.

CHEAPER THAN MINING 

Recycling expert Rick LeBlanc says, “Recycled lead is cheaper to produce than virgin lead. Recycled lead takes less than 25% of the energy required to produce lead from ore extraction.” Mining lead requires earth moving machines. The lead then has to be extracted from the ore. Taking lead from a shooting range is a lot simpler than mining it. Virgin lead has all the added expense of the mining and extraction built into the price. It’s considered a valuable resource. Lead on a shooting range is still a valuable resource with the added benefit of being easier to get to. 

BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 

Lead in the environment is an increasing concern for many people. Thanks to efforts to reduce lead exposure, think no more “regular” gas with lead and no more lead-based paint, the incidence of lead in children is steadily dropping. While shooting range lead is not linked to lead in children, making the effort to reclaim lead at shooting ranges definitely makes the range “greener.”

“Computer monitors contain around 4-8 pounds of lead that is encased in glass. This lead is there to protect you, but it makes it important for a person to recycle their old monitors. Also, cathode ray tubes are very high in lead content; anything containing a CRT should be recycled such as an old television set,” wrote Kyle Morris for a paper published at Emporia State University. 

HIGH DEMAND FOR RECYCLED LEAD 

Depending on the source, 88 percent or more of automobile batteries are made with recycled lead. Other people, like muzzleloaders and to a lesser extent centerfire handloaders, buy recycled lead to make projectiles for shooting. Muzzleloaders call their cast projectiles “boolits.”

If you need more information about recycling lead or other reasons by reclaiming it from ranges is a good idea, contact us.

Shooting Range Reclamation Prevents Lead Contamination

The sound of gunshots on or in your firing range may be money to your ears.  However, the fired ammunition containing lead and related contaminants leaves a residue that requires clean up. Therefore, when your firing range business is doing well, the need for shooting range reclamation ratchets up.

Firearm ammunition has lead-containing primers or unjacketed lead bullets that generate lead dust and fumes. Consequently, anyone who is spending time at your gun range, customers, or employees, risks exposure to these contaminants and the associated health problems.

Effects of lead poisoning:  brain and nervous disorders, decreased attention span, anemia, kidney dysfunction, immune system disorders

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lead clean up on shooting ranges is one of the Best Management Practices for Ranges on which the agency is focusing. The agenda of the EPA is not to close down ranges but rather to make sure the shooting range reclamation guidelines on preventing lead contamination and migration are being followed.

Preventative measures

• Recycle the lead on a regular basis to reduce its volume
• Prevent precipitation from causing a breakdown or migration of the lead
• Minimize costs by performing shooting range reclamation at regular intervals

Interestingly, lead shot is not considered a hazardous waste at the time it is discharged because it is being used for its intended purpose.   However, the impact that shooting ranges have on the environment cannot be understated. If the location is near water or wetlands, the impact on wildlife is substantial and the potential risk of contaminating surface and groundwater is increased.

Benefits of shooting range reclamation

• Recycling reclaimed lead generates substantial cash
• Environment is cleaned up
• Health risks are minimized
• Requirements are met

At MT2, the nation’s leading firing range maintenance and lead reclamation company, all the issues of shooting range reclamation have been considered and implemented in MT2’s patented approach to recovering the maximum amount of used lead while protecting the sensitive natural environment around the shooting range. If you would like to read more MT2, please visit our blog on shooting range issues or contact us with any questions you may have.