Someone needs to enlighten this guy about safe bullet casting

[Kent Fowler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJFRbcAjz4

While some of what he says is common sense, he's getting bad info about contracting lead poisoning.

[Old Caster]

What a shame that a newbie goes on a rant about how dangerous casting is when it has virtually no possibility of giving a person high lead levels. I have been doing this since 1965 when in the Army on the bullseye league. My job was to cast and size lead bullets after I dug them out of the range backstop and our team shot every day except Sunday so 38's and 45's both. I still cast a lot for myself and my friends and my biggest problem casting is I am always out of lead. Out of all my acquaintances that do the same, the only time any of us have ever had too high of lead levels is when shooting indoors too much. I will not cast indoors because of the smelting smoke and what it would take to get rid of it but not because I am afraid of lead poisoning. If it is 40 degrees or up, I can do it. There is no way you will get lead poisoning from casting or reloading and I will even eat a sandwich in the middle of casting but I would never smoke any cigars like this guy does casting or not because that is way more dangerous. Just don't eat any lead.......Duhhh!! and you will be fine. Have fun like I have been for 57 years

[45DUDE]

He needs a different hobby? His reloading room is too clean and his dog cleans up after the cat. At least he seems to avoid being bored. I cast about 16 pounds a month average and have had two lead tests since the '90s with no problems. I have washed my hands in gasoline since I was 15 and still do when they get greasy. That should be worse than lead. I feel lucky to have a very nice outdoor range and the lock code.

[FLINTNFIRE]

He got his levels from a indoor range and his own lack of awareness , I noticed no dislikes , but with his presentation being as uninformed as it is I did not finish it , youtube where anyone can be a expert and google with its agenda of political correctness or should I say liberal interpretation of what the masses need to be informed of is a poor place for most information and actual truth .

[Gtek]

With all his perceived fears where was his face covering? What about all the lead dust on the shelves under stored display molds? He was touching those boolits with his bare hands, I feel like I need to go wash my face and hands now.

[megasupermagnum]

I won't even try and argue what he thinks about lead poisoning. Other than him saying it can be absorbed through skin, which come on man.:lol: He seems like a nice guy, obviously been shooting a while if he owned a range. I think he is a good example of ignorance. You don't need videos, or books, or experts to tell you that if you have lead dust everywhere, something isn't right. He owned a range that is woefully inadequate, and he failed to recognize that. People like to talk about common sense, but that's an outdated phrase. Awareness is something so many people lack today, and I can only blame it on living such shelter lives. It doesn't matter if we are talking shooting, or work, or anything else, we HAVE to observe our surroundings. OSHA can only do so much, and they really do too much as it is. At a certain point you have to be responsible for realizing if you walk on a pallet, you might break your ankle.

P.S. Maybe just don't shoot indoors at all. I see no reason to do it, and I have yet to hear of a case of elevated lead levels that didn't also include indoor shooting. I've never heard of a bullet caster with high lead levels that shot outdoors.

[Wolfdog91]

So who's gonna make the response video to PROPERLY teach people?

[poppy42]

You get more lead exposure and indoor range from primers than you do from lead bullets. Although I wouldn’t recommend it but if you took a clean cast boolet and swallowed it you would probably wouldn’t receive any lead toxicity from it. It’s not the solid lead it’s the dust from oxidation and the fumes from greatly overheating lead. Lead particulates have to be a certain size and in a certain form for your body to absorb them . You definitely stand a better chance of receiving lead poisoning from an indoor range that does not have proper ventilation then you do from casting bullets. The guy is definitely a little overboard.

[sniper]

I find GunBlue 490 knowledgable about most things guns and reloading. Whatever his experience with lead, he is sincere. Patrick Sweeney, a Guns and Ammo staffer and pistol competitor mentioned in one or the other of his two reloading manuals that it is well known that "the poison is in the dose". I think of my younger days when we went fishing with cane poles, and I bit split shot sinkers onto my line. Handling loose .22 long rifle ammo in my pockets, and later, reloading and bullet casting. My dad was a painter, and as a pre schooler, I played with his red and white lead, and didn't wash after. There are conditions known as "Plumber's or Painter's Colic", caused by long and massive exposure to and handling of lead. But, some get it, aand some don't. Just think what I may have accomplished with my life, if I hadn't been impaired by lead poisoning! 8-) Most of the literature I've read since I became aware of a potential problem says that washing your hands before eating or sucking your thumb will lead to very little ingestion of lead. I take reasonable precautions, but don't worry too much.

[zymguy]

Ive enjoyed his content for a long time, this is the worst of his videos i didn't finish it. He is not a rookie nor disingenuous. He is clearly out of his element on this one. As for dealing with lead . I gotta believe I read it on this forum. Treat it like fecal matter, wash your hands before you stick them in your mouth for any reason. If you were really rolling around in it maybe change your clothes before hanging out in the kitchen.

[tmanbuckhunter]

The danger of lead poisoning from an indoor range is lead styphnate in the priming compound, which now primers are starting to be made without it. His lead poisoning didn't come from handling ammunition, casting bullets, or loading ammunition. Lead in it's solid form isn't dangerous as long as you wash your hands and dont eat it, nor is it even that dangerous in it's molten form in regards to fumes. It's always lead DUST that is dangerous.

I always enjoyed the old mans videos even though he seemed a little... pretentious? This one has me considering unsubscribing. Complete and utter misinformation, and it's not acceptable.

[bedbugbilly]

I have been casting for 60 years . . . imagine my surprise when I read this thread this morning and I found out that I should have been dead at least thirty years ago. :-)

I listened to this video bout half way through and finally backed out of it. Casting lead is like anything else in life . . . common sense prevails. I don't question whether he did or didn't get lead poisoning from working in, what I assume, was a range he owned? And yea . . . we are all aware of the issues that can exist with indoor ranges . . . but was it properly ventilated? And, were there any other things in his environment that possibly contributed to his high lead levels? Drinking water source, etc.? Those issues still exist in many communities today.

I'm sure he is probably a nice guy who is well intentioned . . . but too many "experts" seem to have video cameras and the need to "educate" others . . . and he isn't the only one. He had a harrowing experience with "lead poisoning" so now he is going to be a caster . . . perhaps he should take up a different hobby like "knitting" and then do a video of the hazards of using knitting needles with sharp points and large skeins of yarn that could possibly get tangled around the neck . . . and I won't even go into the dangers of his dog eating yarn and getting it's digestive system clogged up.

"Common sense" should prevail in any hobby or undertaking . . . cast in a ventilated area, wear protective gear and clothing . . . . and if you're new to it . . . ask questions of those who can help you with sage advice . . . and for goodness sake, read and study reliable information. Videos can be good if the presenter is good . . . but I certainly am not going to go to a brain surgeon who learned his "skills" from a guy who has a video camera and wants to boost his ego.

[M-Tecs]

I have been casting for 60 years . . . imagine my surprise when I read this thread this morning and I found out that I should have been dead at least thirty years ago. :-)

I listened to this video bout half way through and finally backed out of it. Casting lead is like anything else in life . . . common sense prevails. I don't question whether he did or didn't get lead poisoning from working in, what I assume, was a range he owned? And yea . . . we are all aware of the issues that can exist with indoor ranges . . . but was it properly ventilated? And, were there any other things in his environment that possibly contributed to his high lead levels? Drinking water source, etc.? Those issues still exist in many communities today.

I'm sure he is probably a nice guy who is well intentioned . . . but too many "experts" seem to have video cameras and the need to "educate" others . . . and he isn't the only one. He had a harrowing experience with "lead poisoning" so now he is going to be a caster . . . perhaps he should take up a different hobby like "knitting" and then do a video of the hazards of using knitting needles with sharp points and large skeins of yarn that could possibly get tangled around the neck . . . and I won't even go into the dangers of his dog eating yarn and getting it's digestive system clogged up.

"Common sense" should prevail in any hobby or undertaking . . . cast in a ventilated area, wear protective gear and clothing . . . . and if you're new to it . . . ask questions of those who can help you with sage advice . . . and for goodness sake, read and study reliable information. Videos can be good if the presenter is good . . . but I certainly am not going to go to a brain surgeon who learned his "skills" from a guy who has a video camera and wants to boost his ego.

Spot on! Same for me I have been casting for 50 years with a total well over 200K. For 22 years my work required an annual heavy metals blood test and 22 times I tested BELOW average for lead levels. Common sense and good industrial hygiene makes this a non-issue. The one time I did rise to average levels was in the spring after shooting a lot of indoor leagues. After that I always tested in the fall.

[mdi]

Hang around here for a while and you will see the "Chicken Little" type thinkin often. Some would suggest casting 1.74 miles from a residence, wear a full Haz Mat suit with enclosed breathing apparatus, in a full negative air flow room (sealed), and only wear leather apron, boots, chaps, welder's gauntlets, and a welder's leather cap. His ideas/opinions aren't all that far out as compared to many posts here.

Lighten up Safety Gurus!

[gwpercle]

I try to avoid U-Tube whenever I can .

Too much Idiocracy going on there .

Gary

[crackers]

I've seen him a few times before - stepping on his dick but never with golf shoes on the icy concrete.

[Wolfdog91]

So y'all are getting on to this dude for talking about his experiences and trying to promote safety ? I mean he stated multiple times he's older and he's trying to keep his health up and that's what's he's doing which imo makes perfect sense. It's like a guy I was talking to about chain saws he stressed and stressed stressed when he cuts he wears chaps and a face shield because one time he wasn't stuff went bad and he was laid up in the hospital for a while when if he had those things in he would have been fine. And now he stress that to everyone he talks to. Same thing with this guy.
Honestly most people watching this should have the common sense to sit down watch these videos and go " well hay that respirator make sense , and good venting makes sense but throwing away my gloves every few uses ? Ummmm hmmm maybe not I not casting that much "
But again I gotta ask because I see this so much in this forum. Who's actually going to make videos on the proper way to do stuff ? Because it seems no one ever does anything right anytime someone post a YouTube video and the people who try like Elvis ammo fortunecookie ect just get ragged on. But I'm I'm just the young whippersnapper here so I digress

[Tar Heel]

But again I gotta ask because I see this so much in this forum. Who's actually going to make videos on the proper way to do stuff ? Because it seems no one ever does anything right anytime someone post a YouTube video and the people who try like Elvis ammo fortunecookie ect just get ragged on. But I'm I'm just the young whippersnapper here so I digress

Define the "right" way. There is my way, your way, the scientific way, the Godly way, the idiot way, the southern way, the California way, the northern way, this way, and that way. Which one is right or correct? Truth and "right" are relative. Make your video and post it. See how many folks correct you. Post a video showing the "right way" and watch the experts chop away at it. The way that works best for you is the "right way" and probably differs from my "right way".

I still can't figure out why folks put lipstick on their bullets rather than doing it the "right way" with bullet lube in a lubrisizer.

[ioon44]

I try to avoid U-Tube whenever I can .

Too much Idiocracy going on there .

Gary

Yep, I totally agree.

[mdi]

I agree with Wolfdog91. Way too much unnecessary harsh (stupid) criticism. (I wouldn't miss cracker's "high school" posts at all!). There are way too few real "experts" here for all the childish criticism seen on this thread and not typical of the usual adult Castboolits replies.

You guys that know more than GunBlue490 (you without sin) can be the first to criticize (cast the first stone)...

[blackthorn]

From my perspective, someone who is (or purports) to be an "expert" on any subject is to be held to a higher standard in getting his/her information correct. To me that means making statements that have been researched and that research considered for accuracy and truth before they go shouting "the sky is falling"! Case in point: watching building expert(?) Mike Holms (sp?) showing some young guy what to look for when checking out a possible home to buy. Mike opens the door under the sink. There is a bit of obviously lead pipe. Young guy begins to reach toward the pipe and Mike grabs his arm and pulls him away while saying words to the effect of "don't touch that it is lead and is very poisonous---. It was like the kid was going to try to give Medusa a haircut with a pen knife! I have lost any respect I had for Mike Holms. The point I am trying to make is that warning of potential danger is fine but acting like it is the end of the world is not. Just be careful of how you deliver information.

[FLINTNFIRE]

Well I do not think any of us who spoke up about the person in the video who was obsessive to the point of paranoia about the hazards of lead were undo in our comments , but if you feel we were well so be it , and yes I said he was obsessive in his paranoia .

As to making videos for youtube , I feel no need to film myself or my hobbies , yes some of us come here to gain insights into this hobby , but most of us seem to be older and have been doing this for quite some time with common sense and or learning we have got along the way.

If he would have done his research before his long winded over hyped video , there may have been no criticism , If one purports to be an expert of makes instructional videos or websites then they should be held to a higher standard and should not be passing on wives tales gossip rumors and myths and misconceptions on this subject as there is enough state inspired fear being promoted about it already .

Warning this may cause cancer and reproductive harm , along with everything else on this planet in this life .

So in ending sorry if I and maybe others were unduly harsh in our comments on the feller , but he should delete his video and do his research maybe on here and learn some before hamming for the cam .

[jsizemore]

It took me 2 days to finally watch the whole video. I heard him say that handling lead with your bare hands would absorb it into your system. Seems he forgot that later on when he touched cast bullets and ingots. He also said that moving your hands near the casting pot would cause lead fumes to escape into the room and contaminate the environment. Ladle casting is a no-no too. So when do you figure that somebody hasn't really taken the time to investigate for himself what is fact? His argument is that he is a lead survivor. If he needs to do all he proposes to feel safe, then do it twice as much. But it doesn't make him an expert.

He reminds me of a woman at work. She said she needed a can of Lysol from the store for covid abatement. 12 ounces costs $9/can of spray. Member Dragonheart told us about Consan 20 which has the same sanitizer as Lysol. I mixed a gallon of it for 37 cents when supplies were near nonexistent. I brought it out and showed it to her. She said " I'm a cancer survivor, and if I can't drink a gallon of something I won't use it". How do you convince an idiot? Some folks will pick and choose the facts to support their idea. Some are well intended but misinformed. The result is the same.

[Wolfdog91]

Define the "right" way. There is my way, your way, the scientific way, the Godly way, the idiot way, the southern way, the California way, the northern way, this way, and that way. Which one is right or correct? Truth and "right" are relative. Make your video and post it. See how many folks correct you. Post a video showing the "right way" and watch the experts chop away at it. The way that works best for you is the "right way" and probably differs from my "right way".

I still can't figure out why folks put lipstick on their bullets rather than doing it the "right way" with bullet lube in a lubrisizer.

Lol that's what I'm trying to figure out,the way people here jump on YouTubers every time there must be a RIGHT WAY.
Personally I'm of the opinion there really is no one singular right way for everything. Just to many variables and person needs to sit down look at what their doing and extrapolate useful information from the source so it's useful to them.
Heck I watch alot of videos dealing with F class reloading but in no way do I think it's the best because I'm on a budget,using range brass ect but I extrapolate from these videos how I can make my reloading better though small things like " hay these guys are shooting 1000 yards and their being very precise about brass prep, I don't have a IDOD or a Promthtis but maybe I should try to be a little more careful with brass sorting and weight my charges or just start using CBTO instead of COAL like them because it's more consistent over all"
Same with this guy. Well he's casting indoors I'm casting out doors you can easily think " hay ya know I don't really need an exaust fan because I'm not indoors but I'm young and I want my lungs to last a long time so mabye a half mask respirator wouldn't hurt!"

[Wolfdog91]

Another question I have to ask when it comes to YouTuber's when did he ever call him self and expert ? Don't think in that entire video that word came out of his mouth? Honestly most people understand that there are very few actual experts on YouTube.
Heck I've had alot of people acusse me of trying to act like an expert because I make videos of me doing the cast stuff for my AR-15. Same with other YouTubers ," well hot dang their making videos and just talking like they know everything!" I see these comments all the time here,. No not really just sharing our experiences same for guys like full lead taco , Elvis ammo ,fourthune cookie 45lc.
And I gotta ask would y'all prefer someone like that nice old guy that genuinely seems to care about folks health and safety and just a little paranoid or some wild bill yahoo just going " o safety?! Pfffffff what ever just do abc and youll be fiiiine!"

[Tazman1602]

Oh boy….where are the fact checkers when you need them? I have been casting/shooting cast for 40 years. I have to get blood labs quarterly and have never, ever had elevated lead levels.

Lead does NOT release fumes until after 900° F. Even so I have a range hood above my lead pot, just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean someone’s not after me….

Art

[Tar Heel]

Lead fumes? Please! When I was a kid we used to chase after the mosquito sprayer trucks to stay in the smoke cloud. Guess what they were spraying. Then there was all of the orange stuff in SE Asia. Your lungs will be just fine breathing in the periodic smoke off a casting pot.

We didn't eat paint though. We always had biscuits. Go cast some bullets and enjoy life.

[M-Tecs]

It took me 2 days to finally watch the whole video. I heard him say that handling lead with your bare hands would absorb it into your system. Seems he forgot that later on when he touched cast bullets and ingots. He also said that moving your hands near the casting pot would cause lead fumes to escape into the room and contaminate the environment. Ladle casting is a no-no too. So when do you figure that somebody hasn't really taken the time to investigate for himself what is fact? His argument is that he is a lead survivor. If he needs to do all he proposes to feel safe, then do it twice as much. But it doesn't make him an expert.

He reminds me of a woman at work. She said she needed a can of Lysol from the store for covid abatement. 12 ounces costs $9/can of spray. Member Dragonheart told us about Consan 20 which has the same sanitizer as Lysol. I mixed a gallon of it for 37 cents when supplies were near nonexistent. I brought it out and showed it to her. She said " I'm a cancer survivor, and if I can't drink a gallon of something I won't use it". How do you convince an idiot? Some folks will pick and choose the facts to support their idea. Some are well intended but misinformed. The result is the same.

Spot on. The post video is FULL of misinformation and BS. That makes it very much bash worthy. As an elevated lead survivor you would think (at a minimum) he would research how and why he became lead poisoned due to working at an indoor range verse the realities of his home casting situation.

[M-Tecs]

Lol that's what I'm trying to figure out,the way people here jump on YouTubers every time there must be a RIGHT WAY.
Personally I'm of the opinion there really is no one singular right way for everything. Just to many variables and person needs to sit down look at what their doing and extrapolate useful information from the source so it's useful to them.
Heck I watch alot of videos dealing with F class reloading but in no way do I think it's the best because I'm on a budget,using range brass ect but I extrapolate from these videos how I can make my reloading better though small things like " hay these guys are shooting 1000 yards and their being very precise about brass prep, I don't have a IDOD or a Promthtis but maybe I should try to be a little more careful with brass sorting and weight my charges or just start using CBTO instead of COAL like them because it's more consistent over all"
Same with this guy. Well he's casting indoors I'm casting out doors you can easily think " hay ya know I don't really need an exaust fan because I'm not indoors but I'm young and I want my lungs to last a long time so mabye a half mask respirator wouldn't hurt!"

Believing that there is a "right way" is your first mistake. There is the most preferred method followed by less preferred methods. That is basically true with everything in life. The rub is that the "most preferred method" varies for each individual and each situation. In a fantasy world with unlimited resources, abilities and time the "most preferred method" would be the same for everyone and everything. That is not reality. On the flip side there is such a thing as a "wrong method". A "wrong method" is something that produces unsafe or unreliable results

You mentioned watching F class reloading videos. That is an excellent example. When you shoot long range competition you need the very best ammunition possible to be competitive. Based on your abilities and equipment the method you use to produce the most accurate ammunition possible would be your "most preferred method". That will change over time as your abilities and resources change.

In addition to being a long-range competitor I also shoot cowboy action. Accuracy requirements for that type of shooting is almost zero. Can I use F-class loading techniques for cowboy action? Yes, but that is far from being the "most preferred method" since it wastes a great deal of time, energy and resources for a competition that 10 MOA ammunition is more than accurate enough.

As to why I have a hard time with a lot of the YouTubers is they tend to push their methods as not only the "right way" but the "only way". People posting videos on YouTube range from the world class experts to world class idiots. Lot to learn on YouTube and lots to ignore.

I do not like misinformation and or BS and the video in question is full of it about lead handling and realistic safety issues.

[mdi]

I would like to thank all the superior, self appointed, ultra experts and philosophers that replied to this thread. I got quite an education from how the Gurus/Casting Gods replied. I doubt if I'll ever let anyone here know how I do anything...

[bangerjim]

OH NO, Uncle Bill................we're all gonna die!

There are those that just LOVE to see & hear themselves on TV. Even if they are babbling total nonsense.

What an ultra-marron.

[jsizemore]

Maybe this will make you feel safe casting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit#/media/File:Aldrin_Apollo_11_cropped.jpg

[Old Caster]

When you have a bunch of people here who have been casting since the 60's and don't wear a mask or worry if their hands are dirty and have never had high lead levels, it would make anyone think that it works fine to do it that way. What other difference could be possible. Some here have casted more in a year than that guy did in his life time. Just look at the equipment he has sitting around him and it tells you quickly that he is not very experienced and his false claims keeps newbies from having enough confidence to do this hobby without having so much safety equipment on that you can't function. Just saying it isn't safe to touch lead makes my head twirl and eyes roll.

[Wolfdog91]

Believing that there is a "right way" is your first mistake. There is the most preferred method followed by less preferred methods. That is basically true with everything in life. The rub is that the "most preferred method" varies for each individual and each situation. In a fantasy world with unlimited resources, abilities and time the "most preferred method" would be the same for everyone and everything. That is not reality. On the flip side there is such a thing as a "wrong method". A "wrong method" is something that produces unsafe or unreliable results

You mentioned watching F class reloading videos. That is an excellent example. When you shoot long range competition you need the very best ammunition possible to be competitive. Based on your abilities and equipment the method you use to produce the most accurate ammunition possible would be your "most preferred method". That will change over time as your abilities and resources change.

In addition to being a long-range competitor I also shoot cowboy action. Accuracy requirements for that type of shooting is almost zero. Can I use F-class loading techniques for cowboy action? Yes, but that is far from being the "most preferred method" since it wastes a great deal of time, energy and resources for a competition that 10 MOA ammunition is more than accurate enough.

As to why I have a hard time with a lot of the YouTubers is they tend to push their methods as not only the "right way" but the "only way". People posting videos on YouTube range from the world class experts to world class idiots. Lot to learn on YouTube and lots to ignore.

I do not like misinformation and or BS and the video in question is full of it.

That was sarcasm when I there has to the the right way. Only said that to point out how it seems people posting here seem to think. evevyone is saying he's going about it the wrong way basically so what's the right way ? See what I mean . I mean I did say in other comments on this thread I don't feel there's a "Right way" And again I was saying I was I just took from that what I could to make my current methods better. I want to make my cast load as accurate as possible so I went to the guys who make the most accurate ammo and tried to use some of that in some of the stuff I do. And as you said it would be totally different if I was after something else.
It's like when I first started casting I was basically told the way to do it was Alox random clip.on wheel wheights and just go. That may work for some for their purposes that's the right way for them but what I want calls for something completely different

[M-Tecs]

When you have a bunch of people here who have been casting since the 60's and don't wear a mask or worry if their hands are dirty and have never had high lead levels, it would make anyone think that it works fine to do it that way. What other difference could be possible. Some here have casted more in a year than that guy did in his life time. Just look at the equipment he has sitting around him and it tells you quickly that he is not very experienced and his false claims keeps newbies from having enough confidence to do this hobby without having so much safety equipment on that you can't function. Just saying it isn't safe to touch lead makes my head twirl and eyes roll.

It is worse that. Video's like this tend to be used by people who want to ban lead and casting to further their agenda . We "friends" like him spreading misinformation and BS we do not need "enemies".

[M-Tecs]

That was sarcasm when I there has to the the right way. Only said that to point out how it seems people posting here seem to think. evevyone is saying he's going about it the wrong way basically so what's the right way ?

His methodology is basically sound. His message not so much. Not a single person on this post has stated he is doing it "wrong". They are stating his warning are not factually correct or accurate. They also pointed out he is not even following his own advice. Jsizemore pointed out SOME of the misinformation in his post which I highlighted in post #28.

[Tar Heel]

Who fired that shot?

[dverna]

So who's gonna make the response video to PROPERLY teach people?

You are showing your age and the faults of your generation. Instant gratification and dependence on video learning from anyone with a cell phone. How do you evaluate useful stuff from crap?

I learned how to cast properly and safely from reading books and using common sense. There was no internet in 1972.

I could not finish the video. The man lacks knowledge, wisdom and common sense....at least on this topic.

[M-Tecs]

his false claims keeps newbies from having enough confidence to do this hobby without having so much safety equipment on that you can't function. Just saying it isn't safe to touch lead makes my head twirl and eyes roll.

Yes on both counts.

[Wolfdog91]

You are showing your age and the faults of your generation. Instant gratification and dependence on video learning from anyone with a cell phone. How do you evaluate useful stuff from crap?

I learned how to cast properly and safely from reading books and using common sense. There was no internet in 1972.

I could not finish the video. The man lacks knowledge, wisdom and common sense....at least on this topic.

Was pretty sure most folks knew I was 20 something and honestly some people just plain learn better from videos. I know I do ,it's just plain how I'm wired. I have honestly sat down with the Lyman manual and a note book for a few nights read and took notes but it just doesn't click as well as being able to watch and listen.
And it's not just my generation theirs tons of older folks who find videos better for learning then reading on a forum. And how to evaluate? Common sense of course. Like I've stead a few time already most people watching these videos do have the common sense to go " yeah mabye that's a bit much or hay that does makes sense if yadda yadda yadda" most people will watch a few different guys and go " well he said this but he doesn't do that and he's fine and so those that guy ,so mabye I can ease up on this"
Again if I had his experience I'd definitely try to tell people to be safe.
But yeah I know hay I'm just the 20 something year old kid of the forum what do I know.

[M-Tecs]

Again if I had his experience I'd definitely try to tell people to be safe.
But yeah I know hay I'm just the 20 something year old kid of the forum what do I know.

If you still believe he is "experienced" I really don't know what to tell you.

Dverna is correct that "the man lacks knowledge, wisdom and common sense....at least on this topic." You don't need "experience" to tell people to be safe particularly when the claimed issue was from poor range hygiene under much different circumstances. Spreading misinformation and outright BS helps no one.

As to being younger with limited experience people on this forum have a long traditional of bending over backwards to help people learn and increase their abilities. People not willing to learn not so much.

[Old Caster]

There is a constant effort to make people afraid to do and be around just about everything to keep people scared so they will follow the establishment in any thing they are told. Lead is probably one of the leading things to terrorize people with like the previous post where a so called television star told someone to not even touch a lead pipe because of the danger. It was when I was young where we were supposed to be afraid of lead paint and kids eating it. Anyone who is even a little responsible has enough sense to not let them do it. In a typical house at that time, where would they even get a chip of paint to eat. Way more likely for a little one to get some of the drugs or alcohol some idiots were using but they never talked about that.

[M-Tecs]

There is a constant effort to make people afraid to do and be around just about everything to keep people scared so they will follow the establishment in any thing they are told. Lead is probably one of the leading things to terrorize people with like the previous post where a so called television star told someone to not even touch a lead pipe because of the danger. It was when I was young where we were supposed to be afraid of lead paint and kids eating it. Anyone who is even a little responsible has enough sense to not let them do it. In a typical house at that time, where would they even get a chip of paint to eat. Way more likely for a little one to get some of the drugs or alcohol some idiots were using but they never talked about that.

Very true. Most of these same people are totally unaware that they may still be drinking out of lead pipe water supplies. It normally is not much of an issue UNTIL the PH levels are not properly managed as they were not in Flint, MI.

https://www.nrdc.org/lead-pipes-widespread-used-every-state

Last thing the shooting sports needs is supposedly pro-gun people spreading misinformation. We have enough enemies without these types giving aid and comfort to our enemies.

I did a refinance on my house awhile back. The appraiser spotted a single bar of lead in my machine shop and flat told me he could have my house condemned unless I had a Hazardous waste team do a cleanup. I stated he was incorrect. At that point he got lippy. I went on to explained I do have significate training and experience on heavy metal contaminate provided by Uncle Sam. I have also overseen Federal Contractors doing Cadmium cleanups in a couple of shops I took over. After I explained that he was making an invalid threat and we need to stop and run it up his chain of command. Seems he didn't want to do that as he muttered something about he really needed to keep his job and maybe it wasn't an issue after all. The appraisal came in high. Funny how that works.

[elmacgyver0]

I did like his exhaust fan set up. He was a bit heavy on the preaching though.
I think back when I was a kid shooting pellet guns, I used to hold pellets in my mouth.
I don't do that anymore.
I don't worry too much about lead poisoning, I just keep my casting area ventilated and wash my hands after casting.

[tmanbuckhunter]

Was pretty sure most folks knew I was 20 something and honestly some people just plain learn better from videos. I know I do ,it's just plain how I'm wired. I have honestly sat down with the Lyman manual and a note book for a few nights read and took notes but it just doesn't click as well as being able to watch and listen.
And it's not just my generation theirs tons of older folks who find videos better for learning then reading on a forum. And how to evaluate? Common sense of course. Like I've stead a few time already most people watching these videos do have the common sense to go " yeah mabye that's a bit much or hay that does makes sense if yadda yadda yadda" most people will watch a few different guys and go " well he said this but he doesn't do that and he's fine and so those that guy ,so mabye I can ease up on this"
Again if I had his experience I'd definitely try to tell people to be safe.
But yeah I know hay I'm just the 20 something year old kid of the forum what do I know.
You have experienced casters telling you that the information he is giving is false, but you wish to argue with those experienced casters on the validity of his information. Just because he is old, and speaks from the chest, does not mean he knows what he is talking about. His video is pure fear mongering BS and needs to be deleted, period. With that being said, no one here said he couldn't cast a good bullet. For all I know he can bottom pour a bunch of long heavy bullets to +/- .1, but I don't care, because he is doing EVERYONE a dis-service.

[megasupermagnum]

Was pretty sure most folks knew I was 20 something and honestly some people just plain learn better from videos. I know I do ,it's just plain how I'm wired. I have honestly sat down with the Lyman manual and a note book for a few nights read and took notes but it just doesn't click as well as being able to watch and listen.
And it's not just my generation theirs tons of older folks who find videos better for learning then reading on a forum. And how to evaluate? Common sense of course. Like I've stead a few time already most people watching these videos do have the common sense to go " yeah mabye that's a bit much or hay that does makes sense if yadda yadda yadda" most people will watch a few different guys and go " well he said this but he doesn't do that and he's fine and so those that guy ,so mabye I can ease up on this"
Again if I had his experience I'd definitely try to tell people to be safe.
But yeah I know hay I'm just the 20 something year old kid of the forum what do I know.

It's an unfortunate thing that anyone not in the age group actively looking at retirement, or already there are the only ones who know anything apparently. I believe I'm either a year older or younger than you, and I get this all the time. Not so much here on castboolits.

The problem with this guys video is he is perceived as being experienced, because he is up there in years. In reality he hasn't hardly ever cast bullets. I don't think I've heard exactly, but it appears he has only been casting a year or so. Unfortunately he doesn't know, what he doesn't know. I don't subscribe to a "right" way either, but very little of that video is truthful. I figured this would be obvious, but maybe not. He's wrong right off the bat, you can't absorb lead through your skin. That's just dumb, and I hope he reads this. How many thousands of people are out there right now with lead bullets INSIDE their bodies. They don't remove bullets because it causes more damage, and because your body can not absorb solid lead. This guy had a range with lead dust all over the floor. That's how he got lead in him.

Then the mask thing, if he didn't flat out lie, he again doesn't know what he doesn't know. He talks about having a mask fitted. A "fit test" is not like trying on shoes. It is where someone checks the seal against your face by use of strong smell. If you have any kind of facial hair beyond a small moustache, you automatically fail the test. This is an OSHA thing. Instead, a more reasonable thing is a test is to bock the exhaust, breath out. Then the intake, and breath in. If it seals, your good. If you have facial hair, Vaseline can help, but according to this guy, you can't cast bullets.

Ultimately it boils down to this for me. The guy owned an indoor range that was not adequate, and he probably got other people poisoned because of it. He admits the entire place was covered in lead dust... AND THEN HE SHOWS HOW HE MOVED HIS CASTING INDOORS. He shows this little salad bowl for a vent. Are you kidding me? Forget the rest, this guy doesn't understand what ventilation is. He didn't have it in his range, and he doesn't have it on his casting bench. He blames ladle casting for blocking his vent, then proceeds to stick his hand into the vent to use a bottom pour.

I have to stop now. The guy seems like a nice guy, but he is so ignorant it is unbelievable.

[fredj338]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJFRbcAjz4

While some of what he says is common sense, he's getting bad info about contracting lead poisoning.

Why I rarely go to boobtube first for anything. Too many people that think they know what they are doing but dont.

[poppy42]

It's an unfortunate thing that anyone not in the age group actively looking at retirement, or already there are the only ones who know anything apparently. I believe I'm either a year older or younger than you, and I get this all the time. Not so much here on castboolits.

The problem with this guys video is he is perceived as being experienced, because he is up there in years. In reality he hasn't hardly ever cast bullets. I don't think I've heard exactly, but it appears he has only been casting a year or so. Unfortunately he doesn't know, what he doesn't know. I don't subscribe to a "right" way either, but very little of that video is truthful. I figured this would be obvious, but maybe not. He's wrong right off the bat, you can't absorb lead through your skin. That's just dumb, and I hope he reads this. How many thousands of people are out there right now with lead bullets INSIDE their bodies. They don't remove bullets because it causes more damage, and because your body can not absorb solid lead. This guy had a range with lead dust all over the floor. That's how he got lead in him.

Then the mask thing, if he didn't flat out lie, he again doesn't know what he doesn't know. He talks about having a mask fitted. A "fit test" is not like trying on shoes. It is where someone checks the seal against your face by use of strong smell. If you have any kind of facial hair beyond a small moustache, you automatically fail the test. This is an OSHA thing. Instead, a more reasonable thing is a test is to bock the exhaust, breath out. Then the intake, and breath in. If it seals, your good. If you have facial hair, Vaseline can help, but according to this guy, you can't cast bullets.

Ultimately it boils down to this for me. The guy owned an indoor range that was not adequate, and he probably got other people poisoned because of it. He admits the entire place was covered in lead dust... AND THEN HE SHOWS HOW HE MOVED HIS CASTING INDOORS. He shows this little salad bowl for a vent. Are you kidding me? Forget the rest, this guy doesn't understand what ventilation is. He didn't have it in his range, and he doesn't have it on his casting bench. He blames ladle casting for blocking his vent, then proceeds to stick his hand into the vent to use a bottom pour.

I have to stop now. The guy seems like a nice guy, but he is so ignorant it is unbelievable.
Plus 1 on everything you said! Kinda what I was trying to say in my post! You just did it a lot more eloquently!

Lol

[M-Tecs]

It's an unfortunate thing that anyone not in the age group actively looking at retirement, or already there are the only ones who know anything apparently. I believe I'm either a year older or younger than you, and I get this all the time. Not so much here on castboolits.

The problem with this guys video is he is perceived as being experienced, because he is up there in years. In reality he hasn't hardly ever cast bullets. I don't think I've heard exactly, but it appears he has only been casting a year or so. Unfortunately he doesn't know, what he doesn't know. I don't subscribe to a "right" way either, but very little of that video is truthful. I figured this would be obvious, but maybe not. He's wrong right off the bat, you can't absorb lead through your skin. That's just dumb, and I hope he reads this. How many thousands of people are out there right now with lead bullets INSIDE their bodies. They don't remove bullets because it causes more damage, and because your body can not absorb solid lead. This guy had a range with lead dust all over the floor. That's how he got lead in him.

Then the mask thing, if he didn't flat out lie, he again doesn't know what he doesn't know. He talks about having a mask fitted. A "fit test" is not like trying on shoes. It is where someone checks the seal against your face by use of strong smell. If you have any kind of facial hair beyond a small moustache, you automatically fail the test. This is an OSHA thing. Instead, a more reasonable thing is a test is to bock the exhaust, breath out. Then the intake, and breath in. If it seals, your good. If you have facial hair, Vaseline can help, but according to this guy, you can't cast bullets.

Ultimately it boils down to this for me. The guy owned an indoor range that was not adequate, and he probably got other people poisoned because of it. He admits the entire place was covered in lead dust... AND THEN HE SHOWS HOW HE MOVED HIS CASTING INDOORS. He shows this little salad bowl for a vent. Are you kidding me? Forget the rest, this guy doesn't understand what ventilation is. He didn't have it in his range, and he doesn't have it on his casting bench. He blames ladle casting for blocking his vent, then proceeds to stick his hand into the vent to use a bottom pour.

I have to stop now. The guy seems like a nice guy, but he is so ignorant it is unbelievable.

I agree with everything you stated with the exception of the item in bold in your quote "In reality he hasn't hardly ever cast bullets. I don't think I've heard exactly, but it appears he has only been casting a year or so. Unfortunately he doesn't know, what he doesn't know."

I would be surprised if he has been casting for a year. All of his entry level equipment looks new or almost new. My guess is that Wolfdog91 has far more actual cast experience than this clown.

What he does have is 139K subscribers and advertisements at the front end of his videos. That means at level his he is getting paid. "Although YouTube doesn’t say how much its video creators earn, online reports suggest that for every 1,000 views, YouTubers earn anywhere from $0.25 to $7".

Why is that important? Too keep his numbers up he has to continually post new videos. When you have someone like GunBlue490 that is total unaware of what he doesn't know and apparently has no shame you get junk like what he posts. He has a lot of videos posted about subjects that he clear has a very very limited knowledge base. Some are worse than the one under discussion. I made the mistake of watching 1/2 dozen or so of them. That is time I will never get back.

I do find it interesting that on his bench of entry level equipment he has a Bench Source Annealing Machine. Definitely not entry level. My guess is that will be the subject of a soon to be released video. Just what I want to see is a video of how to anneal from someone that that probably has never annealed as case in his life but was likely motived to purchase an annealing machine for the sole purpose of enriching himself thru his videos on a subject that he likely has zero knowledge.

[GregLaROCHE]

Higher than safe levels of lead can be dangerous. I once had a very bad abnormal exposure and almost ended up in the hospital. They wanted to admit me, but I refused. I stayed away from it for a while and in went down fairly fast. I definitely think about ingesting the minimum possible. I only cast outside with the wind blowing the fumes away from me. I bought a respirator and used it once. I wouldn’t cast in my house no matter what. Besides the fumes, you have spatter from your pot that normally drips. Lead gets everywhere. The tinsel fairy strike too. Maybe casting in a garage would work.

Lead can be dangerous and it’s up to everyone to decide what level of safety precautions works for them. It’s not a bad idea to get tested for it once a year. I do and usually come up with an amount similar to those who work with it and is supposed to be safe.

I disagree with him saying a bottom pour pot is best. That’s what I have, but know a lot of people who use a ladle and wouldn’t do it any other way. There should also be a big metal tray under the pot.

I must say I have enjoyed watching a lot of his videos and think he usually knows what he is talking about and I have learned things from him.

[M-Tecs]

Per the man himself

GunBlue490
139K subscribers
Retired veteran police firearms instructor and sniper instructor, expert marksman, ballistics expert, armorer, big game hunter, varmint shooter, and sportsmaner


His lack of self-awareness isn't holding back his ego and his ego is only surpassed by his ignorance. Unlike GunBlue490 at least Phineas Taylor Barnum was good at what he did.

[poppy42]

Well, don’t ask me why but I just watched his video on cartridge selection for self-defense purposes. Besides being extremely long winded (it took him an hour to say something that could have been accomplished in 15 minutes ) it was chock-full of half-truths combined with total misinformation. For instance according to him there’s no such thing as hydrostatic shock and energy has nothing to do with the bullets stopping power, 99% of all police officers are unable to shoot a 357 magnum and 40 smith and Wesson was the best handgun cartridge ever invented.
In addition to this video I also skim through the videos he had on how to set up a Lee classic turret press. I can tell you from experience the way he set up a sizing dye goes against what Lee tells you to do in your instruction manuals and if you follow his directions you’ll wind up with cartridges ( depending on caliber) that will not pass a cartridge gauge test!
To make a long story short his YouTube videos are certainly not ones I will be subscribing to.
Truly a legend in his own mind. That’s my opinion for what it’s worth

[megasupermagnum]

I just watched a few of his other videos. Some are atrocious, even worse than the casting video. I couldn't even finish his shotgun patterning one. Some are decent. I liked his thing on the M1A/M1 rear sight. I'm not sure how some feel about bedding as a fix for a rear sight, but it definitely works, and he does a good video on how the rear sight works, and how to tighten up a loose one with bedding.

He's definitely an old rifle shooter. Probably been reloading for a while. Probably a decent enough hunter. Doesn't know squat about shotguns or bullet casting.

[megasupermagnum]

I may have spoken too soon. I took apart the rear sight on my M1A to get a good look at what was what. I installed a new rack as the original was horrendous. The oversized NM rack needed almost no fitting, showing how loose my sight base is, but that's ok. Side to side has no appreciable slop anymore. Up and down was quite sloppy. Thankfully it appears GunBlue490 was once again full of it. The dust cover pushes down on the top of the rack, eliminating slop up and down. So I guess none of his videos are worth anything.

[GregLaROCHE]

I’ve found that a lot of YouTube channels start out really good, with someone who really knows the topic. Then they more or less run out of subjects they know well. They start branching out into things they know less and less about, to try and keep growing their subscriber base. There are a lot I would wait for their next video to come out and today I rarely watch them at all.

[dverna]

I’ve found that a lot of YouTube channels start out really good, with someone who really knows the topic. Then they more or less run out of subjects they know well. They start branching out into things they know less and less about, to try and keep growing their subscriber base. There are a lot I would wait for their next video to come out and today I rarely watch them at all.

That is an astute observation. They are driven by "greed" eventually and the content is secondary.

I watched a few on powder coating when PCing first came out, and if there is something specific where I need a visual. But I do not follow any You Tuber.

[flint45]

I watched about 1 min. Of that video and that was all I could stand.

[Jaaymar]

Lol that's what I'm trying to figure out,the way people here jump on YouTubers every time there must be a RIGHT WAY.

The right way should involve proper safety. Eg.:heat regulation to minimize fumes, clean & dust with a damp rag (NEVER OVER A MOLTEN POT) to avoid stirring up possible lead dust. Shoot outside when possible etc.

Well he's casting indoors I'm casting out doors you can easily think " hay ya know I don't really need an exaust fan because I'm not indoors but I'm young and I want my lungs to last a long time so mabye a half mask respirator wouldn't hurt!"

When we have to weld on galvanized pieces we will typically weld outdoors & put a fan behind the welder to blow the smoke plume away. We will also wear a mask respirator (typically they do not catch the fumes, just the dust from grinding). If you are concerned about the fumes the respirator needs to be capable of capturing them. Maybe a fan behind you would be helpful as well.