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Percussion caps and mercury poisoning?

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hyuzu

40 Cal
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This question was asked on another website, I thought it was interesting...
Do we know via history if the exposure to mercury fumes guys got from shooting caplock firearms posed a health risk? It seems that by the mid-19th century they were somewhat aware of the risks of mercury exposure (hence the phrase "mad as a hatter"). Would mercury fulminate caps exploding next to your face have done any damage long-term?
 
If the amalgam fillings in your mouth don’t do anything to most people, I can’t imagine that the amount you’d get from percussion caps would. Unless perhaps it creates a form that is more readily absorbed?
 
All are dead from being at the wrong end of the gun. Then just plain old age. Most that developed our country just worked themselves to death.
Just how many caps would you need to shoot to get poisoned? Even when I was young, born in 1937, mercury was common and we played with it. We rubbed it on coins to shine and drops on the floor went between boards. Today the house would be condemned. What we do today is safe and even in the old days it was not that bad.
Casting bullets will kill you or make you brain dead! Only if you chew on the balls.
 
@QuinnTheEskimo @45man Sure, and we grew up in houses full of asbestos. Was just curious if there was any evidence linking percussion caps to mercury sickness, like the mercury on felt causing hat makers to go "mad". Imo if I'd have been alive ca. 1860s and some scientist told me my caplock was gonna turn me crazy, I'd sell it and go back to a flinter. Not as reliable, but at least getting shot because your gun misfires is quicker than mercury poisoning... :p
 
I believe that it is and was a "non-issue". Certainly today it's as safe as can be made.
 
The hatters inhaled mercury fumes all day long. The only fumes from a cap popping would only be momentary if the wind was in your face. Besides, the people dying from cap popping poisoning should have been shooting flintlocks anyway. :):) Everybody knows those little nipple huggers will kill you.
 
I don't think the trace amounts of mercury from caps popping is going to matter.

There's probably worse in the food you eat every day or from body wash /hand soap.

We're not talking "dangerous" like the Romans drinking out of lead cups .
 
I believe that it is and was a "non-issue". Certainly today it's as safe as can be made.

Sure, I was just asking historically.

The hatters inhaled mercury fumes all day long. The only fumes from a cap popping would only be momentary if the wind was in your face. Besides, the people dying from cap popping poisoning should have been shooting flintlocks anyway. :):) Everybody knows those little nipple huggers will kill you.

I don't think the trace amounts of mercury from caps popping is going to matter.

There's probably worse in the food you eat every day or from body wash /hand soap.

We're not talking "dangerous" like the Romans drinking out of lead cups .

Fair enough, that's kind of what I figured. Just was curious to know if anyone had heard of incidents of this being an issue back then.
 
So when Doc. Says "bite the bullet" you are probably gonna die from lead poisoning one way or another?

Even folks today are advised to shoot in well ventilated areas to avoid ingesting unhealthy amounts of lead. So I didn't think asking a question about the same thing happening with mercury fumes was that dumb...
 
Even folks today are advised to shoot in well ventilated areas to avoid ingesting unhealthy amounts of lead. So I didn't think asking a question about the same thing happening with mercury fumes was that dumb...

One of my neighbors used to work at an indoor range until his blood lead levels got way high. Come to find out, lead came from lead styphnate used in centerfire primers at the indoor range. So IMHO, no, mercury wasn't a problem when shooting outdoors.
 
I think few if any Musket caps made today still use Mercury Fulminate?

Am I wrong ?

I know back in the 90s RWS still made corrosive #11 caps that I assume were Mercury, they were supposed to be exact repros of the original caps.
 
Even folks today are advised to shoot in well ventilated areas to avoid ingesting unhealthy amounts of lead. So I didn't think asking a question about the same thing happening with mercury fumes was that dumb...
It’s not a dumb guestion at all. A valid and honest inquiry about our sport in my opinion so please excuse my flippant resonance.
 
I think few if any Musket caps made today still use Mercury Fulminate?

Am I wrong ?

I know back in the 90s RWS still made corrosive #11 caps that I assume were Mercury, they were supposed to be exact repros of the original caps.
There is a BIG difference between mercury and corrosive. Corrosives leave salts that draw moisture and that is why barrels corrode when used in the bore, but both the caps and powder are corrosive and the fix is the same clean with a solution that contains water.

I doubt any mercury caps or primers have been made in a century or better, and the worst reports in the shooting fields is the mercury ones will also degrade brass severely.
 
speaking of heavy metal poisoning, or potential thereof. I have just had a series of blood tests, one of which is for lead. I have been casting bullets regularly since the age of about 12 years, now nearly 60. I don't use respiratory protection, but have always cast in a well ventilated area, will be interesting to see what is found. I will post the results either way here. I imagine that people who manufactured the caps were in more danger of contamination, than the end users.
 
I spent twelve years competing in the N-SSA, casting/firing 5,000 rounds per year. With bi-annual lead level blood tests, I never had a trace. After ten years of shooting Smallbore Rifle (22 LR) indoors, I had an elevated lead level. I cut back on my indoor shooting, went back to casting/shooting 2-3,00 lead round balls per year, and never had the lead level return to reportable levels. Don't worry about your lead; worry less about your primers.

ADK Bigfoot
 
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