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Posted: 5/31/2024 2:30:05 PM EDT
Any of you guys have allergic reactions to gunpowder or other reloading/shooting stuff? (not talking about high prices!)
I ask because I think I’m very allergic to AR-Comp powder/residue.  Last three trips to the range (only trips I’ve ever used/shot AR-Comp loads), I had major blistering and itching on both my hands. This last time it was so bad, I went to the doctor today and got a shot and some prednisone to help out. I only figured it out after this last episode. Looks like really bad poison ivy all over the tops of my hands and fingers. And no, I haven’t been around any position ivy/oak. I can spot that stuff from a mile away. I wanted to know if any of you guys had ever heard of something like this. Kinda crazy. I may have 8.5 lbs of AR Comp for sale soon…  |
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USA
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Posted: 5/31/2024 3:00:42 PM EDT
[#1]
Years back I met a younger guy who was "allergic" to brass.
It wasn't the residue from firing as he wore gloves even handling new ammunition. So doesn't sound like you would be the only one having a "weird" allergy. |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 4:18:29 PM EDT
[Last Edit: bfoosh06]
[#2]
I have never had a allergic reaction to any powder... but clearly you did.
I would download / save the AR-Comp SDS , just so you might be able to cross reference it to any other propellant. BTW, read the SDS as well... if you have a reaction from it just on your hands... I sure as heck would be very careful not to ingest any of it. IE hand to mouth, Or even breathing the exhaust from firing it. https://www.alliantpowder.com/products/powder/ar_comp.aspx |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:06:05 PM EDT
[#3]
Well are you shooting an AR? If so, any reaction on your face or any trouble with the lungs/eyes/nose? Usually you get some gas blowback even if not using a can, but if you were running a can I would expect it to be very noticeable if it was actually the powder!
Not sure what that powder might have that other powders would not though, so you might need to vet each powder type going forward. I would definitely be looking at the MSDS and maybe contacting an allergy specialist to narrow it down. Although if it was me, the first step I would do would be to wipe some residue on a clear location and see if I get a reaction. Not sure I would do the same with the unfired powder as some powders (double base I think) have nitroglycerin in them and if you absorb that it speeds up your heart rate, or at least that was how I reacted once to it! |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:07:16 PM EDT
[#4]
It may not be the powder, it might be the solvents you use for cleaning.
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:08:07 PM EDT
[#5]
I looked at the SDS on it, H4350 and TAC the other day.
AR Comp has one component the others don’t, and it’s listed as a high skin irritant. ZA |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:11:54 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: It may not be the powder, it might be the solvents you use for cleaning. I’ve been using the exact same solvents for the past 3 years. Honestly, the ONLY thing different these past 2 trips was I was using AR Comp in some of my test loads. The other loads I was testing were using H4350 and TAC. I’ve been shooting H4350 for over a year and TAC for 10+ years. Never ever seen anything like this… |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:30:22 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZA206: I looked at the SDS on it, H4350 and TAC the other day. AR Comp has one component the others don’t, and it’s listed as a high skin irritant. ZA So maybe wear gloves to shoot it up, swap the rest out to someone else who wants it, and make a list of which powders have that ingredient and which don’t for future purchases. Better than being truly allergic to it and having your ability to breathe shut down! |
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SD, USA
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Posted: 5/31/2024 5:45:45 PM EDT
[Last Edit: fgshoot]
[#8]
I suppose it's possible, but this is the first time I've ever heard of anything like this. It seems really odd you would get a reaction on your hands. I suppose it depends on the gun, but I don't get any residue on my hands from any semi auto I own. I would expect it on a forearm, and probably only your support arm.
An easy test is to pick a spot on your forearm, rub a pinch of AR Comp on it, and see if you get a reaction in that spot. |
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PA, USA
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Posted: 5/31/2024 8:54:23 PM EDT
[#9]
I get a SEVEAR respiratory alergy to Pyrodex .
Nearly eppi pen bad. I avoid all black powder and substitutes. |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 9:18:38 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ZA206]
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By tac556: Well are you shooting an AR? If so, any reaction on your face or any trouble with the lungs/eyes/nose? Usually you get some gas blowback even if not using a can, but if you were running a can I would expect it to be very noticeable if it was actually the powder! Not sure what that powder might have that other powders would not though, so you might need to vet each powder type going forward. I would definitely be looking at the MSDS and maybe contacting an allergy specialist to narrow it down. Although if it was me, the first step I would do would be to wipe some residue on a clear location and see if I get a reaction. Not sure I would do the same with the unfired powder as some powders (double base I think) have nitroglycerin in them and if you absorb that it speeds up your heart rate, or at least that was how I reacted once to it! Yes, my AR15 and my AR10. I was NOT shooting with a suppressor (thank heavens). I was wearing long sleeves, eye pro, a baseball hat (pulled down so the bill was touching my scope… because I’m shooting into the sun). I shoot righty… My right hand got the brunt of the crap, but the left got a decent amount because it was near the charging handle/rear bag. I did get some minor irritation on the left side of my face (chin and cheek) the first time it happened, I just assumed I had rubbed my face. |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 9:22:55 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By tac556: So maybe wear gloves to shoot it up, swap the rest out to someone else who wants it, and make a list of which powders have that ingredient and which don’t for future purchases. Better than being truly allergic to it and having your ability to breathe shut down! Not shooting any more of the AR Comp if my allergy test shows it’s the issue. I’ll just trade/sell it off. Maybe I can horse trade it for some XBR. The juice isn’t worth this squeeze! |
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Posted: 5/31/2024 9:42:33 PM EDT
[#12]
No. It seems I have avoided this problem.
Best wishes OP. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 5/31/2024 10:55:01 PM EDT
[#13]
I haven’t noticed an issue with any gunpowder I use, but have had an allergic reaction to breathing fumes from Aguila primed 22 LR, so I’d say it’s possible you are allergic to AR Comp.
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Posted: 5/31/2024 11:44:10 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZA206: I looked at the SDS on it, H4350 and TAC the other day. AR Comp has one component the others don’t, and it’s listed as a high skin irritant. ZA what component in it is different? curious what the ingredient list is? |
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SD, USA
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Posted: 6/1/2024 1:01:05 AM EDT
[Last Edit: fgshoot]
[#15]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By RCS57: what component in it is different? curious what the ingredient list is? I'm curious too. I'm looking at the SDS's side by side right now. AR-Comp has it's own SDS. The second SDS applies to all Ramshot powders including TAC. The only ingredient that sticks out to me on the AR-Comp one is Diphenylamine, which is listed as an acute dermal toxin, but so is Nitroglycerin which is in the majority of rifle powders. Both Diphenylamine and Nitroglycerine are in Ramshot TAC. I'm not seeing anything obvious that isn't in both. AR-Comp lists some crazy name Urea followed by a bunch of stuff in parenthasis. It appears it may be the same as the Ramshot Ethyl Centralite. It is not listed as a dermal toxin. |
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Posted: 6/1/2024 8:04:41 AM EDT
[#16]
Diisopentyl phthalate
There also the weird urea compound… Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By fgshoot: I'm curious too. I'm looking at the SDS's side by side right now. AR-Comp has it's own SDS. The second SDS applies to all Ramshot powders including TAC. The only ingredient that sticks out to me on the AR-Comp one is Diphenylamine, which is listed as an acute dermal toxin, but so is Nitroglycerin which is in the majority of rifle powders. Both Diphenylamine and Nitroglycerine are in Ramshot TAC. I'm not seeing anything obvious that isn't in both. AR-Comp lists some crazy name Urea followed by a bunch of stuff in parenthasis. It appears it may be the same as the Ramshot Ethyl Centralite. It is not listed as a dermal toxin. |
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SD, USA
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Posted: 6/1/2024 11:15:07 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZA206: Diisopentyl phthalate There also the weird urea compound… Ramshot TAC has it too. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/1/2024 1:29:49 PM EDT
[#18]
Contact Dermatitis -
Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents.[1] Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are not contagious or life-threatening, but can be very uncomfortable. Contact dermatitis results from either exposure to allergens (allergic contact dermatitis), or irritants (irritant contact dermatitis). Allergic contact dermatitis involves a delayed type of hypersensitivity and previous exposure to an allergen to produce a reaction.[2] Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type and represents 80% of all cases.[1] It is caused by prolonged exposure to irritants, leading to direct injury of the epidermal cells of the skin, which activates an immune response, resulting in an inflammatory cutaneous reaction.[1] Phototoxic dermatitis occurs when the allergen or irritant is activated by sunlight. Diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis can often be supported by patch testing.[3] |
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Posted: 6/1/2024 5:58:48 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By fgshoot: Ramshot TAC has it too. Not on the SDS I’m looking at. It has a DiButyl Phthalate which is not the same |
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SD, USA
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Posted: 6/2/2024 7:42:34 AM EDT
[#20]
If I type "ramshot TAC SDS" in Google, the only one I see is from ignitable liquids database. It's listed on there.
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Posted: 6/2/2024 11:51:54 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By fgshoot: If I type "ramshot TAC SDS" in Google, the only one I see is from ignitable liquids database. It's listed on there. Go to the ramshot website and download the sds from the TAC page. |
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Posted: 6/12/2024 3:52:11 PM EDT
[#22]
I'm still waiting to do the AR Comp self allergy test.... but I remembered that I had a new unopened bottle of Reloader 15.5 in my stash, checked the SDS and it's got all the same stuff AR Comp has!
 Boooooo!!! TBH, I'm a little nervous to even mess with this crap. |
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Posted: 6/12/2024 7:38:49 PM EDT
[#23]
Based on your description of the reaction you had... I don't blame you for being nervous.
Good Luck and I hope it works out. |
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Posted: 7/26/2024 11:59:22 PM EDT
[#24]
Update…. Sorta.
I wound up giving the 8.5 lbs of AR Comp and 1 lb of RL15.5 to an employee. That was probably close to $600 worth of powder.  He really appreciated it.  Still pissed about the whole situation… ZA |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 7/27/2024 10:46:03 AM EDT
[#25]
I have chemical sensitivity. Perfumes, cleaning solvents, etc. That’s likely what you have.
Are you reloading in garage? Getting air in there is your best chance of reducing it. Normal masks won’t help. What I mean is the N95 will work on real allergies like pollen but you will need a 3M P100 Cartridge type mask for chemicals. I use them when I paint and do any indoor chemical work. I have not noticed a sensitivity to powder. I shoot a ton of black too. The one benefit of this sensitivity is I get to avoid most of the house cleaning. Good luck! |
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