Brass burn down my shirt. Please help...

[CuteLindsey86]

I'm new here...my first time shooting was yesterday. I went with a man who didn't warn me how hot the brass is when it comes out of the gun and the danger of it going down my shirt. Well needless to say I wore a tank top (never again) and got burned badly when one of them went down my shirt and into my bra. I'm wondering do these burns ever go away? What's the best way to treat it? It burned my nipple pretty badly...I can see the imprint of the brass in two places. Thanks for any advice! I really appreciate it!

[Bob M.]

Use a wheelgun!!!! lol

[DonR101395]

They will usually go away. Tried using some vitamin E cream. Wear a brimmed hat also. Nothing like hot brass getting stuck behind your glasses................except maybe hot brass stuck in your bra

[Majic]

Next time wear a ball cap. For your burns try some Shea Butter.

[pax]

Been there, done that. Decided to wear the tee shirt next time.

Tea tree oil is my magic potion of choice. Takes the sting right out.

If you don't have any tea tree oil, then aloe vera is the next best thing.

And yes, the burn will go away, but it might take awhile for the mark to fade. I had one that left a mark which lasted a little over a year, but it did eventually fade. It didn't hurt after the first couple days though.

(And welcome to TFL. Stick around, eh?)

pax

[CuteLindsey86]

thanks all! I will go buy some things tomorrow. Other than getting burned I really liked my first time shooting. I'm going again next week, but this time I'm going to cover up!! lol my family and friends all got a good laugh out of this one, not to mention the guys at the shooting range that I inadvertently flashed when I was trying to get it out! LOL

[WESHOOT2]

Safety glasses that fit tightly around the eyes

High-or-tight-collared shirt

Ear protection (preferrably earplugs worn under muffs)

Long pants

Actual shoes

Common sense (hardest to find, ay?)

[esheato]

Get rid of it? Why not find a man to appreciate a headstamp branding? LOL, God knows both the burn and you are in the right place.

BTW, welcome aboard.

Ed

[fisherman66]

You'd get much better advice if you would post pictures of the injury. We are all adults. No need to be bashful.

[KONY]

You'd get much better advice if you would post pictures of the injury. We are all adults. No need to be bashful.

It was only a matter of time!

[fisherman66]

I wonder if this one will end up with a spamming "my space" account and a sales page for a tacticool supply company.

[gordo b.]

In all my training we are taught to "suck it up",keep on the game and control ourselves as if it was a wound.I have watched many fine women do it also.

[lockedcj7]

+1 on the pic.

Seriously, I've had brass land behind my ear, in my shirt pockets, down my shirt and in the crook of the arm I was using to support myself (prone). I didn't use anything and the marks did fade away. Of course, my burns weren't in such a sensitive spot.

[hksigwalther]

I don't think I've ever had a brass burn where there was any scarring. All of the burns I've had (on my arms, leg, and just below my neck (worn T-shirt collar that stuck out and provided a ledge for the case)) have always eventually dried up and peeled off much like a good sunburn.

[Ranger61]

No matter how many precautions you take it can still happen to you. Just remember if your holding a loaded gun to put the gun down first before getting the brass out. I was shooting at a range where the guys next to me were shooting a thompson full auto. The brass was showering me in a steady stream but lucky I had a hat on and just tilted my head so the brass wouldn't go down my shirt. Guy said he was sorry after he emptied the magazine but hey stuff happens.

[P-990]

It'll go away, might leave a little scarring, but it sure won't look like it does right now!

Once I shot a Highpower match in shorts. Burned my left-knee cap pretty good with the second round from my prone rapid. Still had eight to go! Just bear down and play through the pain! Focus, focus! Then jump and shake.

Oh yeah, and get a revolver! Solves those nagging brass burn problems lickity-split.

[Mal H]

Lindsey - I've got to believe that if you got burned that far down, you were wearing one of the French Lautrec bras, it was a little Toulouse! You need to do the tighten up, button up your shirt, wear a hat, etc.

Re-read Ranger61's admonition carefully. It could save someone's life. If you are getting burned by your own brass, the odds are very high that you have your finger on the trigger at the same time the shell is burning you. You must, at the very least, remove your finger from the trigger before doing anything else. It is preferable to put down the firearm.

I had perfect little outline of a .22 shell on my shoulder for a good while. It seems to me like they get hotter than larger shells, could have something to do with the smaller surface area and less ability to bleed off the heat at a fast rate.

[Mad Cow]

It has happened to my wife. Her recommendation if you can is either a skin tight shirt then brass wont get into it, or a loose fitting shirt with no bra because she has had hot brass get into her t-shirts & said that you want the brass to fall through do not tuck your shirt in.
All the burns i've had were 1st degree burns didn't blister or leave a scar.

[sm]

I've always had an extra shirt of mine, long sleeve, button down oxford handy, along with a bandanna and adjustable ball cap.

Folks show up, ladies, gents and even kids, and maybe they did not plan to shoot, still if they do, these items come in real handy.

Long sleeve, besides the hot brass, also protects from the sun , especially here in the South. Mosquito's as the sun is setting is another good reason to have long sleeves, roll up during the day, roll down when the "skeeters" come out.

I am not a ball cap fan, these do not protect necks from brass, sun , or rain.
Undo collar and flip up assists with sun, and brass.

Bandanna, is what I use to keep sweat out of my eyes, so I figure a new shooter would appreciate this tip and courtesy as well.
Granted these also assist with brass in front or back.

Hats with brims, be it Cowboy, Aussie, Boonie...just a full brim is best in my opinion.

I have also had shirts to better fit kids, and the biggest trick I picked up a few years ago - scrub bottoms.
Adult and kid sizes.

Folks show up with short pants, which is fine. Still brass, sun and skeeters can make a fun day, less fun.
Scrub bottoms are light, use drawstrings, and easily fit over short pants.
Easy to wear over these pants and comfy.

Some of the ladies also add a T shirt to the above, for other ladies to borrow and use, just wear over a tank top.
Neat trick tried and works is to cut a T shirt so it would show bare midriff if it were to be without a shirt underneath.

Ladies can slip this over whatever top real easy, and the top is closed...

[Mortech]

Wife who is a medical professional says not to put grease based ointments on it since hey will exagarate scarring . As for the tubetop wearing while shooting her comment was 'DUH!' at the brass going down it . (She's had this happen while dressed in full BDUs while qualifying with her M16, try getting out hot brass out of that)

[CuteLindsey86]

Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, now I know exactly what not to wear. It was just a regular tank top, and the brass hit my clavicle and then it fell into my bra and got stuck. Since it was held there tightly it felt like a hot iron. LOL It was definitely an experience. I put the gun down right away when it happened, don't worry. Long sleeve shirt next time!

Of of my sisters is a cop and she thought it was pretty funny.

[Mr Beta]

Welcome aboard. You might try some aloe vera.

[BillCA]

Lindsey,

For ladies, wearing a high necked shirt that covers the cleavage (no matter how much or how little you have) is a safety issue. SM's suggestion of a bandana or scarf is good too.

When shooting at outdoor ranges I like to take a 6-pack cooler with a couple water bottles and some ice, just from experience. I like V-neck t-shirts and usually wear some button front shirt over them. However a two hand hold sometimes opens up a gap at the chest and... did you know the belly-button is very sensitive to hot things? Zowie! For burns, ice or even a cold drink will help reduce swelling, blistering and will shorten healing time if applied within the first 1-2 minutes or less. Though you might look funny holding an ice-cold soda there!

I met my ex-wife at the police academy many years ago. When we were at range practice one day, her roomie was already there shooting. The guys knew my ex and I were already an "item" but didn't know she and this other woman were roommates. As it happened, at the end of a 2nd 13-round magazine, her High-Power ejected an empty 9mm case down her very ample cleavage. She put the gun down and hopped about, saw me and yelled "GET IT OUT!" several times. Whereupon I reached in, found it and extracated the hot little bugger. The look on the faces of the other guys was... well... priceless.

Oh, by the way, welcome to TFL! Glad to have you here!

[cuate]

My experience with burns, the worst one was my wife's from a pressure cooker. I'll skip the first aid but a generous often application of vitamin E and the burns were like sunburn and went away. Aloe Vera is reported to serve well also.

The Doctors were not consulted...."Theres more old drunks than there are old Doctors, so I guess I better have another round". C&W song.

[sm]

CuteLindsey86,

I forgot my Southern Manners.
Welcome to TFL Ma'am.

We are not picking on you...

Your post is a very important post, a reminder to us all, not just ladies, all of us men women and kids to be safe always.

Who knows how many folks YOU have helped by sharing your personal experience.
It is because of this - It is I that thanks you for sharing.

Steve