Guns in hot cars

[JC5188]

So, with the way things are going, I’ve decided to change some things. Most notably, carrying to and from work. However, I’m unable to carry inside the building, and therefore must leave my pistol in the car.

My state sees extreme temperature, and temperature swings, and the inside of a car can get mid triple digits. So, my question is what effect does this have on the cycling of the gun? I’m not worried about ammo “cooking off”, but rather if the cases themselves could expand to the point of causing issues chambering a round.

I know there are tons of people here with real-world “for keeps” experience with this, so if it’s a stupid question, well I guess let me have it.

Also, yes I know having to disarm is BS. I know they make pocket shit I might could get away with. It’s a business decision. I feel the odds are greater that I’d get caught and they’d fire my ass, than the odds of me needing to unscrew a pistol at work.

Search returned nothing for me.

Thanks gents

[Ron3]

Change the ammo out once a year, which you should anyway, at a minimum.

Nothing else to worry about. A little more oil will run out.

Keep it out of the sun, obviously. The sun messes up polymers.

[JC5188]

Change the ammo out once a year, which you should anyway, at a minimum.

Nothing else to worry about. A little more oil will run out.

Keep it out of the sun, obviously. The sun messes up polymers.

Yeah I’m pretty religious with the ammo, learned my lesson on that in the past. Was just more concerned that the ammo in the mag could possibly expand and cause an issue.

Thanks for the reply.

[MegademiC]

Keeping it in the right location will keep it cool.

In the center console with a light-colored cloth over the console, and cracked windows will keep the temperature the gun is exposed to very low... like under 130F.

[flenna]

I am in the same position as the OP. I live in the sunny south and have never had an issue with a pistol being left in the glovebox. During the summer I do put a sunshade in the windshield and my windows are tinted so that does help keep the interior temperature a little lower.

[Leaveammoforme]

Well I'm bored so let's do ammo heat science....kind of.

Unprimed once fired Winchester cases. 230 FMJs seated to 1.250". Left and center crimped to .469" (my standard go to). Right crimped to .466". Then install drywall screws for projectile constant pull force rig.


https://i.imgur.com/XBPtULp.jpg


Apply heat to see if projectiles move at a temp high enough to be too hot to handle but not hot enough for a cook off.




Hard to get a rectal temp but I believe I saw a 268. While the projectiles w/469 crimps didn't pull, I did push them into the cases fairly easy.

466 crimp projectile wouldn't easily push into case. Also passed a "plop" test in a G21 barrel.
Removed projectile with kinetic puller, no visible crimp damage.

https://i.imgur.com/9uWiazN.jpg


Conclusion -

Heat not high enough to cook a round off will have no effect on base measurements given ammo is in spec.

It's all about the crimp and I've been undercrimping my reloads. Measured some Federal HST and Winchester Silvertips. Both were around 467 on the crimp.

Worse ways to waste the afternoon I guess. Yay science.

[OH58D]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I kind of figured it would be a discussion of the latest Ghetto Rap song: "Guns in Hot Cars", being belted out by some urban youth with a gold grill, ball cap on sideways and some weird hand gesticulations. I am disappointed.

But to enter the discussion as intended, I rarely leave the sidearm in the vehicle for extended periods of time anyway. The truck is not a storage unit. If I have a pistol with me, it stays with me. Just habit.

[THCDDM4]

When I first saw the title of this thread, I kind of figured it would be a discussion of the latest Ghetto Rap song: "Guns in Hot Cars", being belted out by some urban youth with a gold grill, ball cap on sideways and some weird hand gesticulations. I am disappointed.

But to enter the discussion as intended, I rarely leave the sidearm in the vehicle for extended periods of time anyway. The truck is not a storage unit. If I have a pistol with me, it stays with me. Just habit.

I too had something else in mind. I was picturing photos of old school muscle cars with firearms from corresponding production years. That would be a cool thread!

[Pappabear]

I live in AZ and the car gets into the 150's easy. I keep mine in the passenger back seat pocket. Note: mine is easy access in emergency and I have had my car broken into but they missed the gun, not a bad place to stash. I shoot mine every 6 months to a year to cycle through the ammo. But watch out for your holsters, they will cook into shit. And they get hot to drop in your pants when walking into a mall......

PB

[JC5188]

Keeping it in the right location will keep it cool.

In the center console with a light-colored cloth over the console, and cracked windows will keep the temperature the gun is exposed to very low... like under 130F.

Thanks. I may try this, but not crazy about keeping the windows cracked.

I am in the same position as the OP. I live in the sunny south and have never had an issue with a pistol being left in the glovebox. During the summer I do put a sunshade in the windshield and my windows are tinted so that does help keep the interior temperature a little lower.

My windows are pretty dark already, but the car itself is black. Hadn’t thought of the sunshade, might just try that route.

Well I'm bored so let's do ammo heat science....kind of.

Unprimed once fired Winchester cases. 230 FMJs seated to 1.250". Left and center crimped to .469" (my standard go to). Right crimped to .466". Then install drywall screws for projectile constant pull force rig.


https://i.imgur.com/XBPtULp.jpg


Apply heat to see if projectiles move at a temp high enough to be too hot to handle but not hot enough for a cook off.




Hard to get a rectal temp but I believe I saw a 268. While the projectiles w/469 crimps didn't pull, I did push them into the cases fairly easy.

466 crimp projectile wouldn't easily push into case. Also passed a "plop" test in a G21 barrel.
Removed projectile with kinetic puller, no visible crimp damage.

https://i.imgur.com/9uWiazN.jpg


Conclusion -

Heat not high enough to cook a round off will have no effect on base measurements given ammo is in spec.

It's all about the crimp and I've been undercrimping my reloads. Measured some Federal HST and Winchester Silvertips. Both were around 467 on the crimp.

Worse ways to waste the afternoon I guess. Yay science.

Wow, science indeed. Thanks for taking the time to do that. Puts my mind more at ease.

When I first saw the title of this thread, I kind of figured it would be a discussion of the latest Ghetto Rap song: "Guns in Hot Cars", being belted out by some urban youth with a gold grill, ball cap on sideways and some weird hand gesticulations. I am disappointed.

But to enter the discussion as intended, I rarely leave the sidearm in the vehicle for extended periods of time anyway. The truck is not a storage unit. If I have a pistol with me, it stays with me. Just habit.

Your knowledge of contemporary Rap music, combined with the ability to work in the word “gesticulations”, (and from a working ranch in the desert no less) is impressive. It’s also one of the reasons you’re among my favorite posters here.

And, I’m with you on the car/gun storage. It’s why I’ve never had to consider this before. But, like I said in the OP, things are changing and I just want to know what I don’t know, preferably not learning it the hard way.

I too had something else in mind. I was picturing photos of old school muscle cars with firearms from corresponding production years. That would be a cool thread!

Best I can do. Not a classic, but it is a car and like I stated, it does get very hot in summer

I live in AZ and the car gets into the 150's easy. I keep mine in the passenger back seat pocket. Note: mine is easy access in emergency and I have had my car broken into but they missed the gun, not a bad place to stash. I shoot mine every 6 months to a year to cycle through the ammo. But watch out for your holsters, they will cook into shit. And they get hot to drop in your pants when walking into a mall......

PB

You know, I hadn’t considered the kydex holster in the equation. That’s a good point. I’m not crazy about all-leather holsters but may need to be an option on this one. I do have a DeSantis for it.

Thanks for all the replies guys. I appreciate it