Hot car and a loaded gun

[Slasher]

Just wondering if a round would cook off in the chamber or even in a magazine if you had to leave your gun in your car for an extended period of time in the middle of summer. I know it can really get hot here in the south and didn't know at what temperature, if at all, this might happen.

[MacGyver]

I don't think I'd be as worried about a round cooking off as I would the pressure issues due to the heat. Heat can dramatically increase powder burn rates, and depending on the powder could result in a dangerous situation.

I think your car would likely have to be on fire to have rounds cook off with modern powders.

[dralarms]

Just wondering if a round would cook off in the chamber or even in a magazine if you had to leave your gun in your car for an extended period of time in the middle of summer. I know it can really get hot here in the south and didn't know at what temperature, if at all, this might happen.

Nope, do it all the time. Now MacGyver might be right about the heat issues but they won't cook off unless the car is on fire

[gnmwilliams]

Mythbuster stuck a gun in an oven and had to crank it up to around 500 degrees before rounds started cooking off. If it gets that hot in your car I'd worry more about the setbelt buckle burning off my nippy as it goes by than my gun.

Edited June 2, 2011 by gnmwilliams

[Fourtyfive]

Agree with the car on fire part , modern ammo is good in this heat.

[Guest coldblackwind]

Yup, not cookoffs. Does increase pressures though. Saw it at a machine gun shoot on a 95 degree day, they guys with supressors were ticked because their expensive subsonic 9mm was going super sonic.

[TGO David]

I'd worry more about the setbelt buckle burning off my ninny as it goes by than my gun.