When is it too hot for ammunition?

[hlb14]

I am somewhat new to shooting and am planning on at some point getting my carry permit. However my work does not allow weapons in the building so that would mean leaving everything in my truck. My question is does it get too hot to store a loaded weapon in a vehicle in the summer months? thanks

[Guest bkelm18]

If your car got hot enough to cook off ammunition it would be on fire.

Edited June 27, 2012 by bkelm18

[BryanP]

It shouldn't be a problem. Especially since you'll have it under cover somewhere locked inside, correct?

[xd shooter]

If I am not mistaken the flash point for loaded ammo is around 400 degres. Give or take.

[xd shooter]

Found this on another forum.

In his book "Gunshot Wounds" Vincent Di Maio describes various experiments where ammunition was heated in ovens. He says that .22 long rifle cartridges detonate at an average of 275F, .38 Special at 290F and 12 gauge shotgun shells at 387F. The interesting thing about these furnace experiments was that in all instances the cartridge cases ruptured, but the primers did not detonate. In fact the primers were removed from some of the ruptured cases, reloaded into other brass and fired.

[peejman]

I am somewhat new to shooting and am planning on at some point getting my carry permit. However my work does not allow weapons in the building so that would mean leaving everything in my truck. My question is does it get too hot to store a loaded weapon in a vehicle in the summer months? thanks

It's too hot when your gun is too hot to handle.... generally above about 125 deg F. The inside of a car easily gets that hot left in the sun. It also depends on the gun. Metal transfers heat much more effectively than plastic or wood and hence will burn you more quickly.

Cooking off ammo is a secondary concern.

[monkeylizard]

I wouldn't worry about the ammo so much as the effect of the heat on the guns. I've never had any FTE/FTF issues from my Springfield XD except after leaving it in a hot car all day before going to the range.

[hlb14]

It's too hot when your gun is too hot to handle.... generally above about 125 deg F. The inside of a car easily gets that hot left in the sun. It also depends on the gun. Metal transfers heat much more effectively than plastic or wood and hence will burn you more quickly.

Cooking off ammo is a secondary concern.

makes sense, guess i could come up with a well insulated cooler with something cool in it to counteract the heat

[peejman]

While a good idea, I suspect putting your stuff in a cooler with an icepack every day will get tedious real quick. Tint the windows, get a windshield shade, and window vent visors. Keep your stuff out of direct sunlight. It'll still get hot, but it's the difference between unpleasantly hot and burn-your-fingers hot.

[gnmwilliams]

I keep my PM9 fully loaded in the center console and have never had any problems even on the triple digit days. I concur with the keep out of direct sunlight advise, but only because the gun might be too hot to handle, not because the ammo could go off.

[Caster]

We got several sandbox veterans here on TGO. How hot do you think their service weapons were?

[RobertNashville]

I'm not sure what the primary concern here is but as has been mentioned, the ammo isn't going to "cook off" but your firearm can certainly get hot depending on its materials.

Ammo lasts for years...decades. That said, the inside of a vehicle in summertime and 100+ degree temps and especially in humid areas is not an ideal environment for ammo - for that reason alone, it's generally a good idea to actually shoot your personal defense ammo and not just have it loaded in the firearm for months (or years)!

Edited June 28, 2012 by RobertNashville

[monkeylizard]

We got several sandbox veterans here on TGO. How hot do you think their service weapons were?

Or their ammo inside the ammo cans inside the steel storage units.

Edited June 27, 2012 by monkeylizard

[gnmwilliams]

If Chuck Norris' bullets don't explode from just holding his gun than our bullets will be fine too.

[DaveTN]

Don’t buy any Kydex holsters if you are going to leave your gun in the car.

[Mr. Brooks]

We got several sandbox veterans here on TGO. How hot do you think their service weapons were?

Hotter then two rats ####ing in a wool sock!

[Guest Matt Pavo]

Temperature controlled ammunition usually lasts longer. Other than that, there really is no other concern as far as the ammunition goes.

[Motasyco]

Mythbusters did a segment on this. If I remember correctly, they cooked ammo in an oven and it wouldn't go off until about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Your plastic dashboard would be a puddle on the floor by that point.

[Dave Shooter]

I'm not sure what the primary concern here is but as has been mentioned, the ammo isn't going to "cook off" but your firearm can certainly get hot depending on its materials.

Ammo lasts for years...decades. That said, the inside of a vehicle in summertime and 100+ degree temps and especially in humid areas is not an ideal environment for ammo - for that reason alone, it's generally a good idea to actually shoot your personal defense ammo and not just have it loaded in the firearm for months (or years)!

+1

"Store in cool, dry place."

I notice accelerated tarnishing of jacketed bullets that get left in hot vehicles. I don't know at what point powder would actually deteriorate, but it's a good idea to rotate your SD ammo.

[chances R]

Mythbusters did a segment on this. If I remember correctly, they cooked ammo in an oven and it wouldn't go off until about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Your plastic dashboard would be a puddle on the floor by that point.

yep, saw the episode. ammo is not a concern.