Gun in a hot car

[Hoi Polloi]

Thanks for asking this! It's something I would have eventually wondered myself. The responses were interesting and enlightening.

[jester]

Guns and ammo okay - Kydex holsters NOT okay.

Maybe it depends on the holster maker, but I have a Kydex holster that's now on its third Summer with no ill effects.

[CompVest]

Kydex is Kydex. Holster manufacturers use a particular type of Kydex and it is subject to deforming in hot environments. It is a plastic that is used in thermal forming processes. Please, be sure to not leave it out in your vehicle. A person may be lucky in not getting any problems but it is best to take some precautions and not have to deal with a deformed holster.

[jester]

I've had no problems but your mileage may vary. http://www.kydex.com/briefs/119.pdf

[jecsd1]

thanks for the responses. great info!

[68Charger]

The only gun that I leave in my car and could care less about getting any damage to it is my .25 Lorcin. ;)

[mgood]

Would "hot loaded" reloaded ammo be a problem if the ammo/gun was left in a hot car or direct sun before it was fired? Could the shooter have a pressure problem? I don't use reloaded unless I know the person that did it but some people buy from shops and gun shows and quality can't be guaranteed as much as factory.

Good question. Temperature does affect the pressure in a load. If someone is loading near the maximum safe pressure, then really high temperatures could push it over the line of what's considered safe.

I know competitive handgun shooters that worry about temperatures at the other end. They work up load to just make "major" caliber power factor [(bullet weight in grains x velocity in fps) / 1000 = 165 or greater in USPSA competitions], and then go to a match and have to chrono their load in the morning where it's cool and get bumped down to minor caliber. I think it's pretty common for them to try to get their power factor around 171-172 to give them some peace of mind.

[chartreuse]

Good question. Temperature does affect the pressure in a load. If someone is loading near the maximum safe pressure, then really high temperatures could push it over the line of what's considered safe.

I know competitive handgun shooters that worry about temperatures at the other end. They work up load to just make "major" caliber power factor [(bullet weight in grains x velocity in fps) / 1000 = 165 or greater in USPSA competitions], and then go to a match and have to chrono their load in the morning where it's cool and get bumped down to minor caliber. I think it's pretty common for them to try to get their power factor around 171-172 to give them some peace of mind.

OT, but that's a fascinating insight into a world that I know little of. My only interest in reloading is much the opposite - assembling low pressure loads for my C&R or antique pieces, on the basis that there's no sense in stressing a lil' old lady. The breadth of this hobby is truly astounding.

[P12]

I keep a loaded 9mm in my car all the time. I clean and lube it more frequently due to the heat.

It may be my imagination but I'd swear that the tips are expanding in my power ball ammo.