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Just wondering at what temperature it becomes unsafe to leave your gun in a car. I got in my truck yesterday and it was probably 40-50 degrees hotter than outside (it was 103 outside). Is this dangerous?

No.

Firearms and ammunition were originally designed for use by armies. They are designed for the climates of places like Algeria and Tunis. Texas is a balmy paradise compared to the mission profile of these weapons and ammunition.

- Jim

jecsd1 wrote:Just wondering at what temperature it becomes unsafe to leave your gun in a car. I got in my truck yesterday and it was probably 40-50 degrees hotter than outside (it was 103 outside). Is this dangerous?

At first, I thought you meant a gun in a stolen car. That's dangerous!!!

It's not dangerous, per se, but be cognizant about the effect of temperature on lubricants. They become more fluid at higher temperatures and can flow. Some people will use greases rather than oils during summer months. Also, the grips may become hot making it uncomfortable to hold them when aiming at BGs.

Also, the grips may become hot making it uncomfortable to hold them when aiming at BGs.

I actually have found this to be a problem at the range when in bright sunlight. I got in the habit of putting an old towel over the firearms when not shooting.

However, a handgun in a motor vehicle must be concealed and therefore out of the sunlight. If you need to use it for self-defense, getting your palm scorched probably will be the least of your problems.

Don't ask me about black leather car seats.

- Jim

WildBill wrote:

jecsd1 wrote:Just wondering at what temperature it becomes unsafe to leave your gun in a car. I got in my truck yesterday and it was probably 40-50 degrees hotter than outside (it was 103 outside). Is this dangerous?

At first, I thought you meant a gun in a stolen car. That's bad!!!

It's not dangerous, per se, but be cognizant about the effect of temperature on lubricants. They become more fluid at higher temperatures and can flow. Some people will use greases rather than oils during summer months. Also, the grips may become hot making it uncomfortable to hold them when aiming at BGs.

Also, you can get oil sweating out of the stock. Wrapping a stock in a garbage bag and putting it in a hot car is a common cleaning technique when restoring older milsurps.

This has been discussed before. Like Seamus said, it won't happen. If someone told you they know someone it happen to I would probably not believe them. I asked a buddy who was in Iraq and he just laughed. He said its one of those urban myths. He would drive around in Iraq in 110+ temperatures in the shade. I can only imagine how hot it was in a Hummer.

seamusTX wrote:I actually have found this to be a problem at the range when in bright sunlight. I got in the habit of putting an old towel over the firearms when not shooting. - Jim

This happens at the PSC range. I don't know what it is about that range. It never happened to me when I lived in California.

What about black leather car seats?

WildBill wrote:

seamusTX wrote:I actually have found this to be a problem at the range when in bright sunlight. I got in the habit of putting an old towel over the firearms when not shooting. - Jim

This happens at the PSC range. I don't know what it is about that range. It never happened to me when I lived in California.

We are quite a bit further south than the southernmost part of California. That latitude makes a difference. The sunlight is really intense here..

What about black leather car seats?

I said don't ask me about it. But if you have them, don't sit on them wearing shorts in this kind of weather.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

WildBill wrote:

seamusTX wrote:I actually have found this to be a problem at the range when in bright sunlight. I got in the habit of putting an old towel over the firearms when not shooting. - Jim

This happens at the PSC range. I don't know what it is about that range. It never happened to me when I lived in California.

We are quite a bit further south than the southernmost part of California. That latitude makes a difference. The sunlight is really intense here..

What about black leather car seats?

I said don't ask me about it. But if you have them, don't sit on them wearing shorts in this kind of weather.

- Jim

Sorry.

Don't ask me why there's a convex dent in the roof of my car, either.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Don't ask me why there's a convex dent in the roof of my car, either. - Jim

I'm not going to bite on that one.

I often leave my Glock 26 in my car all day while at work, of course I keep a gun on me as well during work.
The only danger I've found is that the slide gets extremely hot, so I have to be careful when concealing it on my person to take it into my house after getting home in the evening.
Although the grip seems to never really feel that hot and doesn't burn my hand after being in a hot car all day.

I think it would depend upon materials. Composites and polymers don't conduct heat well. A steel-frame pistol with aluminum grips sitting in a car in this weather probably could make your hand sizzle.

- Jim

Guns and ammo okay - Kydex holsters NOT okay.

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.