Keeping a gun in a hot/cold car?

[dandean316]

I can't carry at work, so I have to leave my gun in my hot truck all day. Is there a problem doing this? A friend says this is a big no-no, but didn’t specify why. I was going to put it in a big cooler with just a couple cold packs to keep it “coolâ€, not cold during the day (say 60-70 degrees).

On the other side, in the winter, what do I do to keep it warm? A store owner once told me it’s not good to leave in the cold trunk, but if I let it warm at room temp, what’s the big deal?

Any insight on this is appreciated

 

[willyjixx]

the changing of tempatures degrades the reliability of the ammo

 

[JohnBT]

I've left guns in hot and cold cars everyday for years because the state government doesn't take kindly to employees carrying at the office. Visitors can, just not us.

Anyway, the primary problem is taking a cold gun into a warm room - massive condensation. I learned this the hard way years ago duck hunting when it was 10*F. My favorite carry pistol is plastic and hard chrome and the others are carefully coated with Sheath or BreakFree.

I shoot my carry ammo up every 3 or 4 weeks on average and I've never had a problem.

Last year I put 2 loaded mags in the console for the entire summer - 1 of .32 and 1 of .45 and they shot just fine around the end of September.

If I used a cooler I wouldn't put any ice in it.

John

 

[Redlg155]

I used to have the same problem here. I used to just keep it in the car but even a glock got super hot. I've been using a mini insulated lunch bag that fits easily beneath the seat or in the glove compartment. Even a steel frame 1911 now stays comfortable to the touch on the hottest days.

Here is a thread started a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33941&highlight=lunch+bag


Good Shooting
Red

 

[brownie0486]

Simple answer:

No problem keeping ammo in extremes of heat and cold, alternating between the two year in and year out.

Ever shot military surplus 230 gr 45acp from the ww2 era or korean era?

They store it in wharehouses with no ventilation. Temps run from 120 to minus 20 degrees F. year in and year out as the seasons change.

It goes bang everytime with few exceptions after 60 years of sitting in these extremes.

Guess that should lay it to rest as to your question.

As to keeping the gun in cold and then moving it to warm environs without a gradual temp change, rust won't be far away.

Brownie

 

[Partisan Ranger]

I leave my gun in my car when I'm at work, too. No problems at all. But I don't leave it in there for long periods and cook/cool the ammo. I would guess that if you left your piece in there all the time and didn't rotate/shoot the ammo, you'd eventually have some misfires.

 

[dandean316]

I guess I was more thinking of leaving my 1911 in the car then going to the range after work. Hot doesn't sound like a bad deal, but cold and the rust factor worries me. Again, this would be only for 10 hours or so.

 

[jsalcedo]

I do the same with my truck gun.

Left mine in the extremes 150 degrees to 35 degrees and back again many times for over a year. I went and shot off both mags without a hitch.

 

[JohnK]

If the ammo is loaded with lubed cast bullets it's possible that they would get hot enough for the lube to melt and contaminate the powder causing misfires or squib loads. It's certainly not going to get hot enough in the car to hurt the gun unless it's on fire.

 

[telewinz]

Back in the early 70's I purchased a custom built beautiful Mauser '98 in 30/06. I was in the Army at the time and didn't wish to go through the trouble of storying it in the armory so I left it in the trunk of my car for two weeks. Upon inspection the bore was rusted solid! I learned my lesson the hard way, the rifle was a total loss.

 

[Captain Bligh]

Okay, I'll say it. I think it's a poor idea to keep a gun in a hot/cold car or one that's is luke warm or room temperature for that matter. It seems like an easy opportunity for a thief.

RJ

 

[444]

The gun isn't going to get near as hot in the car as it gets when you shoot it.

 

[Mannlicher]

Leave it in the car, and clean it often. No problems. There is WAY too much conjecture and mis information on this thread.