Leaving Ammo in the Car

[Vegaslaith]

Cars get very hot in the summer, especially in Las Vegas. At what temperature should I start worrying about leaving ammo in the car? Does excessive heat even affect bullets?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=268996
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=4521411#post4521411

 

[justin 561]

Unless your car gets hot enough to ignite the gun powder (highly unlikely unless you live on the sun) then you shouldn't have problems. Steel and lead wont get hot enough in your car to warp.

 

[kingpin008]

As others have said, it's not a problem. Please do a search next time, there have been umpteen million threads about this.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If stored very long term in temperature extremes (it can easily get 160 degrees inside a vehicle), the powder could deteriorate over time. With all-lead bullets and the ammo pointing bullet-up, it is conceivable that bullet lube (in grooves in the bullet base, hidden by the case) could melt and run into the powder. This would take at least three to six months in my estimation. An afternoon at the range is nothing. It takes roughly 500-550 degrees (oven set on broil) to cause ammo to spontaneously detonate.

 

[WoofersInc]

I've been in Vegas for several years now and always have ammo in my truck. I have never had any problems with using that ammo. I do however rotate my carry ammo out every so often. I can't recall but didn't someone post that it takes something over 400 degrees to get the powder to cook off?

 

[Jeff F]

I shoot some surplus ammo thats loaded with cordite, it seems shoot better if left in a hot environment before use. I have herd that hot ammo can increase its working pressure, maybe, I don't know, and I have shot hot ammo and never saw any signs of high pressure. I would think that continued hot cold cycles would break down powder or primers faster then anything else.