Only in very rare circumstances could car temperatures reach more than 150 degrees; somewhere between 120 and 140 degrees is about as hot it will get in there. In other words, leaving a pistol and ammunition in a hot car is safe, but it can damage ammunition if done for too long.
When left loaded to full capacity and not used, most magazines will very slowly lose some amount of spring tension over time. That's where you unload your magazines and let them “rest” for a while, and switch to a second set of magazines to keep loaded for the next cycle.
The garage isn't a good place to store your ammo because of the heat and temp swings from day/night and day to day. It's not that your ammo is going to ignite, because the flash point is much higher than the garage will ever get. But the temps can cause some deterioration of the compounds binding the powders together.
Storage Temperature Range for Ammo
Temperatures can become extreme in the winter and summer months and affect the nitrocellulose in your gun powder. Reversely, freezing temperatures may not lead to a loss of powder in your cartridge, but it has a large possibility of changing the ballistic performance of your bullets.Ammunition doesn't “expire” per se, but the gunpowder looses potency over time. The largest risk to shooting old ammunition isn't a failure to fire, it's the risk that you will actually fire the shot and it doesn't have enough momentum to make it out the barrel.
Obviously, most people will transport handguns in a box or a holster, often in the glove box, center console or backseat of a car. The law also expressly allows the possession and storage of rifles or shotguns in the interior space of car or truck when in plain view.
FEDERAL LAW ON TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS
In vehicles without a trunk, the unloaded firearm must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. Ammunition that is either locked out of reach in the trunk or in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console is also covered.Preserving the Shelf Life of Your Ammo
You shouldn't have too much of a problem storing ammo around your house. As long as you keep them away from moisture and extreme heat, your rounds should be fine. Fortunately, ammo cans are a great way to keep your ammunition protected against moisture.According to the media, two or more guns and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Seriously, there is no definition. An “arsenal” is whatever the speaker wants it to be.
ABSOLUTELY! Old ammo is sometimes more volatile than newer ammunition because the casing isn't as strong as it used to be. Be VERY careful when prodding. Any ammunition, bullets etc will explode if hit the "right" way.
Bear in mind that it is illegal to carry or use a loaded firearm in a vehicle. You may lose your firearms licence if you fail to do so.
If that happens, the sudden expansion of hot gases will cause the brass case to rupture, possibly causing it to fragment. The fragments including the metal primer cup will become projectiles, but not the actual bullet. So, no, the bullet won't harm you, it won't hit hard enough to even cause bruising.
Simple answer, no, it will not go off just from handling it. Even if it does go off for some reason, the bullet will not be propelled like it was fired from a weapon.
General Ammunition Shelf Life in Basic Conditions
So long as the rounds aren't subjected to high heat or moisture, nothing is likely to happen. Most ammo manufacturers advise that their ammunition should be good for ten years. In reality, it will keep longer."Hot" usually means = "on the upper end of the range between 'slow' and 'fast' for that specific cartridge". Higher pressure is not good, but the gun may well outlive you anyways. Now "REAL HOT", that's different. The Speer ammo is safe, and may prove superbly accurate in your gun.
High ammo capacity – The Glock 22, which is carried by 60-70% of American police officers according to some estimates, holds 15 rounds in a standard magazine. By contrast, the old favorite, the S & W Model 10, held six bullets in a rotating cylinder and required reloading one round at a time.
your absolutely safe carrying them loose in your pocket. Agreed, The bullet gathers it's pressure and momentum inside the barrel of a gun. Even if you accidently hit the striker it would just fire the primer, the bullet would not go far and without enough power to hurt you too bad.
“When temperatures outside range from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, the temperature inside a car parked in direct sunlight can quickly climb to between 130 to 172.”
If your gun is repeatedly exposed to the moisture in humidity in your car, it may not take long for rust to take hold. Some gun enthusiasts recommend regular cleaning and lubrication, and that's not always a bad idea. (If you're looking for more suggestions on how to keep your gun rust-free, we can help.)
If you want your gun somewhat handy but do not want it visible, placing your gun in a console, glove box or other lockable safe box is ideal. A purse can work, but is not ideal unless it's also secured to the car's interior somehow.
3) Modern Guns Do Not Accidentally “Go Off”
Even a loaded gun, with a chambered round, with the safety off and the hammer/striker cocked will not just “go off” by itself. The trigger must still be pressed to release the firing pin or striker. Guns don't “go off.” They're fired by people.Because of this possibility, most currently produced pistols are designed with a "drop-safety" or firing pin block, a mechanism inhibiting or isolating the firing pin, preventing accidental discharge if the firearm is dropped. However, most long guns do not have drop-safeties.
You're not going to get lead poisoning from a solid chunk of metal passing straight through your intestines. You can get lead poisoning from prolonged contact with your skin. Swallowing a bullet would almost certainly give you lead poisoning.
And while a bullet is heated by the explosion that propels it, the bullet itself won't necessarily be hot enough to ignite gasoline. However, if a gasoline tank is shot by a tracer round from a great enough distance so that the round can ignite with air friction, it will cause the gasoline to catch fire.
Bullets are no more dangerous than stones of the same size. Contrary to news reports about “live bullets found at the scene,” bullets are not “live.” They are not explosive, cannot be ignited, “set off” or fired — unless they are fitted atop a case filled with powder and a primer. This package is called a cartridge.
In these cases the "primer" is basically a spark plug, so static electricity could set it off. Hangun ammunition is completely encased in metal, with the exception of some polymer bullet loads or possibly bean bag rounds.
Since a gun doesn't need much storage space, a good option is to store yours in a safe deposit box. Safe deposit boxes are usually pretty small, big enough for a handgun, but not for larger firearms. You probably won't be able to store it along with its safe in your deposit box.