loaded hand guns in glove compartment

[stevolene]

the gun I have is too big for concealed carry, would have to holster OWB, best I can do is have it in glove compartment, however, its getting warmer outside and I have some concern about a loaded gun in the glove compartment of a hot car for any length of time....should I be? any thoughts or experiences with this would be helpful

 

[Sam1911]

Unless your car actually catches fire, this isn't a problem. The amount of heat produced by the sun beating on your car is uncomfortable to you, but a lot less than would damage a gun or cause your ammo to cook off.

 

[murf]

i routinely leave my loaded pistol in my glove box for a week at a time. location is phoenix. the temp in my vehicle can get over 150 degrees during the summer. no cook-offs yet.

murf

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!
No problem.

If you think your gun & ammo gets hot in your glove box?

Try being a GI in Iraq riding around in a Humvee in the desert all day.
Or the ammo in a OD green ammo can hanging on the side of a .50 BMG on top of an Abrams!

Now, that's truly hot ammo!
And it don't cook off.

rc

 

[JustinJ]

Bullets are fine in a hot car.

Just don't leave pepper spray cans in there. That is a very painful lesson i learned the hard way.

 

[Effigy]

A quick Google search suggests that gun powder ignites at around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not going to get that hot in your car, especially out of direct sunlight.

One thing to consider is that rapid changes in temperature can cause the ammo to degrade faster. Thus if your car is hot during the day and cold at night, the ammo will go bad faster. How fast I couldn't tell you, but I would avoid storing your gun in the car in the long term.

 

[Firemedic56]

You will be fine, But something else to consider if you leave it in the car overnight.... You give that handgun away if you ever forget to secure your car or leave it in an unsecured location, just my .02

 

[GLOOB]

If a semiauto you might consider leaving it in condition 3 in case of a crash and/or fire. Same reason I don't leave chambered guns in the safe.

I wouldn't leave any gun of value in the glove compartment. That's the first place a thief will look... after they've picked up that quarter from the center console. This is sadly true. I've caught 2 guys trying to pry my car open to get to a dollar's worth of loose change. They did a number on the door frame. When people hit rock bottom, they can usually find food and shelter for free. But scraping up some loose change can buy them a pack of cigarettes or drugs. This happened in my apartment complex parking lot.

 

[BSA1]

Ditto, IMHO the glove box is the worst place to store a handgun. If your car is broken into one of the first places the thief will look is the glove box. And the lock on a glove box is easily defeated.

 

[wlewisiii]

If you feel it's too big to conceal, have you considered a fanny pack or off body carry bag solution? I use a Maxpedition Jumbo EDC http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=1319&idcategory=4
and it handles either my 4" S&W Model 64 or Ruger P97DC just fine. Off body has it's own set of compromises, but it may work for you as well.

 

[Doxiedad]

Ditto, IMHO the glove box is the worst place to store a handgun. If your car is broken into one of the first places the thief will look is the glove box. And the lock on a glove box is easily defeated.

Well that depends on local laws. Here in SC you are only allowed to carry a firearm in three places, the glovebox, the center console, or the trunk (or on your person if you have a CWP)

So even though I'd rather carry my pistol somewhere else state laws dictate where I can carry it. I carry my Glock in the glovebox all the time with out any concerns.

 

[stevolene]

while this product looks very nice, somehow I think I would get some weird looks carrying this tactical looking shoulder bag into my cubicle . actually I was not planning on storing the gun in the car all the time, just meant when I left the house it would be in the glove compartment, whether it be at work, or running errands or whatever, it would always return to the drawer once back home. Obviously I need a smaller weapon, I was only curious about the prolonged heat,as far as it being chambered, I never have one in the pipe, even though it makes for the more ready, thanks for the info !

 

[WRGADog]

My solution on where to carry in my vehicle

I bought a DeSantis Kingston car seat holster. The holster comes from DeSantis attached to the seat mounting strap by velcro. I removed the holster from the factory mounting strap, placed strips of velcro on the inside wall of my console and attached the holster. My XDM 40 hangs there, along with a spare magazine, within easy reach should I need her. Your console must be deep enough to accommodate mounting in this fashion, and if it is it works perfectly. My XDM remains in the vehicle at all times unless being used, or cleaned, no problem whatsoever and temps get fairly hot here in FL.

 

[BSA1]

It is called a glove box not gun box for a reason

I have never had my home or garage broken into. However I have had my vehicle broken into a couple of times so odds are greater that one of my vehicles will be broke into again. Given these odds I am not willing to assue the risk of hiding my gun in the glove box.

One of my trucks has a 60/40 split bench seat. The gap between the seats is a perfect place to conceal a small handgun and is easily overlooked.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I agree with those who've suggested that the ammunition in your glovebox gun isn't going to cook off - even in the summer heat.

With that said, and with the various and sundry laws related to carrying loaded weapons in one's vehicle in mind, a gun in the glovebox is going to be relatively useless unless you keep your windows up and your doors locked while you are in your vehicle. Preparedness and situational awareness far outweigh a gun in the glovebox.

Below are links to some videos made by some friends of mine that demonstrate this point:

YT 1

YT2

YT3

YT4

 

[pioneer461]

You have more to worry about from theft, than cook-off.

Higher temps will tend to degrade gun powder over time.

There is no such thing as a handgun that is too big to conceal.

When you stop to run into the convenience store for just a minute, do you leave your pistol in the car? It won't do you any good there.

 

[Skylerbone]

Several companies make security boxes for vehicles, many of which can be found in use by Jeep owners. They can be bolted to the floor and make sense for your situation. The other would be a simple pistol box which can be had for under $50 at many gun shops. Combine either with a seat mounted holster for at the ready and short term storage.

You can also use the lock box for your GPS, radio face plate and garage door opener depending on the size.

 

[JustinJ]

"There is no such thing as a handgun that is too big to conceal."

Spend a summer in TX heat and you may change your mind.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

"There is no such thing as a handgun that is too big to conceal."

Spend a summer in TX heat and you may change your mind.

Spend a summer here in Florida, and then come talk to me!

Even a 5" 1911 IWB is no problem at all with a half decent belt/holster.

 

[FoMoGo]

"There is no such thing as a handgun that is too big to conceal."

Spend a summer in TX heat and you may change your mind.

I worked in NM between Albuquerque and Las Cruces outdoors in the summer.
I concealed either a 5"1911 or a 2 5/8" barreled .44 magnum.
Jeans, work boots, T shirt, dickies work shirt.

Make your decision, follow thru with it.


Jim

 

[orionengnr]

There have been a few too many "gun stolen from car" threads lately. Only one that I recall had a semi-happy ending, and that one was returned (well over two years after recovery, and with maximum resistance from the DA).

Where do bad guys get guns? Do some reading, and you will find that they purchase them through "legal" channels (straw purchase) once in a while. The remainder of the time they steal them or buy from someone who has stolen them.

If each of us worked a bit harder to keep our own guns out of the hands of bad guys, I believe the results would be dramatic.

Too many gun owners believe it is their "right" to store their gun(s) irresponsibly and bitch and moan when some thief acts like a thief.

And so it is...for now, but there are plenty of folks who would love to pass legislation restricting your (and my) RKBA.

Worry less about the ammo cooking off, and think about the repercussions of storing an unlocked, loaded firearm in yout glove box all day, every day, or worse yet, all night, every night...

 

[LibShooter]

The ammo won't cook off, but a metal gun can get too hot to touch inside a car. Be careful.

 

[BSA1]

Say do you suppose this would be a cheap way to do a "melt" job?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If I were to design a car around CCW, I would put the glove compartment in the middle of the dash. As it is, because of the long reach, I don't care for glove compartment carry. If you must do it, put your car documents (registration and insurance cards) in an envelope on the sun visor or in some other compartment. If you are stopped by a LEO and reach for your papers with a gun visible, it will be very awkward for both of you.

 

[kozak6]

The ammo won't cook off, but a metal gun can get too hot to touch inside a car. Be careful.

Absolutely. You know how hot the seatbelt buckle or metal door handles get? Imagine trying to handle a gun that hot in an emergency.

Also, theft.