Shame on me and shame on you!...

[melensdad]

Originally Posted by Royal-1

I'm not so impressed with the idea of keeping ammo in a hot car for the long term.

While I generally agree with most of your post, I'm not so sure about this part of it. Maybe because I am unclear of the message you are trying to convey???

Ammo is stable in a hot trunk. The military ships it in cargo containers that sit out in the sun for long periods of time. Heck you can buy 20+ year old surplus ammo that has been stored in varying temperatures. I even know a gun dealer who stuck several boxes of factory and several boxes of handloads in a trunk of an old Ford in the desert (New Mexico, near Farmington) for 3 years to see what would happen. He maintained some ammo from the same lots in his home for comparison. He took a few rounds out every six months or so and tested them to see if the performance degraded. It did not not, at least not that could be determined in a 3 year period.

Now if you are saying it is dumb to have a bunch of ammo in the car because people will steal it, that I will generally agree with.

I tend to have an extra couple of loaded handgun magazines in my car, of various types/calibers for the various guns I carry. But none are kept visible.

[Royal-1]

My thought is I personally do not like the idea of having any loaded cartridge pointed at me, my passenger, or who knows where that has even a remote chance of being set off. Must be something about me being a control freak.

Your post does make me feel better about the heat not degrading ammo, something I was not sure about, but it does make sense. Another thought to add, car trunks are not water tight and do leak. How does moisture affect ammo, and all metals for that thought, as if I don't know that one, break out the desiccant. Maybe I should have just said:

I'm not so impressed with the idea of keeping ammo in a car for the long term. Rotate your stash, use what has been exposed at the range next time.

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by Royal-1

My thought is I personally do not like the idea of having any loaded cartridge pointed at me, my passenger, or who knows where that has even a remote chance of being set off. Must be something about me being a control freak.

I recall reading about this as well- if it's just rounds in mags, even if one does spontaneously go, it has no chamber to restrict it's direction nor a barrel to generate speed and contain the gases of combustion. In short, if I recall, there's little chance of it doing more than just bouncing off you or maybe a small cut in your skin. Still not fun, but hardly fatal.

FWIW.

Blessings,
B

[W9ZEB]

The only case I've been able to find of rounds in a car being cooked off without extenuating circumstances, (Like the car was in a wreck, and is on fire) was where the spare magazine was on top of a cell phone, with a lithium Ion battery that failed.

When Lithium Ion batteries fail, some do it rather spectacularly. See Sony laptops on airplanes news stories from the last two years.

As I recall, the rounds were contained by the glove box. Although most of what was in the glove box was torched due to the battery fire.

[flagtag]

Originally Posted by Royal-1

Be very selective of what you put in your vehicle.

High temps
Limited security
They have always been a good target for thieves

MRE's will not last long in high temps, and water get nasty in the thin plastic drinking bottles.

How many times have you heard a car alarm go off and took off running to see if you could help stop a thief?

If they don't just steal your car, then the trunk is also an easy target at any shopping area.

Gear would be good to keep in a car: Rain gear, walking shoes/boots, simple tools, a blanket, first aid items. Stuff that if someone does pop your trunk they will just toss out of the way looking for the good stuff.

In short don't keep an AR in your trunk with 6 full magazines, that is unless you have an incredible way to hide them. Even then I'm not so impressed with the idea of keeping ammo in a hot car for the long term.

I have a tub in which I will keep things like a small tent, sleeping bag, camp pillow, change of clothes (extra underwear/socks), first aid supplies, fire/cooking supplies (small), shoes or boots, rain gear, and room for a back pack, (which I can take out each day) which will hold the food, water, firearm/ammo (?).

The tub will be left in the back of my truck, the bag I can take with me - depending on where I am.

[mastery]

Originally Posted by flagtag

I have a tub in which I will keep things like a small tent, sleeping bag, camp pillow, change of clothes (extra underwear/socks), first aid supplies, fire/cooking supplies (small), shoes or boots, rain gear, and room for a back pack, (which I can take out each day) which will hold the food, water, firearm/ammo (?).

The tub will be left in the back of my truck, the bag I can take with me - depending on where I am.

Same here. I keep a GHB and some decent walking boots in the truck. Easy enough to transport if I had to go on foot...and safely hidden away just in case

[dblagent]

I talked to my wife this week about getting a bag together, I as of yet have not done so but it is much higher on the priority list now. For my start I just plan on making a simple 2-3 day bag with essentials ready to grab and go with. I figure that will be 2-3 days better off than most people.

Once that is done I can build from there, but I need to keep it light from a going standpoint. At home I figure I could have a lot ready, but as the floods show you might have to leave quickly and I would like to be way more ready than I am now.

Lot of reading to do now....

[Ri22o]

I am wanting to start stocking food and supplies for the house. However, I have a few problems/issues.

#1. I can't even stock my own pantry. How am I supposed to keep supplies stocked?
#2. I don't even know what to stock or where to start. If the situation comes and I need the supplies, then I plan on there being no power. No power = no ability to use the oven or cooktop. I also don't want to have to use my water reserves for cooking. This takes rice, noodles, pastas, etc out of the equation.
#3. My girlfriend doesn't like SPAM. How do I convince her that it is THE best thing in the world?

Whatever supplies I stock up on, I want them to be something I would actually eat. There is no sense in having cans of sardines if I won't eat them.

I am working on getting other non-food supplies together, but the food portion of this project seems to be the hardest part for me. I have water, almost 40 gallons of it, so I'm good there.

[flagtag]

Originally Posted by dblagent

I talked to my wife this week about getting a bag together, I as of yet have not done so but it is much higher on the priority list now. For my start I just plan on making a simple 2-3 day bag with essentials ready to grab and go with. I figure that will be 2-3 days better off than most people.

Once that is done I can build from there, but I need to keep it light from a going standpoint. At home I figure I could have a lot ready, but as the floods show you might have to leave quickly and I would like to be way more ready than I am now.

Lot of reading to do now....

I just looked at some of the pictures on another thread. I certainly hope some of those people were prepared to stick it out for several days. I really feel for those people! What a mess!!

[flagtag]

Originally Posted by mastery

Same here. I keep a GHB and some decent walking boots in the truck. Easy enough to transport if I had to go on foot...and safely hidden away just in case

If anyone comments on my tub and bag, I just point out the condition of my truck (next month, the engine will be replaced) and tell them I'm prepared in case I have to walk home. (They don't see everything in the tub.) Actually, it doesn't really run badly, it just burns (and leaks) oil.
That way, they don't get too curious.