PCP air guns in hot cars

[dogmandan]

Hi Guys, I'm new here. I'm wanting to get into PCP s, I have a Gamo Swarm now.

My question is: Are PCP air guns OK to be left in a locked car in the summer? I know they have a lot of pressure and was wondering if the high temperature in a locked car would create a problem if the tank was at maximum recommended pressure.

thanks in advance!

 

[bandg]

I have seen a PCP filled just below 250 bar rise over 260 bar outside in the sun in the summer. Inside a hot car AND with the sun on it would probably be a thing to avoid.

 

[mercado]

Nop...my friend has 2 damage rifles .. orings were gone. After a few hours inside the car .. n he lost a scope to what ever gas was inside the scope burst ..here any day of the year you could have 100degre + out side the car imagine how hot is inside..

 

[nervoustrig]

Room temperature: 70F
Hot car interior in the summer: 130F

A gun filled to 3000psi at room temperature would increase to 3340psi...about a 10% increase. That isn't enough to cause a safety issue. However there are several other issues that may occur:

1. O-rings may soften and extrude. All the air would leak out harmlessly and then you'd have to open it up and replace the failed O-ring.
2. An unregulated PCP would experience some degree of valve lock (low velocity). 
3. A regulated PCP may sustain an indentation in the plastic seat, depending on the material and the seat geometry. The result would be an increase in the regulator's setpoint and/or pressure creep.

 

[bandg]

Room temperature: 70F
Hot car interior in the summer: 130F

A gun filled to 3000psi at room temperature would increase to 3340psi...about a 10% increase. That isn't enough to cause a safety issue. However there are several other issues that may occur:

1. O-rings may soften and extrude. All the air would leak out harmlessly and then you'd have to open it up and replace the failed O-ring.
2. An unregulated PCP would experience some degree of valve lock (low velocity). 
3. A regulated PCP may sustain an indentation in the plastic seat, depending on the material and the seat geometry. The result would be an increase in the regulator's setpoint and/or pressure creep.

IMO, pressure would be increased more than that if in direct sunlight, beyond the effect of the absolute temperature inside the vehicle. Pressure would be increased, o-rings and seats would be stressed, scope might be damaged. Best to avoid it.

 

[dogmandan]

Thanks for the replies. They are what I thought as well. But having no experience with PCPs, I figured I would consult with people who have experience.

 

[Bob-in-WV]

Spring guns should not be left in a hot car either. The lubes will get thin and cause deiseling when you shoot it, plus the scope may ruin as well.

 

[bandg]

Spring guns should not be left in a hot car either. The lubes will get thin and cause deiseling when you shoot it, plus the scope may ruin as well.

True. Not something that can be easily "quantified" but certainly a good thing to avoid.

 

[cinch32]

I have the same opinions as most of you about heat and pcps. However I had a conversation with a guy a week ago who has had a cricket since 2015 and only rebuilt the o-rings once. He says he forgets it in his truck almost routinely during summer and winter. When I mentioned something about heat being a problem he just laughed and said there are few problems that occur. So go figure. I can’t leave my gun in a hot vehicle too often and expect it to be ok. I tried with my cricket this year and within two weeks, I had a bad leak. But each to his own I guess. 

 

[BrickTop]

Any high pressure tank/bottle should have a burst disk. If it doesn't that is a real problem

 

[dogmandan]

Again, thanks for all the input !

 

[mtndragon]

I had a full Air Force Texan in a gun bag I placed in the shade under a tree. Late morning it was no longer in the shade, and the o-ring between the tank and valve was pushed out from the rise in pressure and the air leaked out with a loud hiss. It was a relatively easy fix, and no real threat, but I was on a hunt and the gun was out of commission until I got home to fix it. I would think a gun in the hot car would run the same risk if the tank was filled full at a low temp and then exposed to a significant rise in heat from a hot car.

 

[ace7691]

I keep my air rifle in my truck 24/7 took about a year and a half to have a leak it happened in single digit near zero cold . I sometimes bring it in during the coldest weather now but leave it in during summer just to many starlings to be shot on my way to work and I shoot several ground hogs and starlings on my way home.

 

[sam1223]

I have left it in a hot car and in freezing car at full capacity in the green and have had zero issues with one and leaking air in a different one that was a cheaper air gun. If I could I will try to not leave it but I doubt anything will happen. The leak could have been caused by the cold but it might have been because of the cheap build quality