Shipping shotguns - an interesting learning experience

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
I have sold my son's 20 gauge shotgun to someone who lives out of State. This individual has been very helpful on what to do to send the firearm but what I have found is that there is a whole different level of understanding between various individuals (shipping companies, FFL's and retail stores who sell guns) that is all very confusing.

I called UPS and the two different individuals I talked to were dead wrong. Said they couldn't ship guns or even gun parts. Acoording to the regs I read, this is completely inaccurate.

Spoke to my local retail hunting superstore who said they could help but it would cost $74.99 plus the actual cost of shipping.

Spoke with Fed Ex. First individual said they couldn't ship guns or gun parts. Spoke to another who said they could ship guns but that it could only do so following a very time consuming and expensive option.

Next I am going to try plain old USPS. Looks like this will be the easiest route to ship from me to a FFL in another State.

Anyway, if anyone is ever interested, this is a very good article (albeit dated) on what you can and cannot do. Makes it simple. Hope what is in this article is correct. Too bad the people who I need to ship the gun do not have this knowledge.

http://findarticles.com/..._153_25/ai_75211978/

Mark W
 
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Mark, thanks for posting the article, it was interesting reading.... but I note that the article is 10 years old, I wonder how much has changed? Dave
 
You will get uninformed individuals at any of these that don't know the laws. UPS will ship guns, but not the UPS Store(store policy) you need to go to a UPS facility. Post office is generally the standard with many gun sellers, becuase there are more available and tends to be slightly less damage problems. Depending on your local USPS though, you may still have to ask for a manager. Then when you have it figured out, ship to a gunsmith or have documentation the gun is older than 1899 and it all changes.
 
Dave, I don't believe you can send in-state without a FFL. You can send to yourself though. So if your going on a trip from VA to ND you can send the gun to yourself at a ND address. You can ship to a gunsmith and they can ship it directly back to you without dealing with a dealer or an FFL. These scenarios fall under not changing ownership. Anything that is pre 1899 can be shipped without an FFL, because its not considered a gun. Though in all these dealing with a knowledgeable person is a must and you may have to go up the chain.
 
My read is that INTRAstate is fine to ship to individuals without FFL involvement as this is not a INTERstate transaction and therefore under the ATF (which is a Fed agency) rules and regs.
Could be wrong.

Mark W
 
Mark, Just a FYI- I had to send one back to the factory and used Fed Ex. Except for the ridiculous $$$$$$$$$$, it was painless and quick.
 
Went to the local USPS over the lunch hour and asked about shipping firearms. Finally found a helpful person. Got the rules and regs and think I'm OK by shipping it interstate to a FFL using the USPS. No extreme regs, no outrageuos costs invovled and so on. According to the person I spoke with, I can ship to a FFL painlessly. I do need to disassemble the gun and I need to let the postal office know I'm shipping a gun when I get there. no markings on the package defining this as a firearma nd so on. They suggest shipping with insurance but that is optional.

Hope this guy is right. I'm going back to him as soon as I get the proper FFL documents from the FFL I'm shipping to.

Been an interesting journey.

Mark W
 
Shipping long guns is a very simple process, I have shipped using all 3 major companies (UPS, FedEx, and USPS) many times.

I hate using the USPS just because of dealing with the local post office gestapo, so I will concentrate on UPS and FedEx.

Step 1- open an online shipping account with the shipping company, it costs nothing and you can print out labels from home, and pay with your credit card. This also works out well for shipping other things you may need to in the future, everything from decoys to Christmas presents.

Step 2- get the buyers FFL info, this can be faxed, mailed or e-mailed. Sometimes the receiving FFL requires a long gun be sent from another FFL, instead of a private person, but most just ask for a copy of your (sellers) drivers licence. This is NOT a federal law, just something some FFL's feel safer with. Once you receive the buyers FFL info make a copy of it to put into the shipping box.

Step 3- box up the gun REALLY well, pay special attention to the barrel as it likes to poke it's head out if not covered well. The firearm will be disasembled and a "box in a box" is a good idea. Now place the FFL copy you made (along with the copy of your DL if needed) on top of the gun in the first box and tape it up. On the outside of this first box write the shipping address where the gun is going as a backup, incase your outside box gets destroyed.

Step 4- place the first box in a larger UNMARKED box, filling all spaces with the filling agent of choice, and tape the living crap out of it with quality clear packing tape.

Step 5- log on to your shipping account and fill out all the spaces....box dimensions, weight, INSURANCE VALUE etc. Firearms need to have an adult signature when they are delivered, so don't forget to check that box. Also, sign up for shipping/delay/delivery e-mails for both yourself and the buyer, it gives everyone an added piece of mind. Your shipping account will also give you a discount over going straight to the shipper themselves.

Step 6- Tape your printed, at home label on the outside of the second box and now you can either arrange an at home pick up (there will be an extra charge) or drop it off at a local hub.....THIS DOES NOT MEAN A UPS FRANCHISE STORE!!!!! they are a different animal and will not ship a gun!!! When you walk in with your prepaid and taped box, hand it over to the nice man or lady and say "have a great day!" You are supposed to (according to UPS and FE) disclose that you are handing them a firearm, I have a couple of times and they don't bat an eye, but most times I am in and out and the never ask what is in your box, but this may be a local VT thing.

Some hints:

For me FedEx is always cheaper than UPS, but farther away....YMMV

Your outside box should have no firearm names on it, that way the monkeys out back don't get sticky fingers.

Shipping a long gun to another person IN YOUR OWN STATE is perfectly legal without an FFL being involved, as long as that person is leagal to own said firearm. But there may be some strange city laws or in places like MA or CA, it is up to you to know your state laws!

Check the buyers FFL info online, takes about 30 seconds to just make sure everything is legit https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/

Shipping a handgun is a "whole nother" ball of wax that I will not get into here.

I think that about covers it, any questions feel free to ask.
 
Hank -

Thanks for the detailed explanation on how to ship a gun. Those who are in the shipping business sure make it out to be much harder than it really is. And those in the business of selling guns, and who are of no help, they'll not get my business when it comes to buying a new gun. It never fails to amaze me the short sightedness of businesses who won't help out current good customers if they can't make a buck in the process. $74.99 from Gander Mountain to do the work I can do myself quite easily. They even said I couldn't ship the gun myself.

Anyway - thanks again Hank. This should become a sticky IMO as I've seen this subject before.

Mark W
 
Just a "what if"...

As I understand, you CAN ship firearm "parts" without a lot of pain.

What if you were to diassemble the gun, then use two different shippers, on different dates, to ship to an individual.

How legal would that be?

Just asking.

Jon
 
Mark,

Here's a way around the shipping issue. BATF states it's legal to ship a firearm to yourself in care of another individual for hunting or other legal activity. The package should be addressed to the owner and technically the owner is the only person who should open the package but who's to say how it got there after the packing is thrown away. Of course if the BATF is monitorng the site you didn't hear this from me. Signed anonymous

http://www.cgwgun.com/shipping/batf.aspx
 
Just a "what if"...

As I understand, you CAN ship firearm "parts" without a lot of pain.

What if you were to diassemble the gun, then use two different shippers, on different dates, to ship to an individual.

How legal would that be?

Just asking.

Jon
Click to expand...


You can ship many parts but on most guns it is the receiver that is regulated. You can ship a barrel, trigger, stock or magazine no problem. Ship a receiver and it better go to an FFL or the manufacturer or you are breaking the law.
Like someone said you can ship it to yourself but you better really be going there, it isn't worth the risk.

Tim
 
Just a "what if"...

As I understand, you CAN ship firearm "parts" without a lot of pain.

What if you were to diassemble the gun, then use two different shippers, on different dates, to ship to an individual.

How legal would that be?

Just asking.

Jon
Click to expand...


You can ship many parts but on most guns it is the receiver that is regulated. You can ship a barrel, trigger, stock or magazine no problem. Ship a receiver and it better go to an FFL or the manufacturer or you are breaking the law.
Like someone said you can ship it to yourself but you better really be going there, it isn't worth the risk.

Tim
Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head Tim. The receiver, with the serial number, IS the gun so far as the BATF is concerned. I've shipped several guns I've sold via USPS at my local post office and they've never had an issue with it at all. As long as it is going to an FFL, you are legal. The buyer at the other end has to fill out the form 4473 to take possession of the gun.
 
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