My experience with mailing a rifle

[bugabob]

Just mailed my 541 to Brian Voelker via Fed Ex for $22 including insurance. It'll get there in a couple days.

Tried to mail it by USPS but was told only dealers and military personnel can do that. She double checked and confirmed her response.

UPS said they'll do it but I had to express mail it and it'd cost approx $90!

Just thought I'd share this.

Bob

[Bob259]

Just mailed my 541 to Brian Voelker via Fed Ex for $22 including insurance. It'll get there in a couple days.

Tried to mail it by USPS but was told only dealers and military personnel can do that. She double checked and confirmed her response.

UPS said they'll do it but I had to express mail it and it'd cost approx $90!

Just thought I'd share this.

Bob

I use UPS ground all the time on shipments to FFL's, repair centers or gun makers, with no problems.

[Jason]

Same here with USPS. The personnel at the local post offices usually don't know the rules and err on the side of caution by not letting you mail the gun. My mom worked at the post office for 20 years and I used to have her get me the current copy of their regulations and take the relevant section with me to the post office when I needed to mail a gun. Occasionally I would get someone who didn't know but did want to learn, so I'd explain the rules around FFLs and who can mail what. Also keep in mind that some states have regulations about shipping firearms that might need to be researched in addition to the federal rules.

[jneihouse]

Our UPS store that is close to me is kinda funny...It's a contract store...the guy that runs it is not anti gun, in fact he encourages us to bring in our rifles to weigh them if we think we might be getting close to weight limit....but his store has a "No guns shipped" policy...found that out when I took a rifle to him to ship to Evelio, or Mark....He asked if it was a gun, of course I told him yes and he said he couldn't ship it...So, I take my business elsewhere...good guy, but won't spend money with him...The UPS store on the other side of town (company store) has never blinked an eye..

Odd.

Kitty

[Jerry G]

I thought that UPS rule only applied to pistols. I never had a problem with them before.

[BCloninger]

Our UPS store that is close to me is kinda funny...It's a contract store...the guy that runs it is not anti gun, in fact he encourages us to bring in our rifles to weigh them if we think we might be getting close to weight limit....but his store has a "No guns shipped" policy...found that out when I took a rifle to him to ship to Evelio, or Mark....He asked if it was a gun, of course I told him yes and he said he couldn't ship it...So, I take my business elsewhere...good guy, but won't spend money with him...The UPS store on the other side of town (company store) has never blinked an eye..

Odd.

Kitty

One of the private UPS stores (probably the same one) told me UPS doesn't want them accepting firearms because they "don't know the rules". They will ship anything but a receiver or live ammunition.

The UPS Company Location will ship firearms ground only, which contradicts the "Express Ship" policy. USPS has been cooperative provided live ammunition is shipped separately.

[ter]

I use FedEX and they are always cool. I always give them a copy of the receiving FFL for their records. I heard the local private UPS does not accept rifles.

[Trent]

Long guns - USPS... no problem.
Hand guns - USPS... no way.
Ammo - USPS... no way.

Long guns - UPS... take it to the depot only (usually). Does not have to ship expensively. Ground is perfectly acceptable.

Hand guns... express mail/overnight/next day only. This is UPS and FedEx policy.

Should only cost you around $15 or so to ship it through USPS.

[Jason]

Since when can you not mail ammo? I haven't mailed any in a while but you used to just have to mark it ordinance with those little labels.

[Mt_Medic31]

A local gunshop owner was tellin me that new laws require all firearms shipped to be by an FFL. Used to be able to ship to Manufacturers for warranty and stuff etc without an FFL, but not anymore. Took him at his word. Havent had the need to ship, so haven't looked into it further.

[jjp]

Here is the rules for USPS. I have my FFL so I don't have any trouble in my little town, except having to stay in the post office and talk for thirty minutes to an hour.

11.1 Pistols, Revolvers, and Other Concealable Firearms

11.1.1 Definitions

The terms used in this standard are defined as follows:

a. Handgun means any pistol, revolver, or other firearm or device the mailing of which is regulated by this standard.

b. Pistol or revolver means a handgun styled to be fired by the use of a single hand and to fire or otherwise expel a projectile by the action of an explosion, spring, or other mechanical action, or air or gas pressure with enough force to be used as a weapon.

c. Firearm means any device, including a starter gun, designed to, or that may readily be converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosion, spring, or other mechanical action, or air or gas pressure with enough force to be used as a weapon.

d. Other firearms capable of being concealed on the person include, but are not limited to, short-barreled shotguns and short-barreled rifles.

e. Short-barreled shotgun means a shotgun that has one or more barrels less than 18 inches long. The term short-barreled rifle means a rifle that has one or more barrels less than 16 inches long. These definitions include any weapon made from a shotgun or rifle, whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise, if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches. A short-barreled shotgun or rifle of greater dimension may be regarded as nonmailable when it has characteristics to allow concealment on the person.

f. Licensed manufacturer and licensed dealer mean, respectively, a manufacturer of firearms or a bona fide dealer of firearms, duly licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms of the Department of the Treasury, under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-618), 18 USC 921, et seq.

g. Antique firearm means any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898, or any replica thereof, if such replica:

1. Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition.

2. Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and that is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

11.1.2 Handguns

Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person (referred to as handguns) are nonmailable unless mailed between the parties listed in 11.1.3 and 11.1.5 after the filing of an affidavit or statement required by 11.1.4 and 11.1.6.

11.1.3 Authorized Persons

Subject to 11.1.4, handguns may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer of firearms, a licensed dealer of firearms, or an authorized agent of the federal government or the government of a state, territory, or district, only when addressed to a person in one of the following categories for use in the person's official duties:

a. Officers of the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps.

b. Officers of the National Guard or militia of a state, territory, or district.

c. Officers of the United States or of a state, territory, or district, whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.

d. USPS employees authorized by the Chief Postal Inspector.

e. Officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States.

f. Watchmen engaged in guarding the property of the United States, a state, territory, or district.

g. Purchasing agent or other designated member of agencies employing officers and employees included in 11.1.3c. through 11.1.3e.

11.1.4 Affidavit of Addressee

Any person proposing to mail a handgun under 11.1.3 must file with the postmaster, at the time of mailing, an affidavit signed by the addressee setting forth that the addressee is qualified to receive the firearm under a particular category of 11.1.3a. through 11.1.3g, and that the firearm is intended for the addressee's official use. The affidavit must also bear a certificate stating that the firearm is for the official duty use of the addressee, signed by one of the following, as appropriate:

a. For officers of Armed Forces, by the commanding officer.

b. For officers and employees of enforcement agencies, by the head of the agency employing the addressee to perform the official duty with which the firearm is to be used.

c. For watchmen, by the chief clerk of the department, bureau, or independent branch of the government of the United States, the state, the territory, or the district by which the watchman is employed.

d. For the purchasing agent or other designated member of enforcement agencies, by the head of such agency, that the firearm is to be used by an officer or employee included in 11.1.3c. through 11.1.3e, Authorized Persons.

11.1.5 Manufacturers and Dealers

Handguns may also be mailed between licensed manufacturers of firearms and licensed dealers of firearms in customary trade shipments, or for repairing or replacing parts.

11.1.6 Certificate of Manufacturers and Dealers

A licensed manufacturer or dealer need not file the affidavit under 11.1.4, but must file with the postmaster a statement on Form 1508 signed by the mailer that he or she is a licensed manufacturer or dealer of firearms, that the parcels containing handguns (or major component parts thereof) are customary trade shipments or contain such articles for repairing or replacing parts, and that to the best of his or her knowledge or belief the addressees are licensed manufacturers or dealers of firearms.

11.1.7 FBI Crime Detection Bureaus

Handguns may be mailed without regard to 11.1.3 through 11.1.6 if:

a. Addressed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or its director, or to the scientific laboratory or crime detection bureau of any agency whose members are federal law enforcement officers or officers of a state, territory, or district authorized to serve warrants of arrest or commitment; or

b. Offered by an authorized agent of the federal government as an official shipment to any qualified addressee in categories 11.1.3a. through 11.1.3g, or to a licensed manufacturer or dealer of firearms or to a federal agency.

11.2 Antique Firearms

Antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces may be accepted for mailing without regard to 11.1.3 through 11.1.6.

11.3 Rifles and Shotguns

Although unloaded rifles and shotguns not precluded by 11.1.1e and 11.1.2 are mailable, mailers must comply with the Gun Control Act of 1968, Public Law 90-618, 18 USC 921, et seq., and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, 27 CFR 178, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the gun is unloaded and not precluded by 11.1.1e.

11.4 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms

Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of rifles or shotguns. Contact the nearest office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for further advice.

[mordecai]

Long guns - USPS... no problem.
Hand guns - USPS... no way.
Ammo - USPS... no way.
Long guns - UPS... take it to the depot only (usually). Does not have to ship expensively. Ground is perfectly acceptable.
Hand guns... express mail/overnight/next day only. This is UPS and FedEx policy.

Should only cost you around $15 or so to ship it through USPS.

All state and local laws apply, so YMMV, but this is pretty close.

USPS - long gun OK - they often take some convincing, etc...
USPS - anything "concealable" (under 26" in OAL, ie, handguns) is OK for FFL's (and there used to be a clause for repairs/warranty work for non-FFL's - don't know if its still good).
FedEx/UPS - any gun OK from the HUB/Central offices. Shipping from "contract" or retail outlets is not normally allowed. They also typically require handguns for overnight shipping.

[Finprof]

I know this post is about long guns and it isn't terribly expensive to mail long guns. $20 should get one anywhere by USPS, FEDEX or UPS. Any of them will take them.
For pistols, the overnight requirement by FEDEX and UPS makes it prohibitively expensive. It will cost $70-$90 to send in a pistol for warranty work or to a gunsmith for an action or trigger job.

[austin870]

If you ask any of the carriers how to ship a rifle they all run away screaming. They don't make one nickel more and can get in a lot of trouble if anything goes wrong. No matter what the laws say none of them are obliged to ship a gun if they don't want to.

The favorable situation I have found is that "gun parts" have no restrictions. As long as what you are shipping won't fire nobody has a problem with it. If the gun does not work and cannot be made to work with the parts in the box it is considered "gun parts". You can also just send the bolt or something separately and call them both gun parts, which they legally are because neither can be made to fire. If you think about it what is any gun missing a critical part..... a pile of parts.

This works perfectly fine for the smaller gunsmiths etc who are not receiving hundreds of guns a day. I am not so sure how well separating the parts would work going to a major manufacturer for warranty work etc.