[wdlsguy]

Anyone know the proper procedure for mailing an AR-15 lower to an FFL?

[DirksterG30]

If the lower is coming to you, your FFL needs to fax/mail a copy of their FFL license to the dealer/manufacturer where to lower will be shipped from. If you are mailing the lower to someone else, the FFL its going to has to fax/mail a copy of their FFL to the FFL you are sending it from. As I understand it, the lower has to go through an FFL on both ends.

[waterhouse]

Dirkster is close . . .the lower only has to go through an FFL on both ends if State law requires it. As for federal law, a non-FFL can ship a gun (and that is what the ATF considers the lower receiver: a gun) to an FFL.

Treat the lower just as you would any gun and you will be fine.

[wdlsguy]

Do I need to notify the clerk at the post office that the package contains a rifle receiver?

[Husker1911]

I'd recommend photocopying your driver's license, and enlarging it as you do. Send this along with the lower, or any firearm when sending it to the receiving FFL. As for using USPS, I don't believe it's legal. I've heard conflicting statements about this, but personally, I utilize UPS when sending a gun to a receiving FFL.

[Lupinus]

fax or mailed copy of the fll to you and then send it

I would go fedex preferably and it isnt that bad, there is no law that you need to tell them a gun is in there but through to post office Im not sure if you would have to by law or not. If you go fedex or ups don't tell them its a gun they will make you do next day air reguardless of distance and there is no law you have to unless there is one in your state.

[71Commander]

Do I need to notify the clerk at the post office that the package contains a rifle receiver?


Yes you do and fill out a form. (or the clerk does). You can mail this yourself from the PO. Not a handgun though.

[EOD Guy]

Quote:
Do I need to notify the clerk at the post office that the package contains a rifle receiver?



Yes you do and fill out a form. (or the clerk does). You can mail this yourself from the PO. Not a handgun though.

There is no legal requirement to notify anyone that you are shipping a firearm as long as you are shipping to an FFL.

There is no form to fill out at the Post Office other than those for insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. The only postal form having to do with firearms is for dealers and/or manufacturers that are mailing handguns.

[71Commander]

There is no form to fill out at the Post Office other than those for insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. The only postal form having to do with firearms is for dealers and/or manufacturers that are mailing handguns.

1st time I mailed a rifle at the post office, the clerk took the gun, I paid the money and went on my merry way. Went to the same post office a few weeks later and got a different clerk. When I informed her it was a gun, she went and got the form. It is a three part form that has shipper, recipient and exact contents. When I informed her that the process was different the last time, she stated that the form MUST be filled out to ship a rifle. She wanted to know whick clerk omitted the proceedure. I wouldn't tell.

There is a form.

[pcf]

There is no legal requirement to notify anyone that you are shipping a firearm as long as you are shipping to an FFL.


Dead wrong, you have to inform a commercial carrier and/or the USPS anytime you ship a firearm. And instead of guessing why, I'll quote the US Code.

Post office Publication 52, section 4 (restricted material), 43 (firearms) establishes guidelines for mailing firearms.

You can mail long guns through USPS without an FFL. Bring a copy of your ID, the FFL you are mailing to, and remember the POP number from above and you shouldn't have any problems. By definition, any firearm not declared is nonmailable.

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 83 > § 1715. Firearms as nonmailable; regulations

Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. Such articles may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe, for use in connection with their official duty, to officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Organized Reserve Corps; to officers of the National Guard or Militia of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District; to officers of the United States or of a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitments; to employees of the Postal Service; to officers and employees of enforcement agencies of the United States; and to watchmen engaged in guarding the property of the United States, a State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District. Such articles also may be conveyed in the mails to manufacturers of firearms or bona fide dealers therein in customary trade shipments, including such articles for repairs or replacement of parts, from one to the other, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe.
Whoever knowingly deposits for mailing or delivery, or knowingly causes to be delivered by mail according to the direction thereon, or at any place to which it is directed to be delivered by the person to whom it is addressed, any pistol, revolver, or firearm declared nonmailable by this section, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.


From the ATF
(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by carrier to a resident of his or her own state or to a licensee in any state. A common or contract carrier must be
used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract
carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm. [18 U. S. C. 922( a)( 2)( A) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]



[18 U. S. C., CHAPTER 44, 922( e)]

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped; except that any passenger who owns or legally possesses a firearm or ammunition being transported aboard any common or contract carrier for movement with the passenger in interstate or foreign commerce may deliver said firearm or ammunition into the custody of the pilot, captain, conductor or operator of such common or contract carrier for the duration of the trip without violating any of the provisions of this chapter. No common or contract carrier shall require or cause any label, tag, or other written notice to be placed on the outside of any package, luggage, or other container that such package, luggage, or other container contains a firearm.

[waterhouse]

pcf,

I'm no lawyer, but reading the text you quoted:

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped;

It looks like as long as it is going to a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector, you don't have to say anything.

I may be reading it wrong though.

[EOD Guy]

pcf,

I'm no lawyer, but reading the text you quoted:


Quote:
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped;


It looks like as long as it is going to a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector, you don't have to say anything.

I may be reading it wrong though

You are reading it correctly. The only time a firearm has to be declared is when you are shipping to a nonlicensee. BATF has confirmed this in writing to me.

[EOD Guy]

1st time I mailed a rifle at the post office, the clerk took the gun, I paid the money and went on my merry way. Went to the same post office a few weeks later and got a different clerk. When I informed her it was a gun, she went and got the form. It is a three part form that has shipper, recipient and exact contents. When I informed her that the process was different the last time, she stated that the form MUST be filled out to ship a rifle. She wanted to know whick clerk omitted the proceedure. I wouldn't tell.

There is a form.

Yes, there is a form (PS1508) but it is only used by dealers or manufacturers that are mailing handguns. It has no application in the mailing of rifles or shotguns by anyone. The clerk was wrong.

[waterhouse]

Form 1508 doesn't have any place for specific contents, only the business name where it is coming from (along with signature) and the name and address of the business it is going to.

I'm very curious as to what form Tenn Tucker might have had to fill out. I ship a bunch of guns every week, and I fill out a 1508 for all handguns, but I've never filled out anything for a long gun.

[EOD Guy]

Post office Publication 52, section 4 (restricted material), 43 (firearms) establishes guidelines for mailing firearms.


Beware of using Publication 52. It has several errors in it, such as an incorrect definition of an antique firearm. The official reference for the USPS is the Domestic Mail Manual. Firearms are covered under Section C025.

[marklbucla]

Now, if you're mailing it into Kalifornia, make sure that it's an off list lower and it doesn't have any evil features (pistol grip, collapsible stock, bayonet lug, flash hider, etc...) if there's no 10 round magazine pinned in there.

[71Commander]

The clerk was wrong.

Tht maybe so, but standing in the post office trying to ship a rifle and arguing with a federal employee is not something I would advocate.

The fact is that I still had to fill out a form.