Shipping handguns 2 day air via FedEx or UPS: which is cheaper?

Status
Not open for further replies.

1KPerDay

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
20,781
Location
Happy Valley, UT
by the way the shipping handgun sticky threads needs to be updated to include the 2-day air options. They still say overnight is required.

is one carrier generally cheaper than another or are they equally ridiculously expensive?
 
Fedex has always been considerably cheaper in my experience. UPS is better at crunching packages though. You can get rates from both sites.
 
This is going to depend heavily on the area you are in and the area the package is going to. For example, FedEx is usually more expensive for me and final deliveries almost always come from a city over 2 hours away. For whatever reason FedEx doesn't have a distribution point in my city (UPS does).
 
It very much depends on your location and how close either service is distributed around you.

In my area UPS is usually less expensive by about 30%
 
I've found it's cheaper to have my FFL ship them USPS.

Yup. A Medium Flat Rate Box is $13.20 and will hold most handguns. I have a USPS account, so I print the label, take the open box with the gun and label to the FFL. All he has to do is drop his license in the box, seal it, stick the label on and drop it off at the Post Office. Even if the FFL charges you $25 (mine charges $10), you're out less than $40.

The Overnight, Second Day shipping in my area is horrendously expensive.

35W
 
Yup. A Medium Flat Rate Box is $13.20 and will hold most handguns. I have a USPS account, so I print the label, take the open box with the gun and label to the FFL. All he has to do is drop his license in the box, seal it, stick the label on and drop it off at the Post Office. Even if the FFL charges you $25 (mine charges $10), you're out less than $40.

The Overnight, Second Day shipping in my area is horrendously expensive.

35W
"All he has to do...."?
He darn well better be recording that firearm into his bound book as a acquisition from you and a disposition to the receiving dealer as well as verifying that the receiving dealers FFL is valid.....you are giving him the receiving dealers FFL aren't you?
And shipping a firearm without Adult Signature is plain stupid. USPS/FedEx/UPS can leave it on the curb.
 
Last edited:
by the way the shipping handgun sticky threads needs to be updated to include the 2-day air options. They still say overnight is required....
They still say that because nothing has changed.
UPS https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cent...nts/firearms.page?srch_pos=3&srch_phr=handgun
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921, will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services, specifically, UPS Next Day Air® Early, UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Next Day Air Saver®. (Note: UPS Express Critical™ Service is not available for firearms).

FedEx https://www.fedex.com/en-us/service-guide/terms/express-ground-samedaycity.html
FedEx Ground will not accept handguns.
FedEx Express does and requires Priority Overnight.
 
"All he has to do...."?
He darn well better be recording that firearm into his bound book as a acquisition from you and a disposition to the receiving dealer as well as verifying that the receiving dealers FFL is valid.....you are giving him the receiving dealers FFL aren't you?

Naaahh....I've just been handing my FFL a gun and he takes it to the Post Office and ships it. No need bothering with all the legal details. :cool:


In that case it has to go back to him right? He logs it in and out and back in and to you again? Or do I misunderstand

Yes, he logs it into his book as having received it from me, then out to the FFL who will be receiving the firearm.

35W
 
In that case it has to go back to him right? He logs it in and out and back in and to you again? Or do I misunderstand
If you take a firearm to a licenced dealer to have him ship, he's required to log the aquisition from you. He then logs the disposition to the receiving dealer. ATF regs require that he have a copy of the receiving dealers FFL before shipping. Although not required, its wise to verify the validity of that FFL on ATF's EZcheck. He then ships.

If you are describing a situation where you take a box to your dealer, he drops his FFL inside, doesn't record the firearm in his books.....he's the dumbest FFL in America. He's violating ATF regs as well as USPS. A licensed dealer desiring to ship a firearm other than a rifle or shotgun through USPS must complete a Form 1508 and submit that with the box.

If you are just stopping off to get a copy of his FFL in the box to make it seem like the dealer actual shipped the gun.....hello felony.
 
Naaahh....I've just been handing my FFL a gun and he takes it to the Post Office and ships it. No need bothering with all the legal details. :cool:




Yes, he logs it into his book as having received it from me, then out to the FFL who will be receiving the firearm.

35W
Awesome!:thumbup:
 
They still say that because nothing has changed.
UPS https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cent...nts/firearms.page?srch_pos=3&srch_phr=handgun
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921, will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services, specifically, UPS Next Day Air® Early, UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Next Day Air Saver®. (Note: UPS Express Critical™ Service is not available for firearms).

FedEx https://www.fedex.com/en-us/service-guide/terms/express-ground-samedaycity.html
FedEx Ground will not accept handguns.
FedEx Express does and requires Priority Overnight.
So to be clear, shipping a handgun 2nd day air is not allowed by law? Or by UPS/fedex policy?
 
If you take a firearm to a licenced dealer to have him ship, he's required to log the aquisition from you. He then logs the disposition to the receiving dealer. ATF regs require that he have a copy of the receiving dealers FFL before shipping. Although not required, its wise to verify the validity of that FFL on ATF's EZcheck. He then ships.
.
in this case can the receiving FFL / gunsmith ship the gun back to me or does it have to go back to my FFL for another transfer?
 
I recently had to ship a Luger to Texas and Fed Ex and UPS were both in the $180 range +/- $10. I had my FFl ship it for me via USPS and he charged $95.
 
Interesting question, but why do we seem to be focusing on the economics of the question? The word "cheaper" presents something of a quandary. The "cheapest" way to send a handgun is by USPS. Costs whatever it is to stuff it in one of those "if it fits, it ships' boxes. Yes, there is usuaslly a fee to the LGS in addition. But even if that fee is $100, is it really "cheaper" than other possibilities? Cheaper compared to other carriers? Probably, but what about cheaper than having it get lost or stolen and having to go through all of the hassel of getting that straightened out? Last week the good folks at FedEx left a package of three pistols sitting on top of my mail box which is about two hundred feet from the front door and right beside a road that thousands of vehicals use every day. Yea, there was an adult signature required and sure would like to see who signed that. The only thing that saved the day was the mail man who came along soon after the FedEx slacker left and brought it to my front door. I have a C&R license, but I always try to have things set to my LGS specifically to avoid situations like this. In this case, the "cheaper" route would have cost three collectible handguns, and the time and trouble it took to get may money back by way of an insurance claim. Yes, it may cost me a little, the LGS charges $25.00 for the paper work, but I always give him $40 or $50 just as my way of saying thanks for saving me from a potential boatload of problems. In this case the seller insisted upon FedEx, bragging he "never had a bit of trouble". After the recent incident, I explained to him that in the future he will send by USPS to my LGS or find another buyer. Best of luck and let us know what you decide.
 
Last edited:
Doesn’t really answer the question. Does my FFL count as the person who shipped the firearm? I assume so.... so it has to be returned to him, right?

I'm not sure what you're asking, ("count as the person", "has to be returned to him"....?) but if I were you I'd read the "Gunsmith" and "Unlicensed Persons" FAQ's on the ATF website. Both links are above.

35W
 
in this case can the receiving FFL / gunsmith ship the gun back to me or does it have to go back to my FFL for another transfer?
If you, a nonlicensee, ships a firearm to a licensee for repair or replacement of the same kind or type, Federal law permits the direct return to you. Be aware that some licensees refuse to ship any firearm to a nonlicensee even though its allowed. Some states prohibit such direct return.

If you have your dealer ship that firearm for repair/replacement, it would be returned to him. No 4473/NICS is required to return to you.
 
Interesting question, but why do we seem to be focusing on the economics of the question? The word "cheaper" presents something of a quandary. The "cheapest" way to send a handgun is by USPS. Costs whatever it is to stuff it in one of those "if it fits, it ships' boxes. Yes, there is usuaslly a fee to the LGS in addition. But even if that fee is $100, is it really "cheaper" than other possibilities? Cheaper compared to other carriers? Probably, but what about cheaper than having it get lost or stolen and having to go through all of the hassel of getting that straightened out? Last week the good folks at FedEx left a package of three pistols sitting on top of my mail box which is about two hundred feet from the front door and right beside a road that thousands of vehicals use every day. Yea, there was an adult signature required and sure would like to see who signed that. The only thing that saved the day was the mail man who came along soon after the FedEx slacker left and brought it to my front door. I have a C&R license, but I always try to have things set to my LGS specifically to avoid situations like this. In this case, the "cheaper" route would have cost three collectible handguns, and the time and trouble it took to get may money back by way of an insurance claim. Yes, it may cost me a little, the LGS charges $25.00 for the paper work, but I always give him $40 or $50 just as my way of saying thanks for saving me from a potential boatload of problems. In this case the seller insisted upon FedEx, bragging he "never had a bit of trouble". After the recent incident, I explained to him that in the future he will send by USPS to my LGS or find another buyer. Best of luck and let us know what you decide.
News flash!..........all carriers/delivery drivers do stupid stuff. In the last eleven years and over 20,000 firearm shipments the problems are pretty equal between USPS/FedEx/UPS.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top