Confused about shipping handguns.

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Shipping through UPS it MUST go overnight if YOU are doing the shipping with a copy of your FFL in hand, If you go through a FFL dealer he can ship UPS priority main (2-3 days). By shipping overnight via UPS or Fedex you will pay a much higher shipping fee, but also save FFL fees. Either way they GOTCH YA

You must ship to a ffl. If you ship UPS or FEDEX then it must be shipped next day air.
If you take it to a ffl dealer then they can ship it via usps priority but most dealers will charge a fee + the shipping fee.
Make sure you check the FFL number they sent you before you ship.

You might want to read some more informed information:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/SupportFAQView.asp?FAQID=1118&NoCount=1

1987rx7guy said:

AFAIK guns must go FFL---->FFL

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What is the source of your information?

You have to ship overnight (company policy) through either DHL, UPS or Fedex if you're shipping a gun.

Or, you can find a local FFL who will charge you a fee to transfer through USPS. The last time I looked up shipping a handgun overnight, it was like $60. My local FFL charges $20 + actual shipping, which is obviously way cheaper.

Hmm, I guess the FFL that took in my AR lied to me. Please disregard my post!

You don't have to ship FFL to FFL if the recieving FFL doesn't mind recieving from a private party. This can bite you in the but however if the gun needs to be returned to you , because you are not a FFL and cannot recieve guns that are no longer yours.

UPS and Fedex policy requires handguns to be shipped overnight.

In my experience buying on Gunbroker maybe 75% of sellers completely disregard these rules, arguing that because it's a company policy and not a law, they're don't have to comply. For insurance purposes though you want to follow the rules.

The cheapest way is to contract to have your FFL ship it through the PO. Since you're planning to sell a few, maybe you could even get a reduced rate on his fee.

I believe USPS won't ship handguns (which is why you're stuck with the private services and their high charges.) But what about parts? Does anyone know if one could disassemble a pistol, and send the parts in separate packages, via snail mail?

No matter how many parts you disassemble the firearm into, the part with the serial number is a firearm.

Does anyone know if one could disassemble a pistol, and send the parts in separate packages, via snail mail?

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Cannot do it, the serial numbered frame is the firearm per federal law.

18 USC 921
"Sec. 921. Definitions

(a) As used in this chapter--

(3) The term "firearm'' means (A) any weapon (including a starter
gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a
projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of
any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any
destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm."

Cannot do it, the serial numbered frame is the firearm per fereral law.

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But only under that specific Federal law :

As used in this chapter--

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.

The law you quote is not from USPS regulations. ATF regulations do not use the word "firearm" in exactly the usual sense - that's why there is the specific definition in the law.

The Postal Service will happily mail some firearms - just not handguns. So what I'm asking is, is there any restriction regarding parts of a handgun (not the whole thing). That is, could one mail the serial-numbered frame of a pistol to an FFL for transfer (since it is not a handgun, just a part), and mail the other parts to the buyer directly?

glummer said:

I believe USPS won't ship handguns

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You "believe" wrong - FFL holders can and do ship handguns via USPS every day.

the part with the serial number is a firearm

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But is it a "handgun" under USPS definitions?

FFL holders can and do ship handguns via USPS every day.

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I am not an FFL holder, not did the OP state that he was, so I assume we are talking about ordinary citizens, who CANNOT mail handguns (unless the regs have changed since the last time I tried.).

USPS is the only way I ship handguns. It is the least expensive and most secure way to ship them period!
You must be a licensed dealer with your FFL on file at the PO to ship them. There are also other regulations and of course paperwork.

With regard to UPS, you don't have to ship handguns overnight anymore. You can ship them Second Day Air Saver.

They all require a signature at the receiving end per federal law.

The Postal Service will happily mail some firearms - just not handguns. So what I'm asking is, is there any restriction regarding parts of a handgun (not the whole thing). That is, could one mail the serial-numbered frame of a pistol to an FFL for transfer (since it is not a handgun, just a part), and mail the other parts to the buyer directly?

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No, legally the frame *is* the handgun, and a handgun can not be mailed via USPS, unless the person sending it has a dealer FFL.

The USPS defers to the ATF ruling as to what is, and isn't, a "firearm." A handgun frame *is* a firearm, even if no other parts are present.

I don't know where you think you are seeing a rules contradiction, but this has been a settled subject for years.

According to federal law you must ship a handgun using a common or contract carrier. You may not ship USPS. Ship your handgun to the FFL dealer using ups express air saver or fed ex express saver. Both of these methods are the cheapest and are gaureteed delivery within 3 days. You do not have to ship overnight, which can get very expensive. Both carriers require only that you ship express. When shipping to a FFL dealer include a legible copy of your drivers licence or state issued id. FFL's are required to have such info on file.

by the way. Trebor is correct. The handgun frame is still considered a firearm and cannot be mailed through the usps. must still ship fed ex or ups.,

I keep getting answers to questions I didn't ask. :banghead:

The USPS policy in question regards HANDGUNS specifically, not FIREARMS generally.

If the handgun frame is a firearm, legally, it does not necessarily follow that it is still a handgun, legally.

glummer,
Your question pertaining to mailing a handgun via USPS has been answered several times. We can't help it if it isn't the answer you want.
To reiterate: Mailing a handgun via the US Postal Service requires that both the shipper AND the recipient be FFL01s*(dealers). YOU can mail all of the "parts" of a handgun to whoever you want other than the receiver, which, by definition, is the "handgun".

* There are several exceptions to this statement, none of which pertain to you or any other regular citizen. (i.e. Gunsmiths, manufacturers, laws enforcement, etc.)

...other than the receiver, which, by definition, is the "handgun".

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Which definition is that? I have seen a legal definition that the receiver is the "firearm", but none saying that it is also the "handgun". I'm not saying it isn't - either could be possible, depending on the way the law is written. No one has cited a law saying the that the part is also the whole, legally.