Shipping or flying long guns.. hassle.

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Tw0fish

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Well, the short story is I moved to Texas, and when I did I took all the guns that were mine outright. However there were a great many more at the Bank of Dad, to be loaned out for all manner of sporting uses. A few more have been deemed mine.

As of this writing, the ATF maintains that one can mail a gun to oneself, but there's not a common carrier left that'll do it. Major airlines call an item with dimensions that add up to more than 62 inches oversized, and United (the only one I called) says oversized baggage is $200 to check. That versus $45 a pop plus FFL transfer fee to do it USPS.

Does anyone know of a better (and yeah, legal) way, or am I doomed to fly up and drive back in a rental when the old man meets his great reward?
 
You can Mail long guns via USPS. If for whatever reason this is seemingly impossible, you will have to speak to an FFL and have the firearms mailed to him for transfer.
 
I've mailed long guns to myself via USPS. Handguns via UPS at the hub, not a UPS Store.
Neither FedEx or UPS policies allow for a nonlicensee to nonlicensee shipment firearms, even to yourself.
If the shipment is lost, damaged or stolen your claim for damages will be denied because you violated the carriers terms.
 
Neither FedEx or UPS policies allow for a nonlicensee to nonlicensee shipment firearms, even to yourself.
If the shipment is lost, damaged or stolen your claim for damages will be denied because you violated the carriers terms.

Several years ago, I read a Ninth Circuit civil case (and now regret that I don't have the citation) where the plaintiff had shipped jewelry items of considerable value. He purchased insurance coverage for a portion of that value but did not correctly declare the contents of the package. When the package was lost, he filed a claim for the insured amount, which the carrier denied. In upholding the denial of the insurance payment, the court explained that by falsely declaring the contents, the plaintiff had denied the carrier the ability to make proper judgments concerning the package's handling.
 
Several years ago, I read a Ninth Circuit civil case (and now regret that I don't have the citation) where the plaintiff had shipped jewelry items of considerable value. He purchased insurance coverage for a portion of that value but did not correctly declare the contents of the package. When the package was lost, he filed a claim for the insured amount, which the carrier denied. In upholding the denial of the insurance payment, the court explained that by falsely declaring the contents, the plaintiff had denied the carrier the ability to make proper judgments concerning the package's handling.
And at least with FedEx nothing is insured....it has a declared value which must be disclosed at shipping to ensure the carrier will accept the shipment. FedEx will payout only if shipping procedures were followed and something goes wrong. So from my experience you're right on.
 
When the dread day come (an may that be in the fullness of time), you will be flying up there as is.
Probably (and YMMV() you ought contact your preferred local FFL, and ask if he'd accept an interstate transfer of inherited firearms.
That way, as noted above, you simply take your inheritance to a local FFL, and let that worthy handle the deal.
Which might take having to interview an FFL or two (unless your dad has one he's well-known to). I'd probably stress that this is an inheritance, not a purchase, and it would be a one-time, bulk deal.

The other aspect of this is if you will have other inherited items--furniture, artwork, photo albums, china, glassware, etc. which might make it worthwhile to go ahead and rent a truck to haul back home as is, and the shooters could travel with all that in the back of your reasonably anonymous rental truck. (There's no way, not one single one, I'd trust heirloom items with high sentimental value to common moving goons.)
 
I shipped a long gun to family via ffl a week ago. I wanted to ship directly to ffl but they wouldn't deal with me. Had to go from my ffl to his ffl. Royal pain and it cost me $38 for shipping and another $15 for "handling." And the package was a week late. And his ffl will charge him $10 for transfer. Shipping long guns when you're not an ffl holder is all-around burdensome and I don't recommend it unless there is no other way.
 
When the dread day come (an may that be in the fullness of time), you will be flying up there as is.
Probably (and YMMV() you ought contact your preferred local FFL, and ask if he'd accept an interstate transfer of inherited firearms.
That way, as noted above, you simply take your inheritance to a local FFL, and let that worthy handle the deal.
Which might take having to interview an FFL or two (unless your dad has one he's well-known to). I'd probably stress that this is an inheritance, not a purchase, and it would be a one-time, bulk deal.

The other aspect of this is if you will have other inherited items--furniture, artwork, photo albums, china, glassware, etc. which might make it worthwhile to go ahead and rent a truck to haul back home as is, and the shooters could travel with all that in the back of your reasonably anonymous rental truck. (There's no way, not one single one, I'd trust heirloom items with high sentimental value to common moving goons.)
IF the guns in question are specifically left to the recipient in his will, then they can be shipped directly to the inheritor - that is federal.
 
then they can be shipped directly to the inheritor - that is federal.
I was more thinking of the practical.
Like if a person were already going to a funeral, then it would not be a special trip up and back.
Also, I was trying to allow for if there was a will in place, as opposed to having to wait for probate.
My other thought was that, in advance of the ultimate end, items might be bequeathed in advance--but, that's likely to be before the funeral, too.

It was my gist that OP was more focused on the actual practical how.
 
IF there is a will and IF the guns are specifically listed to heirs, that is one thing; IF there is no will, then probate comes into play and things can get uglier - as they usually do when there's stuff to be gleaned from an estate
 
When the dread day come (an may that be in the fullness of time), you will be flying up there as is.
Probably (and YMMV() you ought contact your preferred local FFL, and ask if he'd accept an interstate transfer of inherited firearms.
That way, as noted above, you simply take your inheritance to a local FFL, and let that worthy handle the deal.
Which might take having to interview an FFL or two (unless your dad has one he's well-known to). I'd probably stress that this is an inheritance, not a purchase, and it would be a one-time, bulk deal.

The other aspect of this is if you will have other inherited items--furniture, artwork, photo albums, china, glassware, etc. which might make it worthwhile to go ahead and rent a truck to haul back home as is, and the shooters could travel with all that in the back of your reasonably anonymous rental truck. (There's no way, not one single one, I'd trust heirloom items with high sentimental value to common moving goons.)

Which would mean paying for a background check on every one of them
 
Which would mean paying for a background check on every one of them
Depends upon the State.

And the FFL. You go in and say "Hey my [relative] just passed, and I inherited [quantity of] firearms, and I need to get them from here to my [State], can you help me?" Maybe the guy takes pity on you for being bereaved and does you a package deal.
Maybe.
Perhaps.
YMMV
 
If the intended recipient is not a "prohibited person" and they will be at the funeral, why can't they possession (face to face) and load them in a UHaul trailer and tow it to their home? o_O
 
If the intended recipient is not a "prohibited person" and they will be at the funeral, why can't they possession (face to face) and load them in a UHaul trailer and tow it to their home? o_O
If the guns were actually willed to the recipient, then they could do that. If they weren’t, they’d have to go through an FFL if the recipient was an out-of-state resident.

Keep in mind that with the exception of firearms inherited by will or bequest, private face-to-face firearm transfers between residents of a different state are illegal under federal law per the 1968 Gun Control Act.
 
Depends upon the State.

And the FFL. You go in and say "Hey my [relative] just passed, and I inherited [quantity of] firearms, and I need to get them from here to my [State], can you help me?" Maybe the guy takes pity on you for being bereaved and does you a package deal.
Maybe.
Perhaps.
YMMV
He still has to log everyone in and out, etc. MIGHT he give a "volume discount" on his fees? maybe.......
 
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