Downsizing my collection

Don't bother trying to ship loaded ammo. Look at the for sale listings on this site to get an idea of what you can expect to sell your firearms and spent brass for.

KDS said:

Hey everyone, I am not sure where to place this thread so if the moderators feel this should go somewhere else, please move it. To make a long story short, I am thinking about selling some of my collection and I am overwhelmed with the task. In addition to selling some firearms, I also have ammo and once fired spent brass to sell.

While I would prefer not to ship these items, maybe I can't avoid it. Is there any restriction on shipping spent brass? What is the best way to ship brass that you have used?

If shipping a firearm, do I have to take it to an FFL or can I ship directly to an FFL?

Sorry if these questions seem obvious, but when I bought my collection I never thought I would sell, but tough times are dictating otherwise. Thanks for any tips or advice you can give.

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Sorry to hear that you have come up on tough times!

To ship loaded ammo you have to have the ability to ship HazMat. The last time I traded loaded ammo with a collector I had an FFL do it for me. A face to face sale would be much simpler.

Theres no restrictions on shipping empty brass. The flat rate boxes from the USPS are your friend here.

I'll let more qualified people address shipping firearms. The last time I sold anything a friendly FFL holder did it for me at a modest cost.

Good Luck with this.

The feds have tightened up the laws regarding the shipment of handguns. As a private party you must ship from a federal license holder - ffl - to a(n) ffl. The receiving ffl may then transfer the handgun to the new owner.

It’s really not very complicated. There are fees , but the law is the law. Any decent gun shop can ship for you.

Remember this- The helpful folks on this forum are not lawyers… do your own homework.

I’ve been in your shoes. Best of luck to you.

Shipping ammo is not a problem and it is not haz mat. It can be shipped by UPS if you go to one of their hubs. Check their web site for details. Spent brass can be shipped by just about any carrier.

I would always explore consignment at your LGS, especially if that LGS uses GunBroker for unique and desirable items not fancied by the local polystriker and AR crowd. Drop the guns off, and pick-up checks a few weeks later.

lightman said:

To ship loaded ammo you have to have the ability to ship HazMat.

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That only applies if you are shipping powder or primers. Loaded ammo is not considered hazmat. It does have to be marked in a certain manner, though, and it HAS to be shipped from a UPS or Fedex customer service center (or driver pickup for an additional fee); UPS stores or any other store (like Office Depot) that handles UPS/Fedex will not ship ammo.

I have shipped lots of ammo over the years; it's not a big deal.

garandsrus said:

Shipping ammo is not a problem and it is not haz mat. It can be shipped by UPS if you go to one of their hubs. Check their web site for details. Spent brass can be shipped by just about any carrier.

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allisd17 said:

That only applies if you are shipping powder or primers. Loaded ammo is not considered hazmat. It does have to be marked in a certain manner, though, and it HAS to be shipped from a UPS or Fedex customer service center (or driver pickup for an additional fee); UPS stores or any other store (like Office Depot) that handles UPS/Fedex will not ship ammo.

I have shipped lots of ammo over the years; it's not a big deal.

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Ok, I stand corrected! I'm an amateur cartridge collector and I have had problems shipping ammo. The biggest problem is that UPS and FED-X don't really know the rules/laws. It depends on who is working that day.

“ORM-D
Small pistol cartridges “
That’s how I was instructed to mark the package the last time I shipped ammunition.
That was several years ago - be sure to comply with current regulations.

Best way to ship empty cases is a USPS flat rate box for larger amounts.

You used to be able to ship guns direct to an FFL if they accepted from private parties, long guns through the post office, has that changed via a new law?

lightman said:

Ok, I stand corrected! I'm an amateur cartridge collector and I have had problems shipping ammo. The biggest problem is that UPS and FED-X don't really know the rules/laws. It depends on who is working that day.

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You nailed it right there. Sometimes they are ignorant of their own company policies but thankfully that only happened to me a couple of times.

Waveski said:

“ORM-D
Small pistol cartridges “
That’s how I was instructed to mark the package the last time I shipped ammunition.
That was several years ago - be sure to comply with current regulations.

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They no longer accept ORM-D labels. Now it has to be a black-and-white diamond symbol, but you can easily find and print those out online.

I'm about to do a second round of downsizing. Fortunately for me, there is an online auction dealer within 75 miles. First round, everything sold - firearms, ammo, empty brass, knives, holsters, etc. He handled background checks and shipping. I received a nice check in about two weeks after the auction closed. I have since assisted a woman selling her late husband's collection. Again, guns, ammo, brass, etc. In the past, I have put firearms on consignment with a local FFL who lists on Gun Broker and has an active online presence. Took much longer to get paid. You might check to see if you have that option. Certainly saved me a lot of grief and hassles.

Thanks for the info to all.
I think about this topic a bit myself.

Just want to say it doesn't hurt to make a list of what you have and value at purchase.
Current day value is great too if you want to include that.
Might take 2 or 3 minutes of your life. Or it might take a little more...


If you have this and a relationship with local dealers who deal in estates and collections you have a great start. Or at least contact info to said dealers. It is well ahead of zero. And none of it goes anywhere without at least one trusted someone who knows what your wishes are and where all lists and info are located.

Speedo-
I have been told by a shipping outfit and by an ffl holder that there has been a change: no more shipping by a private party to an ffl for the purpose of transfer of ownership, it now has to go ffl to ffl.

This requirement applies to handguns, to the best of my knowledge.

tubeshooter said:

Thanks for the info to all.
I think about this topic a bit myself.

Just want to say it doesn't hurt to make a list of what you have and value at purchase.
Current day value is great too if you want to include that.
Might take 2 or 3 minutes of your life. Or it might take a little more...

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A shooting buddy thats older than I am keeps a record of his stuff. He list the gun and anything important about it and the purchase price. Then once a year, usually on New Years Day, he puts a current value next to the listing. Thats a little much for me but its a good idea!

Coyote3855 said:

I'm about to do a second round of downsizing. Fortunately for me, there is an online auction dealer within 75 miles. First round, everything sold - firearms, ammo, empty brass, knives, holsters, etc. He handled background checks and shipping. I received a nice check in about two weeks after the auction closed. I have since assisted a woman selling her late husband's collection. Again, guns, ammo, brass, etc. In the past, I have put firearms on consignment with a local FFL who lists on Gun Broker and has an active online presence. Took much longer to get paid. You might check to see if you have that option. Certainly saved me a lot of grief and hassles.

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I have also done that before because I have an auction company 20 miles away. Fees were reasonable and items brought stupid money; people really get caught up in bidding wars and sometimes end up bidding a lot higher than what an item is reasonably worth.

Waveski said:

“ORM-D
Small pistol cartridges “
That’s how I was instructed to mark the package the last time I shipped ammunition.
That was several years ago - be sure to comply with current regulations.

Click to expand...

The ORMD marking was a US standard and is now obsolete. The current marking is a black and white diamond that must be on the outside of the package. For details see:
https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...s-materials-guide/how-to-ship-ammunition.page

Waveski said:

The feds have tightened up the laws regarding the shipment of handguns. As a private party you must ship from a federal license holder - ffl - to a(n) ffl.

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Do you have a citation for this new law? I know FedEx now only accepts FFL to FFL firearms shipments, but AFAIK, UPS still ships private party to FFL, even for handguns, although they do requite Next Day shipping.
https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...egulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page

I have gone to the consignment route for firearms. My lgs does me right and knows prices. Yeah he gets his cut but I have been getting what I want out of the deal even after his cut. I don't have to deal with anything except for setting a price. If it don't sell for what I want I pick it up or lower the price. Leave it long enough and it will sell.

FWIW: Do not agree to ship loaded ammo to anyone in California. We presently have "laws" that prohibit the sale or even giving loaded ammo by individuals. Even to buy ammo requires three forms from a gun store.

Waveski said:

Speedo-
I have been told by a shipping outfit and by an ffl holder that there has been a change: no more shipping by a private party to an ffl for the purpose of transfer of ownership, it now has to go ffl to ffl.

This requirement applies to handguns, to the best of my knowledge.

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Not according to the ATF websight.

" May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her 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 or ammunition, prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm and requires obtaining written acknowledgement of receipt.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a)(5), 922(e) and (f); 27 CFR 478.30 and 478.31]

Last Reviewed January 30, 2020"

I am sure there are some states that have laws on the books that come into play. But according to this you as a individual can ship a fire arm to a FFL dealer.

WB

Getting said common carrier to accept your box after he learns it is a GUN will be the trick, law permitting it notwithstanding.

I do not have citation for the handgun shipping restrictions I referenced.
As stated , I was going on info told to me by my regular shipping business and by a nearby gun dealer. It is possible that they confused law with tightening restrictions from certain shippers. The de facto interpretation for me , from where I am , is that I need to go through an ffl for outbound shipping.