Cost of shipping a long gun?

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Norton

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I'm about to send off my FAL for a refinish and general service. I know UPS will ship it, but it is darned inconvenient to get to the UPS building since the UPS store won't handle the transaction.

I was thinking about asking the owner of the local Gun Mart to send it out with his daily pickup from UPS and reimburse him for the cost.

The package would be going from MD to AZ. Any guesstimates on what it should cost?
 
Go to ups.com and enter the to/from zip codes, size and weight and they will tell you. If your FFL is a high volume customer, there may be a discount. Also a long gun can be sent by USPS.
 
Common misconception.........

Fact: you do not have to ship from an FFL. Long guns cost a standard flat rate of $10.75 pistols are $7.50. The post office has "FLAT RATE" shipping boxes they use for pistols. If someone tries to sell you a gun and tells you they MUST ship through FFL go elsewhere. Another thing, FFL holders DO NOT PAY to receive shipments so if a dealer charges you an outrageous price.....again, go elsewhere. My local dealer charges $10 for 1, $15-2, and he will receive ANY amount for $20.

PS.
If using UPS: If you print your own label and drop it off you save 50%. If you go to "THE UPS STORE" they charge you 3X the price if you do not print your own label.
 
Hi-tech, could you please let me know how to get standard flat rate shipping for long guns? I do all my handguns through USPS in the flat rate boxes, but I've never seen an offer for a flat rate long box. Any info. would be appreciated.

thanks
 
To be honest I Have never shipped a long gun USPS I was just going off what I have been told, Henry reiforced what I was told. I use FedEx for all long guns NOT UPS!!!! UPS frowns on shipping firearms, in Ohio anyway. The big "flat rate" boxes at the post office might fit a rifle broken down??? As long as it's under 70 lbs it's $7.50.might not fit though:rolleyes:
 
I agree, I do not think there will be any way to get a long gun in the flat rate box.

I live in a rural county so my choices are the brown man or USPS. USPS rates are cheaper but their Insurance runs the cost up fast. Often brown can do my shipping on long guns cheaper. Handguns go by the flat rate box and it runs about 15.00 Insured.
 
To be honest I Have never shipped a long gun USPS I was just going off what I have been told, Henry reiforced what I was told. I use FedEx for all long guns NOT UPS!!!! UPS frowns on shipping firearms, in Ohio anyway. The big "flat rate" boxes at the post office might fit a rifle broken down??? As long as it's under 70 lbs it's $7.50.might not fit thoug
Click to expand...

Who ever told you UPS does not ship firearms in Ohion is a complete idiot or a liar. I live in non gun friendly Massachusetts, and have no problems shipping or receiving firearms through UPS or Fedex.
 
hotpig said:
Must be something that the big city Post Offices have. We have a Flat rate Priority box for 7.70 that is big enough for handguns. After adding Insurance it goes up to about 15.00.
Click to expand...

A gun owner can not ship a handgun through the US Postal Service. This is a direct quote from their site.

"Handguns may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer or dealer, an authorized federal agent, or an authorized state, territory, or district agent ONLY when addressed to one of the following addressee categories for use in official duties:
Addressee Affidavit Requirements
a. Officer of Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or organized reserve corps.
b. Officer of National Guard or militia of a state, district, or territory.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by commanding officer.
c. Officer of the federal government or a state, district, or territory whose official duty is to serve warrants of arrest or commitment.
d. USPS employees specifically authorized by the chief postal inspector.
e. Officer or employee of a U.S. enforcement agency.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by head of agency employing the addressee.
f. Watchman engaged in guarding federal, state, district, or territory property.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by chief clerk of department, bureau, or branch of government agency employing the addressee.
g. Purchasing agent or other designated member of an agency employing officers and personnel included in c, d, or e above.
Mailable with affidavit signed by addressee and certificate signed by the head of agency stating the firearm is to be used by an officer or employee cited in c, d, or e of the opposite column.
Unloaded Handgun
Mailer must be licensed manufacturer or dealer mailing to another licensed manufacturer or dealer. Addressee is FBI (or it's director) or scientific lab or crime detection bureau of any agency whose members are federal law enforcement officers, or state, district, or territory officers authorized to serve warrants of arrest or commitment. Manufacturers or dealers must complete PS form 1508, Statement by Shipper of firearms, and file with postmaster.
Postmasters may forward an unsatisfactory mailer statement to their RCSC for a ruling"
 
HiTech78 said:
Fact: you do not have to ship from an FFL. Long guns cost a standard flat rate of $10.75 pistols are $7.50. The post office has "FLAT RATE" shipping boxes they use for pistols. If someone tries to sell you a gun and tells you they MUST ship through FFL go elsewhere. Another thing, FFL holders DO NOT PAY to receive shipments so if a dealer charges you an outrageous price.....again, go elsewhere. My local dealer charges $10 for 1, $15-2, and he will receive ANY amount for $20.

PS.
If using UPS: If you print your own label and drop it off you save 50%. If you go to "THE UPS STORE" they charge you 3X the price if you do not print your own label.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info HiTech. I was aware that I didn't need the FFL to ship, it was just a matter of convenience since it's a PITA to get to the UPS terminal from where I am.

I guess that I'll go to the USPS since it's closer.


For all: Those prices seem pretty low.....I thought that it had to go overnight. As I was tooling around the UPS site it looked like it was going to be upwards of $50.00 :confused:
 
I'd like to know how everypne is getting those rates. FEDEX charges $97 with $1000.00 insurance overnight from MD to AZ. They required the overnight shipping. :confused:
 
FEDEX charged you as if it were a handgun and stuck you with the overnight rate. They made a mistake and you paid for it. Did you challenge the clerk to show you where the manual said it had to go evernight?
 
Norton- GO TO THE POST OFFICE! You will be happy. I promise.

With UPS and Fedex, you run the risk of hit or miss, poorly informed/trained employees, managers, and copy service professionals. If you are very lucky, you will run into the right people, at right time, at right location and you'll get reasonable shipping on a long gun from UPS or Fedex. Your time is worth more than the hassle.

Again, go to the post office and ship your long gun. Happiness awaits.
 
CBSBYTE,

You missed the key word in the regulation you posted. Handgun.

It is true that a mere citizen can not ship a hand gun.

But mere citizens can ship rifles all day long. To a manufacturer or an FFL.

I have done it several times. I always bring the USPS rules with me. On one occasion I have had to teach the postal worker his rules. The rest of the time I was met by postal workers who knew the rules.
 
Grrr.....I even asked the folks at the 1-800 # if a rifle had to go overnight....they said all firearms go overnight. Guess caveat emptor applies here......

I wonder if I were to find the regs and ask for a refund because the clerk gave me the wrong information? :banghead:
 
From the FEDEX site:


Firearms

FedEx Express can only accept and deliver firearms between areas served in the U.S. under the following conditions: (1) you agree to tender shipments of firearms to us only when either the shipper or recipient is a licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, licensed dealer or licensed collector and is not prohibited from making such shipments by local, state or federal regulations; (2) the shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable state law.

Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. or with a signature release. Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx is required to notify the FedEx employee who accepts the package that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.

You also agree not to ship firearms loaded or with ammunition in the same package. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.

http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html
 
I've used USPS to ship rifles several times, no hassle. However, I called around first to several POs to find one with a guy who was savvy on the regs, and went and asked for him.

The lesson learned for me was that not all POs know the regs. I had TWO post offices INSIST me that I had to have an FFL in order to ship a rifle thru USPS to an FFL holder -- even though I showed them my printout of their OWN regs.
 
45Badger said:
Norton- GO TO THE POST OFFICE! You will be happy. I promise.

With UPS and Fedex, you run the risk of hit or miss, poorly informed/trained employees, managers, and copy service professionals. If you are very lucky, you will run into the right people, at right time, at right location and you'll get reasonable shipping on a long gun from UPS or Fedex. Your time is worth more than the hassle.

Again, go to the post office and ship your long gun. Happiness awaits.
Click to expand...

The mean lady at the USPS told me i had to be a FFL to ship my broken down shotgun to a gunsmith.
I told her she was mistaken so she checked with her supervisor and he said that is policy.
SOOOOOO I took it to the USPS next town over and he did it gladly.
i called USPO customer service when i got home and the lady told me it was ok to ship and to tell the mean lady to call customer service if there was another problem.
:( Copy regs from USPS web site they dont all know them.
UPS is also requiring a receivers FFL# new regs i was told.
:cuss:
 
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