Moving Companies and Firearms

When I moved in to this house the previous owner had everything including his truck taken to Idaho - but they wouldn't take the ammo so I got lots of 9mm and .45acp and tons of 12ga slugs and shells. Worked out well for me, but I always move my guns myself and then have the safe company move the safe separate from the move since it's 1250lbs empty and I ain't moving it.
 
I was faced with the same question five years ago and opted to get a U Haul trailer, loaded one 1,300 lb safe and ammo, with the guns separately in large locked alumium boxes and drove the 1,300 miles in two days. I was sleeping in the truck at a rest stop and had my dog with me. The other moving goods and safes were inside a closed 20 foot container.

I probably have a few more guns than the average guy.
 
I should have mentioned earlier that when I moved I had two RSCs - a Liberty Lincoln and an AMSEC. It was easier, and cheaper, to just leave them in the old house. They were both in the refrigerator or less weight class, so I could have had the movers do it but I didn’t think it was worth the hassle for the weak protection they offered.

At the new house I bought a TL30x6. I had that moved once within the house, and it was safe and relatively cheap ($500) to have it moved by a pro. If we move from this place I’ll empty the safe and have it moved by pros as it’s 3400 lbs empty.
 
A buddy used Lowland and they would not allow firearms or ammo or any type Coleman lantern or grill. He ended up getting a U-haul and trucking it down with a sleeping bag used as padding. And the sleeping bag came in handy since the moving company switched drivers at a truck stop in the Carolinas due to bad weather on the way to Floirda. The new driver didn't pick the load for 3 weeks. Good thing their new house came with appliances and they camped out in the living room. Of course they didn't have to worry about a zombie attack either. lol
 
I moved all mine from Ohio to South Carolina 5 years ago. Went to the dollar general and bought about 30 towels. Wrapped them up in the back of my car with 80# of gunpowder and primers.

Everything made it to the new house safely.
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I know there are some success stories with moving companies. I think I may try to let them move some as long as they can guarantee their value if stolen. But I have too many that can't be replaced, so I think I will just drive them myself plus I have too many hazardous things they won't take that I wont sell.
 
I’ve moved 6 times. All with guns and ammunition. All in my personal vehicles. Moving companies have they they will not move either. Now, have insurance on my guns and it covers even when moving to another state. I would still carry them in my vehicle.
 
I'm about to move across the country myself and I'm leaning towards renting a truck but hire the safe movers to load up my safes because they're just too heavy for me to move at 1100 pounds. And I'll be able to move my ammo propane bottles, grills, etc.
 
HPJeep said:
I'm about to move across the country myself and I'm leaning towards renting a truck but hire the safe movers to load up my safes because they're just too heavy for me to move at 1100 pounds. And I'll be able to move my ammo propane bottles, grills, etc.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same. I need to move guns, ammo, propane, cleaning supplies, etc. So basically move everything that is hazardous or irreplacable.
 
When we escaped from NJ back to America (WV), we put all of our firearms, and ammo in a U-Haul trailer, and we were glad we did. No worries about theft or loss this way.
 
Moved 1200 miles. Our goods filled an entire (long) semi trailer and we were assured that the thing would not be opened until it arrived at destination 3 days later. Some guns were packed in padded cases with a layer of sealed paper (like with insured mail). I used of few of those cheap lockable $100 gun cabinets as crates and with internal padding each of them held 6 long guns. The truck was packed with hardly any empty space and it would have been very difficult for a thief to unload 40% of it to get to the guns. The moving company wanted a list of models and serials and it was returned to me after I signed off that all was received.

The ammo was shipped UPS. Look into their flat rate option. I paid $80 to ship one 30 lb create before I discovered the flat rate option. Back in 2021 each flat rate 30-40 lb crate cost about $35 to ship.
 
I have moved firearms and ammunition several times with base and duty station changes with the military. Part of the reason why I maintain a modest collection, even when I am out of the life. I will trust a moving company to move plenty of things. Furniture, books, clothing, (empty) safes, and years worth of stuff. But every time, I moved my own computers, firearms, booze, ammo, and a week's worth of clothes or so in case of delays.

Moving my own guns and ammo, I didn't have to worry about their insurance policy, lost or late stuff, stolen firearms that I would have to report (like to Ft Drum and NY authorities). My only focus was following FOPA to a T and keeping my most important possessions near me. Even if I was moving across country in a sedan with my ammo strapped into the back seat by a seat belt, 3 dogs and a newborn across the other side of the back seat, and guns in the trunk. Have done it. Get the biggest truck you need and move it yourself. Less hassle that way.
 
I moved from kaliphornia to Idaho! Company moved the safe, I moved the goodies! Just felt better with them in my direct possession , but that 's just me.
 
I moved multiple safes at one point with a moving company, packed tightly with the firearms protected inside. The movers couldn't open the safes, and considering they were loaded on the nose with everything else in front of them, and the fact it took a forklift to get them in and out of the trucks, I was comfortable that the entire truck would have to be stolen before the moving company personnel would go through that trouble to OBVIOUSLY give someone access (or access themselves) to steal the safes.

I moved family from MN to TX in 1999, and the movers insist they didn't pack, move, or possess two revolvers and an old rifle which were packed inside of one of the dressers. We moved again since, meaning we unpacked, repacked, and unpacked again, and somehow have never found those firearms for which the moving company swears they never had custody... So no, I wouldn't trust any means of transportation where any individual firearm didn't come with the burden of weighing over 1,000lbs to grow legs.

In every move other than those two, I have personally transported all of my firearms. Planning one more move in my life, at least only one more where my firearms would be coming with me, I'll move them personally again.
 
As I said before, when we moved - the moving boss and I went over each firearm. It was documented and each of us had copies of the paper work. I also took pictures of the guns in their cases before they were closed up.

The packing was approved for safety and locked in approved cases. That might deter casual theft. On arrival, the guns were clearly marked in the inventory. Don't do this and think you can hide valuables, thieves have seen it all. Document and insure. Other valuables went UPS and were gone over item by item at their central place and insured. They were set to be held until we arrived.

One also needs to consider carrying banned items across some states. It is clear you cannot stop with banned items except to pee and it's not clear that FOPA will protect you in a stop by the law.
 
You always come up short on some things. We lost the center leaf of a dining room table. I'm sure that wasn't by some crime ring. That's why you have an inventory.

Moving yourself is fine but if you have an entire house and family possessions - that didn't work for us.

However, one guy I knew had an estate sale and ditched everything as his was a long distance and down sized move. Moved only high value - jewelry, guns, etc. Enough clothes to live for a bit. Then they rebought new stuff. Why ship an old big TV for instance?

Yes, your beloved will make you take the pictures. Bah, I went through and just kept archetypal ones of family and events. Ditched the multiples. For example, moving my dad's plaques and trophies - nope. Just something, my kid would throw out when I died. I kept just one example of many.

We are still finding things and say - why did we take that? Off to a charity.
 
theotherwaldo said:
I've lost count of how many times that I've moved.
Over fifty times, for sure.
Click to expand...
Wow! :eek:
My wife and I have been married since 1971, and I can literally count the number of times we've moved on one hand. At least moving so often keeps you from collecting a bunch of superfluous junk like my wife and I have collected over the years, doesn't it? :)
 
Over 50? Wow, you are in an elite category. We have moved 25 times and I thought that was a lot. But when we did all that moving, my grandfather and dad had all the guns, so it was never an issue for me. I will move all the stuff the movers won't, so I will transport them myself. A little bit of a pain to drive west to east coast but at east I'll have piece if mind knowing my collection is safe. Thanks everyone for all the replies.
 
Haha, yes, you are better off not moving. It would be a small fortune to move all that.
 
Rubone said:
I can never move. It is an impossibility. House on right w/storage shed/carport in foreground, shop on left upper with barn below and garden with white shade cloth between. Every bit of it is full to the brim (well, the house not so much). Shop is pretty full.:oops: 40" container on far side of the barn packed full. Etc...:D
View attachment 1149644
View attachment 1149645
Click to expand...


The two-tone Knuckle in the foreground, the one with the half windscreen.... Oh my....:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Moving guns - relocation services
Replies
22
Views
1K
Smokey in PHX
S
ruger1228
  • Locked
Firearm Insurance
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Ironclad
I
P
  • Locked
Homeowners/Rental Insurance Companies
Replies
14
Views
868
IlikeSA
I
R
  • Locked
Moving a gun safe Interstate
2 3
Replies
51
Views
3K
George P
George P
K
  • Locked
How to move guns?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
wdlsguy
W
Back
Top