Moving Companies / Guns

[xjchief]

What kind of federal restrictions are there on moving guns when you move? I'm getting a 40' shipping container and am wondering if I can put my guns in it too. Also looking for the best way to ship all my ammo with them.

Thanks

XJ

(posting in wrong section I think...)

 

[Detachment Charlie]

From my experience with a national moving company (the name begins with a "B"), I'd want the driver's, sales person's, warehouse manager's and general managers's home phone numbers and addresses. Then, I'd want complete dossiers on their families, including 8x 10 color glossy prints of everyone. If any of them have a good hunting dog, I'd hold the dog until my stuff arrived and compensation was made in coin of the realm or gold for any and all damages to my stuff.
After used car sales people get tossed out for ethics violations, they go to work for moving companies.
Of course, that's just my opinion. YMMV

 

[george29]

Heard too many horror stories involving moving companies. Many of them are actually foreign. Read the contract carefully, many of them are allowed to add on charges as they see fit even though you already think the price is fixed. Also, many of their contract allow for them to store your goods for any nimber of reasons you never thought of and they sock you with ridiculous storage charges. I would suggest that irreplaceable items and heirlooms be taken with you in a u-haul trailer. FWIW

 

[xjchief]

Unless there are any floating Uhaul trucks that's not an option. I'm just wondering about transportation legalities. I'd prefer that I didn't let them know what was in the container for it's safety and my privacy.

 

[duckslayer]

1, I don't think any of them will allow firearms or ammunition on board the truck (they didn't in my case)...2, prepare to have some of your stuff stolen anyway so I certainly wouldn't put any of my guns on there.

 

[bogie]

Car.

Trunk.

Soft cases.

Ground floor motels with outside doors.

 

[harbingerm]

No car, bogie. OP said something about no floating U-Haul trucks, so I take it he's moving somewhere and it either has to go by air or ship. Wonder where... I can't imagine him trying to take it to any foreign country. Hawaii, perhaps? Sound like a military (Navy) transfer with "xjchief" and being in Jax, Fl.

 

[drphil]

Take them apart as much as you can. Put one part in each box. Dont say anything.

If you get to load the container yourself, I dont see it being a problem (especially if you get to lock it and dont have to give them a key).

 

[harbingerm]

When I was in the Navy and transferred, I packed up my firearms myself and had them moved many times and never had a problem. That even includes being in long term storage stateside for two years when I was stationed over seas. They were declared on the inventory sheet, complete with serial numbers. Even if they already knew it, I ALWAYS made clear to the pack up crew and the moving company management that I would prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, including FBI and BATFE involvement. Also threw in that I had free JAG/legal counsel as a Navy benefit, too. Never EVER had anything firearm related lost/stolen. Sort of like what I've heard about never losing a checked bag on an airline. Declare/check a firearm and THAT bag won't get lost because they know TSA/FBI/BATFE WILL get involved if that happens. FBI, especially since moving and flying are generally done across state lines so they have jurisdiction.

 

[no_problem]

I would not feel safe. the best you could hope for is nothing happens. If you need to report any "irregularities",

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/espa%F1ol/english/cc_index.htm

But still, it's best to do things yourself.

You want to make sure your guns are good to go from state to state to wherever you go to. Plus if you have ammo, it runs into hazmat issues.

Tell you what, send 'em to me. I'll hold em for you.

 

[DBSweetwood]

I don't know if it is a military regulation, or a rule of the moving companies that the military caontract with, but whenever I get relocated with the Army I have to move all firearms, ammunition, and powder myself. The Army uses many different national moving companies, and none of them will ship these items. Even when I get stationed over seas, I have to personally ship all firearms. As my collection gets larger, it is getting more and more difficult, even on stateside moves. I just hope I never get stationed in any of the ban states, I would have to leave many of my favorite firearms with family for however many years I was stationed there.

 

[chris in va]

I wonder if you can use one of your own padlocks on the container.

 

[illinisnare]

Detachment Charlie - Sorry to hear of your bad experiences. I work for a moving company. We are not ethically challenged. The industry does not have the best reputation, but a few bad apples spoil the cart for the rest of us.
My warehouse manager has his FFL. Stick with a good national carrier (united/Allied/mayflower/northAmerican) and you should be fine.

OP asked about Federal requlations, and he was getting a shipping container. Is he going to Alaska, Hawaii, or elsewhere? I believe the movers have to list them on the inventory as "sporting goods" noting the serial #. They can not take any ammmunition. I recommend handguns be moved on your person.

If you truly being containerized, you want to ensure the container has a good seal before you allow your goods to be loaded. Get inside, and shut the doors, look for any light. You should be concerned about damage from moisture in containers.

Let me know what kind of move you are actually having, and I'll send you the pertinent information.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The Army seems to be very different from the Navy at least. Unloaded firearms are allowed in HHG shipments. So is empty brass, but try telling the packers that, I had to have the HHG shipment person come out and tell them the empty brass and bullets for reloading were OK. I had a Uhaul trailer that I moved my own firearms with about 60 lbs of powder in.

Primers, powder, loaded ammo and primed brass is not allowed. For the OP, the unloaded firearms are allowed, ammo is not. But, since it's going overseas, what are the laws concerning your importation/possession of firearms where you will end up?

 

[xjchief]

I guess what I'm really asking is do I have any legal requirement to list my guns in the shipment? I will seal the container myself.

 

[Ed Ames]

IF the container is being moved by someone that meets the legal definition of "common carrier" or "contract carrier" and traveling interstate/internationally then YES you must notify them per 18 USC 922(something) (the reference may be wrong but the requirement stands).

Common carrier is basically anyone who transports goods and/or people for the general public as a service... that's most trucking, airline, shipping, and similar outfits including just about anyone I can think of that would ship containers around, but NOT someone you hire to drive a truck you've rented (as an example). It's more complicated than that but a good general assumption is that they are all "common carriers".

 

[mekender]

you are in JAX, so im guessing navy... you are talking about moving and needing transport over water so that eliminates everywhere but Hawaii... if you were moving overseas, you wouldnt be able to take your guns... so HI it is... you might not be able to bring some of those to HI with you... HI has vastly different laws from FL, so i would strongly suggest you check those out

 

[Pat-inCO]

and am wondering if I can put my guns in it too.

Depends - - do you want them when it gets to the other end?

 

[drizzico]

What I would recommend is that you DON'T ship and weapons. The Armies band to shipping is probably a reaction to having to many weapons stolen. When I got out of the Air Force I had a lever action Marlin that my dad had given me. I had it shipped with my property to Fl. where it was in storage until I needed it. By the time I had to get it out of storage because the Air Force wouldn't pay for storage anymore I had found out that the weapon had been stolen. I felt like a fool since the Air Force had always warn us about shipping weapons and I didn't listen (hell I had shipped three times before with no problems...) young and stupid...:banghead:

Take care have a safe trip. And thanks for your service.

Dave

 

[Walter W.]

Make sure they don't wrap each individual toilet paper roll with bubble wrap. If they do, don't pay them. Don't ask how I know this.

 

[Prince Yamato]

For most moving companies, you have to declare whether or not you are shipping firearms. I've moved from Canada to the US and then throughout the US. Atlas Van Lines (my preferred movers because they are cheaper than Mayflower, the other main mover and because they are good) is my recommendation. You MUST declare if you are shipping firearms. If you do not and something happens to your box (wrong delivery) etc. you will most likely be held liable. If the moving company is discovered to have firearms that are not declared and they get into legal trouble, guess who they'll probably sue to recoup their losses? Oh yeah, you'd also be guilty of fraud. The disassembling recommendation is flawed because parts like the receiver are still legally the gun.

Move the guns yourself in your car. If you do not have a car, ship them to yourself. "Putting one over" on the movers is not smart. In fact, it's dishonest and possibly illegal.

 

[scout26]

Make sure they don't wrap each individual toilet paper roll with bubble wrap. If they do, don't pay them. Don't ask how I know this.

Also make sure all your trash cans are empty. Don't let them ship half full trash cans. Don't ask how I know this.....

 

[xjchief]

Change of plans anyway. Container is out as I'm sick of the endless headaches of trying to coordinate delivery on both ends. Guns are going into long term storage with all my other guns at my super secret hideaway in the mountains of Idaho. (Parents house)

I'm taking just those that were registered in Hawaii before as I'm not interested in the trip down to HPD. Those few that remain will be at the mercy of the airline bag smashers

 

[luzyfuerza]

I listed all my guns (including serial numbers) on the manifest when I placed most of my household goods in storage before leaving on an overseas assignment.

The manifest came in very handy when I had to make an insurance claim against the mover when they couldn't produce my handguns when I came back to the US.

Do everything above board, and your pocketbook will balance in the end.

I still feel terrible, though, knowing that those guns are "on the streets" somewhere. Careless movers!

 

[ilbob]

Moving companies as a whole have a deserved bad rap. many of them hire ex-cons.

A friend of mine moved and had every one of his guns stolen from the moving van of a nationally known company. the company's response was to pay him off by the pound. I think he got several dollars per pound of lost merchandise. That alone should tell you a lot about the industry in general.

Often even the national names in the business are not really involved in the actual move, as local affiliates do the actual work. In many cities, these companies are owned by criminal elements.

There are also many scams that they will play on you, and since they have your stuff, you are not in a good position to resist their scams.

You best bet is to avoid using moving companies if at all possible. When you can't, move valuables seperately, since there is often no recourse if they steal or damage your goods.