Moving cross country with firearms,ammo,all reloading stuff

[kelo4u2]

[I am going to be moving from the peoples Republic of New Jersey to New Mexico with all of my guns and reloading stuff - powder primers and ammo. Could someone tell me the easiest way to move everything. I will not be driving out myself. Was thinking of renting one of those pods or something like that.
Thanks

 

[buck1032]

Most, if not all movers will not move ammo, primers or powder. You will have to come up with a way to get it there yourself. Good luck.

 

[glock36]

I don't know what amounts of reloading supply's you have but when I was in the house hold moving trade, boxes that were packed and sealed by the customer were labeled as
(packed by owner, contents and condition unknown) kind of takes the monkey of the drivers back if you know what I mean
Good luck
God speed

 

[Ken C]

Must tell a story about moving reloading stuff from California to Arizona.

About 4 years ago I purchased a ton (literally) of reloading stuff from a former neighbor from when I lived in San Diego. Included was 15-20 pounds of various powders, huge quantities of primers, bullets galore ... you get the picture.

OK, loaded all this into the bed of a Ford Ranger, locked down the hard tonneau cover, and headed to Phoenix. First thing I noticed was the poor little Ranger was a bit overloaded, not much acceleration, headlights scanning the sky.

No real problems driving on I8 through California, a little slow through the mountains. Into Arizona, east of Yuma, a Border Patrol check point, oh no, this could be interesting.

And, the dogs are on duty.

So, here I am with 'explosive materials', in an overloaded truck (could be full of illegals). I am starting to sweat !! Pull up to the officer, he gives me the hard stare, I know I'm about to have a heart attack. And then, he waves me through ! Trying to stay calm, I smile and head on down the road.

Got home and made sure the bourbon had not spoiled in my absence ...

 

[22-rimfire]

I will not be driving out myself.

You flying or taking a bus? Does that mean you don't own a car or shipping the car(s)?

I would suggest you drive and use a U-Haul type trailer depending on the volume involved. You could very easily loose your guns if commercial movers move you. No ammo allowed unless you sneak it into the load. A pod might work if the movers do not open the pod between the pick up and delivery points. I am sure you will have to provide keys to the lock or they will cut it off and replace it with their own.

Good story Ken C.

Added: I transport all high value or sensitive items myself. I have done several 1000+ mile moves. My feeling is that if you want the "stuff", you need to take care of it personally. If you don't care, have the movers pack and haul everything that is legal.

 

[JackSaxet]

Moving cross country

UPS has a pod service I used two years ago to move from Oregon to Texas. They drop it off at your site, you load it, they pick it up and deliver it on the other end. They will even hold it (for a small fee) if you don't want it delivered right away. Your lock, your key - contents undisturbed.

 

[MEHavey]

Whenever I moved (PCS's over 30 years), I rented a small U-Haul and packed everything in there (light gunsafe/guns/HAZMAT stuff,etc) that the movers wouldn't/couldn't and/or I didn't want to move. It was relatively convenient, as secure as anything can be (short of very large boltcutters and a determined BG that had to pick among many U-Hauls), and didn't leave me vulnerable to incredible liability if I PBO'd and gave it to the common carrier.

 

[Wedge]

Most, if not all movers will not move ammo, primers or powder. You will have to come up with a way to get it there yourself. Good luck.

My movers wouldn't touch anything, I had to move it myself. renting a U-haul would be the way to go.

 

[esheato]

I moved last year from CA to TX.

Used a double axle Uhaul for safe, powder, primers, ammunition and guns. I gutted the safe of all shelving, and soft cased all the weapons and mashed them into the safe. Safe on it's back, locked, and the trailer was locked too. No problems whatsoever. I am glad we moved in the winter (Nov timeframe). Last thing I wanted was to move that rolling bomb through the desert in the summer.

 

[makarovnik]

Good luck, hope you don't get pulled over.

 

[FL Trainer]

Kelo go to the NRA website and find (I think its moving with firearms) the federal ruling on transporting firearms for the purpose of moving to a new location. The feds allow you to do this it is legal. Make sure all firearms are secure, dismantle handguns and rifles, remove bolts and slides etc. Keep ammo separate, ammo cans work great depending how much you have. Secure the cans with padlocks.

When I moved from NY to Florida in 2000 I packed my Camry with all my rifles, handguns, ammo, reloading items etc. I had one thing on my mind.....getting stopped. Jersey and Maryland were my only worry. If I would've gotten stopped the papers would've had a field day with me, (Arsenal found in vehicle traveling to FL.) even though it was absolutely legal.

When you find that paperwork download and print those items, keep them with you during the trip. Don't speed or do anything that will draw attention to yourself.

It took me 18 hrs. from Long Island to Summerfield FL., I stopped for fast food and gas. I never left the car. Get some NO-DOZE they work great.

Stay safe.....Carl

 

[tekarra]

My mover packed everything, said it was household goods. However, I had no primers nor powder.

 

[Sooner1911]

I temporarily moved from Texas to NYC in 2007 with most of my stuff going into storage until I return. Movers said no powder or primers. No way would I trust my guns to a mover. My dad's guns are irreplaceable. They moved my safe to my brother's home and I drove all of my guns/reloading supplies in my personal vehicle. I got a nickle size paint chip knocked off the safe in the move, but at least I knew my guns were treated right. I never really thought about getting pulled over, but I had 2 handguns/16 rifles/4 shotguns in my trunk and kept to the speed limit. No problems.

 

[nalioth]

Make sure all firearms are secure, dismantle handguns and rifles, remove bolts and slides etc.

This it so totally not required. Where did you hear this?

 

[FL Trainer]

Nalioth, Kelo go to the NRA-ILA site and find The Guide To The Interstate Transportation of Firearms, it will explain all that's needed to know. Print a copy too carry with you. Most LEO's aren't aware of the laws fed or state.

Maybe dismantling was the wrong word, all I did was remove the bolts and slides which isn't required by any law, as long as their secure; I did it strickly as a precautionary measure. I believe in Murphy's Law.

Stay safe guys.....Carl

 

[Fleetman]

Last year I moved from Texas to Pennsylvania and had to use a commercial mover to move around 100 firearms along with the usual household furnishings and a 1200 lb safe. We discussed the situation with the mover and had to provide a manifest of what was included firearms wise. I also purchased additional insurance. Naturally, they would not carry our 400 lb+ of ammo and reloading stuff. The driver assured me all would be ok but I was worried big time for the four days my stuff was in transit but all arrived fine.

My only issue was the moving company neglected to arrange safe-moving equipment on the Pa end and they manhandled the safe into the house resulting in a small scratch on the door when it slipped off of the way-too-small dolly they tried to use....ended up with a $700 insurance settlement for the scratch. The appraiser said it could be easily repaired by any competent auto body shop for about $100, which is true, but when I asked him about transporting the safe to the body shop, he relented and agreed to the transport charges back and forth thus the $700 settlement.

The ammo and stuff rode in my pick-up. Carry guns were "protected" by small under-seat gun safes for the communist states we had to pass through.

 

[GLShooter]

I would go the pod route if I couldn't haul it myself. I moved from Oklahoma to Arizona once with a 15' truck. It had a bed, a chair, a dresser and some kitchen stuff. The rest was reloading gear and guns. It was completely full. I had enough goodies to outfit the Senola Cartel in there.

I would do it again in a heart beat rather than let a mover touch my stuff.

Greg

 

[NMGonzo]

Welcome to New Mexico.

Enjoy spending all your money in guns and ammo, and wasting the rest.

 

[Nuclear]

I've moved guns & ammo from the People's Democratic State of Chicago (also known as Illinois) to Florida in the trunk of the car I was using to get my 75 pound Lab to Florida. That wasn't too bad, three days in a car with my son and dog, stopped at motels and relatives on the way down. (The movers would not move guns and ammo.)

Fast forward to a few months from now, I'll be moving to Arizona with a lot more guns, ammo, reloading equipment & supplies (including primers!) and a gun safe. I expect to make a road trip with my son and dog again, this time my son will be driving part of the 4 day trip, and my guns will go with me.

My only concern is how much the movers will charge us for the safe, and will they get the right equipment to move it on both ends.

 

[Ala Dan]

Sorry, but I must stay with MY guns and handloading equipment; as I just
don't trust mover's~!

 

[22-rimfire]

My only concern is how much the movers will charge us for the safe, and will they get the right equipment to move it on both ends.

Easy to find out. They charge by the pound. As far as the right equipment, if it can't be moved with a hand truck (regular or appliance), I doubt they will have the right equipment with them. So I would be prepared unless you want your safe man handled.

Once when I moved, I moved a bunch of lumber that I had in my garage. Boy that was a mistake. Afterwards, I figured it cost me more than the lumber cost. The weight issue is important and you have to weigh the costs involved to decide if it is worth it to you.

You can't totally trust movers. If you are concerned about something, transport it yourself or sell it. Of course, you could always ship the firearms to a FFL dealer and pick them up there. I would definitely discuss this with the dealer prior to any shipping.

 

[leadcounsel]

How does a POD compare to say, renting/buying a trailer to tow or renting a Uhaul truck? Talking about price for a cross country move...

 

[nalioth]

You can't totally trust movers. If you are concerned about something, transport it yourself or sell it. Of course, you could always ship the firearms to a FFL dealer and pick them up there. I would definitely discuss this with the dealer prior to any shipping.

Why would you do this?

They're your firearms, and you're not trading, selling or giving them away.

You'd have to fill out a 4473 on each of them when picking them up, get a NICS check, be entered into the "buys more than two handguns in a week" program (if one owns more than two handguns), plus whatever Xfer fees might be involved.


. . all for no benefit that I can discern.

 

[22-rimfire]

Just an option. I would move all of the high dollar or sensitive items myself. I have done it before.

The pod idea is interesting. I don't know the procedures involved. But if things stay locked and the way you packed them, it is probably fairly safe.

 

[oneounceload]

When I moved East - I had all of the stuff movers wouldn't take in my pickup. The guns went with the movers - in a box packed and sealed by me, with the contents listed and an additional $25,000 in insurance - they came through just fine. If you ship non-acceptable goods without telling them and there's an issue - like a fire or similar, you won't get a nickel of coverage and they will most likely sue you for a new truck

Take your primers, powder, ammo yourself in your vehicle