Ship firearm for repair to 'smith.

[saltydog452]

Its been a couple of dozen years or so since I had the need to ship a firearm off to a 'smith for repair. From what I understand, the regulations have changed a bit. What 'hoops' does a non FFL individual need to jump through to send a firearm out for repair?

This is not going to a maunfacturer, but rather to a Pistolsmith.

Thanks,

salty.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

The pistolsmith will be a an FFL. You have to go overnight UPS or Fed-EX, and it is NOT cheap.
With UPS, do not go to one of the "drop" stores, as there is a chance they will kick back a firearm. A TRUE UPS hub will accept it. Expect to pay about $70--yeah, I know.
Of course the first time I shipped a pistol back to the manufacture for repair, I did not know this and went to a UPS "drop" store. I did not ship it overnight, but standard land. It cost me $12 and got there no problem. BUT, I just got lucky.
Also, DO NOT indicate anywhere on the package that it is a firearm or is going to a firearm dealer (or smith), as too many weapons were lost in transit that way.

 

[jrhines]

Take it to your local FFL...

With the Priorty Mail Box all set up, copy a 1508 postal form for the post office, insure for $500 (the max). If the FFL will do it (I do for my clients), he can mail it for less than $20. I do not think there is any regulation (vs. company policy) on overnight. I have a shipper that handles my guns for me, typically 2 day, no hassels. YMMV

 

[1911Tuner]

Shipping

A tip to save ya quite a few bucks, Salty. Take the gun apart and send it as "Gun Parts." Averages about 50 dollars cheaper than sending a working firearm...and it's technically not a lie. The gun would have to be assembled in order to fire it. Some enterprising souls have marked the package as "Machine Parts" with nary an eyebrow raised. Also technically accurate.
It is a machine, after all...

 

[deadin]

and it's technically not a lie

Is that like technically not being pregnant?

 

[1911Tuner]

Technically

Well...Actually, it's in line with UPS and FEDEX guidelines pertaining to functional firearms. When it's disassembled, it's not functional without reassembly. Guess they figger that it gives everybody time to run away and hide should an employee go wild over gettin' passed over for the last promotion..or somethin' of that nature...and start puttin' the thing back together.

 

[Baphomet]

... Take the gun apart and send it as "Gun Parts."
Some enterprising souls have marked the package as "Machine Parts" with nary an eyebrow raised.

Well paint me "enterprising" then! This has worked perfectly well for me on a few different occasions. And here I thought I was some kind of budding genius that thought the whole thing up. Ah well, so much for delusions of grandeur. All that aside though, as far as I can tell, no laws are being broken by doing this and it sure as heck saves a ton of money.

 

[1911Tuner]

Genius

You are, Baphomet! Great minds think alike, and all that...

 

[saltydog452]

Thanks.

I appreciate the information folks.

It does seem to me that I should ship it for what it is. With all of the post 911 activities of the various governmental agencies, I want to be sure all the 'i's are dotted and the 't's crossed.

Besides that, the frame by itself is a firearm. It'd be kinda tough to chamber and fire a round with only a frame, but the Federal LEOs seem to think that a nekkid frame is a firearm, so I guess I'd better go with their definition rather than common sense.

Thanks again for your help.

salty.

 

[cane]

All you "machine parts" and "gun parts" advocates, should review the ATF regulations, before admitting to breaking the law. You are required to notify the shipper that you are shipping a firearm. ATF consideres the serialized part to be a "firearm".

 

[Onmilo]

Any part with a serial number aside, I routinely ship firearm parts as "Precision Machined Parts-Handle with Care".
The shop I work for ships serialized parts the exact same way.
It isn't any of the Monster shippers business what exactly is in the package.
If you wish to ship a firearm and do it as inexpensive as possible then have a dealer ship the firearm for you.
It can go out United Parcel Service-i.e. The Post Office.
This is much less expensive and a great deal safer than using a Monster shipper.
You will have to fill out a 4473 to get the gun back and pay whatever fee the dealer charges for making the all important crime reducing phone call but you will not have to wait a cooling off period nor will you be required to pay state taxes on anything but any fee the dealer may charge for performing the service.
A ten dollar fee, tax oin the ten bucks, two bucks for the phone call, and fifteen dollars shipping is still way cheaper than having the federal ex monster or the guys in brown hosing you fifty bucks to use their services.

 

[saltydog452]

I'm still confused. There's no surprise there. I recently bought a firearm 'on-line'...the seller was non FFL just lke me...the seller sent the firearm to my FFL...part of the price agreed on with the seller was that I pay the shipping...it cost 25.00.

Now I, a non FFL, am going to ship another firearm to a FFL 'smith, and its going to cost triple..Somehow, I can't get my head wraped around that.

The seller, (non FFL), ships to a FFL..the price is 25.00.

I, (non FFL), ships to a FFL, the price is triple??

Somehow that don't sound right. What am I missing here?

Thanks,

salty.

 

[highlander 5]

pistols and revolvers MUST go overnight thus the added expence,rifles on the other hand can be sent standard rate. firearms sent to a manufacturer or 'smith may be returned directly to you so no ffl paperwork to fill out.

 

[aguyindallas]

This has got me thinking.

To ship a handgun via USPS, you need to be an FFL Holder, right?

This affords you cheaper shipping methods, right?




So, pay your $30.00 to the ATF, get your Curio and Relic FFL for the 3 year license period.

Wouldnt that work? I mean, afterall, you are an FFL holder. Just because its a type 3 collector FFL doesnt mean anything does it? If you are shipping YOUR gun to a gun smith that will be returning it back to YOU....seems ok to me.

 

[deadin]

To ship a handgun via USPS, you need to be an FFL Holder, right?

Unfortunately FFL03's don't qualify for USPS handgun sending or receiving.

Dean

 

[aguyindallas]

^^^^
Where is this documented?

I would of course ONLY be talking about an FFL03 sending to a receving smith or appropriately licensed FFL for the transaction.

 

[obm]

Now I, a non FFL, is going to ship another firearm to a FFL 'smith, and its going to cost triple..Somehow, I can't get my head wraped around that.

The seller, (non FFL), ships to a FFL..the price is 25.00.

how did the seller ship to your FFL? $25 sounds like USPS. he either took it to a FFL and had the FFL send it. he could have just boxed it up and sent it via USPS(illegally). he could have boxed it up and sent it Fedex Ground or UPS Ground(against company policy). or he may have followed rules and regulations and sent it directly to your FFL via overnite fedex or UPS and he just ate the balance of the cost and just charged you $25.

keep the box as small as possible(you are charged by weight & girth) with adequate padding for protection. take it to a UPS hub. declare it as a firearm and request UPS Next Day Air Saver service(cheapest overnight option).

The Post Office.
This is much less expensive and a great deal safer than using a Monster shipper.
You will have to fill out a 4473 to get the gun back and pay whatever fee the dealer charges for making the all important crime reducing phone call

if the firearm is already his, another 4473 is not needed. you can have an FFL mail it for you via USPS, but don't expect them to do it for free...which adds to the actual cost of shipping.

 

[Car Knocker]

aguyindallas,

The USPS requires shippers sign form PS1508 certifying that the shipper is a "manufacturer of firearms or a bona fide dealer therein".
http://www.usps.com/forms/_pdf/ps1508.pdf

Further information may be found in the Domestic Mail Manual, Section 601.11.

Your C&R FFL should clearly state in the lower left corner "THIS LICENSE DOES NOT AUTHORIZE THE HOLDER TO ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF DEALING IN ANY FIREARMS." This is expanded on in your copy of ATF P 5300.11, page 2. Further information can be found in 27 CFR 178.

 

[wdlsguy]

It's a shame the Republican-controlled White House, Senate and House never got around to repealing the silly ban on mailing handguns.

 

[pacificamark]

Wait stop, read this post.

Here's my experience on shipping a gun to a gun smith as of this month.

I shipped it UPS and it went GROUND not overnight. And it cost a whopping $13 with $400 insurance on the package which was not light (13 pounds). I shipped a heavy barrel rifle in a really good rifle case. The UPS satellite office wouldn't take it (thought I'd try because of proximity) but the hub had no problem with it.

 

[deadin]

Long guns can go ground via UPS. It's handguns that need to go air. Of course, long guns can go USPS by a non-licensee. (They just have to go to a FFL (01 or 03))

Dean

 

[DogBonz]

Use FedEx

They are a little bit more $, but worth every penny, IMHO. They are the only carrier who has never lost anything on me.

 

[aguyindallas]

Car Knocker,

Thanks for that info. I did not realize the form you had to sign and I certainly dont want to break any laws. To date, I have not shipped anything on the basis of my C&R, but it was just something that occured might be an avenue to persue.

Guess not!

Interestingly enough, I did have to send a Kel-Tec back to the factory for a check up. They, the Kel-Tec factory told me to label it as machine parts, even though and entire gun was sent in, complete, in the box, NOT taken apart.

THEY advised me to break the rules.....

 

[deadin]

They, the Kel-Tec factory told me to label it as machine parts

No skin off their teeth if you get caught.

 

[saltydog452]

It went Fed Ex to Rogers Precision. Cost was 45.00. Local time 1700 guaranteed delivery NLT 1030 tomorrow.

The Clerks Handbook specified that it should be 'in-operable'. The Fed Ex instructions on their web site makes no mention of this, so being the non-contentious guy that I am, I removed the Firing pin,spring, and stop plate before I asked to speak with her Supervisor. The Soup agreed with me and the web site, even gave the nice lady a copy of the info. The Clerks Handbook is vauge, the web page isn't.

I'm glad it wans't a revolver or a double shotgun.

salty.