Shipped a handgun UPS today

[chez323]

shipping

I just shipped a handgun via Fed Ex priority overnight from PA to WI for refinishing, only cost me $32.67 w/$500 insurance.

 

[Slamfire]

Next day services make it harder for their employees to steal your firearm.

Which they will.

The CMP ships next day Fed Ex and they don't ship on Friday. They were losing too many rifles over the weekend. Fed Ex employees learned what was in the boxes and a good percentage were "lost" in shipment.

UPS, Fed Ex hire untrustworthy people and you end up paying for their problems.

 

[conhntr]

How did they walk out of the building with a m1 garand tucked in their pantleg?

 

[3daman!]

My local pusher charges me 15-20 dollars to ship a handgun!
He ships it in the big brown truck.

HE HAS AN ACCOUNT WITH THEM TO DO THIS!

I have bought many new and used firearms from him.
Even when I was working in a competitive firearms store, I sent him many, many potential customers when we couldn't get what they needed/wanted.
There are are some very good dealers to do business with.
but then again there are a bunch who will nickle and dime you to death.
And the problem is they sleep good at night knowing they screwed ya out of a little more every time.
Find an older store/dealer and make friends.

 

[rellascout]

How did they walk out of the building with a m1 garand tucked in their pantleg?

You miss route it. Get it onto a truck and then deliver it to someone or somewhere on the route. Happens all the time. I also never ship on a Friday if I can help it.

 

[TooTech]

Type 01 FFL to another 01 FFL can use US Mail Priority. Doesn't work if the sender or the recipient has a C&R. Sad and infuriating, but true.

 

[woad_yurt]

To those who ship a handgun "tightlipped" by UPS ground:

It's federal law that one has to inform the "common carrier" that a handgun is in the package. It's the carriers' policies that determine how they'll ship it but the law requires the shipper to tell them it's a gun.

 

[Bubbles]

Most handguns, even with their case, fit nicely into a USPS flat rate box. So, if you have your local dealer mail it, the transfer fee + shipping, insurance, signature, etc. should be a lot less than $85.

 

[nalioth]

To those who ship a handgun "tightlipped" by UPS ground:

It's federal law that one has to inform the "common carrier" that a handgun is in the package. It's the carriers' policies that determine how they'll ship it but the law requires the shipper to tell them it's a gun.

I was wondering how long it'd be before this old (and factually deficient) chestnut popped up. .

You do not have to declare if you are shipping to an FFL holder

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped. - The law

Shipping a gun - who, how, where, when and why

 

[rellascout]

Originally Posted by 18 USC 922
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to deliver or cause to be delivered to any common or contract carrier for transportation or shipment in interstate or foreign commerce, to persons other than licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors, any package or other container in which there is any firearm or ammunition without written notice to the carrier that such firearm or ammunition is being transported or shipped. - The law

You do not have to declare if you are shipping to an FFL holder

This has always been my understanding as well.

 

[CraigC]

It's federal law that one has to inform the "common carrier" that a handgun is in the package.

As nalioth posted, no, it is not required by federal law to notify the carrier the package contains a firearm. This is where the ATF FAQ is misleading. If you read the actual statute, it is plain as day.

 

[CHEVELLE427]

this is why i use the FFL at the range i use, last 3 hand guns cost me $6-8 and a 40lb case with 2 long guns in it cost me $40 UPS.

whats up with all this $35 and up crap to ship a gun


AS FOR DECLARING IT OR TIGHT LIP AS TO WHAT IS IN THE BOX

IF IT SAYS ON THE LABEL SHIP TO Joe Blow guns most likely there is a gun in the box

 

[nalioth]

As nalioth posted, no, it is not required by federal law to notify the carrier the package contains a firearm.

You're gonna get someone in trouble with this BS (that isn't what I posted).

The law says you don't have to declare if you're shipping to an FFL holder.

You DO have to declare if you're shipping to a private party (you know, to a person who doesn't have an FFL).

 

[CraigC]

Hey, throttle back on the animosity a tad. My post was not intended as a comprehensive how-to article on shipping handguns. I was simply agreeing with you and responding to woad_yurt's statement.

Couple things, nobody said anything about shipping to an individual. Individuals can only ship to each other within their own state and the OP was shipping interstate. The only entity that can ship interstate to an individual is an FFL returning a customer's firearm to them, be it a gunsmith or a manufacturer. So one would assume that the shipper, being a dealer, gunsmith or manufacturer, would be knowledgeable on shipping regulations and federal laws pertaining to such.

Secondly, anybody who takes the word of anonymous internet strangers in regards to interpreting and following federal firearms laws is a fool.

 

[doc540]

noted above: relationship with local FFL

My local friend and FFL ships my guns for $20.

He puts them in a USPS flat rate box and away they go.

Charges me the same $20 to receive and do the transfer paperwork on guns I buy.

That's how it should work.

 

[nalioth]

Secondly, anybody who takes the word of anonymous internet strangers in regards to interpreting and following federal firearms laws is a fool.

Which is why my posts on the law in this thread have the actual law linked from them or include a document number (so folks can look it up for themselves).

 

[NavyLCDR]

I was wondering how long it'd be before this old (and factually deficient) chestnut popped up

Happens every single time!

Hey, throttle back on the animosity a tad. My post was not intended as a comprehensive how-to article on shipping handguns. I was simply agreeing with you and responding to woad_yurt's statement.

Secondly, anybody who takes the word of anonymous internet strangers in regards to interpreting and following federal firearms laws is a fool

Can't we all just get along?

 

[rellascout]

Thanks Rodney....

 

[EOD Guy]

The only entity that can ship interstate to an individual is an FFL returning a customer's firearm to them, be it a gunsmith or a manufacturer. So one would assume that the shipper, being a dealer, gunsmith or manufacturer, would be knowledgeable on shipping regulations and federal laws pertaining to such.

There are a lot more instances where a firearm can ship interstate to an unlicensed person or organization. One of the more common is shipments by the CMP to their customers. Other examples are shipments by individuals to themselves, shipments to police or military officers for official use, and shipments to law enforcement agencies or laboratories. There are a few others also allowed by law. Also, the direct return of an unlicensed customer's firearm is only allowed after repair or customization.

 

[CraigC]

double post...

 

[CraigC]

I'm aware that an individual can ship directly to himself, interstate and I knew if I did not include it in my response that somebody would point it out. However, is it really necessary to get into an in-depth discussion about all the nuances of shipping firearms to go so far as to get into every single possible circumstance not described in the OP?

Also, the direct return of an unlicensed customer's firearm is only allowed after repair or customization.

Or replacement.

 

[gym]

Stop the maddness, we have been through this a hundred times at least. Everyone knows by now that you are at their mercy. Everyone will tell you a different story, the supervisor the store clerk the phone support, your friend, etc. Bottom line is you are stuck at a counter with whatever person you are dealing with, after you call their manager "owner" and everyone else, either you are going to do it their way or if ain't getting done at that location. And all the infighting in the world about who is right or wrong means nothing if they won't do it.

 

[mgmorden]

One shipment I did the (FFL) recipient requested I remove the firing pin and declare the package as "machine parts". That went without a hitch as well.

I actually had a Fedex counterperson "check to make sure" that the handgun I was shipping was "Dissassembled and disabled". I had to fib a bit there and just say "Yeah.", as I know their regs don't require that.

Much like the OP, they also wouldn't let me ship it at anything but the fastest Next Day method - can't remember what Fedex calls their cheaper next day service but they wouldn't let the gun go that way.

 

[rellascout]

Fed Ex Saver and UPS Next Day Air Saver are the cheapest options respectively.

 

[blue_ridge]

You're gonna get someone in trouble with this BS (that isn't what I posted).

The law says you don't have to declare if you're shipping to an FFL holder.

You DO have to declare if you're shipping to a private party (you know, to a person who doesn't have an FFL).

Huh? Who's talking about shipping to a private party? This discussion is about an individual shipping to an FFL. 99% of us private individuals are shipping to an FFL. (because it is required by law for 99% of common situations) We HAVE TO DECLARE a handgun because the UPS and FEDEX regs demand it.

UPS - When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk.