shipping a gun to myself in another state

[Tom Fury]

Is that legal?
1. Can my FFL in KY ship to me at Sister in laws in indiana if I receive on that end?

2. Can I send it to myself as above (non FFL self to self)?

Thanks, TF

 

[natman]

Hand gun or long gun?

It is perfectly legal to ship the gun to yourself.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-additional

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

The tricky bit is getting the shipping company to actually do it, regardless of it being perfectly legal. For a long gun, I'd mail it, insured. Mere mortals are not allowed to MAIL handguns, but FFLs are. Having an FFL mail a handgun to an nonlicensee (you) is outside my experience and I suspect most FFLs wouldn't do it.

Otherwise handguns have to go UPS overnight and I suspect they might balk at shipping to a nonlicensee, even though it's legal.

 

[dogtown tom]

Tom Fury Is that legal?
1. Can my FFL in KY ship to me at Sister in laws in indiana if I receive on that end?

No. It would be a violation of Federal law.

2. Can I send it to myself as above (non FFL self to self)?

Yes.
If handgun, UPS is your only option.
If long gun, USPS or UPS.

 

[deadin]

Having an FFL mail a handgun to an nonlicensee (you) is outside my experience and I suspect most FFLs wouldn't do it.

Per Postal Regulations, both sender and addressee have to be FFL's for handguns.

 

[hermannr]

Forget all that stuff..Why would you want to ship it to yourself??? take it with you. If you are planning to go through IL, just keep it locked in the trunk. Weapon legal at beginning of journey, and end of journey...you are legal.

 

[MattTheHat]

Why ship it? Because it's more convenient that dealing with it at the airport. I've shipped long guns and pistols to myself half way across the US on several occasions. Works great and one less thing to worry about with the airport Nazis. As Tom pointed out, it's perfectly legal.

-Matt

 

[NavyLCDR]

Why ship it? Because it's more convenient that dealing with it at the airport.

You have obviously never flown with a firearm. Sign one declaration card at the airline counter that the gun is unloaded, maybe show the airline counter person the gun to verify it is unloaded if they ask you to, wait two minutes for TSA to XRAY your bag and that's it. Total extra time - maybe 15 minutes. Extra cost - none, if the gun is going in your normal checked bags anyway and doesn't put you over any weight limit. You can even send ammo with the gun in your baggage which you cannot do if you ship it.

15 extra minutes at the airport and no added cost is less convenient that taking the gun to a UPS hub and in the case of a handgun shipping it overnight? And then having to do the same for the return trip? Maybe I'm weird, but it sure doesn't seem like it to me.

As pointed out, Tom Fury, it would be illegal for an FFL to mail/ship your gun to anyone else out of state other than another FFL, even to you (except in very limited circumstances). And, if they sent it to an FFL in Indiana, you would have to do a form 4473 and get a NICS background check to receive it from the Indiana FFL...and if it was a handgun, you would have to prove Indiana residency to the FFL.

Seriously, however you plan on traveling - just take the gun with you, especially if it is a handgun. If you want specifics on how to legally accomplish that either driving or flying, let us know.

 

[razorback2003]

Taking a handgun for airline travel is easy. You just have a locked hard case and slip it in your suitcase. Open it up to declare. Lock the case in front of the ticket agent. A long gun would be tough to put in a suitcase but same basic principle.

You can mail (long gun only) or FedEx a gun to yourself in care of someone else in another state. The other person cannot open the box. That is easy too. Some folks like to only take carry on when they fly.

The only deal is you can't send your ammo with your handgun if you FedEx it, but you can when you fly in the locked case.

 

[MattTheHat]

I have a daily UPS pickup anyway, so for me it is indeed less trouble since it takes all of about 30 seconds for me to hand it to my shipping guy.

For what it's worth, I don't normally check baggage, so that's part of the appeal to me. I like quick getaways.

-Matt