Shipping a gun

[onebear]

I want to ship a rifle from Colorado Springs, CO to Black Canyon City, (Phoenix area) Arizona. Does anyone know a dealer here in Colorado Springs or vicinity who will do this? If not what about on the receiving area. I am shipping this to my Uncle, and would prefer to deal with the hassle on this end. What paperwork, etc. will need to be done? My Uncle suggested taking the gun apart in two pieces and shipping ups in seperate boxes making it legal? Thanks, Onebear

 

[wdlsguy]

I want to ship a rifle from Colorado Springs, CO to Black Canyon City, (Phoenix area) Arizona. Does anyone know a dealer here in Colorado Springs or vicinity who will do this?

You're welcome to use a dealer, but you can ship it yourself. Make sure it's unloaded, box it securely, and mail it to your uncle's FFL (see below).

If not what about on the receiving area.

Your uncle will need to line up an FFL to receive the rifle for him. He should be able to find one here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/User/DealerNetwork.asp

What paperwork, etc. will need to be done?

Your uncle will need to fill out a 4473 for the FFL.

 

[Gator]

My Uncle suggested taking the gun apart in two pieces and shipping ups in seperate boxes making it legal? Thanks, Onebear

Only legal if the box with the receiver in it goes to your Uncle's FFL.

 

[ma96782]

Most everything your wanted to KNOW about shipping a firearm but was afriad to ask........

AS A SELLER/SHIPPER OF FIREARMS

For a quick reference, check these links:

http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html

https://www.fedex.com/us/services/termsandconditions/restrictions.html

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/index.htm

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.pdf


AS A SELLER/SHIPPER - IF YOU WANT TO SAVE TIME READING:

How about this "short course" on shipping firearms:

***Declare all firearm shipments***and***Unless prohibited by your state or local laws***

A Non-FFL can ship a rifle, via US Mail or common carrier (Fed Ex or UPS) to an FFL, back to the factory, or gunsmith, or out of state (to yourself). Or ship a rifle to another non-prohibited person within your state.

A Non-FFL can also ship a pistol via common carrier to an FFL, back to the factory, or gunsmith, or out of state (to yourself). Or ship a pistol (via common carrier) to another non-prohibited person within your state.
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The common carriers make the rules on how they want it shipped (overnight, same day or whatever), cause they can't trust their employees.

*THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED* Some UPS employees THINK that the additional tariff rule ONLY allows shipping by authorized lic. to authorized lic. But read it carefully, it DOES allow for a non-FFL to ship to a FFL holder, back to the factory, or gunsmith. A lot of folks use Fed Ex cause, UPS has some “problem employees,” that have a difficult time reading their own rules. *THINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED*
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US POSTAL SERVICE:

Non-FFL people, may mail a rifle via the USPS.

Non-FFL people, may NOT mail a handgun via the USPS. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.

For an FFL holder, a pistol (or rifle) can be shipped FFL to FFL, FFL to the factory, or FFL to the gunsmith, via the US Mail.

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Shipping to an FFL, without a signed inked FFL in your hand:

The shipper/seller, for their protection, needs to verify the receiver is a licensed dealer. They need to ask for the receiver's FFL Number.
The shipper should then go to this website to verify the license and address: ATF FFL Ez Check Site.
The shipper should print the screen they get.
They can then legally ship the gun to the receiver, but only at the address verified at the Ez Check Site.

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IF YOU’RE THE BUYER OF A FIREARM (FROM ANOTHER STATE)


Since this is SALE of a firearm, the seller will ship the firearm to your FFL (not directly to you). Once the gun is at your local FFL, the FFL will record it in his book, he'll be responsible to check you out. Making sure you're not a prohibited person, have followed your local and state laws, have paid the correct fees (if applicable), and of course filled out form 4473.

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SHIPPING ANTIQUES

If the gun was manufactured prior to or in 1898 NOT in or after 1899, it is an antique. Period. It can be sent ANY way you like. The reference made to the type of ammo it fires applies to REPLICAS, NOT the real thing. If it is manufactured prior to 1899, it IS an antique and NOT covered by the GCA and is NOT a firearm by ANY definition under the law. There may be some weird state law somewhere, but I am not aware of it. Perhaps in Illinois, they have some weird laws.

The gun you described can be sent ANY way you like.


Title 18, Section 921(a)(16) then defines "antique firearm" as follows:

"The term 'antique firearm' means -

(A) any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; and
(any replica of any firearm described in subparagraph (A) if such replica -
(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or
(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade."

And….
Ship them USPS insured. They are NOT firearms and therefore are not controlled by the same laws. Do NOT declare what they are unless you want to start an argument with someone unknowledgeable. That is not necessary.


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FedEx Rules Governing Firearms Shipment
General Rules for Firearms

FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:
Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or
Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).
If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required Delivery Signature Option or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release or indirect delivery.
Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx Express cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.
Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Express is required to notify FedEx Express that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.
The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.
FedEx Express will transport ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Dangerous Goods section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.

Additional Ground Tarrif Rules for FedEx

FedEx Ground will transport and deliver firearms (excluding handguns) as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:
Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or
Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).
If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required Delivery Signature Option or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release, driver release or indirect delivery.
FedEx Ground cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D.
Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Ground is required to notify FedEx Ground that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.
The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.
FedEx Ground will transport small-arms ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Hazardous Materials section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as hazardous materials. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.
FedEx Ground will not accept for transport handguns, assembled or disassembled.




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UPS Rules Governing Firearms Shipment

Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms

Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment
Firearms will be transported only between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, law enforcement agencies of the United States or of any department or agency thereof and law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency, or political subdivision thereof, and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws.

You must ship your packages that contain handguns with UPS Next Day Air Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services
Your packages that contain firearms will not be accepted for shipment at UPS Drop Boxes, with UPS SonicAir® service, at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer, or with international services.

Follow These Packing Requirements
Your packages that contain handguns must be separated from other packages being delivered to UPS
Ammunition cannot be included in your packages that contain firearms (including handguns)

About Documentation and Labeling
When you are shipping your package that contains a firearm with UPS, you must affix a UPS label requesting an adult signature upon delivery

Getting Your Firearm Shipment to UPS
You can only ship your package that contains a firearm from UPS daily pickup accounts and through UPS Customer Centers.
When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk
You can use UPS daily pickup accounts to ship firearms, not including handguns, through UPS Internet Shipping, UPS On-Call PickupSM, and One-Time Pickup
Your packages that contain firearms will not be accepted for shipment at UPS Drop Boxes, with UPS SonicAir® service, at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer, or with international services
See the terms and conditions in the UPS Tariff for shipping firearms



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Botton Line: IF it were me, I'd send it via USPS........to an FFL in your Uncle's state.......your Uncle picks it up from the FFL.......after he has been checked out by the FFL and paid applicable fees.

Aloha, Mark

 

[Quoheleth]

So, in-state (TX)

as a non-FFL I can ship a pistol DIRECTLY via UPS to another non-FFL? Did I read that right??? In other words, a private transaction???

Thanks
Q

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

as a non-FFL I can ship a pistol DIRECTLY via UPS to another non-FFL? Did I read that right??? In other words, a private transaction???

Yes, you can ship it directly to another individual as long as you and that individual are residents of the same state and that private transfers are permitted by your state law.

However, Neither UPS or FEDEX will do this. They both require that either the sender or receiver be an FFL. This is company policy. You can't ship a handgun via USPS unless YOU are an FFL. DHL doesn't ship firearms at all.

If you can talk UPS or Fedex into shipping directly to a non-FFL, or if they don't ask, that's fine--it's completely legal as long as you have declared that the shipment contains a firearm. Both also require that handguns be sent overnight, so it is kind of expensive. Once again, this only applies to transactions between parties that are residents of the same state, and that are permitted by state law.

You are required by federal law to declare to the shipper a firearm shipment that is NOT being sent to an FFL. There's an ATF opinion letter regarding this floating around on the board somewhere, try the search function. Furthermore, the shipper will not pay an insurance claim on a shipment that was not properly declared in accordance with their policies. So, as you can see, failure to declare is a bad idea.

 

[Gator]

UPS will do it, but the counter person you get might not know the rules. I always bring a copy with me when shipping.

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/re...es/firearms.html?srch_pos=1&srch_phr=firearms

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

UPS will do it, but the counter person you get might not know the rules.

+1 UPS specifically states: "between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws."

Fedex is the one that will not let an individual ship to another individual.

 

[cobra2411]

Ok, lets say I wanted to ship a gun back to the manufacturer (or gunsmith) for work. That's ok, but how about the return? Does the manufacturer (gunsmith) return directly to me?

TIA

 

[nalioth]

Ok, lets say I wanted to ship a gun back to the manufacturer (or gunsmith) for work. That's ok, but how about the return? Does the manufacturer (gunsmith) return directly to me?

As the linked laws say: It is legal to send your firearm off for repair and have it returned directly to you.

Reading is fundamental.

 

[NavyLCDR]

You are required by federal law to declare to the shipper a firearm shipment that is NOT being sent to an FFL.

That is only true if the shipment is going INTERSTATE - from state to state. In state shipments do not require notification whether or not to an FFL. Please don't post the ATF FAQ in reply, the ATF FAQ on their website is wrong, everybody knows it is wrong, it's 18 USC 922 that is the actual law.

 

[thrlskr]

This might sound strange, but can I mail a rifle/shotgun from myself in one state to myself in another state? Basically I'm going home for Christmas and want to ship my childhood rifle and shotgun back to my current residence rather than fly with them.

Thank you.

 

[NavyLCDR]

This might sound strange, but can I mail a rifle/shotgun from myself in one state to myself in another state? Basically I'm going home for Christmas and want to ship my childhood rifle and shotgun back to my current residence rather than fly with them.

Thank you.

Yes. Absolutely. I won't even chastise you for not searching

http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b9

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? [Back]

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.

 

[bondmid003]

Fedex WILL allow you to ship a gun to yourself, my roommate did the very same thing via FEDEX. Purchased the gun in Texas and mailed it to himself in California

 

[nalioth]

It appears that UPS and FedEx have changed their website.

Here are the current links:

FedEx firearm shipping policies

UPS Firearm shipping policies

 

[NavyLCDR]

It doesn't look like their written firearms shipping policies have changed at all. That's exactly what their policies said a couple of years ago. However, by "official" policy from UPS corporate, that part in their written policy about shipping between individuals when legal to do so is null and void, corporate office says they won't do it, one party must be an FFL.

Of course, we all know, the policy, either to our benefit or to our demise is only as good as the person behind the counter understands it. I've shipped a handgun to a manufacturer by ground, because that is what the guy behind the counter asked me if I wanted to do, which is clearly against FEDEX policy, but saved me $50.

 

[augustino]

Shipping a gun via US mail...

This topic is pretty good. I'm learning much from the posts I didn't know.
Is it legal to send a firearm in "pieces" via the US mail?
For instance if I take the slide from an automatic and pack it in one package and the other pieces in a seperate package, both packages going to the same address? Is this legal?

 

[deadin]

For instance if I take the slide from an automatic and pack it in one package and the other pieces in a seperate package, both packages going to the same address? Is this legal?

NO. The package with the frame it will be illegal.