Shipping a rifle to my buddy...how?

[AJMBLAZER]

The wife and I are trying to sell our house so we're getting rid of, storing, and generally loosing as much stuff as possible in the mean time. My guns are going to a safe, secure place except my Mosin M44 carbine...which I lament to say is still sitting in the cardboard box it came in right here behind me. Lost my job last year and the new one keeps me busy enough I haven't worked up the nerve to fight the cosmoline.

So my buddy, being a Mosin fanatic, has offered to take care of it for me until we get down there. I'm not a dealer, FFL, or licensed anything for it since it's just a Mosin-Nagant and he isn't either. I'm in Michigan, he's in Kentucky.

I'm confused as hell about how to do this. The guy at UPS was confused to...what he said seemed to be in contradiction to what UPS's website said.

So far I've worked out that I can ship it via regular UPS Ground in the box it was in when I got it but from there I'm unsure. Do I need to ship it to a FFL or can I ship it directly to him? The UPS guy said I didn't need to do anything special and the UPS guy at work could even pick it up.

 

[drphil]

To ship legally you need to send it to an FFL.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Crap. Figures.

 

[Winchester 73]

From the ATF:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b8
B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier? [Back]


A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]


(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

 

[drphil]

I just re-read your post. If you are moving to the state that your buddy lives and he is simply holding it for you (does not open the box). I believe you can ship it to yourself c/o your buddy. This is only legal if he does not open the box and use it.

 

[Jim_M]

Deleted. I'm more confused than you.

 

[Winchester 73]

Have the FFL doing the transfer mail you a signed (in blue ink) copy of his FFL Dealers License for your records. Make a copy of it to accompany the gun. Pack it up right. Go to Fed-Ex or UPS. Both require overnight firearm shipment. Fork over $50-70 bucks and send it off to the dealer. The dealer will need $10-25 to do the transfer. Not a big deal. Goes on all day long.

Why use an FFL and spend that money whan the law allows him to send it to himself by common carrier?

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

 

[wdlsguy]

Why use an FFL and spend that money whan the law allows him to send it to himself by common carrier?

+1. Actually, since it's a rifle, he can use the USPS, which is probably cheaper than UPS or FedEx:

(B7) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?[Back]

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b7

 

[Winchester 73]

Good point.But what do you make of that part of B7 that says:

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of ANOTHER STATE.A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a LICENSEE in any state

Is that not contradictory to B9 which does not specify that the RECEIVING PARTY must be a licensee?
Or does this mean only a common carrier and not the USPS can do this?

 

[moosehunt]

You are making more out of than need be.

A) You can ship it to an FFL holder for your buddy to pick up. Use UPS, it does NOT have to be overnight; that refers to handguns only. The FFL holder will probably charge $10-$20.

B) Ship it to yourself at your buddies address. You are shipping it to yourself for a ligitamate purpose--to use. Tell him not to open it till you get there, then open it and say "Here you go. Use it till I get a chance". Reality says, who knows if he opens it before you get there. I didn't tell you that.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Truth be told he's said he'll clean it up for me and do the headspace check and all necessary to have it firing. We also won't be moving for a while unless a miracle happens and someone walks up and buys our place soon. Average sell time up here is 6 months.

 

[Trebor]

If he's going to open it, then you aren't shipping it yourself in care of him anymore. Sending it directly to him would no longer be allowed legally.

Use a FFL to receive the rifle. That way you are covered.

 

[Rob62]

There is a lot of confusion in this area of shipping a firearm. The biggest variable will be the clerk of whatever service you use to ship the rifle. UPS for instance has their own policies that say an FFL must be used - either the shipper or receiver of the gun must have an FFL.

As has been mentioned several times before. While maybe not necessary under Federal Law, use an FFL to receive the rifle for you. This IMO is the "cleanest" way to do this.

And what a perfect time for this other thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=345235

Regards,
Rob

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Thanks guys, I've told him to find a FFL to receive it.


Just to be clear...I should be able to just to ship it standard UPS Ground then? No special forms or markings, etc?

 

[Rob62]

AJMBLAZER - good chioce.

Standard UPS Ground will work fine. You need to let the customer service rep know the contents of the box. However, you can not mark the box with any ID as to the contents being a firearm.

The UPS clerk may ask you for a copy of the FFL license that you are shipping the gun to. Also be aware that UPS convenience drop off business like "Mail Boxes Etc" will most likely not accept your gun for shipping. You have to use one of their main shipping points/offices - not sure what these are called exactly.

 

[Trebor]

Long guns can also be shipped via USPS. You may find that cheaper then UPS.

If you ship by USPS, pull the bolt out first, wrap it up, and tape it to the inside of the box. One of the USPS requirements is that the gun not be immediately capable of being fired.