Shipping Guns From California To Florida

[steverjo]

I am going to be relocating from California to Florida early next year. I have multiple shotguns, rifles and handguns, plus lots of assorted ammo, too much to fit in my car to drive there.

I am going to be selling, and/or disposing of all my household effects before i go; I already have a home in Florida that is fully furnished. I don't want to sell or otherwise dispose of my firearms.

Can i ship them to myself by either UPS, USPS or other common carrier? Do I have to go through FFL's in CA and FL (Expensive due to number of firearms). What is the safest and most economical way to transfer/transport these to FL?

 

[Sam1911]

Safest way: Pack them up in a U-Haul van and move them yourself. Possibly the cheapest, too.

You CAN ship them to yourself via common carrier, if some are handguns, or if they are all long-guns, USPS. They can be sent care of someone else, to receive and hold the package on the other end, but only YOU can open the package and take possession.

This is bloody expensive for handguns as the common carriers (UPS & FedEx) require overnight delivery. And, of course, someone has to be there the next day to receive them.

You do not have to use an FFL, and doing so will make things very complicated -- especially as if you send them to an FFL in your destination state, you'll have to satisfy him that you are indeed a resident of that state in order to get him to transfer any handguns back to you. (Even if they were yours in State A, a dealer cannot transfer them 'back' to you in State B unless you are a resident of State B.)

There is one minor possibility with the FFL route in that if you have a lot of handguns to ship, the dealer can ship them a lot cheaper than you can. If you worked this out with the two dealers ahead of time so you knew they'd be cool with the transfer question, they might cut you a deal on the transfer fees enough to make that cheaper than shipping them yourself. It's way more hassle than I'd think worth it, but you could inquire if you've got the time to make a bunch of calls.

In the end, though, the smart money's on renting a U-haul and taking them with you. Safer, cheaper, and no transfer hassles.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Consider whether or not you possess any off list firearms. Do you have any pinned and recessed S&W revolvers? Colt Pythons? Those firearms, among others, cannot be imported into california for resale to private citizens. And california gun owners will pay a premium for them.

You might want to consider selling some in state, if the guns aren't on the approved list. Otherwise, I'd rent a Penske. The above advice is bad. U-Haul is junk. Rent a Penske.

 

[El Mariachi]

Hey Steve, I'm doing the exact same thing in about five weeks. Gimme a ping if you wanna talk story....

 

[El Mariachi]

SunnySlopes
Member


Join Date: November 3, 2011
Posts: 52

Consider whether or not you possess any off list firearms. Do you have any pinned and recessed S&W revolvers? Colt Pythons? Those firearms, among others, cannot be imported into california for resale to private citizens. And california gun owners will pay a premium for them.

You might want to consider selling some in state, if the guns aren't on the approved list. Otherwise, I'd rent a Penske. The above advice is bad. U-Haul is junk. Rent a Penske.

He's....uhm....leaving Kali....

 

[Birch Knoll]

He's....uhm....leaving Kali....

Yes, that's the point. Since Cali has outlawed all sorts of firearms, these guns have special value in California. So he might want to sell them there before he leaves.

 

[El Mariachi]

Ooops, gotcha....

 

[Twiki357]

I don't know what kind of a car you have, but a small U-Hall trailer for some of your stuff (Or even buy a small one) would leave room in your car and probably not be much difference in cost vs shipping.

 

[ball3006]

Once you are out of KA, you are free and clear to transport your guns to FL. Just keep them out of sight and drive safe.......chris3

 

[medalguy]

And if you're driving thru Texas, stop and have a cold one, and we can fondle the goodies.

 

[gym]

U-Haul is the smartest. When I moved from NY, the police sent them to a dept in Jupitor and I picked them up there. You can do that, I would imagine from CA, also, as long as they are all legal. My friend was a Sherriff there and took custody for me.I don't believe they even charged me. But the rifles I just drove down. I don't know how much artillery your talking about, but why not ups the ammo, and rifles, and drive the pistols.

 

[Sam1911]

Wait, your local PD took charge of your firearms and shipped them for you? Now that's one I've never heard before! And at no cost? Truth really is stranger than fiction sometimes!

That's literally amazing.