Shipping guns to yourself in another state...

[goon]

For those who have moved to another state or even just traveled for hunting, how do you get your guns from the state you are leaving back into your possession in the state you are going to - assuming that you have to fly?
Is it possible to ship guns from your old address in your old state to your new address in your new state without involving an FFL transfer?

 

[justice06rr]

It depends. You would certainly have to check the state's law that you will be shipping to. Some states like NJ or CA can have very strict laws on firearms. I would assume that if you are shipping to yourself to a home address it may be ok, but not always.

Is the option of checking in your firearm(s) on your flight not possible?

 

[brickeyee]

assuming that you have to fly?

Checked baggage on the plane.

The contract carriers have gotten harder and harder to deal with, but you can ship to yourself 'care of' someone else under federal law.

The recipient is not allowed to open the package ad 'take possession' of the gun.

Just park the box in a corner fr you.

 

[NCW Ray]

See if Question # 9 of the ATF's FAQ page answers your question.

 

[goon]

Checking them as carry on will be my first option for some of them, but I also have some ammo I'll need to get to myself and a couple that I will want to get shipped to myself once I'm there.
What I'm considering is a move to Alaska (job offer will determine if this happens). I can and will check a few guns to take with me, but I won't be able to bring them all immediately - nor would I need them all right away.

 

[fireman 9731]

I shipped a rifle to myself. I was working in Colorado but still lived in kentucky and I bought a rifle while I was out there. I was traveling by train so I just shipped it US mail. The people at the post office were Leary, I had to take the bolt out, and it cost me about $95.

 

[crossrhodes]

Pending State Law

I guess it would depend on the state law that you were shipping it too. I know CFR 27 says you can and I have a friend that lives in PA and mails his hunting rifle to himself in VT. He prints the page out of the CFR and puts a copy with his rifle and shows a copy to the Post Office he ships from. I don't think this would fly with a state suck as NJ,NY,MA or CA.

 

[brickeyee]

a couple that I will want to get shipped to myself once I'm there.

YOU can ship to YOURSELF.

You cannot have someone else ship YOUR gun to YOU in another state.

You take it to te shipper.
NOT your budy, dad, brother, cousin, etc.

YOU ship the gun, addressed to YOU.
'In care of' another is OK as long as they DO NOT OPEN the package when it arrives.

 

[savanahsdad]

never mind del del del del ....... that gun whent out for repair and back to him

 

[Sam1911]

but it was not to himself and he found out you could send gun "parts" through the US Mail so he just took it apart (needed to be cleaned anyway) and sent it as "gun parts" keeping out only the fireing pin

If this was after 1968, he violated federal law, period.

You can send gun PARTS. The frame or receiever of a gun is not a "gun part," but a FIREARM, and no ammount of disassembly (short of destruction of that part in a specific way) makes it anything but that.

 

[jim goose]

I'd just ship it from an ffl to an ffl. You'll probably save on postage, or any checked baggage fee's.

 

[savanahsdad]

If this was after 1968, he violated federal law, period.

You can send gun PARTS. The frame or receiever of a gun is not a "gun part," but a FIREARM, and no ammount of disassembly (short of destruction of that part in a specific way) makes it anything but that.

thats right , the ser# is the gun in the eyes of the law

 

[dogtown tom]

Not necessarily....

savanahsdad: thats right , the ser# is the gun in the eyes of the law

Many firearms have the serial number in multiple locations on the firearm.
Just take a look at a Glock.

ATF requires that the receiver or frame of the firearm be marked with a serial number....and other countries may require that serial number on the barrel or other part.

On firearms that do not use a one piece receiver (like the FAL or AR) ATF will designate which part is required to be marked.

On handguns, its typically the grip frame that is serialized, but thats not the case with the Ruger .22 pistols.......on them the tubular receiver is "the firearm", not the frame.

 

[swinokur]

Fed Ex only ships to an FFL

UPS will di it but there are contradicting rules on their web site. The tariff regs say no but the main firearms shipping page still seems to allow it. AFAIK they still do it. Declare the firearm at the UPS counter to comply with UPS policy and Federal law when shipping.

 

[oneounceload]

Checking them as carry on will be my first option for some of them

No it won't - you cannot carry them on the plane - they have to go in the baggage hold in locked cases

 

[NavyLCDR]

I'd just ship it from an ffl to an ffl. You'll probably save on postage, or any checked baggage fee's.

Be aware, an FFL can only transfer handguns to residents of the same state their business is located in. If you are not a resident of the state the FFL is in and you send your handguns to them, they have no legal way to transfer them to you. They must send them back to an FFL in your home state for transfer back to you, sell them on consignment, or hold them until you do become a resident of that state.

 

[brickeyee]

become a resident of that state.

And note that just because you are present in the state does NOT make you a resident.

 

[vegas steve]

Illegal suggestion deleted

 

[goon]

Yeah - not "carry on" but checking them as baggage is how I am planning to get a couple there. Assuming I need to. I'd take the handguns with me since they only take up about six pounds of weight between the two of them - there is no need to deal with the complexities of trying to ship them.

What about ammunition? Can you take ammunition on a plane? I would assume no, but it's never come up before.

As far as what's in the box - I've shipped guns before when I had my C&R through the postal service and also had them delivered to my door. The postal employees never had an issue, but I am from rural PA so they would be less likely to. But I wouldn't lie about it - if something goes wrong, that can't work out to have been a good way to start the situation.

But I know that people do this for hunting trips, so getting two rifles and two handguns to go along with me shouldn't be an impossible feat (again, assuming I can find employment).

 

[dogtown tom]

I know you just joined today but.......

vegas steve [toxic content removed]

Three posts and you're recommending someone commit a Federal crime?
While anyone can mail a rifle or shotgun, only licensed dealers and manufacturers can mail handguns.

To do otherwise its a Federal crime.

 

[Birch Knoll]

i have no idea what laws there are about mailing

<Sigh>

 

[Birch Knoll]

Well, they do after a guy who gives bad advice to illegally mail a handgun later admits that doesn't actually know anything about the law concerning the shipping of firearms.

 

[doc2rn]

Guns get checked in locked cases with the x-ray tag, ammo must be in separate containers inside your checked bags, which must be locked also.

Be sure to take a copy of the airlines and states rules for transporting unloaded and cased firearms as many people will try to tell you, you cant have them out of ignorance. TSA will also take about an hour to talk to you.

 

[Frank Ettin]

It looks like the OP has his answer and the thread is attracting some noise.