Sticker Shock gun shipping costs!

[Captcurt]

An individual can mail a long gun within his state, but not outside the state. He cannot mail a handgun through USPS. A licensed dealer can mail a handgun or long gun to another licensee to any state or U.S possession. It must be unloaded with no ammo shipped with the gun, and a paper filled out stating the senders name and receivers name and address. Many postal employees have no idea what the law is concerning shipping and can give you a hard time.

BTW: It is unlawful to ship electronic sites, rangefinders or other electronic devices that are powered by lithium batteries thru USPS, and don't get me started on Flare guns and flares. They are a royal PITA.

 

[Bull Nutria]

An individual can mail a long gun within his state, but not outside the state. He cannot mail a handgun through USPS. A licensed dealer can mail a handgun or long gun to another licensee to any state or U.S possession. It must be unloaded with no ammo shipped with the gun, and a paper filled out stating the senders name and receivers name and address.

 

[Havok7416]

FWIW ...
In 2002 I got my first 03FFL/C&R.

Since that time my preferred shipping method for longguns has been USPS since both UPS & FedEx are a long way from me.

You can have them pick packages up too.

 

[Bull Nutria]

A few weeks ago I mailed a gun part ( a cracked Eddystone barreled action without a stock) from Houma, LA to California, it was about $31!! so USPS may be a little cheaper but not worth the hassle. I was prepared to tell the postal employee if they asked that I was mailing a "machine part". they didn't ask. I happen to know the clerk, she told me that all the rates went up in January 2017. It probably wasn't legal what I did but I think I got away with it!!

Bull

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I've been lucky, I've had to send pistols back to Ruger and Walther, one rifle went back to S&W. They all covered the shipping cost both ways.

 

[edwardware]

An individual can mail a long gun within his state, but not outside the state.

An individual may ship interstate to an FFL.

Also, while it's technically permissible to mail a weapon intrastate to a non-FFL, none of the carriers will permit shipments to non-FFLs last I checked.

 

[GBExpat]

I have periodically run into uncomfortable situations at the local Post Office centered on the clerks ignorance of USPS rules governing the shipment of long guns (not really surprising since the USPS DMM [Domestic Mail Manual] is, like, 4" thick).

I always go in with the pertinent USPS rules in-hand and, so, get the item(s) shipped.

And, no, those rules have never restricted me to only shipping longguns within my state as Captcurt stated. Perhaps there has been a major change to that aspect in the past few years.

I will not worry about it until I am, once again, considering shipping some more longguns.

 

[aarondhgraham]

You can always use shipmygun.com

It's a service run by Buds gun shop where you give them money and they send you a shipping label,,,
Last I used them was to have a handgun I purchased from gunbroker shipped to my LGS,,,
I believe it was $40.00 as that's what the seller charged me.

Aarond

.

 

[Acera]

Shipping through UPS is also a hit and miss for me. While they can, often they will not. My local UPS store will not ship anything gun related. They refused to ship my EOTech optic back for a refund. "Because it is a gun part". Can't reason with the leftists in the store. Use a different location now, 15 minutes farther down the road.

I did once ship a rifle to an instate buyer. Not to his FFL, but to him. No federal or Texas law against it, might not have fully disclosed what kind of tools were in the box though, for security reasons.
.

 

[9mmepiphany]

My local UPS store will not ship anything gun related. They refused to ship my EOTech optic back for a refund. "Because it is a gun part". Can't reason with the leftists in the store. Use a different location now, 15 minutes farther down the road.

That's funny because my local UPS store was more than happy to ship my EOTech...yes, in CA; but remember that UPS stores are individually owned.

By policy, UPS stores are not allowed to accept firearms for shipment. They need to be shipped from a UPS Hub...mine is 10 minutes down the road. Local FedEx stores, which are corporate owned, will accept firearms

 

[Havok7416]

The UPS Store is a separate subsidiary from the main UPS company which is why there is an issue (as mentioned above). My local UPS hubs have always shipped guns, ammo and related items quite cheerily.

 

[Captcurt]

I have periodically run into uncomfortable situations at the local Post Office centered on the clerks ignorance of USPS rules governing the shipment of long guns (not really surprising since the USPS DMM [Domestic Mail Manual] is, like, 4" thick).

I always go in with the pertinent USPS rules in-hand and, so, get the item(s) shipped.

And, no, those rules have never restricted me to only shipping longguns within my state as Captcurt stated. Perhaps there has been a major change to that aspect in the past few years.

I will not worry about it until I am, once again, considering shipping some more longguns.

Yes sir, You are correct. An individual can ship out of state to a licensee.

 

[Jim Watson]

Shipping a handgun next day air fedups by an American Commoner is quite expensive. I had every improvement allowed by IDPA to a pistol by a non-cheap established shop. Shipping was still 22% of the job.
I have since made it a condition of sale that if a gun needs repair or wants modification that the store will ship it on their account for cost. Much cheaper.

 

[Jimbo53]

You can't personally ship a gun USPS.

USPS is the only way I ship long guns. My post office just requires a copy of the FFL it's being sent to. Sent two last month.

 

[wally]

Companies with smart customer service that don't have the best warranties (good warranty IMHO is pretty much defined by sending you a pre-paid return shipping label) should wake up and "sell" you a prepaid return label for their cost which will be a whole lot less than what it costs you as an individual.

Edit:
Another thing that seems to have worked for me is to go to the Fedex or UPS place on Friday or Saturday morning after their deadline for next day delivery. Most of the exorbitant rate is their policy (not a legal requirement) that guns be shipped "overnight" which is the most expensive option. When I last did this it was $26 to ship it 2n'd day because they couldn't deliver it "overnight" whcih would have been like $60.