The Real Hawkeye
member
I hear people talking about $20 shipping cost for sending a rifle to an FFL, but whenever I go to send a rifle to an FFL, Fed Ex charges me about $70. What am I doing wrong?
Why is sending a rifle to an FFL always like $70
- Thread starter The Real Hawkeye
- Start date
- Status
Ash
Member
Wow, I have never paid more than $20 or so for shipping long guns, and perhaps $30 for handguns. It might be FedEx.
Ash
Ash
The Real Hawkeye
member
Who do you use?Ash said:
Fed Ex is very expensive i read UPS ground is the best since its not a handgun you dont have to use overnight. here is a link i found and what this guy says about shipping guns to him.
http://www.gunfancy.com/shipping_guns.htm
http://www.gunfancy.com/shipping_guns.htm
iamkris
Member
You can ship a long gun to an FFL via the post office also. They do not ship handguns unless you are an FFL. Total cost is usually under $10.
The Real Hawkeye
member
Thanks. I guess the problem is that I use Fed Ex, but someone told me that UPS will no longer insure firearms. Is this incorrect?
here is a link i found on UPS if you use them http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
im kinda reluctant to have a firearm shipped
i think they would freak out if i brought my .45 into the post office
im kinda reluctant to have a firearm shipped
i think they would freak out if i brought my .45 into the post office The Real Hawkeye
member
Yes, the US Post Office does not allow mere peasants, I mean civilians to carry handguns into their offices. Nor, apparently, can you send them through there without a Federal License. But, so long as it is packed before you get there, they apparently don't mind your sending rifles and black powder guns through them. I tried this in NY once, however, and they practically threw me out when I told them that what was in the package was a black powder revolver that I wanted to send to the manufacturer for repair. I left thinking that I was lucky they didn't call the Feds and have me arrested. This was in NY, so maybe they didn't know the laws regarding black powder. It was the manufacturer that told me to send it via US Mail. When I told them what happened to me, they couldn't believe it.xd45gaper said:here is a link i found on UPS if you use them http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
im kinda reluctant to have a firearm shipped
Gun Wielding Maniac
Member
I've sent literally dozens of rifles through UPS. Even sending them all the way across the country, cost has never been over 20 dollars, with insurance. UPS is actually a little cheaper for long guns. My personal favorite though, is Fedex. Typically the cheapest and the fastest.
If you take the next day or air service option, of course your package will be much more expensive. I always send mine Priority mail.
If you take the next day or air service option, of course your package will be much more expensive. I always send mine Priority mail.
The Real Hawkeye
member
Really? They charge me about $70 every time, and insist that they require it be sent next day air, and this is for long guns.Gun Wielding Maniac said:
railroader
Member
I ship fedex ground for rifles. They want you to ship next day air for handguns.
Mark
Mark
The Real Hawkeye
member
No, Mark, I'm telling you I just sent a rifle to my nephew last week via Fed Ex, and they would not do it unless I paid for next day air. They said it was Fed Ex policy. It's possible that the agent was mistaken, in which case they owe me some money back, in my opinion.railroader said:
railroader
Member
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/popup_tc_us_body.html#firearms Well I just checked the Fedex website and it says firearms must be shipped overnight so I guess my local fedex doesn't know better. Mark
Crosshair
Member
UPS has lost a total of 500 rounds of ammo and two rifles for me. They eventuay found the packages, but only after I threatened to call the ATF on them. I can understand loosing track of a package for a day because it got put on the wrong truck, but loosing stuff for over a week gets really irritating.
VARifleman
Member
They lost 500 rounds of ammo my parents shipped to me before a match.Crosshair said:UPS has lost a total of 500 rounds of ammo and two rifles for me. They eventuay found the packages, but only after I threatened to call the ATF on them. I can understand loosing track of a package for a day because it got put on the wrong truck, but loosing stuff for over a week gets really irritating.
*
I live in Alaska and have purchased a fair number of firearms through the internet. USPS Priority usuallytakes 3 to 4 business days and costs $15 to $20 insured and with delivery confirmation, depending on weight; nary a problem. UPS 2nd Day air usually takes 5 to 6 days and costs about $80. Amusing, eh? FedEx takes 8 to (so far) 18 days and costs about aHundred and Thirty Blinkin' Dollars for a medium sized handgun. HAHAHAHA.
Use FedEx; when it absolutely, positively has to be there in a week or six.
*
I live in Alaska and have purchased a fair number of firearms through the internet. USPS Priority usuallytakes 3 to 4 business days and costs $15 to $20 insured and with delivery confirmation, depending on weight; nary a problem. UPS 2nd Day air usually takes 5 to 6 days and costs about $80. Amusing, eh? FedEx takes 8 to (so far) 18 days and costs about aHundred and Thirty Blinkin' Dollars for a medium sized handgun. HAHAHAHA.
Use FedEx; when it absolutely, positively has to be there in a week or six.
*
Jim Watson
Member
From the www railroader gives, Fedex has apparently decided that they have been missing out on the opportunity to screw the gun owner out of more money; and has gone to demanding we pay them air freight on all guns, not just pistols. When I shipped a barrelled AR upper by ground in November, the agent said that if it had been a complete rifle it would have had to go by air. If your local Fedex office will ship a rifle by ground service, it just means the clerk has not heard about the latest in revenue enhancement.
GMAN
Member
I sent my Remington rifle from Mich. to NY thru UPS and it was $9+ change. But I had to go to a main UPS office, not a sattilite store.
ScottsGT
Member
Anyone try DHL yet??
Shipping guns by a non-FFL is nearly impossible in my experience. By law you can send long guns via US Mail but every PO where I have tried to mail a rifle has refused. Every time I have told UPS or Fed-Ex about the contents of my package they have refused to accept them. Not one single Post Office or UPS clerk or fed-Ex station I have tried was aware that people can legally ship guns.
UPS requires expensive overnight and their policy is that they only accept guns (maybe this is just for pistols) being sent for repair. They won't accept shipment for transfer, only repair (this is on their website). A lot of people just lie and say it's being sent for repair. But like I said, none of the UPS outlets I have tried would take any gun for any reason. And every clerk is absolutely, 100% certain he or she is correct no matter how much I try to explain. And no, the won't even LOOK at the policy if I print it and take it to show them. They just know for a fact that no guns can be shipped.
The last gun I sent via UPS was a rifle. Under contents I typed "Custom Model 98." The clerk never asked about it. The return address on the box said "Fred's Custom Curtain Rods." Insured for $800 it cost me about $15 and it was delivered without any problems. Next time I will actually put some curtain rods in the box and that's what I'll be insuring.
Not sure about Fed-Ex policy on shipping for transfer except they do require overnight at high cost. Again, if you can get them to do it which I can't.
The last time I sent a gun via Fed-Ex I put two pocket knives in the box with the gun. Told the clerk I was mailing collectable pocket knives and insured them for $500. I never mentioned the 1911 in the box with the knives. It cost me about $8 and it was delivered in 3 days. If it was lost I would have filed a claim for the lost knives. Yes, I know that you are supposed to tell the clerk there's a gun in the box but I think all that does is cause them to refuse the shipment or ensures it gets stolen before leaving the building.
Shipping guns for me is nearly impossible and I have to resort to tricks to get any carrier to accept a gun shipment.
UPS requires expensive overnight and their policy is that they only accept guns (maybe this is just for pistols) being sent for repair. They won't accept shipment for transfer, only repair (this is on their website). A lot of people just lie and say it's being sent for repair. But like I said, none of the UPS outlets I have tried would take any gun for any reason. And every clerk is absolutely, 100% certain he or she is correct no matter how much I try to explain. And no, the won't even LOOK at the policy if I print it and take it to show them. They just know for a fact that no guns can be shipped.
The last gun I sent via UPS was a rifle. Under contents I typed "Custom Model 98." The clerk never asked about it. The return address on the box said "Fred's Custom Curtain Rods." Insured for $800 it cost me about $15 and it was delivered without any problems. Next time I will actually put some curtain rods in the box and that's what I'll be insuring.
Not sure about Fed-Ex policy on shipping for transfer except they do require overnight at high cost. Again, if you can get them to do it which I can't.
The last time I sent a gun via Fed-Ex I put two pocket knives in the box with the gun. Told the clerk I was mailing collectable pocket knives and insured them for $500. I never mentioned the 1911 in the box with the knives. It cost me about $8 and it was delivered in 3 days. If it was lost I would have filed a claim for the lost knives. Yes, I know that you are supposed to tell the clerk there's a gun in the box but I think all that does is cause them to refuse the shipment or ensures it gets stolen before leaving the building.
Shipping guns for me is nearly impossible and I have to resort to tricks to get any carrier to accept a gun shipment.
ocabj
Member
I've sold quite a few rifles and rifle receivers over the Internet and I've always used UPS to ship. I've had no problems with UPS. I bring a copy of the destination FFL (01 or 03) document and declare a firearm and ask the person at the counter if he/she wants to inspect it and see the FFL document.
I think the most I paid for shipping was on a Garand to DGR in Tennessee because I insured it for $1000 (1944 SA with lockbar sights and all 'correct' parts, sans barrel and stock). But usually I'll pay under $20 for shipping with insurance.
Note: I always go to the actual UPS staffed location in my city.
As far as UPS only accepting guns for repair, I've been asked it only one time and I specifically stated, "I'm just sending it to another FFL holder in another state." I didn't acknowledge or disavow whether or not it was being sent in for work, yet they still accepted it. So I don't know what UPS official policy is. I do have a C&R license though, so if an FFL to FFL only policy is enforced for non-repair shipments, I figure I can use that to get it through (even for non-C&R long guns since I doubt the UPS person will be able to distinguish the difference).
I think the most I paid for shipping was on a Garand to DGR in Tennessee because I insured it for $1000 (1944 SA with lockbar sights and all 'correct' parts, sans barrel and stock). But usually I'll pay under $20 for shipping with insurance.
Note: I always go to the actual UPS staffed location in my city.
As far as UPS only accepting guns for repair, I've been asked it only one time and I specifically stated, "I'm just sending it to another FFL holder in another state." I didn't acknowledge or disavow whether or not it was being sent in for work, yet they still accepted it. So I don't know what UPS official policy is. I do have a C&R license though, so if an FFL to FFL only policy is enforced for non-repair shipments, I figure I can use that to get it through (even for non-C&R long guns since I doubt the UPS person will be able to distinguish the difference).
- Status