How and best way to mail a rifle?

[drjoker]

Hi,

I just want to stay legal. I've done some research and the following is what I plan on doing. Please tell me what I plan on doing is wrong and/or illegal. Thanks.

I would like to mail a rifle back to the manufacturer for repair. I heard that UPS employees steal guns, so UPS is out. I heard that the USPS will give you trouble on purpose because they are anti-gun. So USPS is out. That leaves FedEx. I would guess that the manufacturer/wholesale importer/distributer is a FFL so I can ship it across state lines without having to use a FFL on my end. Also, since there is no change of ownership in the weapon, I can receive the gun back from the manuf/import/dist directly without having to use a FFL to receive the gun. I also should not declare it as a weapon because that will get it stolen by FedEx employees. I should also insure it as a "mechanical harvest device" or "mechanical projectile device".


the doc.

[gdanaher]

Have you considered talking to the manufacturer and asking HIM these questions? They do business with USPS, UPS, FedEx, and perhaps a few others as well. They should be able to tell you who to trust, how to label, and how to insure. Here, you get opinions. The manufacturer will give you the straight skinny.

[hirundo82]

USPS is required by law to accept any legal package. You can legally ship a long gun via USPS. If they will not accept it, I would contact with the local postmaster, and if they don't do anything about it the Postal Inspector's office would be my next call.

USPS will also be the cheapest way to ship it most likely.

[rm9792]

I agree, make USPS do their job.

[BobCat]

A few years ago I used the US Post Office to send a rifle to my brother in Austin.

The lady at the post office told me it was fine to mail a rifle, but not a handgun. She was helpful and nice, and he got it sooner than she said he probably would. No problem at all. But this was all within Texas, no state lines.

[GrayGhost]

Whoever you use, try to find a customer service person at the manufacturer so you can send it to "Bill Smith" rather than "Winchester." I would not include the name of the manufacturer on any labeling.

[WildBill]

Whoever you use, try to find a customer service person at the manufacturer so you can send it to "Bill Smith" rather than "Winchester." I would not include the name of the manufacturer on any labeling.

You can also abbreviate the name of the company so that it isn't obvious that it is a gun manufacturer, ie. Winchester Arms Co. -> W.A. Company

[The Annoyed Man]

I had to ship my M&P back to S&W once. I walked into the local UPS store and asked what I had to do. They sent me over to the UPS office at DFW airport. I walked in with the gun in it's case. They had me open the case to prove that it was unloaded. Then they had me close the case and place it in the box they provided, and I had to watch while the lady closed up the box and sealed it. There was some paper work to fill out and sign, then I purchased insurance for the value of the gun.

The requirement was that it had to be shipped either 2nd day or next day air. Other than the added hassle of driving over to the airport, which is about 10minutes from my house, it wasn't a big deal at all.

The gun arrived at S&W on time, and it was delivered to my front door, signature required, on the return trip.

[hirundo82]

I had to ship my M&P back to S&W once. I walked into the local UPS store and asked what I had to do. They sent me over to the UPS office at DFW airport. I walked in with the gun in it's case. They had me open the case to prove that it was unloaded. Then they had me close the case and place it in the box they provided, and I had to watch while the lady closed up the box and sealed it. There was some paper work to fill out and sign, then I purchased insurance for the value of the gun.

The requirement was that it had to be shipped either 2nd day or next day air. Other than the added hassle of driving over to the airport, which is about 10minutes from my house, it wasn't a big deal at all.

The gun arrived at S&W on time, and it was delivered to my front door, signature required, on the return trip.

For shipping a handgun that's the right way to do it, and the only way for us non-FFLs to do it legally. However, it is much cheaper to ship by USPS since they don't require air shipping, so for long guns that would be the way I would go.

[G.A. Heath]

The last time I mailed a rifle I went to the Post Office a week in advance and told them what I planned to do, and told them where to look so they could read up on it. I also suggested they contact another area post office with questions as I knew they handled firearms regularly. Came back a week later with my rifle packaged and ready to ship, they took it and my money and about a week later the manufacturer let me know they had received it. About two days later I got my signature confirmation card back.

[The Annoyed Man]

I had to ship my M&P back to S&W once. I walked into the local UPS store and asked what I had to do. They sent me over to the UPS office at DFW airport. I walked in with the gun in it's case. They had me open the case to prove that it was unloaded. Then they had me close the case and place it in the box they provided, and I had to watch while the lady closed up the box and sealed it. There was some paper work to fill out and sign, then I purchased insurance for the value of the gun.

The requirement was that it had to be shipped either 2nd day or next day air. Other than the added hassle of driving over to the airport, which is about 10minutes from my house, it wasn't a big deal at all.

The gun arrived at S&W on time, and it was delivered to my front door, signature required, on the return trip.

For shipping a handgun that's the right way to do it, and the only way for us non-FFLs to do it legally. However, it is much cheaper to ship by USPS since they don't require air shipping, so for long guns that would be the way I would go.

I think it was S&W's requirement that the gun be shipped next day or 2nd day air. I didn't really mind. In the greater scheme of things, the extra $20 or so is not the end of the world, and it was important to me that the gun arrive in a timely manner, and get back to me in a timely manner. The longer it is in transit, the greater the opportunity for it to be stolen or lost.

Personally, I would never let the cost of shipping a firearm - pistol or long gun - be a factor in the decision if I felt like the extra cost would provide a modicum of greater security. Anything else is just playing with fate. At least, that is my take on it. Anyone else's mileage may vary...

[G26ster]

Here's a link to the helpful GunBroker info on shipping firearms. Good info.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Support/Suppor ... faqid=1118" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rebel]

If you want the easiest and least expensive, then USPS, by law they have to accept it and are not allowed to give you any "advice" about the contents. This of course is for longguns(rifles) only, a non FFL cannot use USPS to ship a handgun.

I have shipped using FedEx and UPS, for handguns, and it will cost way more as they require overnight and you can only ship a depot, not a FedEx Kinkos or UPS store.

[The Annoyed Man]

Hi,

I just want to stay legal. I've done some research and the following is what I plan on doing. Please tell me what I plan on doing is wrong and/or illegal. Thanks.

I would like to mail a rifle back to the manufacturer for repair. I heard that UPS employees steal guns, so UPS is out. I heard that the USPS will give you trouble on purpose because they are anti-gun. So USPS is out. That leaves FedEx. I would guess that the manufacturer/wholesale importer/distributer is a FFL so I can ship it across state lines without having to use a FFL on my end. Also, since there is no change of ownership in the weapon, I can receive the gun back from the manuf/import/dist directly without having to use a FFL to receive the gun. I also should not declare it as a weapon because that will get it stolen by FedEx employees. I should also insure it as a "mechanical harvest device" or "mechanical projectile device".


the doc.

drjoker, something to consider....

Why are you shipping it to the factory, anyway, instead of just taking it to a gunsmith? Is it a warranty issue? Are there no certified armorers for that brand in the region who can cover warranty repairs? Also, if it is a minor repair, the cost of a gunsmith might offset the cost of shipping.

What is the rifle, and what is wrong with it?

[drjoker]

Why are you shipping it to the factory, anyway, instead of just taking it to a gunsmith? Is it a warranty issue? Are there no certified armorers for that brand in the region who can cover warranty repairs? Also, if it is a minor repair, the cost of a gunsmith might offset the cost of shipping.

What is the rifle, and what is wrong with it?

I don't know any gunsmiths who have time to fix stuff. Doc's in Carrollton said that he is too busy and said that since it is new, it really is the manufacturer's responsibility to fix it.

I don't know how to take apart for cleaning my new .22 cal AK47 (2 of the screws are hideously tight). Ugh....