Advice for shipping a firearm via UPS or FedEx

[mikey1969]

I need to return a firearm to Taurus in Florida ....... can anyone help me on what proceedures i need to observe when doing so ...... is there special documents that need to be prepared ??
appreciate any advice you guys can offer

[gigag04]

Have your LGS do it and save $$$.

[mikey1969]

Have your LGS do it and save $$$.

is that something that they would readily do ????? i understand a fee would be applicable .... any idea how much it might cost
thanks

[urnoodle]

I shipped a handgun to my father to pick up at his FFL. I put it in a USPS one rate priority box but left it unsealed and took it to my FFL. My FFL photocopied his license and put it in the box and sealed it. He then logged it into his book and gave it back to me to take to the post office. Cost me $10 for the transfer fee and approx $15 priority rate postage that's it. It was easier than I thought.

[mikey1969]

I shipped a handgun to my father to pick up at his FFL. I put it in a USPS one rate priority box but left it unsealed and took it to my FFL. My FFL photocopied his license and put it in the box and sealed it. He then logged it into his book and gave it back to me to take to the post office. Cost me $10 for the transfer fee and approx $15 priority rate postage that's it. It was easier than I thought.

ok thanks ... good advice

[mrvmax]

I shipped a handgun to my father to pick up at his FFL. I put it in a USPS one rate priority box but left it unsealed and took it to my FFL. My FFL photocopied his license and put it in the box and sealed it. He then logged it into his book and gave it back to me to take to the post office. Cost me $10 for the transfer fee and approx $15 priority rate postage that's it. It was easier than I thought.

Both you and your FFL violated Postal Service regs so I would not do this again. Only an FFL can mail handguns via USPS and when the FFL mails a handgun he is required to present a PS1508 with the shipment.

[mrvmax]

I need to return a firearm to Taurus in Florida ....... can anyone help me on what proceedures i need to observe when doing so ...... is there special documents that need to be prepared ??
appreciate any advice you guys can offer

You can use UPS or FedEx but they will make you ship it overnight. FYI you are supposed to tell them it is a handgun when you ship it, I am sure not all people do that. An FFL can mail it via USPS flat rate which will be the cheapest way to ship.

[gigag04]

Overnight for a handgun is usually like $75...

My LGS charged me like $25 TOTAL. So...

[mrvmax]

USPS rules, there are more but this explains most of it:
http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

[urnoodle]

I shipped a handgun to my father to pick up at his FFL. I put it in a USPS one rate priority box but left it unsealed and took it to my FFL. My FFL photocopied his license and put it in the box and sealed it. He then logged it into his book and gave it back to me to take to the post office. Cost me $10 for the transfer fee and approx $15 priority rate postage that's it. It was easier than I thought.

Both you and your FFL violated Postal Service regs so I would not do this again. Only an FFL can mail handguns via USPS and when the FFL mails a handgun he is required to present a PS1508 with the shipment.

That's good to know. If it was illegal the post office didn't think so. There were at least 2 other postal employees overheard the conversation that didn't say anything. When the postal worker asked what was in the box I told her it was a handgun. She asked me if I was an FFL and I told her no. I gave her the FFL contact information and informed her that my FFL had placed paperwork inside the box and sealed it. No other questions were asked and the postal worker applied the postage and accepted the box.

[mrvmax]

I shipped a handgun to my father to pick up at his FFL. I put it in a USPS one rate priority box but left it unsealed and took it to my FFL. My FFL photocopied his license and put it in the box and sealed it. He then logged it into his book and gave it back to me to take to the post office. Cost me $10 for the transfer fee and approx $15 priority rate postage that's it. It was easier than I thought.

Both you and your FFL violated Postal Service regs so I would not do this again. Only an FFL can mail handguns via USPS and when the FFL mails a handgun he is required to present a PS1508 with the shipment.

That's good to know. If it was illegal the post office didn't think so. There were at least 2 other postal employees overheard the conversation that didn't say anything. When the postal worker asked what was in the box I told her it was a handgun. She asked me if I was an FFL and I told her no. I gave her the FFL contact information and informed her that my FFL had placed paperwork inside the box and sealed it. No other questions were asked and the postal worker applied the postage and accepted the box.

Most of the postal employees (from what I have seen) do not know their own procedures. My local Post office knows me now from all the transfers I have taken in. I still occasionally run across an employee that does not know what to do. I had one USPS lady try to tell me I had to disassemble the handgun.

[jimlongley]

When I sent my .45 to be cerrocoated a few years ago, per the instructions of the coater, I sent two packages and told the PO that the individual packages were "gun parts." The lady at the counter then said it was OK as long as it was not a whole gun, and away it went. Came back a couple of weeks later fully assembled via UPS. I think they lost my barrel link because the one I got back never fit as well as the one I sent. BTW, I, also at the instruction of the guy that did the coating, retained a couple of parts, so that I never sent a "complete gun." I am not sure I would risk that these days.

[Mike1951]

If it's a warranty issue, Taurus should provide you with a prepaid shipping label.

If they hesitate, request harder.

[Jumping Frog]

When I sent my .45 to be cerrocoated a few years ago, per the instructions of the coater, I sent two packages and told the PO that the individual packages were "gun parts." The lady at the counter then said it was OK as long as it was not a whole gun, and away it went. Came back a couple of weeks later fully assembled via UPS. I think they lost my barrel link because the one I got back never fit as well as the one I sent. BTW, I, also at the instruction of the guy that did the coating, retained a couple of parts, so that I never sent a "complete gun." I am not sure I would risk that these days.

That isn't legal either. Legally, the serialized frame is the handgun. When you shipped it, you shipped a handgun via USPS. Only FFL's can do that legally.

[jimlongley]

When I sent my .45 to be cerrocoated a few years ago, per the instructions of the coater, I sent two packages and told the PO that the individual packages were "gun parts." The lady at the counter then said it was OK as long as it was not a whole gun, and away it went. Came back a couple of weeks later fully assembled via UPS. I think they lost my barrel link because the one I got back never fit as well as the one I sent. BTW, I, also at the instruction of the guy that did the coating, retained a couple of parts, so that I never sent a "complete gun." I am not sure I would risk that these days.

That isn't legal either. Legally, the serialized frame is the handgun. When you shipped it, you shipped a handgun via USPS. Only FFL's can do that legally.

Like I said, I wouldn't risk it these days. The guy I was dealing with was a FFL and it was his advice I was following, but I think he was counting on the postal clerk not realizing that the serial number is the gun. I had removed the trigger and mainspring housing because they were being replaced as part of the rework and not being refinished. A week or so after I received it back I turned it over to my gunsmith to finish the rework, and it occurred to me at that point that I could have had my FFL ship it to him and take the return and save myself the aggravation as well as the risk.