No More Shipping Firearms

[carlson1]

I have shipped my last firearm. I shipped a S&W 36 in a very small box through UPS and it cost $53.49 for next day air saver. That is pathetic.

[seamusTX]

You can ship handguns through FFLs, sometimes for as little as $10 or $15. Several FFLs have posted deals here for forum members.

Anyone can ship long guns through the U.S.P.S.

- Jim

[03Lightningrocks]

This may or may not be the right place to ask, but you both seem to know something about shipping handguns. My son is in Houston and his ruger 380 is in Dallas with me. I really don't want to drive 8 hours round trip to give it to him. Can i mail it to him without an FFL involved since it is in state and his gun anyway?

[carlson1]

You can legally if you can get UPS to take it. They follow their rules not the law. :(

[03Lightningrocks]

You can legally if you can get UPS to take it. They follow their rules not the law. :(

So it is not illegal to ship it direct to him? But UPS may be a problem? Great...I know the post office won't take it. This is real bothersome for a 300 dollar pistol that I don't like him using for a concealed carry piece anyway. Thanks, I will see what UPS does. It is still in the factory return box from the recall. I wondered if I could just forward it to him the same as I would anyone else's mail that moved.

thanks for the help...

[carlson1]

Something I do not understand is how Ruger, Wilson, and others can mail it directly back to us who are not FFL's and out of State. Anyone have an answer?

[seamusTX]

Federal law allows a gunsmith or manufacturer to ship a firearm directly to the owner after making repairs or modifications.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; 18 U.S.C. 922(d), 27 CFR 478.32(d)

This is one of the few things in federal law that makes sense.

- Jim

[texasag93]

What are the rules using Lone Star Overnight? The package does not go out of state, so does that make a difference?

texasag

[seamusTX]

Lone Star Overnight does not ship firearms:

http://www.window.state.tx.us/procureme ... de2008.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Shipping in-state versus out-of-state is legally different, but it's a moot issue with LSO.

- Jim

[Rockrz]

I have shipped my last firearm. I shipped a S&W 36 in a very small box through UPS and it cost $53.49 for next day air saver. That is pathetic.

No problem...when figuring out what you want for the gun, just add about
$100 for shipping, and then tell 'em up front you are shipping it ground!

This is just one of the costs of doing business and can easily be put
in the overall cost of what you are selling.

So it is not illegal to ship it direct to him? But UPS may be a problem?

I ship stuff through my own UPS account all the time and they never ask
what's being shipped. The only time they've ever asked me this is if they
lose a package and I make a claim on the insurance I bought.

It'd be interesting to know what their policy is on this...maybe the
gun could be taken apart and shipped in two separate boxes, that
way you aren't actually shipping a gun...just gun parts!

Maybe that would work.

[seamusTX]

Legally, a receiver or frame is a firearm according to federal law. It doesn't matter if it is missing so many parts that it can't fire a cartridge. In some cases, it doesn't matter if it is damaged beyond repair.

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#a5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Rockrz]

Well, I guess those poo-poo heads just thought of everything

Next best thing is ship it UPS anyway and get insurance from some
other source other than the insurance UPS offers so the replacement
cost of the piece can be covered if UPS loses it, which is rare.

It's easy to get your own UPS account so you can setup and pay
for your own shipments and put the shipping label on the box
yourself without asking yourself what's inside (you already know)

Then, drop it off at your nearest Staples or any authorized UPS
center, or even your nearest UPS hub.

Wouldn't think there would be anything illegal about this, is there?

[seamusTX]

Yeah, there is. Those "poo-poo heads" in Congress really did think of everything.

The rules of common carriers that require you to declare firearms are effectively incorporated into federal law.

(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trying to dodge these rules is asking for trouble, IMHO. You won't catch me doing it. Shipping through an FFL is cheaper and entirely legal.

Do I like it? No. Can BATFE afford more lawyers than I? Yes. Is it going to change in the foreseeable future? No.

- Jim

[Rockrz]

What if you aren't a CHL guy...can you still ship it through a gun shop?
(I'm guessing the answer is gonna be no!)

[seamusTX]

Yes, anyone can ship through an FFL. They are not even required to take information from the person shipping.

- Jim