Posted by: boydjd
HOW TO SHIP FIREARMS: A PRIMER - 07/30/11 01:26 AM
Shipping Firearms
This question comes up time and time again, and I'm sick of typing out the same things over and over again in the shoutbox and in posts.
It is perfectly legal to ship a firearm in-state between individuals, without involving a licensed dealer.
I'll refer you to the ATF to prove this, because you won't believe me:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-carrier
Okay, now we have that covered.
So, how do we go about shipping a firearm in-state?
First of all, the box you put the firearm should not be marked in anyway to indicate that it is indeed a firearm.
Rifles
Rifles are easy. Put them in a box. Take them to the counter at the post office. Inform the clerk that you are shipping a rifle. You're required by federal law to inform the shipper that the package contains firearms. There's no additional fee to ship a rifle. Standard postage applies. If you're smart, you'll pay for delivery confirmation and insurance.
Pistols
Pistols are a pain in the [potty-mouth]. USPS won't accept them. You can ship them via FedEx or UPS. Both carriers require that you ship from a hub, and that you use overnight service to do so.
Shipping firearms out of state
It's legal for a non-licensee (you) to ship a firearm to a licensee (an FFL). You will need a copy of the licensee's FFL, and you can check it with the ATF here:
https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/
Same deal. Ship a rifle via USPS, ship handguns via UPS/Fedex. Some FFLs are a pain about accepting shipments from individuals, so make sure the buyer has cleared the shipment first.
Note, it is sometimes cheaper to pay an FFL to do the transfer for you on a pistol, because, surprise, the USPS allows handgun shipments by licensees.
Additional references:
http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
This question comes up time and time again, and I'm sick of typing out the same things over and over again in the shoutbox and in posts.
It is perfectly legal to ship a firearm in-state between individuals, without involving a licensed dealer.
I'll refer you to the ATF to prove this, because you won't believe me:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#shipping-firearms-carrier
Quote:
Q: 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]
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]
Okay, now we have that covered.
So, how do we go about shipping a firearm in-state?
First of all, the box you put the firearm should not be marked in anyway to indicate that it is indeed a firearm.
Rifles
Rifles are easy. Put them in a box. Take them to the counter at the post office. Inform the clerk that you are shipping a rifle. You're required by federal law to inform the shipper that the package contains firearms. There's no additional fee to ship a rifle. Standard postage applies. If you're smart, you'll pay for delivery confirmation and insurance.
Pistols
Pistols are a pain in the [potty-mouth]. USPS won't accept them. You can ship them via FedEx or UPS. Both carriers require that you ship from a hub, and that you use overnight service to do so.
Shipping firearms out of state
It's legal for a non-licensee (you) to ship a firearm to a licensee (an FFL). You will need a copy of the licensee's FFL, and you can check it with the ATF here:
https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/
Same deal. Ship a rifle via USPS, ship handguns via UPS/Fedex. Some FFLs are a pain about accepting shipments from individuals, so make sure the buyer has cleared the shipment first.
Note, it is sometimes cheaper to pay an FFL to do the transfer for you on a pistol, because, surprise, the USPS allows handgun shipments by licensees.
Additional references:
http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html