Shipping A firearm ?

Have you tried the UPS hub in your area. A few years back I tried shipping gun parts, no serialized frame through a UPS store and they said no but the hub will. I went to the hub and no questions asked and I insured it as gun parts. It was all the parts for two guns for a coating except the frames. Worker didn’t bat an eye or say a word. The main hubs may still do this but I haven’t checked in a while now.
Outside of that you’re going to be FFL to FFL. Also keep in mind shipping rates have jumped immensely over the past few years. It’s nothing for a small box to be $20-25 now. If you have an account sometimes there are discounts.

Get a FEDEX account....

Yes, FedEx and UPS no longer ship guns unless you are an FFL.

Find an FFL who ships USPS, most handguns will fit in a medium flat rate box for $19.20. My FFL charges $15 plus the actual shipping cost. I give him $35.

Anyone can ship a handgun through USPS. Most of the USPS clerks (much like TSA) have zero training in this. The FFL copy being shipped to has to be in the box and shipping to the FFL or OEM is required; liability. I haven’t had a problem and it works great. I have run into the UPS franchises no longer even accepting from an FFL. Interesting enough, when my distributor sends to me it comes thru UPS. Fedex is horrible by me. They’ve left it on other address doorsteps with no signature and their customer service is outside of the Country. They also have all their lines (to include the local offices) tied into that 800 number so you can’t talk to the local folks. Worthless.

12.2 Rifles and Shotguns

[Revise renumbered 12.2 as follows:]

Except under 12.1.1d and 12.1.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing under 12.1.1d. The following conditions also apply:

a. Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when sent within the same state of mailing. These items must bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement, and must be sent by Express Mail (“signature required” must be used at delivery) or Registered Mail, or must include either insured mail service (for more than $200) requiring a signature at delivery.

b. A shotgun or rifle owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner’s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the state, where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:

1. Be addressed to the owner.

2. Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.

3. Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.

4. Be mailed using services described in 12.2a.

c. Rifles and shotguns may be mailed by a non-FFL owner domestically to a FFL dealer, manufacturer, or importer in any state. USPS recommends these items be mailed using those services described in 12.2a.

d. Except as described in 12.1.2a, licensed curio and relic collectors may mail firearms meeting the definition of curios or relics under 27 CFR 478.11 domestically to FFL licensed curio and relic collectors in any state. USPS recommends these items be mailed using those services described in 12.2a.

e. Firearms that are certified by the curator of a municipal, state, or federal museum that exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest may be accepted for mailing without restriction.

f. Air guns that do not fall within the definition of firearm under 12.1.1a are mailable. A shipment containing an air gun with a muzzle velocity of 400 or more feet per second (fps) must include an Adult Signature service under 503.8.0. Mailers must additionally comply with all applicable state and local regulations.

12.3 Legal Opinions on Mailing Firearms

[Revise renumbered 12.3 as follows:]

Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of firearms. Further advice and ATF contact information is available at Firearms Q&As | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Brawny71 said:

Anyone can ship a handgun through USPS. Most of the USPS clerks (much like TSA) have zero training in this. The FFL copy being shipped to has to be in the box and shipping to the FFL or OEM is required; liability. I haven’t had a problem and it works great. I have run into the UPS franchises no longer even accepting from an FFL. Interesting enough, when my distributor sends to me it comes thru UPS. Fedex is horrible by me. They’ve left it on other address doorsteps with no signature and their customer service is outside of the Country. They also have all their lines (to include the local offices) tied into that 800 number so you can’t talk to the local folks. Worthless.

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Not handguns. Only FFL.

Shipping Handguns via USPS​

General Regulations​

• Handguns cannot be shipped through the United States Postal Service (USPS) by individuals.
• Only licensed Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) can ship handguns using USPS under specific conditions.

Who Can Ship Handguns​

• Licensed Dealers: FFL holders can ship handguns to other FFLs or to law enforcement agencies.
• Individuals: Non-licensed individuals must ship handguns through a common carrier (like UPS or FedEx) to an FFL dealer.

Shipping Requirements​

• Handguns must be unloaded and securely packaged.
• Packages cannot have any markings indicating they contain firearms.
• An affidavit may be required for certain shipments, confirming the recipient is qualified to receive the firearm.

Alternatives for Shipping Handguns​

• UPS and FedEx: These carriers allow handguns to be shipped under strict guidelines, including using specific services like Next Day Air for UPS.
• State Regulations: Always check state laws, as they may impose additional restrictions on shipping firearms.

Do it yourself is about dead.

GB fees, shipping fees, tax collection..................hassles.........I just take it to an FFL, list it on consignment. You costs may be less thru an FFl, and records are kept

TopShot said:

As I mentioned in a previous post there are no more UPS Hubs (Service Centers) in the tri-state area.
UPS closed them all when they bought and rebranded the MBE stores.
If I sneak it through at a UPS store and it gets lost, stolen or destroyed I'm going to have a problem.
Besides, I understand they randomly x-ray packages and I may get in some sort of issue.
C.B.

Thanks anyway, but I'm not a fan of consignment. There is no excise or sales tax collected on a resale by a private individual. I have copies of permits, sales receipts, and FFL copies of all my transactions from day one.

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I didn’t realize you meant they got rid of all hubs. I agree and wouldn’t ship it without insuring it and being up front with what’s in it or it won’t be covered.
That sucks as there is a main hub in Buffalo.

Who will do the NICS check?......................someone has to pay an FFL.

FtF is about dead..............do it yourself is about dead; you cant do the NICS check.
I guess you want to avoid all that shit, eh?

Saltwater60 said:

I didn’t realize you meant they got rid of all hubs. I agree and wouldn’t ship it without insuring it and being up front with what’s in it or it won’t be covered.
That sucks as there is a main hub in Buffalo.

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There is a main hub but the counter has been closed for a couple years now. There's no more walk in service.