Has anybody ever mailed their gun?

[Refund]

I'd like to get the slide on one of my handguns milled. I contacted one company and they want me to ship the entire handgun. I'm obviously a little skeptical about shipping a firearm out of NYC. From what I understand, I can only ship the gun via UPS/FedEx (UPS is this particular company's preference) and I have to schedule a date and time for a UPS employee to come and pick up the package.

I'm not sure if anybody reading this is fortunate enough to live within the confines of one of the five boroughs in our lovely and free city but towards the end of the year it seems as if UPS hires temporary help for the holiday work load. Last year I encountered a gentleman that was dropping off a Christmas gift that I had to sign for, he wearing some black and yellow beads and had a crown tattoo on his neck. I'm not sure how I feel about potential felons handling my firearm.

Until researching this I wasn't aware that I could ship a handgun, or any firearm without being an FFL. I'm still not entirely sure how this makes sense.

If anybody has some success or horror stories on this topic, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm going to pick something up from my FFL soon, I may pick their brain on the topic as well.

 

[Bananabandit]

If its not being transferred, you dont have to go through an FFL. Repair work on firearms are the same. Send to company they send it back. Youre not obtaining a new to you firearm. Its already in your name.

 

[TopShot]

Go to the local UPS and drop it off yourself.
Make sure you get a receipt.
Fed-Ex requires that you tell them it's a firearm.
I'm not sure if you have to with UPS.

 

[CzechFan]

You can even ship to yourself - like if you're traveling to another state and don't want the hassle at the airport. Ship it to yourself, c/o friend in the other state. It's legal as long as you're the one opening the package at the other end.

 

[Joe Blow]

I'm not sure if anybody reading this is fortunate enough to live within the confines of one of the five boroughs in our lovely and free city but towards the end of the year it seems as if UPS hires temporary help for the holiday work load. Last year I encountered a gentleman that was dropping off a Christmas gift that I had to sign for, he wearing some black and yellow beads and had a crown tattoo on his neck. I'm not sure how I feel about potential felons handling my firearm.

You can ship a "slide" to anyone and receive it back legally. It's a piece of metal.
Why is a gentleman that was dropping off a Christmas gift (UPS employee) who was wearing black and yellow beads and had a tattoo on his neck a potential felon?

 

[WileyX585]

What makes him a felon? Don't judge a book by its cover..

 

[4excal]

A few times for service. Always with UPS the REAL UPS ,one time the UPS Store front place gave me a hard time because I was honest with what I was shipping. I argued and explained and it made no difference, then I went straight to UPS distribution center and had no issues..now I say it's "custom metal candle holders" I make and sell

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Just have ups come get it. No big deal. Dont over think it.

The ups store is NOT ups. You are not supposed to use the ups store.

 

[Refund]

If its not being transferred, you dont have to go through an FFL. Repair work on firearms are the same. Send to company they send it back. Youre not obtaining a new to you firearm. Its already in your name.

This make perfect sense.

Go to the local UPS and drop it off yourself.
Make sure you get a receipt.
Fed-Ex requires that you tell them it's a firearm.
I'm not sure if you have to with UPS.

I shipped something UPS the other day, they asked me what I was shipping.. That would lead to an interesting conversation.

You can ship a "slide" to anyone and receive it back legally. It's a piece of metal.
Why is a gentleman that was dropping off a Christmas gift (UPS employee) who was wearing black and yellow beads and had a tattoo on his neck a potential felon?

I would be happy to ship the slide. I don't like the idea of shipping the receiver but the company that I would like to send it to won't do the work unless it's the entire firearm. I guess it's just a taboo idea for me to ship a gun in it's entirety in the mail. In addition to UPS being known to hire people with criminal histories the guy had multiple Latin King identifiers. I don't think it's unfair to assume somebody with beads, "KING" and crown tattos, and the letters ALKN on his knuckles to be a Latin King member. I don't think it's any less fair to assume that the guy with the verizon shirt knocking on my door is there to fix my cable or internet. If he didn't want to be judged based on his appearance then he shouldn't have gotten the tattoos.

Just have ups come get it. No big deal. Dont over think it.

The ups store is NOT ups. You are not supposed to use the ups store.

After reading UPS's website I think that my only option is to get the package picked up when it's not just parts. I'll just never be able to forgive myself if the thing gets lost in the mail. I know FFLs send and recieve every day but that's never been my problem lol..

Thank you guys for the responses.

 

[Frankly]

FedEx ships handguns, it's not a problem to tell them it is a gun and they will insure it for it's whole value.

UPS will ship handguns but I always heard you needed to go the regional UPS (not UPS Store) to ship from. But if they will come get it from you then all the better. Pay for full insurance.

USPS doesn't do handguns but long guns are no problem.

Common sense, pack them in discrete, well padded packaging. Don't volunteer anything extra or act like a criminal.

 

[Darth]

I've shipped both long guns and handguns.

FedEx came to my house, I told them it was a handgun as per instructions, and it was shipped back to my door when done.

UPS for a shotgun. I had to go to the local hub. They didn't ask what was inside, I didn't tell them.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Years ago i declared the contents as “tools”.

Remember almost every single gun arrives by a carrier of some sort......think about the milllions of packages that float around everyday. Most do not get lost or stolen.

The last 3 handguns i shipped went in an amazon box......

Take that liberal amazon monkeys!!! How do you feel now? Ha ha ha!

 

[cardinalny]

When I shipped a pistol, I took it to a Fedex regional facility and picked it up from there when work was completed.
Both UPS and Fedex have had trouble finding my home with regular packages. They’ve left my packages at other peoples houses and then I have to try and find it. Don’t want their drivers coming to my house with my firearms. That’s more about me that they don’t need to know.

 

[wizrd]

Never any problems shipping or getting things back. List package as "machined parts".

 

[Frankly]

In the rare event that you needed to claim on the insurance, misrepresenting the contents will disqualify the claim.

 

[Okmaman]

Black/Gold or Yellow beads= Latin kings gang. The crown tattoo on his neck just brings it all together.


I cant seem to add a quote or do the reply thing with a quote. ovbiously im the only one having this issue.

 

[CaseHardened]

UPS NEXT DAY is very expensive.

BUT if you sign up for an account online, the price drops by half or more.

Legal Shipping of Firearms & Ammo for Dummies 2016

 

[CaseHardened]

UPS: Potentially very easy, and reasonably priced - if you know how. The UPS requires no special forms. If you are the shipper, please, please get a copy of the recipient's FFL License before you ship. Legally, as long as the recipient is an FFL, and the shipper the legal owner, all is ok. I'm pretty sure the UPS is not asking for proof. BUT only C&R Handguns can go to a C&R FFL-03. No one can ship a modern handgun to a C&R FFL-03. Now, pay attention. You must have UPS come to you to pick it up, or you can drop it off at a real UPS Customer Center. That means no Mail Boxes Etc., no Staples, no Office Depot. And you must NOT mark the box ! It cannot disclose there is a Handgun inside. But you have got to TELL the Clerk you are shipping a Handgun !!. At which point the Clerk should inform you this package must (grab your wallet), ship OVERNIGHT ! $60 or more. Total Deal Killer. But wait... Sign up beforehand on UPS for an account. An account is free. You don't have to be a business. And no dues or ongoing fees. And print your label online, before you head to UPS - use Next Day Air Saver. Suddenly it's not $60+. Your price is often cut in HALF. Or more. Problem - Solved.

 

[Joe Blow]

Is your FFL friendly? $15 for USPS priority mail medium flat rate box. Where are you located?

 

[CaseHardened]

Is your FFL friendly? $15 for USPS priority mail medium flat rate box. Where are you located?

My FFL tells me any transaction of that sort requires a TRANSFER.

Add $25 to $50 on top of the shipping for that.

 

[Joe Blow]

Yes. It would have to go on the FFL's books and then a quick 4473 done upon return to the owner. If your FFL charges $25 - $50 for that, being a customer, he 'aint friendly. I'd find another FFL...

 

[CaseHardened]

Yes. It would have to go on the FFL's books and then a quick 4473 done upon return to the owner. If your FFL charges $25 - $50 for that, being a customer, he 'aint friendly. I'd find another FFL...

When I was bringing in my KSG from GB, one local shop was quoting $75 Transfer Fees.

The one that finally got my business did it for $25.

A "Friendly" FFL ?

If I have any friends left, I'm slippin'.

 

[Glenn B]

Before you ship it, why not inquire of the relevant authorities in the county from which you have your pistol license. If, as I understand, you got yours in NYC - that could be a completely different can of worms than anywhere else in NY state. NYC has some screwed up laws, rules and regulations (as compared to the rest of NY where the laws are already fucked up). Why take the chance of committing a crime merely because you were ignorant of any special rules in NYC. Don't just ask them though, have them show it to you in writing when it comes to what you need to do to ship it for repair.

As for the shipping company they have certain rules you are supposed to follow and I believe they are based n federal regulation but not sure of that last part. Anyway, UPS requires you to state the contents of the shipment and I imagine FedEx does likewise. They supposedly track handguns differently than some other shipments (as per verbal communication with a few different UPS employees at the counter). Thus, if you listen to the advice of some above and ship your handgun listed as something other than a handgun, and it gets stolen and heaven forbid later used in the commission of a crime and someone is injured with it, you could wind up in deep very foul shit if it is traced back to you. All well and good that someone else tells you to do it or says they did it and everything was okay and excellent for you if you do it and have no consequences. Then again, tell me who here is going to pay for your legal defense if things go south and who is going to do your time if that is how it winds up. I do not like all the bullshit we must go through relative to firearms within NY but I think I would like even less the consequences of getting caught violating those rules and there are just too many variables in shipping a gun where things can go wrong for me to risk it not being done right as per those rules and regulations.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

he 'aint friendly. I'd find another FFL...

No. He is not in business making friends. He is in business.

You should consider looking into opening an ffl business. I have many many people you could make friends with.

Pls be sure and let me know when you begin your business.......and, more importantly, how long before you are outta business.

One thing for sure.....you MAY have a lot of friends to pay your bills when you are jobless.....