[Buckshooter]

I have a couple of questions. I plan to ship a rifle out of state. I have the original cardboard box with styrofoam liner it came in. Can I wrap shipping paper around the box and send it, or should I wrap extra cardboard around it to cover the original box and then send it. Second question. Is it ok to send it USPS or send from a UPS hub, twenty miles away? I am sending through an FFL both ways. He can't ship for me. Thanx

 

[gun_nut_73]

Just my opinion, but I would wrap the box with cardboard, and seal it with cloth-backed strapping tape. Shippers can be hard on firearms for a variety of reasons.

Do NOT use a UPS Store, Mailboxes Etc., or any of the strip-mall type shops. Use the actual USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex office. As it is a long gun, you can ship any of these.

 

[7.62x54r]

I don't think UPS will accept paper wrapped packages, but I'm not certain. If the original box identifies it as a firearm I would definitely put it in another box. You can just get a big piece of cardboard and "wrap" it around the box and tape it up.

It's perfectly fine to send it USPS and that would be my choice.

I'm a little confused about the statement, "I am sending through an FFL both ways. He can't ship for me." If you are shipping it then you're not sending it through an FFL. Either he logs it in and ships it for you logging it out to the receiving FFL or there's no reason to go through him. If he logs it in and then out to the receiving FFL but turns around and hands it to you to ship then I'm sure he's violated at least one ATF regulation.

Now if it's a case where the receiving FFL requires it to come from an FFL and your FFL and you are very trusting of each other and he's doing you a favor by running it through his books it shouldn't be a problem. It's just not the way things are typically done and I wouldn't want to have to explain it to the ATF myself.

 

[Shyquestor]

I have a couple of questions. I plan to ship a rifle out of state. I have the original cardboard box with styrofoam liner it came in. Can I wrap shipping paper around the box and send it, or should I wrap extra cardboard around it to cover the original box and then send it. Second question. Is it ok to send it USPS or send from a UPS hub, twenty miles away? I am sending through an FFL both ways. He can't ship for me. Thanx

I would just reuse the box and liner as is if it came through the first time OK.

I seldom sell and when I do, it is a higher-cost item and have lately been including a $12 hard case as part of the purchase price. I wrap a numer of winds of packing tape over each latch, place nylon wire ties through the holes in the handle area and place a label directly on the case surface, with a couple layers of clear shipping tape. Recipients love the $12 hard case, no screwing with boxes and fillers and the shipper can't break anything without really trying.

Ted raised a couple other issues, above, that do need clarification.

I ship only USPS Priority insured.

 

[Spetznatz]

This sounds strange but when I reuse a marked rifle box (Remington or such) I just turn it inside out so that it is no longer marked. Tape it, tag it and ship it USPS priority.

 

[greatguns]

I did a price check on shipping an M44 the other day and Fedex Ground Home delivery to an 03ffl was the same price as Parcel post. For some reason Priority was $9 more. The mail man was giving me some grief about having to remove the bolt or firing pin from the gun to ship it so I just took it to fedex. Both of these are cheaper than UPS.

 

[zoostation]

You can use USPS for a long gun across state lines as long as its going to a licensee. I have used USPS insured priority mail for any rifle I've ever sold and never had a problem. Like a lot of people for me the UPS hub is a pain in the ass to go to and you're not allowed to use the UPS stores, etc for a firearm. There was a discussion on the old boards a while back on this subject and there were a lot of comments about Fedex insurance not covering firearms, you have to buy a separate policy for them. Don't remember all the details but it is probably worth looking into before using them to ship.

 

[greatguns]

Hmmmm, I'll have to double check that before I do my next ship. They said at the counter it was, but you know how that goes. The counter help rarely know the truth on policies and regulations. When I first started using them I had to call Hazmat and have them explain to the count person that the declaration form they wanted filled out for ammo was only if I was sending it by air. Fedex has no forms or special regs. for shipping ground other than the ORM-D cartridges, small arms sticker. They are exactly the same as UPS only cheaper. USPS technically is suppose to allow ammo as well on ground shipments, but it is just too much hassle to convince them. Will post back here when I get info on the insurance thing.

 

[7.62x54r]

It is absolutely positively illegal to send ammo through the US mail, period, end of story, no exceptions.

 

[jjk308 In Memoriam RIP]

Fedex insurance covers firearms. However you may run into problems collecting from ANY carrier because of tariff clauses like this one stating which items are not covered:

"Any commodity that by its inherent nature is particularly susceptible to damage or the market value of which is particularly variable or difficult to ascertain. "

"Antiques, or any commodity that exhibits the style or fashion of a past era and whose history, age or rarity contributes to its value. These items include, but are not limited to, furniture, tableware, glassware, and collector's items such as sports cards, souvenirs and memorabilia. (Collector's coins and stamps may not be shipped. See the Prohibited Items section.) "

The problem is in valuing a collectible and they will often offer a settlement of a fraction of its real value.

For collectibles I highly recommend Collectibles Insurance, http://www.collectinsure.com/

They provide up to $25000 insurance for Registered Mail, Express, FedEx, Airborne, DHL and up to $10,000 for UPS, certified or Insured Mail.

BTW, I have a free online FedEx account. I print my own shipping labels, weigh the parcel, dump it at the counter, costs go on my credit card. No problems, EVER!

 

[greatguns]

Even though we are talking primarily about shipping firearms, here is a link on an article about shipping ammo. http://www.adazonusa.com/howtoshipammunitionorammo-a-45.html
The article states thus(and I checked the DOT as well);

"According to UPS, shipping ammunition is allowed, but there are some stipulations. The stipulations are not put in place by UPS, but instead, by the Department of Transportation. The D.O.T. has a classification called Title 49 CFR that spells out the details. We have summarized those details for you specific to shipping ammunition. FedEx has the same requirements, but also wants you to include a “Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods” form which is on their site if you do a search for “Dangerous Goods Forms”. The USPS follows the D.O.T. requirements but in talking to some of the USPS locations, the managers stated they would not accept the packages anyway in this day and age, so we recommend only using UPS or FedEx to ship ammo."

Technically it is not illegal to ship ammo USPS, they just won't do it. Also, as I stated before, to ship ammo Fedex ground you do not need to fill out the mentioned form. It is for air shipments only. That was told to me directly from Fedex Hazmat help desk.

 

[7.62x54r]

Even though we are talking primarily about shipping firearms, here is a link on an article about shipping ammo. http://www.adazonusa.com/howtoshipammunitionorammo-a-45.html
The article states thus(and I checked the DOT as well);

"According to UPS, shipping ammunition is allowed, but there are some stipulations. The stipulations are not put in place by UPS, but instead, by the Department of Transportation. The D.O.T. has a classification called Title 49 CFR that spells out the details. We have summarized those details for you specific to shipping ammunition. FedEx has the same requirements, but also wants you to include a “Shippers Declaration for Dangerous Goods” form which is on their site if you do a search for “Dangerous Goods Forms”. The USPS follows the D.O.T. requirements but in talking to some of the USPS locations, the managers stated they would not accept the packages anyway in this day and age, so we recommend only using UPS or FedEx to ship ammo."

Technically it is not illegal to ship ammo USPS, they just won't do it. Also, as I stated before, to ship ammo Fedex ground you do not need to fill out the mentioned form. It is for air shipments only. That was told to me directly from Fedex Hazmat help desk.

That site is wrong. Following is a copy and paste directly from Pub. 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail at the USPS website.

341.21 Nonmailable Explosives
Nonmailable explosives found in the mailstream must be immediately reported in accordance with POM 139.117.
Nonmailable explosives include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Common Fireworks. Fireworks are classified as Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4 explosives depending on the degree of hazard. Fireworks include roman candles, skyrockets, helicopter-type rockets, cylindrical and cone fountains, pyrotechnic wheels, illuminating torches, firecrackers, salutes, and combinations of items that are designed to produce any of the aforementioned types of effects. All types of fireworks are prohibited from mailing.
b. Fuses. Fuses are classified as Division 1.3 or 1.4 explosives depending on the degree of hazard. All types of fuses (except safety fuses as permitted under 341.22) are prohibited from mailing.
c. Small Arms Ammunition. Ammunition is classified as a Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4 explosive depending on the degree of hazard. Ammunition that is regulated as a Class 1 explosive and designed to be fired from a pistol, revolver, rifle, or shotgun, as well as associated primers and blank cartridges (including those designed for tools) and propellant powder for use in any firearm, is prohibited from mailing.