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Shipping long guns (Updated info April 2023)

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7.4K views 41 replies 32 participants last post by  postmastertim  
#1 ·
Its been a long time since I shipped a firearm, looks like a lot of old threads discussing shipping and only one from the latest change.

From what I understand from UPS and Fedex sites:

1) You have to be a licensed seller (aka FFL holder) to ship on UPS or Fedex
2) Limited insurance if you use UPS or Fedex
3) USPS will ship long guns, limited to $5K insurance (~$90)

Does anyone else have any additional information? Any other carriers I am unaware of that are not too expensive?
 
D
#23 ·
I have a busy of mine who had been wanting to buy my smith and Wesson 627 performance center revolver for a long time. I finally relented, packed it up an took it to FedEx. They asked what was in the box and I said “machine parts”. It got to the ffl in Florida 2 days later. I shipped one of my browning trap guns receiver/stock to Greco thru FedEx and when asked what was in the box I replied “exotic wood”. No problem. The browning was insured for $5,000 and the SW was insured for $1600. I don’t ship UPS because thru the years they have lost a lot of stuff. 7 months ago I took my browning Trap Max to the browning authorized service dealer - issues with the firing pin and spring (all warranty). The smith scratched the forearm and had to order a new one. Instead of arriving in SC the folks at UPS delivered it to a dealer just out of Chicago.
 
#3 · (Edited)
USPS Registered Mail liability is up to $50000


THE CRITICAL BROWN TAPE
The final step for registered mail is to seal every nook and cranny and seam with brown paper tape. Sadly, brown paper tape is not easy to find.

The post office wants every seam, crack, crevice, nook, and cranny to be covered with this brown tape. This is how they guarantee the package has been untampered with.


This is how your package should look after sealing with brown tape.
Image
 
#5 ·
#18 ·
Fed X and UPS WILL NOT ship for a non FFL holder now period !! In the past a non FFL holder could ship to an FFL . The USPS will but half the DAs at the Post Office will refuse because they are clueless about the federal regulations. I finally gave up and just go to the local gun shop and have my FFL dealer ship it for me. Cost me more but at least no hassle .
 
D
#20 ·
It’s interesting to read the differences in shipping based on location. I asked the clerk at a post office considered to be a “hub” and was told that the post office will no longer ship firearms. Period. Will ship “disassembled“ gun parts. Then, a post office not 20 miles away agreed to ship long guns FFL to FFL.
 
#27 ·
If you are needing to ship firearms it pays to find a small, local FFL holder and let him ship your guns. Find someone with a reasonable fee. I had a dealer when I lived in Indiana that would do the paperwork for $10 cash. I provided the shipping box and he closed it up and took it to the Post Office. Eliminates the hastle of getting the receiving FFL dealer to accept shipment from an individual.
 
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#28 ·
Whatever you do, watch a video on properly wrapping and packaging a long gun. I have had some questionable and bad experiences in the past.

When I had my C&R FFL, I had an old Sweet Sixteen shipped to me and they sent it in a Browning box. Talk about unnecessarily advertising the contents!

Another time, I bought a Beretta A303 DU edition from a very reputable, national dealer known for their bird hunting excursions. It has some very, nice wood on it. For some stupid reason they disassembled the barrel, wrapped the barrel in a sheet of newspaper (as if that would add protection), and placed it in the case next to the stock. Even with the egg crate padding, the barrel scratched the @#$%^ out of that nice stock. They compensated me for the repair. But I had to wait another couple months to get it back.

Be sure to learn how to package it!
 
#31 ·
VMAX97 said:
Its been a long time since I shipped a firearm, looks like a lot of old threads discussing shipping and only one from the latest change.

From what I understand from UPS and Fedex sites:

1) You have to be a licensed seller (aka FFL holder) to ship on UPS or Fedex
2) Limited insurance if you use UPS or Fedex
3) USPS will ship long guns, limited to $5K insurance (~$90)

Does anyone else have any additional information? Any other carriers I am unaware of that are not too expensive?
Click to expand...
USPS send to an FFL only
 
#33 ·
VMAX97 said:
Its been a long time since I shipped a firearm, looks like a lot of old threads discussing shipping and only one from the latest change.

From what I understand from UPS and Fedex sites:

1) You have to be a licensed seller (aka FFL holder) to ship on UPS or Fedex
2) Limited insurance if you use UPS or Fedex
3) USPS will ship long guns, limited to $5K insurance (~$90)

Does anyone else have any additional information? Any other carriers I am unaware of that are not too expensive?
Click to expand...
My FFL states if the part you are shipping has a serial number. it has to be shipped by a FFL to go by UPS or FedEx. Apparently the serial number is the key as to how you can ship it without a FFL.
 
O
#39 ·
I have always used USPS following their rules and in over 50 shipments never had an issue. I used Registered Mail if it was worth over $5K.

However, when shipping a handgun recently for repair I used ShipMyGun.com and it was easy and very economical. They are a subsidiary of Budsgunshop and you are shipping via the contract they have with UPS.

It cost me $31 to ship a handgun Second Day Air to AZ from FL. Can't be beat! It is who I will use in the future.
 
#41 ·
Oyeme said:
However, when shipping a handgun recently for repair I used ShipMyGun.com and it was easy and very economical. They are a subsidiary of Budsgunshop and you are shipping via the contract they have with UPS.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reference. I checked it out, unfortunately, for a long gun, max weight is 15 lbs, and I would be well over that on a combo in case with a tube set.
 
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