Sarge Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 (edited) Couple of questions. 1. My FFL guy does not ship guns he only receives them for others. He says I can go to the post office with his FFL and mail a gun as his employee to another FFL. What say you? 2. It is a fact that postal employees know nothing about mailing guns! I stopped at the PO to do some Recon. I was told it could ship in a flat rate box as long as I was FFL, it was going to an FFL AND if I followed all postal regulations including REMOVING THE FIRING PIN. I don't see that in the postal regs I am reading. What say you? 3. It seems to be much cheaper to mail rather than UPS or FEDEX so I would like to try the mail route first. I am hearing prices for Fedex/UPS over $50 but I can use mail for $10. Thoughts? Thanks in advance Went to UPS. Ohio to Florida $28 for just a pistol in a small box. $45 for pistol, case, holster, mags, etc in a larger box. They knew exactly how to ship it and answered every question I could think of. This is the way to go in my opinion. Hope this helps the next guy! Edited January 13, 2010 by sandman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 BTT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohioguy Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Posing as a FFL holder or employee is not advised. Honestly, it is pretty ignorant of the dealer for him to even suggest it. FEDEX and UPS offer Second Day Air that you can use to ship handguns. It is much cheaper than over night. Shipping a pistol in a flat rate box, insured, with adult signature required isn't all that cheap. Last one I sent was $18.75 USPS. Expect to pay a little more than that for the others, but not much. And there is no quesiton as to the legality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Keen Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Yup. UPS offers Second Day Air and Next Day Air Saver. Either one is cheaper than a year in jail! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranDoc Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) If you are shipping the gun to a smith for repair, who will then ship the gun back to you, you do not need to work through an FFL. Ship FedEx. Insure for replacement value. The gun does not need to be broken down, nor to parts need to ship in separate containers. This is the way it worked when I shipped guns (twice) to smiths for competition tune-up work. There MAY have been recent changes that I am not aware of. There is a section on the FedEx website that addresses shipping firearms. You may need to go to a FedEx terminal, rather than to a Kinko's (though my XD went out to Canyon Creek from the Kinko's FedEx without question). You can (and should) require a signature on receipt. Even if the smith has a "signature on file", an adult will need to sign for it real-time in order to claim the package. Edited: please see subsequent post for a cut-and-paste from the BATFE website. Edited January 13, 2010 by FranDoc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 If you are selling the gun, and it's going any way other than face-to-face, it needs to go FFL to FFL. If the current guy is telling you that he cannot ship ... I suspect there will be another FFL in Dayton/Cinti who will be happy to assist a retired veteran. There is no requirement for shipping from an FFL (though it may be prudent). There is a requirement to ship to an FFL, and some FFLs are uncomfortable with legally receiving guns from non-FFLs..... Others have been aggravated by the lack of seller's info when receiving a shipped gun. Enclosing a copy of one's identification, as well as a note detailing for whom the gun is intended, along with contact info goes a long way toward helping FFLs with their concerns..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranDoc Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 (edited) OK ... it appears that my previous post is wrong on several accounts. It's what I'd had to do (per local FFL's) in past similar situations. Went to the source at BATFE: see http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html which includes: Q. May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service? A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. [18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)] 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] Q. What record-keeping procedures should be followed when two private individuals want to engage in a firearms transaction? When a transaction takes place between private (unlicensed) persons who reside in the same State, the Gun Control Act (GCA) does not require any record keeping. A private person may sell a firearm to another private individual in his or her State of residence and, similarly, a private individual may buy a firearm from another private person who resides in the same State. It is not necessary under Federal law for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) to assist in the sale or transfer when the buyer and seller are “same-State” residents. Of course, the transferor/seller may not knowingly transfer a firearm to someone who falls within any of the categories of prohibited persons contained in the GCA. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g) and (n). However, as stated above, there are no GCA-required records to be completed by either party to the transfer. There may be State or local laws or regulations that govern this type of transaction. Contact State Police units or the office of your State Attorney General for information on any such requirements. Please note that if a private person wants to obtain a firearm from a private person who resides in another State, the firearm will have to be shipped to an FFL in the buyer’s State. The FFL will be responsible for record keeping. See also Question B3. "nonlicensee" = somebody without an FFL Should have gone to the right source in the first place .... Edited January 13, 2010 by FranDoc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 Even the info posted here has turned out to not be entirely true. EVERY SOURCE I have checked with says a gun has to go overnight not 2 day air! 2 day air only applies to shipping to the manufacturer for repair. I was incorrectly quoted a price of $45 earlier this week by UPS turns out once you actually try to mail it the computer bumps it to overnight only for $85. FWIW FEDEX was $86 USPS is $20 but I need to find an FFL who will do it for me. I learned a few things. 1. I see why people just stick them in a box and mail them. 2. I doubt I'll ever do this again. So, if you are an FFL in Cincinnati and want to make some cash let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 15, 2010 Author Share Posted January 15, 2010 I found an FFL that put it in a small flat rate box and sent it on it's way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3quartertime Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 This one looks to have gone full circle with some good legal questions and answers for shipping a firearm. Moved here to make it easier to find as a reference... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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