Can I ship a handgun in-state to another person??

T

TheShootist1894

New member
I am just curious as to why in Ohio, where people can sell guns face to face without the need of an FFL or other paperwork, can I sell a gun to an individual in my state and ship it to them? Just doesn't quite make sense if the answer is no. . .
 
Two different questions with two different answers, as noted above.

Is it legal? YES

Can you? NO - because you won't find a shipper who will take it, IF you tell them what the package contains.
 
Most shippers want a FFL on the receiving end - you shouldn't be able to ship a handgun to yourself, if everyone follows policy - but you never know what you'll find when you talk to a specific person behind the counter. Some will let you ship regular ground rate rather than overnight, some will want you to disassemble the gun for shipping, some will run screaming, etc.
 
Shipping weapon via UPS but not UPS Storefront

Note:
Most UPS outlets are a locally owned franchise -- like McDonalds.

The local UPS outlets don't (at least around here) ship weapons.

However, per the UPS (actual UPS Company) Web Page (in the Tariff section) UPS will ship weapons from UPS Customer Service Centers.

I'm lucky, the nearest UPS Customer Sevice Center was only 10 miles from me but I'm sure in some areas of the country it would be a looong drive to find one.
I shipped a handgun back to dealer for repairs earlier this week..

Requirements: (according to that UPS Tariff):
* Has to go Next Day Air ($$$$$$$)
* Deliver it wrapped --I had it boxed but did not seal it till I got there.
* Notify the clerk that you are shipping a weapon.
* Has to go from a Customer Service Center -- no Storefronts, no OfficeMax, No Pick-UP.
I suspect that for someone with a FFL and a business, that could be modified, but I'm not.

Interesting Note: My UPS Customer Service Center is open from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM and is a cubby-hole in a large garage in the middle of a parking lot full of UPS branded trailers.
Evidently they don't want to compete with the Local UPS Stores that are all over the place (but won't ship guns).

None-the-Less -- wehn I got there, two people were in front of me picking up packages and three people came in with packages to send by the time I got the head of the line.
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Update to Shipping to distributor via UPS

Took it to the UPS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER (as described in previous post) on Monday evening.

Had to pay for Next Day Air.

Received it back via UPS (they replaced a cracked slide) on Friday afternnon.

Note: I had to ship the complete firearm, reasonably enough they wanted to check the whole weapon before sending it back to me with a new slide.

If I could have sent only the slide, then it could have gone US postal service because a slide is not a firearm.
 
Take it to a FedEx depot or UPS Customer Service center. Take it to the counter; don't just drop it off in the drop box. Ship it ground and don't tell them what's in the box. Perfectly legal unless shipping out-of-state to a non-FFL-holder.

Good luck trying to collect the insurance if they lose it.
 
TheShootist1894,I tried to ship some ammo clips via USPS.* They refused to allow it, I was told that the USPS would not ship any firearm parts.* That included a rifle sling, scope or even scope rings.* Long story short ship it UPS.:barf:
 
TheShootist1894,I tried to ship some ammo clips via USPS.* They refused to allow it, I was told that the USPS would not ship any firearm parts.* That included a rifle sling, scope or even scope rings.* Long story short ship it UPS.
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That's when you ask for the supervisor or postmaster and ask them to kindly show you in the DMM where the mailing of such parts is illegal. If they still refuse, follow up with a letter up their chain of command. If we don't take action to educate them, nobody will.
 
TheShootist1894,I tried to ship some ammo clips via USPS.* They refused to allow it, I was told that the USPS would not ship any firearm parts.* That included a rifle sling, scope or even scope rings.* Long story short ship it UPS.
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Thats just anouther case of "DEPENDS ON WHOS BUTT IS BEHIND COUNTER" :barf:
Has nothing to do with laws or even regulations :mad:
 
I tried to ship some ammo clips via USPS.* They refused to allow it, I was told that the USPS would not ship any firearm parts.* That included a rifle sling, scope or even scope rings.* Long story short ship it UPS.
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Label it "Machine parts", they don't need to know the parts fit a lead throwing machine...works for me.:cool:
 
I've done it using Silenthitz's approach. I have also labeled them "furniture and metal assemblies", "Curio and Relic", and "tools".

I was going to get my C&R FFL and use it to get approval by USPS to ship a handgun through them, but never followed through on it.
 
olddav TheShootist1894,I tried to ship some ammo clips via USPS.* They refused to allow it, I was told that the USPS would not ship any firearm parts.* That included a rifle sling, scope or even scope rings.* Long story short ship it UPS.
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How did USPS know what you were shipping?:confused:

All the USPS counter clerk is required to ask: "is there anything liquid, fragile, perishible or hazardous in the package?"

If you answered "None of that stuff....but I gots some parts for an assault rifle in thar..." Well, you get what happened to you.:eek:

SilentHitz:...Label it "Machine parts", they don't need to know the parts fit a lead throwing machine...works for me.
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Label it where? When mailing a package inside the US there is no labeling of what the package contains.
 
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How did USPS know what you were shipping?
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Exactly. I doubt if I would try to mail an assembled firearm (clearly visible to x-ray), but why in the world wouldn't it ship just fine in pieces? There is nothing hazardous about them whatsoever, so you can answer that question truthfully.

I mailed a box of 300 .22LRs to someone at Christmas and they went through just fine.

Love the part about the "lead throwing machine". :)
 
How to mail rifles, shotguns and accessories through the USPS:

How to mail rifles, shotguns and accessories through the USPS:

1. Box up your rifle or shotgun.

2.Do not use the REMINGTON ARMS box it came in. Use a STURDY cardboard box, or better yet use two boxes (one inside the other) as RIGID is best. Consider what it is you are shipping- is it a $130 POS or a $1300 collector gun? Spending $20 for a plastic Dosko gun case may be the way to go. If you do use a plastic gun case wrap it in it's own cardboard box. Duct taping a gun case and slapping a label on it is inviting theft and questions.

3. If the barrel is easily removed- do it. It shortens the overall length of your box and short boxes are sturdier than long boxes. It may also save $ on postage.

4. Never use newspaper as packing material- it is the WORST packing material there is. The only people who use newspaper to wrap and package a gun are complete idiots and those who have never unpacked a formerly fine firearm.

5. Bubble wrap the rifle or shotgun from butt to muzzle- add extra bubble wrap to the muzzle end as this is the #1 cause of barrels sticking out the side of the box during shipping.

6. Fill any voids with styrofoam "peanuts", air pillows, bubble wrap, etc. NOT NEWSPAPER!

7. Shake the box. Any movement inside means you need to add additional filler to the box. Movement=Damage. If the firearm arrives damaged they will blame you for improper packing.

8. Put the name and address of the addressee or your name and address INSIDE the box. Address labels get torn or scraped off the box all the time.

8. Tape, tape and more tape. Use real packing tape- not duct tape, masking tape or scotch tape. Double or triple tape the box ends.

9. Mail it:
A. Go to USPS.com and print a shipping label from your home computer. Insure the package for FULL VALUE. Insurance is for the protection of the seller- not the buyer. You will need to weigh the package as well as measure the length, width and height. Take package to USPS. go home and wait for buyer to complain about missing chamber flag that you showed in the photos on the auction.

OR........

B. Take your perfectly boxed rifle, shotgun or accessories to the USPS counter and have the clerk weigh and measure the box. You will have to fill out the Insurance label (as to value only) $200 or more is Blue, less than $200 is Black, as well as the Delivery Confirmation label. Pay him. It will cost you more at the Post Office than it does at Online.

I recommend:
1. Mail USPS Priority Mail rather than Parcel Post. Parcel Post is put on a donkey cart out back and MAY actually arrive before the donkey dies of old age. The cost of Priority Mail is not that much more and the less time the package is in transit the better.

2. Purchase Insurance AND Delivery Confirmation. If the Insured value is more than $200 USPS will require a signature on delivery anyway. If less than $200 insured value, get Insurance and Signature Confirmation (NOT Delivery Confirmation).


NEVER.........
1. Take a firearm and box into the UPS Store, Kinkos FedEx or USPS and ask them to pack it for you. :eek: Doing so invites the clerk to invent company policies, government laws, royal edicts, etc that have no factual basis.

2. Write "Handle With Care- Gun Inside!!!" on the box.

3. Volunteer any information to a USPS clerk that they DO NOT NEED TO KNOW.

4. Use newspaper as a packing material. I'll repeat it over and over because some Einstein sells a $1,500 gun on GunBroker and then cheaps out on the packaging, thinking that newspaper is good stuff- it isn't.:barf:

5. Allow a USPS clerk to know more about shipping a firearm than you know. Read the section of the Domestic Mail Manual regarding firearms shipments. It's short and gives the USPS no way to wiggle out of not mailing your rifle, shotgun or accessories. Again, you are NOT required to notify USPS that you are shipping a rifle or shotgun. If you somehow can't keep quiet about what's in the box, at least have a copy of the DMM Section 601 Mailability with you:
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#wp1065404



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