Mailing bullets- USPS
- Thread starter KBP75
- Start date
NoSecondBest
New member
Bullets are not ammunition. I live in New York and buy bullets all the time. There is nothing in the new BS laws restricting buying any components, including powder and primers. No problem what-so-ever.
As of late, I have mailed bullets that I have sold on Gunbroker.com to different states several/many times. Bullets are inert and are not a hazard to the mail carrier. The most cost effective is a Small Flat Rate Priority Box. Being flat rate, the weight does not effect the price ("if it fits, it ships"), inside the USA. The Small Flat Rate box costs $5.80, available at all Post Offices, or $5.15 if the label is printed out at home on your printer. You can down load the program to do the printing and charging your credit card at home.
As to the legality (State law of New York), of shipping bullets, I do not know. But sense there is no requirement to label the contents of the package as "bullets" (or anything else), the State of New York would not know what was in the package...even if they had access to it.
As to the legality (State law of New York), of shipping bullets, I do not know. But sense there is no requirement to label the contents of the package as "bullets" (or anything else), the State of New York would not know what was in the package...even if they had access to it.
carguychris
New member
Having read the law several times, I agree with this assessment, although standard IANAL disclaimers apply.
FWIW the mailability of most items other than alcoholic beverages is governed by federal U.S. postal regulations rather than state law. (Alcoholic beverages are a special case due to the wording of the 21A, but I digress.) AFAIK the postal regulations prohibit mailing loaded ammunition, powder, primers, and any type of incendiary, explosive, or tracer bullets, but do not prohibit the mailing of normal (i.e. inert) component bullets or unprimed or fired cases.
I would, however, recommend against using the term "bullets" or "shells" in the Post Office because many people believe these terms are analogous to loaded cartridges.
You are shipping "metal pellets". 
If you had to tell them what was in the box, you might consider that "extruded ingots (to be used in a manufacturing process)" which is (I believe) a technically accurate description of the material.
Certainly as accurate a description as anything one reads or hears on the news these days.
Mail restrictions on loaded ammo, powder and primers is driven by the regulation of these materials as hazardous materials for shipment. DOT regulates that (in torturously detailed manner), and basically the post office says "we're not going to deal with it at all in the mail. Use another carrier"
Jacketed or lead bullets are inert metal and have no hazardous properties for shipping purposes (providing you don't drop them on your foot) such as flammability, explosive, poisonous, reactive, etc.
Sturdy packaging, proper addressing and postage should do it.
Certainly as accurate a description as anything one reads or hears on the news these days.
Mail restrictions on loaded ammo, powder and primers is driven by the regulation of these materials as hazardous materials for shipment. DOT regulates that (in torturously detailed manner), and basically the post office says "we're not going to deal with it at all in the mail. Use another carrier"
Jacketed or lead bullets are inert metal and have no hazardous properties for shipping purposes (providing you don't drop them on your foot) such as flammability, explosive, poisonous, reactive, etc.
Sturdy packaging, proper addressing and postage should do it.
About nine months ago, I bought some bullets from a fellow and when they were late in reaching me I began to worry. Then a few days later I come home from the range and there is a bsiness card from a postal inspector with a note to give him a call. 
I do and it seems the box my bullets were shipped in broke open and some Post Office blissninny freaked out and called the Postal Inspectors about bullets. At least all were retrieved. After warning me, the P.I. said I should get my package in a day or two. Much ado about nothing thanks to an idiot. 
Paul B.
I do and it seems the box my bullets were shipped in broke open and some Post Office blissninny freaked out and called the Postal Inspectors about bullets. At least all were retrieved. After warning me, the P.I. said I should get my package in a day or two. Much ado about nothing thanks to an idiot. Paul B.
carguychris
New member
"Extruded ingots"... I like that.
BigD_in_FL
Moderator
As mentioned, packaging is crucial. When I ordered some bullets from a maker in AZ, he puts them in two small USPS boxes, tapes everything with packing and tape, and then outs those two inside a medium box and tapes every edge of that. It makes the box VERY heavy (45 acp will do that) and the carrier had to use pone of their baskets to leave it at my door, but they arrived intact