mailing pistols
- Thread starter JoshB
- Start date
rwilson452
New member
interstate pistol shipment
First and formost it must be shipped to a FFL for the transfer. USPS will not do it. your stuck with UPS or FEDEX. in either case you must take it to a hub. they have the secure storage. Kinkos etc is a no no. it must be declared. Fedex requires you ship it priority overnight. UPS is similar. It's going to set you back around 50-60 bucks to ship it. So you need to get your friend to give you the stuff necessary to get it to the FFL of his/her choice. You can check the UPS and FEDEX web sites for a facility near you.
First and formost it must be shipped to a FFL for the transfer. USPS will not do it. your stuck with UPS or FEDEX. in either case you must take it to a hub. they have the secure storage. Kinkos etc is a no no. it must be declared. Fedex requires you ship it priority overnight. UPS is similar. It's going to set you back around 50-60 bucks to ship it. So you need to get your friend to give you the stuff necessary to get it to the FFL of his/her choice. You can check the UPS and FEDEX web sites for a facility near you.
TheBluesMan
Moderator Emeritus
An amazing amount of misinformation here. Sad to see... Folks on TFL used to think twice and post once. 
This is a very good page to refer to regarding this subject: http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
You should print out a copy of the carrier's firearm policy and have it with you when you go to send the handgun to the FFL. Many counter clerks don't know their own company's policy. Be polite and ask for a supervisor if you get a hard time. Have their firearm shipping policy on hand in case you need it for reference.
DHL does not accept firearms for shipment. I've used both UPS and FedEX and have had no problems, but I've heard stories...
Some useful links: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/service/terms/firearms.html
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html?link=2#firearms
This is a very good page to refer to regarding this subject: http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
You should print out a copy of the carrier's firearm policy and have it with you when you go to send the handgun to the FFL. Many counter clerks don't know their own company's policy. Be polite and ask for a supervisor if you get a hard time. Have their firearm shipping policy on hand in case you need it for reference.
DHL does not accept firearms for shipment. I've used both UPS and FedEX and have had no problems, but I've heard stories...
Some useful links: http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/service/terms/firearms.html
http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/us.html?link=2#firearms
Metaloy Industries
New member
Whether you sell or give a firearm to someone in another state it must go through an FFL. It has to do with crossing state lines.
As for shipping. UPS or FedEx. USPS will only send long guns. The law says that only FFL's should send handguns by way of USPS.
As for shipping. UPS or FedEx. USPS will only send long guns. The law says that only FFL's should send handguns by way of USPS.
The following is my understanding:
Gun Control Act of 1968, Article § 178.29 provides that only certain people are allowed to ship firearms. Only individuals who are licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors can ship or receive firearms. Therefore, a person wanting a certain firearm from another state or even from another county and wants the firearm shipped must go to a person with a Federal Firearms License and follow through with proper shipping procedures. The FFL holder will have to mail a copy or fax a copy of his or her firearms license to the person doing the shipping. They (the shipper) also have to have a FFL.
Gun Control Act of 1968, Article § 178.29 provides that only certain people are allowed to ship firearms. Only individuals who are licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, or licensed collectors can ship or receive firearms. Therefore, a person wanting a certain firearm from another state or even from another county and wants the firearm shipped must go to a person with a Federal Firearms License and follow through with proper shipping procedures. The FFL holder will have to mail a copy or fax a copy of his or her firearms license to the person doing the shipping. They (the shipper) also have to have a FFL.
As our illustrious Monitor pointed out... you can ship it
to that person in another state...but it must go to a FFL first, then the FFL in PA will do the paper work (usually for a fee) to transfer it to them. I have had a number of handguns shipped to 'me' from out of state and by individuals .... it goes to my FFL in my name and then they/ we do the legal paper work before I can walk out of their place of business with the gun. Only common carriers like UPS and FEDX will ship to an FFL from an individual... the US post office will let an FFL ship but not a regular person.
Some FFL's will not accept guns from an individual... so make sure they will and what they require before shipping it to them. You should also require a copy of the PA FFL's license before you ship it there.
to that person in another state...but it must go to a FFL first, then the FFL in PA will do the paper work (usually for a fee) to transfer it to them. I have had a number of handguns shipped to 'me' from out of state and by individuals .... it goes to my FFL in my name and then they/ we do the legal paper work before I can walk out of their place of business with the gun. Only common carriers like UPS and FEDX will ship to an FFL from an individual... the US post office will let an FFL ship but not a regular person.
Some FFL's will not accept guns from an individual... so make sure they will and what they require before shipping it to them. You should also require a copy of the PA FFL's license before you ship it there.
sasquatch said:
There are serveral incorrect statements in your post.
1. There is no such section in GCA 68. You are referring to an old version of 27CFR, which is the implementing regulation. There is no such section in that regulation either. The numbering system was changed several years ago. Section 178.29 is now Section 478.29. That section covers acquisition of a firearm, not the disposition.
2. There is nothing that prohibits an individual from shipping a firearm to a licensee in another state.
3. No FFL involvement is required at either end if the shipment in intrastate.
4. An unlicensed shipper does not need a copy of the receiving FFL's license. Many dealers will not provide a copy to an unlicensed person.
The above covers the Federal regulations. There may be state or local regulations that also apply.
I know people who send UPS, insured for the full amount, but claim its car parts or whatever. It it still sent to an ffl dealer. It sure saves alot of cash, and if they loose it they still have to pay up, right? I dont see a risk of damage in the plastic cases, so its more an issue of loss. Is this stupid?
kiov said:
Legally, you don't have to notify the carrier that a package contains a firearm if you are shipping to an FFL holder. However, since UPS policy requires notification, they could deny any insurance claims since you violated their requirements.
It's up to you if you want to take the chance in order to save a few bucks.
ok, thanks. my thought is that if they loose it, then they will have to pay whatever it is insured it for. do people have to prove that the things they insure are really worth the insured amount? I can see how that could become a problem, but i don't really think that's the way shipping insurance works. I guess they could damage it if it got run over, but i dont see that as a huge concern if its in a plastic padded case, and then in a well taped box.