Shipping guns via FedEx to FFL: questions

A

AlongCameJones

Moderator
1. Am I required to declare to FedEx that I'm shipping a firearm at the time of shipment the same way I must declare a gun when checking baggage at the airport?

1.50 does FedEx charge any more money to ship guns than other types of cargo as slippers or TV sets using the same type of service?

2. Is it true that FedEx will not ship a handgun Ground from a non-licensed individual?

3. What FedEx service must I use if shipping a handgun as a non-licensed individual?

4. should I have the license number of the FFL I'm shipping to in case the carrier asks for it?

5. is there anything else a private individual should know about gun shipping?
 
Last edited:
1 - Yes, and if it is a storefront FFL, they will know when they pull up the address
2 - Not to my knowledge - weight, box size counts plus value
3- overnight, use your FFL, he can use USPS for a lot less
4 -it can't hurt
5- yes NEVER put any name with GUN in it on the label. I have always shipped to the buyer's name, C/O the FFL's name (not billy bob's Gun store, but Billy Smith) and then the FFL address. While the counter clerk might know, and in some cases the delivery person might know, the rest of the "handlers alone the way" do not need to know
 
3- overnight, use your FFL, he can use USPS for a lot less


If my local gun shop is even willing to do this for me and he might charge a fee above shipping rates. He is a for-profit entity, not a charity. I have just emailed my local FFL about this. Stay tuned. Naturally, I want to get the lowest shipping costs possible. Being a non-licensee puts me through a lot of bureaucratic hoops already.

I plan to ship guns in their original box or case from the factory they came in. They have trademarks on them. FedEx at their website says any markings indicating a firearm (eg. Ruger or Mossberg trademarks) should be covered. Whenever I picked up guns at my FFL, the boxes were never wrapped.
 
AlongCameJones said:
I plan to ship guns in their original box or case from the factory they came in. They have trademarks on them. FedEx at their website says any markings indicating a firearm (eg. Ruger or Mossberg trademarks) should be covered. Whenever I picked up guns at my FFL, the boxes were never wrapped.
Click to expand...
I'll bet they came in a larger, plain, corrugated cardboard box. Pre-COVID-19 I used to hang around the shop at the range a lot. I've seen the FFL receive and unpack a LOT of guns. They all arrive in a plain, brown box.
 
I just got a late email reply from my local gun shop's owner named Josh regarding shipping services.

"Unfortunately we don’t offer this service we don’t have time. You might have better luck with a smaller FFL who has the time and man power. Thank you."

All this dealer wants to do is sell guns (at no less than full mfr. listed retail) and collect big transfer fees all day long.

I have used this dealer above to do 7 paid FFL transfers for me over the past two years for guns I've bought online myself. They charge $40 per gun transfer. My town in SW Oklahoma is Lawton near Fort Sill army post. This is a small town with mostly pawn shops. I doubt the pawn shops want to mess with shipping.

I don't know what to do. My online handgun buyer is just going to have to pay the price for FedEx overnight shipping by me, I guess. Or come in person to my home to pick the gun up.

Extra! I've just discovered ShipMyGun.com online while doing a Google search. I've emailed them to see how they might help me. Bud'sGunShop.com runs this service.
 
Last edited:
Just an added bit of info:
If you are shipping a gun to an FFL to do a transfer to a buyer, be SURE to put the buyer's name on the label somewhere. Either Bill Buyer c/o FFL or ATTN: Bill Buyer.

Otherwise the FFL is going to have no idea who the package is for.
 
Some, if not most, FFLs in my area will no longer help a customer ship out a gun. They say it is too much trouble. Furthermore, I understand that Fedex has recently stopped shipping for non-FFLs. (Can someone confirm that? I see conflicting info on the internet). Non-FFLs cannot use the post office to ship a gun. That leaves only UPS. I understand that you are required to go to a regional UPS shipping center, not your local UPS store. For a handgun, UPS requires overnight shipping, which costs about $80. USP clerks in my area will require proof that the recipient is an FFL.
 
Correction: A non-FFL can certainly ship a long gun USPS. I've done it many times, and not surreptitiously. Handguns, you must be a FFL. Mine will still do it if I ask, and since you can use a fixed rate Priority Mail box, it's the cheapest way to go. That said, I now take handguns to a LGS on consignment. This shop charges 20% of the sale price, but it is very convenient. They have gotten good prices on the several they've sold for me. Could I have done better on Gunbroker? Maybe, and I still sell the occasional long gun there, but I go this route if I'm "unloading" a pistol.
 
Forget FedEx

FedEx recently changed its policies. Now only FFL's enrolled with their shipping program may ship firearms using FedEx.


https://www.fedex.com/content/dam/fedex/us-united-states/services/SG_TermsCond_US_2021.pdf

Firearms
Only customers holding a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and federal, state, or local government agencies may ship firearms with FedEx. Customers holding an FFL must enter into an approved FedEx Firearms Shipping Compliance Agreement before shipping any firearms with FedEx. For more information, contact your FedEx account executive.

On behalf of customers holding an FFL who enter into an approved FedEx Firearms Shipping Compliance Agreement and federal, state, or local government agencies, FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms, antique firearms, and replica firearms, all as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, as well as muzzleloaders and black
powder firearms (collectively “firearms”). Shipments containing firearms must be sent with the Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option.
Click to expand...

FedEx Ground has an identical policy.
 
I just shipped a handgun using UPS. You have to go to their regional office, not the local store. You may want to check with the company you are shipping to. They may pay shipping both ways if it's for repair.

A gun has to be shipped 2nd Day Air which adds to the expense. I had to prove it was going to an FFL dealer by getting a copy of their FFL to give to UPS.
 
The trigger guard webbing inside the pack automatically keeps the trigger finger off the trigger and extended forward while drawing.
Click to expand...

I shipped a firearm for repair and that was not the case, took it to a regional store and they shipped it standard/slow. I have definitely heard the 2nd day air thing though, might just be for sales?
 
AzShooter

A gun has to be shipped 2nd Day Air....
Click to expand...
Rob228
I shipped a firearm for repair and that was not the case, took it to a regional store and they shipped it standard/slow. I have definitely heard the 2nd day air thing though, might just be for sales?
Click to expand...
Neither FedEx or UPS has ever permitted handguns to be shipped "2nd Day Air" per their published tariffs.
Since FedEx no longer allows firearm shipments except by enrolled FFL's, then lets look at the UPS firearm shipping policy:
https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-special-care-regulated-items/prohibited-items/firearms.page
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921, will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air Services, specifically:

UPS Next Day Air® Early
UPS Next Day Air®
UPS Next Day Air Saver®
Click to expand...

FedEx called this level of service "Overnight".

UPS tariffs permit rifles and shotguns to be shipped as "Ground". (as did FedEx)


AzShooter ......I had to prove it was going to an FFL dealer by getting a copy of their FFL to give to UPS.
Click to expand...
No USPS regulation, no UPS or FedEx tariff have ever required showing anyyones FFL to anyone. Ever. Never. Not now, not then.
 
Seems to me that the Op's questions ought to be directed to Fed Ex, not people on this forum.

Fed Ex and UPS are PRIVATE shipping companies, they can set about any requirements they wish over and above what Federal law requires.

Thanks to Federal rules and laws, we're pretty much stuck with having to do what ever the private shippers require and pay what ever they charge for the privilege of doing so. :rolleyes:
 
Judging by the recent news stories about a large number of FedEx packages found dumped in a ravine, I would hold off using them until they provide a proper explanation.
 
Neither FedEx or UPS has ever permitted handguns to be shipped "2nd Day Air" per their published tariffs.
Since FedEx no longer allows firearm shipments except by enrolled FFL's, then lets look at the UPS firearm shipping policy:
Click to expand...

Yet when S&W returned my handgun after a repair, it came 2nd day air; maybe they have an agreement with UPS?
 
FITASC
Yet when S&W returned my handgun after a repair, it came 2nd day air; maybe they have an agreement with UPS?
Click to expand...
A carrier is free to allow exclusions or exemptions to its published tariffs.

Then again, folks ignore shipping tariffs and USPS regs every day.

If S&W doesn't tell the carrier what's in the box, the carrier doesn't know what's in the box.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top