Shipping handgun
- Thread starter waltfraz
- Start date
Handguns can be brought with you while traveling by air carrier. You must declare it at the counter and it must be checked in with it in a hard case. You cannot put ammo in that case. You must have the keys to that hard case in your possession so the agent can examine it. You cannot have any tags or stickers on the hard case that identify it is a gun.
UPS and the USPS will accept handguns for shipping if you own it and are shipping it to yourself. Read the following from UPS:
Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms
Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment
UPS accepts packages containing firearms, as defined by Title 18, Chapter 44, and Title 26, Chapter 53 of the United States Code, for transportation from and between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code, law enforcement agencies of the United States (or of any department or agency of the United States) and law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency (or political subdivision of any state), and from and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient and package.
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services. (Note: UPS Express CriticalSM Service is not available for firearms).
UPS accepts firearm parts for shipment, provided the part is not a "firearm" as defined under federal law; the contents of the package cannot be assembled to form a firearm; and the package otherwise complies with federal, state, and local law. (Note: Receivers or frames of a firearm, firearm mufflers and silencers are considered "firearms" and are accepted for transportation only if shipped in accordance with UPS's requirements for shipping firearms.)
UPS does not accept automatic weapons, including machine guns, for shipment.
Firearms, including handguns, and firearm parts are not accepted for shipment internationally
Ammunition may be accepted for shipment internationally provided it is shipped in accordance with the UPS Guide for Shipping International Goods.
UPS ReturnsSM Services are not available for packages containing firearms.
UPS and the USPS will accept handguns for shipping if you own it and are shipping it to yourself. Read the following from UPS:
Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms
Use These UPS Services for Your Firearm Shipment
UPS accepts packages containing firearms, as defined by Title 18, Chapter 44, and Title 26, Chapter 53 of the United States Code, for transportation from and between licensed importers, licensed manufacturers, licensed dealers, and licensed collectors, as defined in Title 18, Chapter 44 of the United States Code, law enforcement agencies of the United States (or of any department or agency of the United States) and law enforcement agencies of any state or department agency (or political subdivision of any state), and from and between persons not otherwise prohibited from shipping firearms by federal, state or local law and when such shipment complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient and package.
Handguns, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921,will be accepted for transportation only via UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.®, UPS Next Day Air®, or UPS Next Day Air Saver® services. (Note: UPS Express CriticalSM Service is not available for firearms).
UPS accepts firearm parts for shipment, provided the part is not a "firearm" as defined under federal law; the contents of the package cannot be assembled to form a firearm; and the package otherwise complies with federal, state, and local law. (Note: Receivers or frames of a firearm, firearm mufflers and silencers are considered "firearms" and are accepted for transportation only if shipped in accordance with UPS's requirements for shipping firearms.)
UPS does not accept automatic weapons, including machine guns, for shipment.
Firearms, including handguns, and firearm parts are not accepted for shipment internationally
Ammunition may be accepted for shipment internationally provided it is shipped in accordance with the UPS Guide for Shipping International Goods.
UPS ReturnsSM Services are not available for packages containing firearms.
Just take it with you in your luggage, it's much easier than most people think. I've flown numerous time with guns and have yet to have any sort of problem. In case anybody does look inside, the locking case I use looks like a book but when you open the cover there's a locking metal door. It's big enough to hold my gun, spare ammo/mags, knife, badge, etc. but small enough that no one pays it any mind.
Ernest T Bass
New member
true
Yep. You must first tell the agent at the check-in counter that you have an unloaded firearm in your bag. You fill out a form and prove to them that the firearm is in a locking hard-sided case. It takes about five extra minutes, and keeps you out of jail. TSA gets REALLY p****d if you neglect to tell them that you have a firearm in your bag(s). Every ticket agent that I've ever dealt with has been really helpful with this.
Yep. You must first tell the agent at the check-in counter that you have an unloaded firearm in your bag. You fill out a form and prove to them that the firearm is in a locking hard-sided case. It takes about five extra minutes, and keeps you out of jail. TSA gets REALLY p****d if you neglect to tell them that you have a firearm in your bag(s). Every ticket agent that I've ever dealt with has been really helpful with this.
Ernest T Bass
New member
oops
Sorry, from the way you worded your first post I assumed that you didn't bother to tell the agent that had a firearm in your bag. Nevermind.
Sorry, from the way you worded your first post I assumed that you didn't bother to tell the agent that had a firearm in your bag. Nevermind.
Sixer said:
BATFE has a different opinion, Sixer:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#b9
(B9) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? [Back]
Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.
Understandably so, there's always a lot of misinformation passed around on this particular subject. I'd suggest you read the online FAQ at the ATF site. It will clear up a lot of confusion and dispell some of the bogus information in this thread. The link that NavyLT provided pretty much answers your question.
I've seen a thread like this on another forum, and was left with the impression that neither UPS nor FedEx will knowingly ship a handgun to a non-FFL holder. The Special Procedures for Shipping Firearms shown above indicates that UPS will allow you to ship to yourself, but my experiences with both shipping and flying with firearms is that the representatives of the shippers and airlines often don't know the law or even the company's own policies.
One other key to making this all work is to go to a shipping hub for the shipping company you wish to use.
Going to a local retail "shipping store" is a sure way to frustration if you want to ship anything out of the ordinary. Shipping stores are almost never staffed by employees from the shipping company and there's a high potential for running into someone who doesn't know the laws or policies regarding shipping firearms/ammunition.
Going to a local retail "shipping store" is a sure way to frustration if you want to ship anything out of the ordinary. Shipping stores are almost never staffed by employees from the shipping company and there's a high potential for running into someone who doesn't know the laws or policies regarding shipping firearms/ammunition.
I've heard that the problem with UPS saying they won't do it
is almost always at one of their shopping center stores. This is where more often than not the clerk at the counter just doesn't know. I also think those stores are independently owned and often not up to the rules.
That's the reason for suggesting going to a UPS Hub.
This was also recently discussed in the law and civil rights section.
From what I understand you can ship the gun to yourself via UPS or FedEX... it sure looks like it from what the BAFT says on their web sight.
is almost always at one of their shopping center stores. This is where more often than not the clerk at the counter just doesn't know. I also think those stores are independently owned and often not up to the rules.
That's the reason for suggesting going to a UPS Hub.
This was also recently discussed in the law and civil rights section.
From what I understand you can ship the gun to yourself via UPS or FedEX... it sure looks like it from what the BAFT says on their web sight.
scottaschultz
New member
But I have shipped guns to Ruger and S&W for repair (via FedEx from a hub facility) and the guns were shipped back to me at my home address.
There are exceptions!
Scott
LOL, well I was way off! The fact that you can ship a handgun to yourself is news to me. Sorry about the bad info... I had always been told you can't just ship it to yourself. As you can tell from my first post, I was pretty confident in my reply which was WRONG.
Lesson = You can't believe everything you read on the internet (that's how WWI got started)
It does make me wonder though... what would keep a person from bypassing an FFL by simply addressing the mailed gun to another individual in their own care, then never actually "arriving"?