DutchHenryBrown
Platinum Member
YES I forgot what mjw357 said PLEASE BUY the insurance if you never have to use it GREAT but when you need it you will be very glad you did.:thumbsup:
Shipping a handgun from WA to TX
- Thread starter texbaylea
- Start date
- Views: 3087
YES I forgot what mjw357 said PLEASE BUY the insurance if you never have to use it GREAT but when you need it you will be very glad you did.:thumbsup:
jlsmith
Veteran Member
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]
Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]
RobertN
Super Member
Others have hilighted the legal aspects.
11 or 12 years ago, UPS "lost" two handguns I had in shipment. A little over a year ago, a criminal was busted in the Berkely, Ca area, and one of the handguns was found in his possesion.
1st, As has been mentioned above, when the weapon is shipped, make sure it is well insured. Fortunately, I had insured mine, and was reimbursed. Both weapons were customized, so they were insured for the values to reflect that.
2nd, if I were to ship a weapon again, it would go in two seperate shipments. One for the frame, and another for "parts". I would seperate parts from the weapon so it is not operable. For a revolver, I would ship the cylinder seperate(no special shipping required for non-serialized parts). For a semi-auto, the slide/barrel/magazine would go seperate.
At least if some criminal got the box with the frame, it would not be immediately operable.
11 or 12 years ago, UPS "lost" two handguns I had in shipment. A little over a year ago, a criminal was busted in the Berkely, Ca area, and one of the handguns was found in his possesion.
1st, As has been mentioned above, when the weapon is shipped, make sure it is well insured. Fortunately, I had insured mine, and was reimbursed. Both weapons were customized, so they were insured for the values to reflect that.
2nd, if I were to ship a weapon again, it would go in two seperate shipments. One for the frame, and another for "parts". I would seperate parts from the weapon so it is not operable. For a revolver, I would ship the cylinder seperate(no special shipping required for non-serialized parts). For a semi-auto, the slide/barrel/magazine would go seperate.
At least if some criminal got the box with the frame, it would not be immediately operable.
joshuabardwell
Elite Member
I have shipped handguns as a private party sale through GunBroker.com. My experience was that you must ship to an FFL, but you do not have to ship from an FFL. In all cases, I packaged the weapon and brought it to the ... I think it was FedEx ... depot and dropped it off myself.
Here is a summary of GunBroker's instructions:
If you are not a licensed firearms dealer, you may not mail a handgun through USPS. If you are shipping across state lines, you must ship to a licensed FFL. Before you ship a gun, the buyer must fax or mail you a copy of the dealer's signed FFL license. You can only ship the gun to the address on the license. FedEx will take handguns, but will only ship them Priority Overnight. UPS will take handguns, but only by Next Day Air. I don't recall having to bring a copy of the FFL license to the FedEx depot, but it couldn't hurt, as my memory may be hazy.
An FFL can ship guns via USPS. If you can find an FFL who is willing to ship for you, any fee the FFL charges may be offset by the cheaper shipping. As others have stated, always insure the package for the full value of the gun.
Here is a summary of GunBroker's instructions:
If you are not a licensed firearms dealer, you may not mail a handgun through USPS. If you are shipping across state lines, you must ship to a licensed FFL. Before you ship a gun, the buyer must fax or mail you a copy of the dealer's signed FFL license. You can only ship the gun to the address on the license. FedEx will take handguns, but will only ship them Priority Overnight. UPS will take handguns, but only by Next Day Air. I don't recall having to bring a copy of the FFL license to the FedEx depot, but it couldn't hurt, as my memory may be hazy.
An FFL can ship guns via USPS. If you can find an FFL who is willing to ship for you, any fee the FFL charges may be offset by the cheaper shipping. As others have stated, always insure the package for the full value of the gun.
DutchHenryBrown
Platinum Member
It might of changed but the last time I shipped a pistol it's been a while 01 FFL to another 01 FFL could use USPS. It's covered under section 432.1 USPS regs. Good luck all.:thumbsup:
RobertN
Super Member
Last I knew, they had to put a sticker on the package saying it was a firearm, and that it was priority shipment. Effectively a "steal me" sticker
Hijacking the thread, but just a curiosity question, and I'm asking hypothetically, not because I have any ulterior motives:
What would happen if a person wrapped a handgun in bubble wrap, put it in a priority mail box, and shipped it through the postal service? I'm assuming if it were found out, the person would be in trouble - but is there any mechanism to detect that something in a box is a firearm as opposed to a machine part, or are we all just on the honor system there?
Disclaimer: I have never shipped a handgun, and if I did, I would go through an FFL. I have shipped a rifle before (for repair) and followed the instructions given, and received it back with no issue.
I'm really just wondering out loud is all....
What would happen if a person wrapped a handgun in bubble wrap, put it in a priority mail box, and shipped it through the postal service? I'm assuming if it were found out, the person would be in trouble - but is there any mechanism to detect that something in a box is a firearm as opposed to a machine part, or are we all just on the honor system there?
Disclaimer: I have never shipped a handgun, and if I did, I would go through an FFL. I have shipped a rifle before (for repair) and followed the instructions given, and received it back with no issue.
I'm really just wondering out loud is all....
GPintheMitten
Elite Member
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I don't know for sure, but I assume the USPS have Xray scanners like airports. Or at least some kind of scanners.
Bird
Rest in Peace
As with most any crime, you might not get caught!:laughing: But if you do, it won't be good.:laughing:
