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Shipping a long gun UPDATE

shipmygun.com easy simple and cheap, just shipped a M1 carbine last week, FFL not on there list? no problem you can have him added.
 
moondog said:
I need to ship a rifle for some work. Haven't done it since the whole FedEx/UPS policy change. Opinions on who and viable insurance should the worst case happen.
I hate Shipping rifles, always nervous about it.
Opinions welcomed.
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I used fed ex recently. went off w/o hitch. packing is the most important thing. I take my time packing the long gun. heavy insurance. but I have no doubt a wood stocked rifle can be broke in two! try to find a big(er) box. I think it gives more room incase of really bad handling. I used an oversized long box recently. it would be darn near impossible to ding the box so bad to 'reach' the rifle inside the box. ton of packing at ends of box is important.
 
So, after exploring the NEW rules and regs, I decided to do USPS armed with the rules and regulations. Despite what some here will say, FedEx and UPS are NOT an option for non-ffl. Getting some ignition work and a new barrel done on my Vudoo. Disassembled and packed it up. I brought tape in case they needed to inspect. Yes, they CAN require inspection! It's on their site. Had a copy of the FFL from the Smith just in case. Post office said No! I asked to talk to the manager, showed him their regs.
No! He showed me a folder of their rules.
Called the 800 number and asked to be directed to the rules that prohibit an individual from shipping a long gun. She couldn't, but said NO! I was Getting ready to use my local ffl to ship and decided to try another post office in the next town as I was out doing other errands and still had it in the car. I told the gal what I was trying to do, armed with the regs, she called the manager. He came out and said no problem! He happens to be an ffl holder too. I shared my story and he sympathized and apologized for the misinformation the other post office gave me. I was lucky I guess, but for others, be prepared. This is probably the 20th time I've shipped a rifle or shotgun. It ain't getting easier that's for sure. Now, God forbid it gets lost or damaged. That's whole nother story I've already researched with the postmaster.
 
moondog said:
So, after exploring the NEW rules and regs, I decided to do USPS armed with the rules and regulations. Despite what some here will say, FedEx and UPS are NOT an option for non-ffl. Getting some ignition work and a new barrel done on my Vudoo. Disassembled and packed it up. I brought tape in case they needed to inspect. Yes, they CAN require inspection! It's on their site. Had a copy of the FFL from the Smith just in case. Post office said No! I asked to talk to the manager, showed him their regs.
No! He showed me a folder of their rules.
Called the 800 number and asked to be directed to the rules that prohibit an individual from shipping a long gun. She couldn't, but said NO! I was Getting ready to use my local ffl to ship and decided to try another post office in the next town as I was out doing other errands and still had it in the car. I told the gal what I was trying to do, armed with the regs, she called the manager. He came out and said no problem! He happens to be an ffl holder too. I shared my story and he sympathized and apologized for the misinformation the other post office gave me. I was lucky I guess, but for others, be prepared. This is probably the 20th time I've shipped a rifle or shotgun. It ain't getting easier that's for sure. Now, God forbid it gets lost or damaged. That's whole nother story I've already researched with the postmaster.
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Wow man, good thing you're tenacious! Thanks for the update.
 
The big machine is doing everything they can to make it nearly impossible to buy/sell/trade/maintain firearms.

It's still perfectly legal to ship long guns USPS. It is expensive compared to UPS and Fedex though, but it's the only option now for non FFLs.

My advice is to find a local FFL that charges reasonable rates. I hate doing it for smith work though, because it has to go back to them instead of directly back to me, but sometimes its the only way.

Glad you found a good USPS office.
 
I use to go to the UPS main hub and do it.
Not anymore. I know the guy there and unless you have an account AND an ffl, no bueno.
 
jepp2 said:
And I read recently (after the policy change) where someone shipped a long gun using Fedex, and the gun got damaged during shipment. They refused to settle since the individual violated their written rules. Not saying not to, just want everyone to know the potential.
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Exactly! My guy said I could sneak it through but, they won't honor any claims since it's prohibited.
 
I am an FFL/SOT. Post office for my zip code does not give me any problems. Bring the form in, give it to them, and pay. Non-concealable long guns (26" OAL, 16/18" barrel) don't need the form or you to be licensed.

Some post offices do not know the rules, find a different one, like any government agency you have fiefdoms where someone in charge "knows" the rules.
 
moondog said:
So, after exploring the NEW rules and regs, I decided to do USPS armed with the rules and regulations. Despite what some here will say, FedEx and UPS are NOT an option for non-ffl. Getting some ignition work and a new barrel done on my Vudoo. Disassembled and packed it up. I brought tape in case they needed to inspect. Yes, they CAN require inspection! It's on their site. Had a copy of the FFL from the Smith just in case. Post office said No! I asked to talk to the manager, showed him their regs.
No! He showed me a folder of their rules.
Called the 800 number and asked to be directed to the rules that prohibit an individual from shipping a long gun. She couldn't, but said NO! I was Getting ready to use my local ffl to ship and decided to try another post office in the next town as I was out doing other errands and still had it in the car. I told the gal what I was trying to do, armed with the regs, she called the manager. He came out and said no problem! He happens to be an ffl holder too. I shared my story and he sympathized and apologized for the misinformation the other post office gave me. I was lucky I guess, but for others, be prepared. This is probably the 20th time I've shipped a rifle or shotgun. It ain't getting easier that's for sure. Now, God forbid it gets lost or damaged. That's whole nother story I've already researched with the postmaster.
Click to expand...
The Post Office needs to be burned to the ground and the soil salted with enough CS-137 to keep it uninhabitable for several centuries. Every member of management needs to be shipped to a new research station in Vostok, Antarctica.
 
I used to use ups, but they've turned into complete horses patoots about it. Usps has been who I've used since and at least at the post office I used have been extremely helpful and was cheaper than the last time I used ups. I ship some very high grade shotguns frequently and after shipping and insurance usps was actually a bit cheaper. I've had better luck with their tracking to.
 
Had some work done on a Ruger and they shipped it to my FFL via FedEx. They gave me the run around for three weeks. I called Ruger twice and they were going to launch an investigation but FedEx managed to allow my FFL to go to their facility and pick it up. Can't understand why. I talked to them several times. I was polite and just asked how we can resolve this issue. They kept saying nobody was there but my FFL watched the guy drive by. They only left one note to say they had been by in that entire time. It was a huge PITA that never had to happen.
 
Since I am about to have to ship a rifle for the first time in the US what else do you guys do? Padlocked gun case? Anything else in particular?
 
I take out the bolt and bubble wrap it separately. But otherwise, nothing special except to make sure it's well padded. I do double/triple tape the corners of the boxes, but I do that for just about anything heavy
 
Just like my past on shipping to a gun smith . A pain in the @$$ . This is the last time I'm going to do this .
 
Uline makes cardboard boxes that are rifle sized. I think they are worth buying no matter how long it takes to use them up. They are shipped flat, I think 10 to a bundle. Two sizes, I guess a standard and long.

Cheap plastic gun cases are also worthwhile. Case the rifle, box it, send it. I’ve seen poked holes and torn holes in a few boxes.

I have just used a box, thinking I would get the rifle returned in a new box. That didn’t happen, old box was reused and arrived bent pretty badly. I was sweating until I verified that the rifle was ok. The delivery guy knew it was bent, I saw it was bent, we had a brief discussion on filing claims if there was damage.

I used to have some security tape. If it was disturbed, there was no way to match it back end to end. Also worthwhile.

I use USPS. More convenient, may cost more may not. Knock wood no issues in 35-40 years… My issues have happened when an FFL seems to think they need to open the box, instead of writing the date of receiving the box on the outside and waiting till I’m there to open and log the weapon.
 
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