Revisited! How to ship Loaded Ammo

[centershot]

What is the latest on shipping loaded ammo UPS? I know that you have to go to a UPS shipping center not a UPS store. Also heard that the ORD label is not required.
Thanks for the help.

 

[old_heli_logger]

Following...

 

[tominboise]

It needs a label, but it is a new style label with a diamond on it. Take your ammo to the shipping center and they will put the label on for you. I believe you can also set up a UPS account (easy to do) and do the label and what not from home, and have the UPS guy pick it up.

 

[LuvDog]

It's a "Limited Quantities" label now. The black and white diamond.

Print one yourself and stick it to the package. Either drop off at a hub or hand it to a UPS driver directly and they can take it as well

 

[Walt Krafft]

set up a UPS account (easy to do) and do the label and what not from home, and have the UPS guy pick it up.

This!

 

[centershot]

So is there an "extra charge" for shipping loaded ammo? I would need to know this to price the shipping costs into the sale price.

 

[tominboise]

Not that I am aware.

 

[LuvDog]

The limited quantities label is used for lots of stuff, it not just ammo. Stuff like paint, aerosol cans, solvents etc. So it’s really just weight

 

[k260]

From the UPS website.....

How To Ship Ammunition | UPS - United States

Key considerations from UPS to keep in mind when packaging and shipping ammunition for firearms.

www.ups.com

To qualify as cartridges, small arms "Limited Quantity," ammunition must meet the following criteria:

• Ammunition cannot exceed 12.7 mm (50 caliber or 0.5 inch) for rifle or pistol cartridges or 8-gauge for shotgun shells
• Ammunition can be inert projectiles (blank ammunition)
• The package may not exceed 66 lb. (30 kg)

The shipper must comply with and ensure that each shipment containing ammunition complies with all federal, state and local laws applicable to the shipper, recipient, and package, including, without limitation, age restrictions.

 

[dgeesaman]

I believe you can also set up a UPS account (easy to do) and do the label and what not from home, and have the UPS guy pick it up.

Per their website you can through a “UPS Scheduled Pickup Account”.

I have a basic account, and can schedule a package pickup at my house. Is that what that means, or does that mean I need a business account with regularly scheduled pickups already happening?

 

[dgeesaman]

I can provide this current information for anyone who wants to ship ammo.
1) FedEx Home, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express (ground) and UPS Ground are valid options for shipping factory ammo to the continental US only.
2) You need to use a brand new heavy duty (I used 18x12x10 275# from uline) cardboard box and affix the correct Limited Quantity labels on opposite sides. There are official drop tests but basically assume it must survive a heavy drop on a corner. I chose 275# double wall boxes because this is the material used in pre-made hazmat packaging kits of similar size. You would also be wise to place a carefully cut sheet of plywood in the base of your outer box to protect the factory case box. I put a folded cardboard box in the bottom of mine.
3) Unless it’s cheap ammo you’ll probably want to insure. For FedEx you need to declare the contents for insurance value over $1000. I was shipping a case of 22LR and it was classified as “cartridges” in the IATA listings.
4) I chose adult signature required on delivery and dropped off my package at a FedEx company location to ensure I had a receipt in case of an insurance claim. I was concerned about having them pick up at my house for lack of a receipt. Whether or not FedEx actually gets a signature mattered less to me than to have a record that it was delivered.
5) It seems UPS is much the same in terms of rules and requirements. The nearest UPS customer center has been shut down and I was not excited to drive an hour to the next closest location.
6) I did not consider any UPS Stores or FedEx “Ship centers”. Only actual FedEx or UPS corporate locations. As I understand it those franchises and partnerships do not work with hazmat.
7) Cost is strongly driven by weight and mileage. My case of packaged ammo weighed 47lb.

 

[centershot]

How about using a UPS. Drop box?

 

[dgeesaman]

I think not. I don’t think they can have hazmat just sitting in a mailbox. UPS website said customer counter or scheduled driver pickup only.

 

[divingin]

I think not. I don’t think they can have hazmat just sitting in a mailbox. UPS website said customer counter or scheduled driver pickup only.

Loaded ammo is not hazmat. Individual primers and bulk powder are hazmat; primers seated in empty cases and loaded ammo is not (not uncontrolled, but not hazmat.) Don't ask me why, just the way it is.

 

[FNSafari]

USPS prohibits mailing loaded ammo, primers, powder.

 

[dgeesaman]

Loaded ammo is not hazmat. Individual primers and bulk powder are hazmat; primers seated in empty cases and loaded ammo is not (not uncontrolled, but not hazmat.) Don't ask me why, just the way it is.

Cartridges for Small Arms are hazardous materials, hence the requirement for Limited Quantity (of hazardous materials) labels. They are categorized as Explosives class 1.4C.

What is a different is you don’t need as much documentation as powder and primers. All are regulated under CFR 173 “hazardous materials for transportation purposes”. So retailers will generally not charge any additional fee for hazmat compliance when they ship Limited Quantity Cartridges for Small Arms.

 

[divingin]

What is a different is you don’t need as much documentation as powder and primers. All are regulated under CFR 173 “hazardous materials for transportation purposes”. So retailers will generally not charge any additional fee for hazmat compliance when they ship Limited Quantity Cartridges for Small Arms.

Exactly, which was my point. No Hazmat cert shipping personnel/documents/etc. req'd. Put the label on and it ships like Kleenex boxes. While it is technically a hazardous material according to the DOT, there is no special provision (other than the label) required.

While I'm not positive, it didn't sound like the OP was talking about a dealer shipping the ammo.

 

[dgeesaman]

Agreed the original posting and my addition all base on an individual shipping for a personal reason or sale.

To be clear it’s never all Kleenex - you do need to abide by hazmat packaging standards, you need to properly apply Limited Quantity labels (formerly ORM-D), and you need to go direct to a FedEx or UPS customer counter or driver. None of their franchises, partners, or drop boxes.

 

[centershot]

I just shipped ammo today. Took it to a UPS central shipping location. No problem. Problem is it is an hour drive there. Waited for my neighbor to get a delivery, but it was taking too long. This is from a private residence, not a business. Scheduling a pick up was $16 in my case, not free.