Here's how to ship a rifle.

[Brians356]

Using the shorter box, and shipping the rifle in two parts (barreled action and stock) as shown above, my rifle arrived in perfect condition. Personally, I don't see the need to purchase a plastic gun case, then pay extra to ship the weight of the case itself, and larger dimensions of the outer box required. I'll pay myself to prepare the rifle and pack it as shown.
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[p-man]

Brian, I wasn't criticizing your method and should have been more more specific. I was referring to conventional long gun cases.

Federal regulations prohibit marking a package - being shipped via common carrier - as containing a firearm so as to not attract undue attention; however, that precaution is lost as most guncases are recognizable as what they are (and what they contain). When most buy a guncase, their intent is as a piece of luggage to hold a firearm when they are traveling by airline - not as a shipping container for UPS, FEDEX, or UPS. When being shipped, on the average it goes through more transfer points than with airline travel. So with more transfers, in addition to more 'wear & tear', it's subject to more opportunities for "loss". These 'handling' exchanges involve more electronic monitoring (reading barcodes) rather than human observation for security. It's sad but we're having to be deceptive and 'camouflage' the container to protect our property from theft. I do remember an issue about fifteen years ago, where FEDEX packages containing firearms being transferred (I think in Chicago) were being purposely damaged - my point being that theft is not the only concern.

 

[Brians356]

p-man,

I wasn't taking offense, just pointing out an alternative idea. The cheap plastic case inside an outer box is a good idea, and several have told me they do that. Your latest comment on obvious rifles being targets for sabotage (I contend even if disguised in a plain wrapper) makes me like my shorter box approach even more.
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[Coyotefurharvester]

USPS damage claims are online only and only the sender/receiver can submit. So if having a firearm shipped to a FFL , they probably will not submit a claim, leaving up to the shipper to submit. The buyer becomes a 3rd party and cannot submit a claim. I had a scope damaged,shipped assembled on firearm, USPS supposedly rejected the claim by shipper, I have no way to check if shipper even filed a claim. Out one scope.