Question to guys that sold guns here

[stapher1]

I've been thinking of selling some of my collection of old military rifles. How have you been shipping them, are you buying cases? If you buy a case are you boxing up the case for shipping or just locking up the case and slapping a shipping label on it and mailing the buyer the keys?

 

[SongdogHunter]

i like to ship in a cardboard box. in the past i have bought custom sized boxes to fit the plastic rifles cases. and package it to survive a 5 story drop, and then pray it arrives unscathed.

SDH

 

[bozo699]

i like to ship in a cardboard box. in the past i have bought custom sized boxes to fit the plastic rifles cases. and package it to survive a 5 story drop, and then pray it arrives unscathed.

SDH

I haven't sold any guns but have bought quite a few and have had them shipped several ways, but I prefer to have them shipped as SGH has been doing . You can buy those cheap plastic gun cases usually for under $20, place the gun in the case if you don't feel it is secure enough put wadded up newspapers in with the gun so as there is no movement and no metal that can rub or touch the gun,like a added cleaning rod or bolt,then put the gun case in the cardboard box and pack Styrofoam where there are any voids and tape it up very good. Remember if the postal service or other delivery service can screw something up they will so bullet proof the best you can. The last rifle I bought was from a forum member here, he packaged it just like I just stated and when I received it the muzzle end of the box looked like it had been dropped off of a 5 story building and the new gun case was broken, when I picked it up from my ffl and saw the damage my heart fell to my knees, I was just sick, but due to Warrens impeccable job of packaging the rifle was unhurt. just my 2 cents worth.
Wayne.

 

[stapher1]

i like to ship in a cardboard box. in the past i have bought custom sized boxes to fit the plastic rifles cases. and package it to survive a 5 story drop, and then pray it arrives unscathed.

SDH

where did you get the custom box at?

 

[SongdogHunter]

http://www.custommadeboxes.com/ I bought 25 and they were only a few dollars each.

SDH

 

[tenring]

I have been selling my collection of Sako rifles. I visit a local gun shop and buy a very heavy cardboard carton from them at $10. I have sold some NIB rifles, that the original box fits in this carton I put a plastic liner around the rifle, then stuff old newspapers around so it doesn't shift. Place a label on outside, and wrap several times around entire circumference with cellophane tape, and take it to the PO with the buyers FFL. Never had a problem.

I sold a unfired Sako Anniversary model 7mm Mag for very high dollars, but did not ship in a box. I had a plastic single gun case seldom used (think I paid $12 for it). It was protected by double foam on the lids. Used the same system: Closed and latched it, wrapped mucho cellophane tape around it, address label, took to PO, and away it went; arrived in good condition.

 

[jonbearman]

You cant mail a gun unless you have an ffl now.I tried to do it and they rejected it.

 

[spclark]

You cant mail a gun unless you have an ffl now.I tried to do it and they rejected it.

You ought to be able to mail (USPS) an unloaded long gun without an FFL but in practice I've found the Post Office representative you deal with may be your limiting factor. Few really know the rules & those that don't will insist it's prohibited.

An FFL can mail a handgun, but non-FFL holders cannot.

If you really value the firearm you're shipping, you'll go the extra mile to pack it well in a hard case, then wrap that in corrugated cardboard or find a suitable cardboard carton to add another measure of protection.

Keep in mind the conditions most parcels must withstand in transit these days: high-speed, automated sorting & loading; a 10' drop isn't unusual, particularly if your parcel happens to fall off a trailer or conveyor somewhere along the way.

 

[MattPeetz]

UGG From where did you ship it.? No problems for me

 

[Taildrag15X]

You cant mail a gun unless you have an ffl now.I tried to do it and they rejected it.

You need to show some one the BATFE handbook found here:

http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf

The part you are interested in is Page 177, FAQ's that answer and give the Reg. it is quoting:



(B7) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm
through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a
firearm to a nonlicensed 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)]


(B8) 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]

Hopes that helps, the link is always helpful......if you like to read, the website is atf.gov

You never got back to me about the Rem. 700 SA bolt.

 

[bozo699]

Mike,
Thank you for the site, that cleared up some gray areas for me on the subject.
Wayne.

 

[shortgrass]

I ALWAYS ship UPS when shipping long guns. Much better 'tracking' than the USPS. Use "UPS Quantum View Notifications, it's free! You'll be notified by e-mail of 'shipped', 'delivered', or of any delays in between. USPS rates have gone up, they're not the bargain they used to be (so have UPS rates, for that matter). USPS only offers "Delivery Confirmation", no real 'tracking'. just my two cents

 

[Taildrag15X]

I ALWAYS ship UPS when shipping long guns. Much better 'tracking' than the USPS. Use "UPS Quantum View Notifications, it's free! You'll be notified by e-mail of 'shipped', 'delivered', or of any delays in between. USPS rates have gone up, they're not the bargain they used to be (so have UPS rates, for that matter). USPS only offers "Delivery Confirmation", no real 'tracking'. just my two cents

After seeing what was left of a nice (at one time) over/under that was smashed into pieces at the hands of the UPS workers at our local Sort Center (Plattsburgh) first hand (I removed the...er...what was left of the forearm from the Extendo conveyor #6) during a repair to a cargo off loading conveyor, I will never subject another of my rifles to the hands of those people.

USPS when honest with (tell them it's a rifle or shotgun) is the best way to go in my book.

USPS Tracking is done best through the Insurance Number, you can track and get email verification of every move your package does if you sign up for it by using this link using either the Delivery Confirmation & Tracking Number OR the Insurance Number:

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

It also can work against you as I found out.......

I sent a payment USPS Priority Mail in the form of 2-USPS Money Orders totaling over $1,200 USD to the address given by a seller. It was delivered per the Delivery Confirmation Tracking system to the address that it was posted to. The problem arose when the 56 yr. old widow who lived at the address didn't have a scope for sale, seems that I was had by the old......"let me know when it gets to a mailbox so I can get my hands on it scam". With Tracking on the payment the scum waited for the mail to be delivered and then grabbed it before the home owner returned home. I don't even know if I have a real name but was told by the local police that it was not the first time this has happened, and that the name had come up before along with other AKA's that pull simular scams.


We need a payment system for our online deals that WORKS for us so this kind of stuff doesn't continue.

 

[spclark]

USPS when honest with (tell them it's a rifle or shotgun) is the best way to go in my book.

If you're shipping a firearm with USPS their rules require you to tell them what's inside. They treat these parcels different from most of the others; they're under lock & key at all times unless being moved to a truck or other transportation.

Of course you're NOT supposed to indicate on the outside of the parcel what's inside.