Shipping Rifles Out of State. How?

[WindSurgeon]

I have purchased firearms from out of state, but have never shipped one for transfer to an individual in another state. I do not have an FFL and I sold a rifle and now want to ship it. Do I need to go to my local FFL to ship to their FFL or do I need to simply ship it to their FFL? How to you experienced folks do it? Just want to be sure I don't end up in the Pokey.

Thanks!

 

[Phil]

You need a copy of the receiving FFL license.

Run it through FFL EZ CHECK to verify address.

Ship it to the address listed on the FFL and EZ CHECK, if it verifies.

Keep copy for your records.

EDIT: make sure the receiving FFL will accept shipment from a private party!!!!

If not, then you will have to ship from a FFL local to you, most likely at additional cost.

 

[Jdne5b]

I usually send it how the receiving FFL wants it. Some will take from an individual if you include a copy of your drivers license. Some will only accept from another FFL.

+ what Phil said.

I've run across FFLs who won't give me a copy of theirs, so as long as they give me enough numbers to run FFL EZ Check, I print that off. UPS usually wants to see it, and I save a copy for my records with what I shipped there.

 

[WindSurgeon]

Thanks guys. I'll call the guy's FFL and see what he wants and do all you prescribe above. Much appreciated!

 

[Alexander-M]

Windsurgeon,
I have sold and shipped several rifles in the past few months - here is what I learned.

Two local UPS stores (within 10 miles of my house) would not accept them; they said only the UPS Hub would accept the rifles. The closest UPS Hub to me is 35 miles, so I did not want to use them. I used them several years ago, and they were a PITA.

So I now use the Post Office (USPS).
They do require a copy of the FFL held by the person/store/company to where the rifle will be shipped. The box is not to be marked or have any indications that it is a rifle.

A printed cell-phone color picture of the FFL was not accepted by my Post Office - they insisted on a faxed copy. (Hint: Do not argue with them.) Since I do not have a fax machine, I had the FFL holder fax the copy to my bank after first asking the bank if it was OK. This faxed copy was accepted by the Post Office even though the cell phone copy was better.

I have also received scanned copies of the FFL via email, and these have been accepted. Just in case, when I have received the FFL via email, whether as a pdf file or an image file, I have printed them in black & white as this looks more as a faxed copy. I do not know if this really makes any difference, but the last three shipments went along fine.

I have also received the full name and address of the person buying the rifle, and in each case have talked with them on the phone.

The shipping costs are not bad, and you can calculate them using the USPS website. HOWEVER, insurance is high, so be ready to pay more for insurance than for the actual shipment. I have shipped all the rifles Priority with signature required, which may be the only way they ship them.

Good luck.
Alex

 

[LarryDScott]

As a private seller, you are not entitled to have a copy
of the receiving FFL, only his number, which you verify
through FFL EZ check, then ship only to that address.

Dealer to dealer are required to each have a hard copy
which they retain for record.

As far as a dealer requiring the firearm to be send
from another dealer, thats his idea, not ATFs. All this
does is add expense to the purchaser. LDS

 

[WindSurgeon]

Windsurgeon,
I have sold and shipped several rifles in the past few months - here is what I learned.

Two local UPS stores (within 10 miles of my house) would not accept them; they said only the UPS Hub would accept the rifles. The closest UPS Hub to me is 35 miles, so I did not want to use them. I used them several years ago, and they were a PITA.

So I now use the Post Office (USPS).
They do require a copy of the FFL held by the person/store/company to where the rifle will be shipped. The box is not to be marked or have any indications that it is a rifle.

A printed cell-phone color picture of the FFL was not accepted by my Post Office - they insisted on a faxed copy. (Hint: Do not argue with them.) Since I do not have a fax machine, I had the FFL holder fax the copy to my bank after first asking the bank if it was OK. This faxed copy was accepted by the Post Office even though the cell phone copy was better.

I have also received scanned copies of the FFL via email, and these have been accepted. Just in case, when I have received the FFL via email, whether as a pdf file or an image file, I have printed them in black & white as this looks more as a faxed copy. I do not know if this really makes any difference, but the last three shipments went along fine.

I have also received the full name and address of the person buying the rifle, and in each case have talked with them on the phone.

The shipping costs are not bad, and you can calculate them using the USPS website. HOWEVER, insurance is high, so be ready to pay more for insurance than for the actual shipment. I have shipped all the rifles Priority with signature required, which may be the only way they ship them.

Good luck.
Alex

Thanks Alex. Great detail. Much appreciated

 

[JRS]

I shipped a rifle via USPS on the 17th, and checked the status 5 minutes ago. It has arrived and is out for delivery today. As an individual, you are not required to tell the USPS what the box contains, and don't have to show them a FFL. The only questions they ask is whether you are mailing explosives, flammables, etc; etc. Package it well, insure it for full value and send it Priority.

 

[chuckshooter]

You need a copy of the receiving FFL license.

Run it through FFL EZ CHECK to verify address.

Ship it to the address listed on the FFL and EZ CHECK, if it verifies.

Keep copy for your records.

EDIT: make sure the receiving FFL will accept shipment from a private party!!!!

If not, then you will have to ship from a FFL local to you, most likely at additional cost.

all of the above and include a copy of your DL

most shippers don't ask or don't know but it is Federal law to include a written declaration stating that "this is a firearm". thousands of people ship without it, but I don't want to be "that guy" you know the guy they make an example out of.
also fedex ground is the cheapest way, but you either have to drop off at a hub or arrange for a pickup
this is for a long gun, handgun shipping is different, it must go overnight which is very expensive.

 

[WindSurgeon]

I shipped a rifle via USPS on the 17th, and checked the status 5 minutes ago. It has arrived and is out for delivery today. As an individual, you are not required to tell the USPS what the box contains, and don't have to show them a FFL. The only questions they ask is whether you are mailing explosives, flammables, etc; etc. Package it well, insure it for full value and send it Priority.[/Q

all of the above and include a copy of your DL

most shippers don't ask or don't know but it is Federal law to include a written declaration stating that "this is a firearm". thousands of people ship without it, but I don't want to be "that guy" you know the guy they make an example out of.
also fedex ground is the cheapest way, but you either have to drop off at a hub or arrange for a pickup
this is for a long gun, handgun shipping is different, it must go overnight which is very expensive.

What did you do for insurance with Fed-x ground? I looked at that and it was the least expensive, but I could not find a way to insure the firearm like you can with USPS. UPS doesn't insure for damage either beyond their limit of liability at $500.

 

[JRS]

What did you do for insurance with Fed-x ground? I looked at that and it was the least expensive, but I could not find a way to insure the firearm like you can with USPS. UPS doesn't insure for damage either beyond their limit of liability at $500.

I shipped it USPS. Insurance for full value was $30.30

 

[chuckshooter]

the last rifle I shipped fedex was insured for $1400. there's a box for declared value
I created an account some time back and have shipped many guns this way. I inherited a lot of guns from my dad that I didn't want.

 

[chuckshooter]

this is off ATF site

A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her 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 or ammunition, prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm and requires obtaining written acknowledgement of receipt.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a)(5), 922(e) and (f); 27 CFR 478.30 and 478.31]

 

[shortgrass]

As a private seller, you are not entitled to have a copy
of the receiving FFL, only his number, which you verify
through FFL EZ check, then ship only to that address.

Dealer to dealer are required to each have a hard copy
which they retain for record.

As far as a dealer requiring the firearm to be send
from another dealer, thats his idea, not ATFs. All this
does is add expense to the purchaser. LDS

LarryDScott is correct. An individual doesn't need a copy of the receiving FFLs' license. But, try explaining that to a non-FFL holder! This is the main reason many FFLs won't except a shipment from a non-licensee,,,, they only know what they were told on the interdnet. Instructions from ATFE are , "protect your license, with technology it can easily be photo shopped and used without your permission to 'skirt' the law." Nowhere in the 'rules and regulations' does it say that an individual needs to have a copy of the receiving FFLs' license. He just needs to be sure he is shipping to a FFL, and he can do that with FFL E-Z Check.

 

[ChuckMiller]

I buy and sell a lot, ship out of state frequently and have found out the best way is to set up your own online accounts with USPS, UPS, and Fedex. It's easy to do, you no longer are gouged on shipping costs, you print your own labels, decide what notifications you want. Walk in past the lines and hand it to the rep and walk out. With UPS they scan your label and give you a receipt, if you want it. Just took me once to walk into a UPS store and have them do it, probably a 20-25% upcharge. Take control of the process, it's so much easier when the label is on it they just take it and put it to the side for pickup. I can't remember the last time I stood in line at a UPS or post office location.

When I sell something I never do the buyers job. I simply tell them I'm an individual, here is my email and home address, have their receiving FFL send me a copy of the FFL and I always include a copy of my DL. Very seldom I will get that, "I don't send out my FFL, just the number"....fine, send me the number then. Frankly I can take photo-shop, his number and make him a copy of his FFL license that looks more original than his if I wanted it for illegal purposes. I've never understood that mindset and that's probably why you very seldom hear that, it's almost always handled by email now.

 

[BoydAllen]

For shipping UPS a customer center rather than a store is what is needed. Comparing prices, they are who I chose. (It turns out that they handled all of the returns for the Remington trigger recall, so they have a lot of experience.) Shipping across the country, they had the best rate compared with FEDEX and USPS. I think that the most important thing to remember, beyond what has already been written about legal requirements, is to package the rifle as if you expect it to be mistreated. Padded rifle, with bolt removed and beside the rifle padded so that it can do no harm, heavy cardboard box with the space between it and the exterior box filled with foam peanuts or other material, exterior box, every layer taped securely. If you can feel anything move when you shake the finished package violently, take it apart and do a better job. Better overkill than damaged. Recently I used a new inexpensive hard case, taking care to preserve the carton that it came in, to save the $10 charge that I would have incurred without it when shipping a rifle. I wrote all over the box in large block letters to only cut the tape. When I got the rifle back the shipper had done me one better by putting zip ties in all of the places where a lock could be used on the case, and stringing several together to go around the middle of the case, under the handle. Next time I will do the same.

 

[WindSurgeon]

They should put a sticky on this thread. It really is great info and would be a good resource for others in my situation.

 

[BP1]

Say your sending it fedex do they need to have the ffl# or see it.

 

[Catfur]

Windsurgeon,
So I now use the Post Office (USPS).
They do require a copy of the FFL held by the person/store/company to where the rifle will be shipped. The box is not to be marked or have any indications that it is a rifle.

A printed cell-phone color picture of the FFL was not accepted by my Post Office - they insisted on a faxed copy. (Hint: Do not argue with them.) Since I do not have a fax machine, I had the FFL holder fax the copy to my bank after first asking the bank if it was OK. This faxed copy was accepted by the Post Office even though the cell phone copy was better.

Every postmaster in the US should be lined up and asked if they can ship a firearm (longarm) in a legal manner as prescribed by postal code. When they answer "No." they should be invited to review the postal code with the interlocutor. If they refuse to do so "Don't tell me what the postal code says." They should be beat to within an inch of their life with the firearm they refused to legally ship, and then the post office disbanded. Those who answered "yes" the first time can keep their pensions, at least.

The post office IG and post office "help" lines should simply be executed.