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Tape when Shipping

Thanks for all the support in this guys. The reason these threads are important, I think, is that some people just don't realize the need. It is easy to think "well, the post office gave me this box so it must be adequate" and many people don't have experience shipping heavy things. So I'm sure a few people have read this and said, "hmm, I learned something". thanks.
 
Whatever you ship, pack it so it dosn't move inside the box THEN cover it with "filament tape". You don't care how long it takes to unpack the stuff as long as it gets there in one piece. ;)
I figured something out about shipping barrels for work. Heavy barrel just a little loose will punch a hole in just about any box, no matter how strong it is.
Wanted a snug fit so, Wally World "pool noodle", the thing that kids use to try to beat the crap out of each other? Slit it full length, barrel fits snug inside, zip ties every 6" so it won't move and takes half an hour to get out. Nothing worse that getting an EMPTY box delivered.
And I have heard of folks receiving empty boxes. :oops: :mad::mad:
 
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NorCalMikie said:
Shipped a barrel out to boltfluter a while back to get the "Octagon" treatment and his first remark? Good pack job. ;) :cool:
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i like zip ties also. i always with bubble wrap to protect the bolt from scratching the gun , then i securely zip tie the bolt to the gun. That way if the box gets a hole in it or torn, the bolt wont fall out and get lost.
 
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Some one once shipped me a barrel with a square of plywood in each end of the box, in addition to all the bubble wrapping listed above. Awesome idea.
 
I would rather OVER PACK than under pack, every time. USPS, UPS or Fed X don't care. We CAN brake it!! Now TRY to get your money back for an insured package. ;)
CYA!!
 
andym686 said:
Always include the address of both sender and recipient on the inside of the package as well.
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I recently received a scope I had purchased from a fellow member ( @jbzeus ) that was packaged by what I would consider a true professional. Maybe not bomb proof but dang near! Inside was both addresses and that didn't really resonate until I read your post. Thanks for the tip!
 
carlsbad said:
I've posted this before but I just can't say strong enough how important tape is when shipping. I use a lot of USPS flat rate boxes and I buy clear packaging tape by the 12 roll pack. It is cheap. It is your best insurance. Gun and ammo components are heavy and will break through boxes, especially if they are dropped or wetted.
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Have recently shipped out a boxed-up rifle.

Original rifle box with the rifle in side
Outer heavy-duty shipping box
Bubble wrap galore, throughout, to "center" the interior box against shock
Strapping tape covering both ends' openings
Strapping tape around the box to hold those ends in place
Strapping tape around the middle of the box, just in case
Clear strapping tape in abundance, to hold everything else in place
Plus a basic prayer to the packaging gods, that everything'll go fine

About as good as I can do.

We've all seen the occasional "gorilla" handling of packages, from all of the shippers. Certainly doesn't happen all the time, but it's frequent enough to be a common risk. Far better to assume there'll be a "gorilla" somewhere in the chain, from here to the destination, than to assume nothing and get burned.
 
Whenever I ship a bolt action rifle, I always remove the bolt and tape it to a large piece of cardboard, which is then taped to the inside of the box. I've received too many rifles with the scarred up bolt handle protruding through the side of the box! I also make heavy cardboard 'tents' to place over the muzzle and butt of the rifle. That keeps them from sticking through the end of the box when it's dropped on the end coming off the truck. Same thing when I ship a barrel - both ends are surrounded in cardboard to prevent them from going through the end of the box when it's tossed off the truck.
 
I received a barrel from a well known member where the end of the package had been taped with one piece of clear cellophane tape, of course, it gave way and the barrel had fallen out and gotten dinged. When I contacted the seller and suggested that he should have used strapping tape, he got all indignant and said that he knew what he was doing and that I should contact the postal service and file a claim. Needless to say he's on my do not buy from list. I have purchased a lot of Barrels in my life and everyone I get straight from the manufacturer is taped with strapping tape. Maybe they are on to something.
 
I always reinforce my packages with tape and use clear tape over the address area to protect it from rain as stated by others. Also put an invoice inside or something that shows the name and address of the recipient. If going via USPS, never say letter enclosed as if you enclose a letter it is supposed to have a standard letter stamp on it.

Bob
 
Sandstorm said:
Good stuff Jerry....Man if thre's one thing that gets my blood bolinn its the packaging
of some big name Shooting Companies..when the ship bullets...for reloading......got tired
of pickin em up off my driveway...what I could find that is. ( shit job packaging )..and
I will not buy from them any more....
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That company doesn’t start with Mid and end in way possibly? Asking for a friend!
 
I used to buy, refurb, hot-rod, and generally tinker with chainsaws. Here are a few things I learned in shipping hundreds of packages:

SUB-PACKAGING!!!!!

Chainsaw bars are the worst at escaping a box. There's a lot of weight concentrated in a small area. A barrel would be similar. I learned to take a small piece of cardboard and fold it around each end. A couple of wraps of packing tape to hold them on. Then, a couple of wraps of bubble wrap around the entire item with shipping tape to keep the bubble wrap tight. Then the item goes in the box with more bubble wrap. DON'T SKIMP on the bubble wrap. Then, a generous wrapping of tape around the box, concentrating on the joints and corners and applying it around the box in both directions.

FYI- a great source for free bubble wrap are OPE shops. Most saws come shipped with a generous amount of wrap and it is usually a nuisance.
 
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It's not only customers. Some vendors are just clueless. I bought some 17 caliber bullets from a custom bullet maker. He sent them in a flat rate envelope. I got the envelope and no bullets. His excuse was "The lady at the post office told me it was ok and that's the way I've been shipping them". Have since switched bullet makers.
 
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