Mailing handguns

[merkin.muffley]

A friend just sent his XD back to Springfield for the carry package - his FFL told him he needed to mail it for him. Is it ok for a person to send a handgun back to the maker- or do we need an FFL to do this? I know I sent a Ruger back to Ruger about 10 years ago and I didn't use a FFL to mail it. What changed?

[sturmruger]

Your buddy must use a FFL to send things through the US mail, but anyone can send a pistol through UPS or FedEx.


(Edited to check on legality)

[jalley]

Originally Posted by sturmruger

Your buddy must use a FFL to send things through the US mail, but anyone can send a pistol through UPS or FedEx. I usually ship UPS ground and write on the box machine parts. It has worked for me the last 5 years.

While this might have worked for you the last 5 years, what you're doing is illegal. If you ever get caught, your gun will be confiscated and you would most likely have to pay a fine.

To the original question: You can send your gun via fedex or ups, but you must tell the carrier that you are shipping a gun. It is fedex and ups policy that handguns must be shipped nextday air.

[RobKong]

I just want to clarify, if I sell a handgun on here or some other forum, I can ship it myself via UPS to the buyer's FFL? I don't have to have an FFL send it?

just trying to stay outta jail...

[JHA XD40]

http://www.hs2000talk.com/viewtopic.php?t=18330

jonas

[jalley]

Originally Posted by RobKong

I just want to clarify, if I sell a handgun on here or some other forum, I can ship it myself via UPS to the buyer's FFL? I don't have to have an FFL send it?

just trying to stay outta jail...

Correct

[Oni]

That always simplifies things, now if I only knew how to package things properly for mailing.

[RobKong]

Originally Posted by jalley

Correct

Danke!

[Want2race]

That suprises me because my sister works at UPS Corp and she tells me they dont want to know what they are shipping UNLESS its a potential threat to the driver/pilots IE ammo

Smith and Wesson confirms my thought since they claim do not mark the product as a firearm! Just ship it as if it was a document..

I dont see a courier type company having the ability to prosecute you for not labelling it unless haardous.

[jalley]

Originally Posted by Want2race

That suprises me because my sister works at UPS Corp and she tells me they dont want to know what they are shipping UNLESS its a potential threat to the driver/pilots IE ammo

Smith and Wesson confirms my thought since they claim do not mark the product as a firearm! Just ship it as if it was a document..

I dont see a courier type company having the ability to prosecute you for not labelling it unless haardous.

It is FEDERAL LAW that requires you to notify the carrier. This is taken from the ATF website:
(B9) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier? [Back]


A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by 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) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]

You are right about labeling the package. It is against the law for say FEDEX to mark the package as containing a firearm.


Let me just add that I am telling you what the law is. If you want to try and ship a gun any other way, then that is your choice. You may never get caught. Personally, I don't think saving a few dollars on shipping is worth the risk of having your gun confiscated.