Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Mailing a rifle

[KIKER]

I'm selling a 22 rifle to my brother in law and would like to mail it to him. We're both in Texas, just about 10 hrs drive apart. Would that be legal? If he had to receive it through a FFL holder and pay the transfer fee, he might be better off buying a new one local to him. It would be a little more expensive, but he would have a new rifle and not a beater.



Thanks

 

[BigPapa]

I haven't shipped a firearm in a long time, but, last I checked it had to be shipped next-day UPS or FedEx from one dealer to another. Your brother-in-law will also have to go through the background check and pay whatever the receiving dealer wants to charge in fees just like he was buying a new rifle.



Check with your local dealer. He'll be able to tell you.

 

[AH64ID]

http://www.gunbroker.com/support/SupportFAQView.aspx?faqid=1118

 

[BarryG]

I am unsure if this will work for a private party receiver but I know when I sent my mini14 back to Ruger a few years ago for some repair the USPS worked great. It had to be in a plain box with no mention of firearms on the box and in this case no mention of ruger arms in the address. Just the address. They did not require anything from Ruger whereas fedex/ups wanted some form from ruger before they would ship. It was also substantially cheaper. The post office clerk directed me to a website might have been the ATF website that had all the rules and regs for shipping firearms.

 

[p-Bar]

You are allowed to ship to gun manufacturer or to yourself only. check fedex or FFL as mentioned above

 

[BIGNASTY]

Have sent in guns to a smith and used FedEx and UPS I suggest you insure it for many times what its worth they kind of take care of your package that way and it only costs a few bucks more ITS WORTH IT.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I buy and sell through GunsAmerica, Gun Broker across state lines frequently and I live in Ca.



Whatever I sell, goes to an FFL only. I verify before shipping.



Does not have to be overnight, etc.



I always ship in plain brown paper. Doesn't really matter though. I'm sure that every hand that touches that box (long gun) knows that it's a rifle anyways.



Insure it for more than it's worth new.

 

[BigPapa]

Used to be if a package was insured for $1K or more it rode up front with the driver. I'm sure that has changed by now.



Also, you can insure it for whatever you want, but they will only pay you fair market value or cost.

 

[The patriot]

I sent several long arms through USPS within the last week or so.
It's legal for long arms.
I was sent a copy of the FFL holders license and that's all that's needed.
If it's legal in NJ , I'm sure youre GTG in Texas.

 

[The patriot]

BTW You can ship a 1000. 00 rifle insured for about $28 through USPS Priority mail.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Used to be if a package was insured for $1K or more it rode up front with the driver. I'm sure that has changed by now.

Also, you can insure it for whatever you want, but they will only pay you fair market value or cost.

Re think that one its insured for a set amount not the price of the object it could be a HOT WHEELS CAR insured for 300K and thats what they end up paying the insured price. That way they pay attention of the package and its whereabouts. Every hand gun I have has been sent to cylinder and slide and insured for at least a 100K I KNOW IT WILL GET THERE. and I pay the extra for shipment back for same reason.

 

[BigPapa]

I wasn't disagreeing with you about the logic of insuring it for big money. I've done it before, too.



I'm just saying that IF it gets lost, UPS will not pay more than market value or replacement cost, it doesn't matter what you have it insured for. Your $300K Hot Wheels car won't fly with UPS. Other shippers may be different. I've had to make several UPS claims and that's all they'll do. They won't even pay me retail price on a part, just my cost. They will require you to prove what was in the box and what it's worth. Without the proper documentation and proof, you'll get nothing. Think about it, if they paid what you insure it for, they're leaving themselves wide open for a scam.

 

[HHhuntitall]

It's considered illegal to ship from one private individual to another, even in the same state. It has to be shipped from yourself to an FFL dealer... . Now, if you were to ship it to yourself, say you were going to go down there to go hunting, and you didn't want to carry it in your luggage on a plane..... You can ship it to yourself.....

 

[Bill Stockard]

It's considered illegal to ship from one private individual to another, even in the same state. It has to be shipped from yourself to an FFL dealer... . Now, if you were to ship it to yourself, say you were going to go down there to go hunting, and you didn't want to carry it in your luggage on a plane..... You can ship it to yourself.....

In that case, couldn't the OP send the rifle to himself in care of his brother in law at the bil's address?



OP Name

c/o Brother in law name

BIL address

BIL city, TX



... and the bil just happens to open the box before the OP arrives?



Bill

 

[KIKER]

That's what I'm talking about. He was here for Thanksgiving, but we didn't get around to the gun deal before he had to travel back home. I sent a Model 29 back to S&W and they shipped it back to me at my house, so it is legal for a non license holder to receive firearms at their residence, or Smith broke the law by shipping it to me!

 

[HHhuntitall]

In that case, couldn't the OP send the rifle to himself in care of his brother in law at the bil's address?



OP Name

c/o Brother in law name

BIL address

BIL city, TX



... and the bil just happens to open the box before the OP arrives?



Bill

His BIL could open it to check contents before accepting it for insurance reasons. Now, if you did decide to sell it to him before you left..... well, that's your decision. But you can't send it to HIM, legally, without going through a liscensed dealer. S&W could ship you YOUR rifle without going through a dealer, just as you can ship your rifle to any FFL posessing gunsmith, and they can ship it back to you. They do keep a record of it, though. As an FFL dealer, if you recieve a firearm for repair or service, you have to keep a record of it, including owner, Serial number, and address you sent it to.....

 

[BigPapa]

This is from the ATF website:

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U. S. Postal Service?



A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed 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))



Q: 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)



Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?



Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

 

[JTMATTEL05]

Rifles can be sent through regular mail you just have to remove firing pin or some mechanism to make it inoperable. Hand guns have to be shipped through FFL dealer and over night. I had to ship from Alaska to Georgia (im military) and i shipped all my rifles (Bolt Action, Assault Rifles, Shotgun). and all i had to do was take something out. You can ship the part separately. I hope this helps!!! I guarantee it is not illegal, you can call USPS and ask them they will tell you the same thing. OOH one more thing it MUST be in a hard case!!!! It has to be addressed to the person sending it (yourself)

 

[The patriot]

When I was in the post office I asked what are the requirements for shipping a long arm.
They told me the gun had to be unloaded..... after looking at some paperwork.
That's it.
This was two weeks ago.
JM. 02 YMMV dont take any wooden nickels etc. etc.

 

[KIKER]

Thanks for all that info! Looks like BIL will be receiving a 22 rifle