On Friday, I phoned Ruger about returning a revolver to them for fixing and they told me I had to send it to them via UPS (I don't have an FFL). I wrapped it and took it to the local UPS pick-up location, but just got a message that the driver would not take it, saying they only carry guns for dealers. Did Ruger lie to me, or what is this? Docjones.

Doc--I'm pretty sure if you take it to a ups shipping office they will take it but you have to use the premium 1 day service. Fedex is the same way, there only has to be a dealer at 1 end as long as you are shipping your own firearm. I have shipped my own guns by Fedex to a dealer with no problem, and had the dealer ship back to me. Nick

I sent a rifle of mine back to Remington and took it to one of those UPS pickup stations. Once the women saw it was a factory Remington box they got all antsy saying "we can't ship rifles!" "No, no said I, it's only a barreled action." ( I'm convinced they didn't know what the hell that was. )Then for some reason, everything was OK. It's the locals, not UPS. Take it right to UPS or another pickup station.

actually i think you will find the implementation of rules is very local and is diff for rifles and pistols.

personally i ship alot of precision machined parts.
and yes in order to screw the gun owners of america they all want next day($$$$) service for pistols......

Heck, the local UPS center wouldn't even take the muzzleloader that I was returning to Lyman for warranty repair. The girl behind the counter looked at me with all seriousness and said "We can't take anything that explodes." It's really pitiful how little the non-shooting public knows about firearms. I said "but it doesn't explode, it's a metal tube with a wooden handle." I ended up taking it to the Post Office.

Ian

You might want to recheck, but about a year ago I copied the following from UPS and FedEx websites. As was mentioned, the problem isn't so much the carriers' rules, but the nincompoops behind the counter. Demand that the person giving you a hard time show you the rule in writing, and if you still have trouble, get a name and write to corporate HQ about the incident. I once argued over the phone for an hour with a FedEx REGIONAL MANAGER about shipping an antique rifle via next day air. It can be frustrating, but when you lock horns with these people, make sure you carry it through so they remember the rules and don't give the next guy a hard time.

The rules:

FedEx Express Terms and Conditions
13 of 37

Firearms

FedEx Express can only accept and deliver firearms between areas served
in the U.S. under the following conditions: You agree to tender shipments of
firearms to us only when either the shipper or recipient is a licensed
manufacturer, licensed importer, licensed dealer or licensed collector and is
not prohibited from making such shipments by federal, state or local
regulations. The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by
applicable state law.

Firearms must be shipped FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx cannot
ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. or with a signature release. Upon presenting
the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx is
required to notify the FedEx employee who accepts the package that the
package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be
marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.

You also agree not to ship firearms loaded or with ammunition in the same
package. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as
dangerous goods. The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all
applicable government regulations and laws including those pertaining to
labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms can provide
assistance.

UPS:

Customers must observe the following procedures to ship firearms,including handguns, via UPS:

UPS accepts firearm shipments from UPS daily pickup accounts
and through UPS Customer Counters. UPS daily pickup
accounts can also ship firearms, not including handguns, through
UPS Internet Shipping, On Call Air Pickupr, and One-Time
Pickup. Firearms are not accepted for shipment via UPS Drop
Boxes, UPS SonicAirr service, or international service. Firearms
will not be accepted when presented for shipment at a UPS
Authorized Shipping Outlet or a UPS Commercial Counter.

UPS accepts handgun shipments from UPS daily pickup accounts
and through UPS Customer Counters. Handguns are not
accepted for shipment via UPS Drop Boxes, UPS SonicAir
service, UPS Internet Shipping, UPS On Call Air Pickup, UPS
One-Time Pickup, or international service. Handguns will not be
accepted when presented for shipment at a UPS Authorized
Shipping Outlet or a UPS Commercial Counter.

Firearm shippers shipping through a UPS Customer Counter must
have a letter on record with UPS stating their status as an
authorized firearm shipper, or must be shipping the firearm to a
licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer for repair or customization.

The shipper must affix a UPS label, requesting an adult signature
upon delivery, to each package containing a firearm.
Packages containing handguns must be shipped via UPS Next
Day Air Early A.M.r, UPS Next Day Airr, or UPS Next Day
Air Saverr service.

Packages containing handguns must be segregated from other
packages being tendered to UPS. Handgun shippers must
verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Counter clerk of
any package containing a handgun.

UPS prohibits the inclusion of ammunition in packages containing
firearms, including handguns.

In locations where a UPS Next Day Air service is not offered,
packages containing handguns must be shipped via the most
premium domestic air service available.

[ 12-09-2003, 18:27: Message edited by: grumble ]