I would like to mail some primers to a friend of mine. I went to the post office this morning, and they said I needed to get an ORM-D sticker before they would ship it (they don’t provide or sell them). I looked online, and it looks like the rules changed as of 1-1-2021, but the new rules are clear as mudd. BTW, I can’t find ORM-D stickers anywhere but AMAZON anyway. Can someone please clear this up (explain the correct process) for me. My local post office is clueless, and they admitted as much. Thanks

I am not an expert, but I think he is wrong; small arms primers are not ORM-D; they are Explosives (a much higher category) and can't be mailed. He is referring to small arms ammo, or primed brass.
Those can be shipped UPS, for sure, simply by writing on the box, ORM-D; no sticker needed,
But mailing them US Mail? I think it is not allowed.
And from UPS; you have to be a certified shipper.
I ship ammo, primed brass, via UPS. I never ship primers.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
I am not an expert, but I think he is wrong; small arms primers are not ORM-D; they are Explosives (a much higher category) and can't be mailed. He is referring to small arms ammo, or primed brass.
Those can be shipped UPS, for sure, simply by writing on the box, ORM-D; no sticker needed,
But mailing them US Mail? I think it is not allowed.
And from UPS; you have to be a certified shipper.
I ship ammo, primed brass, via UPS. I never ship primers.

Thanks for the advice. I had a friend tell me he has just shipped them in a flat rate box, and didn’t mention to USPS what they are. Given the political climate and the potential fines involved, will never be trying that!

I'm not an expert either, but I'm expert enough to know that primers can not be legally shipped using the USPS.

Primers can not be shipped by any carrier unless you have the proper license and government mandated training. They are definitely not the same as ammo

I am surprised (I know I shouldn’t be) at how ill informed the folks at my local post office are. I’m glad I checked into this further. Thanks again to all.

You have to certify that your package contains nothing: Liquid, hazardous, flammable, perishable, perfume, mercury, or lithium batteries. Lie about that and have something happen; I would not want to be that guy.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
You have to certify that your package contains nothing: Liquid, hazardous, flammable, perishable, perfume, mercury, or lithium batteries. Lie about that and have something happen; I would not want to be that guy.

You will instantly become a domestic terrorist.

And then we have to deal with the UPS counter guy who doesn't know the law. I recently went into the UPS store to send a couple of boxes of 9mm to my cousin as I knew you can't do that via USPS. The dimwit told me that they could not ship ammo from a UPS store, I would have to call the main depot + have a driver pick it up. So I asked him how I was supposed to pay the driver. He had no answer, only the mantra that I couldn't ship from the UPS store. IDIOTS!

The UPS franchise 'stores' in the strip malls by contract cannot ship any firearm parts, ammo, or items. Not even a scope. You have to go to the UPS hub location.

And shipping primers is a big no-no as they are considered an explosive (like gunpowder) and you have to be a certified/known shipper; like Powder Valley or Midway.

I personally don't want to roll the dice and try doing it on the down-low as if detected/caught you will be charged federally and the Federal Court System is a real meat grinder and whatever legal fees are for State Courts you can multiply that by about 3 (or 4 or 5).They will make an example of you 'pour encourager les autres'

ORM D is no longer a valid marking for small arms ammo.

Here is change.

https://www.lion.com/Lion-News...-D-Ends-Dec-31,-2020

That is interesting. UPS did not require a sticker before; you just hand wrote ORM-D on the box. I will ask them what to do now. Just for ammo though.

If you would read the link you well see what the new requirement is.

If you are only making a one-time shipment you might contact your local gun store. They might ship it for you. Then you just pay them.

Yes they can but they have to follow the rules too, so we need to know what the rules are. Thanks for the link P-dog but it was clear as mud, as most things in Government speak.

Fascinating how rules have changed, and achieved absolutely nothing.

Many years ago, people travelled internationally with primers, powder, bullets and even rifles in their luggage.

No questions were asked.

No problem ever occurred!

I always had to go to the UPS main depot to ship ammo. The counter guy gave me a roll off ORM-D stickers. Now their no good, damn. UPS may have the new stickers.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Bobster:
If you are only making a one-time shipment you might contact your local gun store. They might ship it for you. Then you just pay them.

"Your local gun store" won't have a permit as a hazmat shipper and will have no more idea how to ship primers than you do. They, just as you, can receive primers, powder, and other "hazardous materials" by common carrier, but not ship them.

UPS gave me a hand full of the new stickers for small arms shipments..

You can't ship primers as far as I know, its an explosive..

If he is a good friend, have him mail you his brass, you prime it, ship it back.

Shipping primed brass is the same as shipping loaded ammo IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
If he is a good friend, have him mail you his brass, you prime it, ship it back.

Shipping primed brass is the same as shipping loaded ammo IIRC.

Now, that’s a good idea!