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I have recently sold a rifle to a member out of my state. What is the best way for me to ship the rifle to the buyers FFL? Last time I used my local gun shop just to be safe but it was a little more expensive then I thought it would be. Is the USPS an option? Can I as a private citizen send a rifle to a ffl just by going to the post office? Any info would be appreciated as well as what you think it will cost. Thanks. | ||
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The Merkel gunsmith at GSI in Trussville, Alabama, Herbert Wohlmuth, recommends FedEx first, then UPS. I have successfully used USPS too. You buys your insurance and takes your chances. You also pays your FFL dealer's fee in this case too. Since the rifle is being transferred to another owner, I do believe you must use an FFL to send and receive. If it was just your gun going out to be returned to you, you wouldn't have to use an FFL. | |||
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I just sold a rifle and shipped it by the U.S. Postal Service...thats how I will ship in the future...unless required otherwise...Yes, you can use the Post Office... Pricing is reasonable. The only issue I had was standing in line for 20 min...but I shipped on Saturday and buyer had the rifle in his hands today! | |||
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You might find these interesting reading: ATF FAQ Firearm Laws I do not vouch for the accuracy of these. Read at your own risk! ------------------------------- Some Pictures from Namibia Some Pictures from Zimbabwe An Elephant Story | |||
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You can use the US Post Office to send a rifle or a shotgun (but not a handgun), and you do NOT have to use an FFL holder to send it. You certainly DO have to send it TO an FFL holder, though. To ship it across state lines without sending it directly to someone who has a current FFL is a Federal felony. You can verify your right to ship without having to use an FFL license holder on your end by reading "B-8" in the ATF FAQ's link in Mr. Helm's post. If you are still worried, just call or e-mail BATF and they will tell you the same thing. My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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It depends on local laws... A NY dealer will/should accept a firearm by mail ONLY from an FFL holder if it's changing owners AND he must hold handguns for a week before turning them over to the new owner. yea I wished I lived someplace else sometimes. Rich | |||
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O.K., I see it depends on what state you are in, and receiver is in, regarding FFL on receiving end. I have used USPS to ship to FFL's out of state for repairs and return to me directly, though I am not a licensee/FFL. I was not aware that I didn't need an FFL to send to an out of state FFL when transferring ownership, just a receiving FFL is needed ... except for places like New York. Good to know. Check local laws, it depends.  Thanks for the links and clarification. And UPS requires an FFL on both ends for intrastate and interstate. FedEx? I'll check on that. | |||
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NEVER FED EX. They are thieves! square shooter | |||
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Oh my! A tale of woe? Who breaks more stocks, FedEx, UPS, or USPS? | |||
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I have heard horror stories about FedEx as well. Thanks guys for the info. | |||
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When I sent my rifle to Montana to have it rebarrelled I used UPS. I insured it for what it would cost me to replace it if it was lost. They have a tracking system that told me every stop along the way, when it got there and when it left, when it got to MT and who signed for it. USPS doesn't do that. ****************************** There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular -- but one must ask, "Is it right?" Martin Luther King, Jr. | |||
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I hate UPS! They never paid on a claim. I like USPS and FEDEX. When I ship a rifle, I remove the barreled action from the stock. I wrap both parts in bubble wrap and put them in a box with packing peanuts around and seperating them. I allow plenty of room on all sides for the packing peanuts. I have sent double rifles and bolt action rifles this way never a problem. Make sure the box is full and tight. Over night the package! Rusty We Band of Brothers! DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member "I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends." ----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836 "I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841 "for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” | |||
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Rusty's method is the only way I ship. UPS sucks, especially in the NY metro area. Break down the package so it is not look like a long narrow "rifle box", even golf clubs aren't that long. UPS tracking from city to city means nothing when they misplace your item. It just some how disappears. I stick with USPS and Delivery Confirmation. Just my preference. Bob | |||
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Another vote for the USPS. The only incovenience is they require paper tape on all seams of the box. Their rates are a lot less than FedEx or UPS. Also unlike FedEx their first action in the event of a loss is not to figure how they can screw you even though you have insurance. FedEx and UPS suck!!! | |||
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If you send a package USPS Registered mail it will be tracked its entire trip. Everytime the package changes hands, is receieved, or leaves a processing center it will be verified and recorded just like any product Fedex or UPS offers. It also carries up to $25k of insurance as well. Certified mail is similar but does not carry the insurance of Registered mail. | |||
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I ship back and forth quite a bit in NY state. Never had/heard of a dealer having to receive it from another FFL holder. He does however have to do a background check/transfer the same as if you were buying a new gun if it is not your's to begin with. I prefer USPS and try to disguis the package as well. Last time I used a 4' flourescent light box and that worked well. I also prefer to ship three days minimum and next day in some cases that I really worry. USPS priority mail is what I use most often. | |||
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Cool. Learn something everyday. ****************************** There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular -- but one must ask, "Is it right?" Martin Luther King, Jr. | |||
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New York City is much different than the rest of the state which is pretty much "normal" if there is such a thing!! NYC is almost as bad as Kalifornia. Look at who has special transportation rules in this list at the NRA... http://nraila.org/GunLaws/ http://nraila.org/GunLaws/FederalGunLaws.aspx?ID=56 | |||
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FedEx has excellent tracking too. I have used all three with no problems: USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Eventually crap happens with any of them, eh? So far just shipping my own stuff too and fro has been no worries. I will continue to use the services of an FFL on both ends for any sale to another party, wherever and whenever, unless it is to someone local whom I know well in my "permitting principality." | |||
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I use USPS exclusively in my town because. 1. I know almost all of the employees and they are truly helpful. 2. The local guy who is a FED EX shipper is an "a hole". He WILL NOT ship guns. He's not even polite about it. He use be a UPS shipper also until a UPS store opened up. 3. The UPS store is waaaay too expensive. For the numerous items I have checked. I just quit checking. | |||
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Regarding using an FFL at both ends just because I hate instilling powers in others that they do not have. They end up believing they are real and it becomes a PIA for the rest of us. | |||
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Do NOT use Fedex if there's any chance in the world you might need to make an insurance claim. Thay absolutely will not honor it in the case of firearms. I recommend USPS. | |||
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Registered Mail and Restricted Delivery. The person the pkg is addressed to has to be the one signing for it. You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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