Can anyone enlighten me on the rules and regs for shipping handguns?

You need to check BOTH state and federal regulations.

In a nutshell, you cannot ship via USPS, you must ship to a FFL Dealer licensee, you must declare it as a handgun to your shipper. If it's over 50 years old it qualifies as a C&R; if made before 1899 it qualifies as a relic which means it is not considered a firearm for legal purposes and may be sent to anyone.

It would be simpler to answer you if you would identify the handgun, where you are and to whom you want to send it and the purpose, ie. sale, repair, family, etc.

the post office will give you a copy of the rules just ask the clerk

This is what I have done in the short version: Find a willing FFL holder from your location, get a copy of the FFL you are shipping to and use USPS priority. Paying your FFL is less expensive than UPS. Do some research. Good Luck.

It also depends on what reason you are shipping the handgun. You can ship one to yourself without an FFL. I did this once rather than trusting the apes called baggage handlers. Shipped it to myself in care of my outfitter and signed for it when I got there.

quote:

the post office will give you a copy of the rules just ask the clerk

I don't believe USPS allows HANDGUN Shipping !. Rifles absolutely but handguns are a NO NO .

UPS ,Fed Ex ,bonded Currier with special licenses is the only way I know of shipping them .

USPS allows handgun shipping. You can ship a handgun USPS Priority Dealer to Dealer. Check the regs, do not listen to the people at the counter.

UPS and FedEx both accept handguns. They do not want to know if it is a handgun.

as fal grunt states usps will ship a handgun dealer to dealer , an affidavit must be filed with each gun shipped. i'm sorry i'm at work or i could give you the federal form number for the affidavit.

First I have heard about the affidavit, please do post the information about that.

home from work. i live northeast of phila, pa and just on the western shore of the delaware river next to the socialist republic of new jersey, not the most gun friendly place in the country. it took some searching to find this as none of the postmasters would give me any information on this form.
it is a usps form and it is titled STATEMENT BY SHIPPER OF FIREARMS and the form is numbered as PS Form 1508, April, 1994 it is for dealers shiping handguns to dealers and/or manufactuerers.
i personally use the flat rate boxes with delivery confirmation and insurance. usually it ends up being cheaper than ups or fedex and the post office is close to me. the other two won't pick up from me.