Shipping handguns?

[rgs1975]

If I take the cylinder off of a revolver is it still considered a gun? I'm hoping I can pull the cylinder off and just ship the frame and then not worry about it having to come from/go to FFL's and can send it/receive it normal USPS myself

Yes? No? Crazy?

[Vin496]

Are you going to visit someone and want to ship it so it will be there when you get there? Sending it in for work?

If your not selling/buying it from someone in another State there is no need to involve a FFL. For instance your sending it to a gunsmith or back for warranty, there is no need to use and FFL to ship out of State. You just send it.

Or are you trying to get around using a FFL by having someone break the gun into pieces and sending them separately? I wouldn't recommend this.

Are you dead set on using USPS?

For your 1st question, if you took off the cylinder, I would guess the frame/trigger is actually the gun, the cylinder I would think is just a part with no restrictions.

[Oldnoob]

where/who are you shipping to? you can ship to gun smith and yourself without ffl involve.

[Vin496]

Yeah this question seems like it's missing info.

[rgs1975]

I need to ship the gun to a craftsman back east who is going to hand make a set of stag grips for it. He needs the gun in hand to ensure a proper fit. He's not a gunsmith, just a craftsman.

I thought I had to have an FFL ship it to another FFL. USPS would be by far the most convenient for me if I'm the one doing the shipping.

Can I ship to an out of state private party? Can I recieve from an out of state private party?

[Vin496]

As long as it is not being sold, you can ship it. You will have to use another service other than USPS.

Again your last sentence, gives the impression that you are trying to buy/sell to someone out of state. If so then NO!!

If you are sending it in for service or to have some kind of service performed on it, then yes you can ship it yourself.


By the way you don't need an FFL to ship a gun purchase, you need an FFL to receive a gun purchase, It's just that many FFL do not want to receive from a non FFL person.

[What Just Happened?]

I'm sure that the frame is what constitutes a 'handgun', since it's that way for pistols. Since it is a handgun, I'm pretty sure you can't send it via USPS. IIRC, you have to send it via UPS or FedEx overnight.

[hawk1]

I need to ship the gun to a craftsman back east who is going to hand make a set of stag grips for it. He needs the gun in hand to ensure a proper fit. He's not a gunsmith, just a craftsman.

You cannot ship to an individual without using a FFL on his end.

I thought I had to have an FFL ship it to another FFL. USPS would be by far the most convenient for me if I'm the one doing the shipping.

You can ship yourself to a FFL if the receiving FFL will receive from an individual. It is his choice to receive from an individual or not. If he will, you cannot ship through USPS. You must use a private carrier such as FedEx or UPS. Both FedEx and UPS require you to ship it overnight.

Can I ship to an out of state private party?

No, this is illegal

Can I recieve from an out of state private party?

Again, no for the same reason. An individual receiving the firearm must receive it through a FFL.

[rgs1975]

If you are sending it in for service or to have some kind of service performed on it, then yes you can ship it yourself.

I was told by some guys behind the counter at my local shop that it would have to be shipped either an FFL or a licensed gunsmith, not a normal Joe Shmoe. They also told me that it would not be able to be shipped back to me directly, that it would have to go to an FFL. Again, this is not a sale or trade. It's simply so the guy can have the gun in hand while he crafts the stag grips for it.

[rgs1975]

Thank you hawk.

[hawk1]

I was told by some guys behind the counter at my local shop that it would have to be shipped either an FFL or a licensed gunsmith, not a normal Joe Shmoe.

Exactly correct.

They also told me that it would not be able to be shipped back to me directly, that it would have to go to an FFL.

If the guy has a gunsmithing license he can ship directly back to you. If he doesn't then it will have to come back to you through a FFL.

Again, this is not a sale or trade. It's simply so the guy can have the gun in hand while he crafts the stag grips for it.

Sale or trade makes no difference, the feds require it to go through a FFL

[Vin496]

I learn something new everyday.