Shipping rifle through usps?

[STEWMAN]

I have an m1 garand I want to send to Shuffs parkerizing who here has sent him a rifle? Any special requirements the usps has to ship a rifle? What's the process of shipping through them?

[Capybara]

I have an m1 garand I want to send to Shuffs parkerizing who here has sent him a rifle? Any special requirements the usps has to ship a rifle? What's the process of shipping through them?

I just shipped my Springfield Hellion back to Black Talon Tactical in Minnesota for a trigger mechanism rebuild just a few months ago. You bring the rifle to the USPS, in a case, inside of a shipping box. I would not tape the box closed because it is within the Post Office employees purview to request inspection to make sure the rifle is unloaded, although my post office didn't. They have to have you fill out a couple of FFL transfer forms, I don't recall the form number and they didn't give me a copy, they just gave me the normal Priority Mail receipt which I found odd since I am not an FFL01, I am an FFL03, but they didn't know that, so I played along and filled them all out. Rifle shipped and arrived in Minnesota fine and they shipped it back to me via UPS. Bring your tape and if they don't want to inspect it, you can just tape it up with your own tape instead of them wanting to sell you their overpriced packing tape to tape it up. Make sure it is shipped with adult signature required. Of course, you may have a rude awakening on insurance as their computer only let me insure it for $600 max, which is 1/3 of what it would cost to replace it, but that was all they offered.

I definitely got the feeling that the manager that handled it for me was anti-gun but he had to deal with me and at least the rifle wasn't deliberately misrouted or something stupid like that. Other than filling out the paperwork, which was a bit of a pain, it wasn't a big deal. Cost me about $65 if I recall?

[kendog4570]

Wrap it in bubble wrap, put in a sturdy box, and send it. He doesn't need your butt stock. Leave the upper wood so he can refinish the metal pieces attached to them. You DO NOT have to tell them what you are shipping. They are not required or allowed to inspect it. It is incumbent on YOU to obey the law re: loaded, non licensee handgun shipping (through USPS), hazardous, etc. Shuffs is an FFL so Joe citizen can ship and receive a rifle through USPS for service. If you want to insure it, you will have to tell them what it is and pay for the coverage, but they still don't need/get to inspect it. The post office manager was inventing rules and laws. A non licensee, which an 03 basically is, does not need to fill out any forms, for service or transfer. The only USPS form required by any shipper of firearms is 1508 for shipping a HANDGUN via USPS from one FFL to another. Non FFL's cannot ship handguns through USPS. UPS and FedEx have all sorts of rules, but they are only policies and if you dont reveal what you are shipping they have to ship it per US Commerce laws, if your item and intent are legal. If you want insurance, you will have to tell them what it is and then be drug through a financial knothole you wont soon forget.

[echo1]

I have shipped 30 or so riffles (and received as many at an FFL) via USPS over the last twenty years, to/from all over the country. My PO never asked what it was or inspected the package, I've only checked off the form that there was nothing hazardous. Depending on the rifle and buyer, I may break it down, bubble wrap or put in a case in a box complete, i.e. ratty Carcano 91/30 versus primo FN49. Sturdy packaging is the key. I've always used a receiving FFL that accepted from a private party. In Oregon the Post Mater wants a copy of the receiving FFL's license when buying. I've never insured and shipped via slow boat from Chins, the cheapest method, been lucky, never damaged and always got there. I never charge for shipping, I factor it into the cost. As of late the mail service has been horribly slow to go out of state. PAX

[smoothy8500]

You DO NOT have to tell them what you are shipping. They are not required or allowed to inspect it. It is incumbent on YOU to obey the law ..... The post office manager was inventing rules and laws. A non licensee, which an 03 basically is, does not need to fill out any forms, for service or transfer.

True that you do not need to fill out transfer forms, but your statement of not telling them what you are shipping, and not allowing an inspection is contrary to the USPS rules on their website:

"The Postal Service may require confirmation, either by opening the package or through written certification, that the firearm is unloaded and eligible for mailing."

What's the process of shipping through them?

Here's a link to the rules. Pretty straightforward.
USPS shipping Rule 432.3

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_010.htm

Luckily my local PO in So Cal is pretty cool. I have only once been asked "Unloaded, right?", rest of the time they just say Ok, thanks.

[Capybara]

Wrap it in bubble wrap, put in a sturdy box, and send it. He doesn't need your butt stock. Leave the upper wood so he can refinish the metal pieces attached to them. You DO NOT have to tell them what you are shipping. They are not required or allowed to inspect it. It is incumbent on YOU to obey the law re: loaded, non licensee handgun shipping (through USPS), hazardous, etc. Shuffs is an FFL so Joe citizen can ship and receive a rifle through USPS for service. If you want to insure it, you will have to tell them what it is and pay for the coverage, but they still don't need/get to inspect it. The post office manager was inventing rules and laws. A non licensee, which an 03 basically is, does not need to fill out any forms, for service or transfer. The only USPS form required by any shipper of firearms is 1508 for shipping a HANDGUN via USPS from one FFL to another. Non FFL's cannot ship handguns through USPS. UPS and FedEx have all sorts of rules, but they are only policies and if you dont reveal what you are shipping they have to ship it per US Commerce laws, if your item and intent are legal. If you want insurance, you will have to tell them what it is and then be drug through a financial knothole you wont soon forget.

RIght, I wasn't going to ship a $2,000 rifle without insurance, but it did feel like I was the first person there to ever ship a firearm through my local post office, I had to deal with a manager, forms, etc. I'm sure at some post offices, it's more common for people to bring in firearms to be shipped.

[kendog4570]

...USPS rules ....

Rules, not law. There is a difference. I ship and receive several times a month using all three carriers. Have done so for years.
Again, don't tell them. Just ship it.

[echo1]

As I said in my first post, they've never asked what it was, and I've never said. The only inquiry was if it hazardous. PAX

[socal m1 shooter]

Thirty years ago-- yes, a different era-- guys would get DCM M1 Garands via Registered Mail.

[Capybara]

Thirty years ago-- yes, a different era-- guys would get DCM M1 Garands via Registered Mail.

I was lucky enough to have received my M1 Special shipped UPS right to my doorstep in 2014 from the CMP. What a thrill to open that box!

[socal m1 shooter]

What a thrill to open that box!

Yup... I remember it well. Funny how I can't remember what I had for breakfast today but the thrill of opening a box from the DCM 30 years ago is deeply etched in my memory.

OP I have a rifle refinished by the late Dean Dillabaugh (DGR/Dean's Gun Restorations) from back when he was working out of San Diego. With 30 years of hindsight, would I do it again? Maybe not to that extent, but his work was pretty solid. Hope you are happy with yours.