Shipping firearms thru UPS, never done it before, help please

[kustomkat1950]

Hi there.

Thinking of buying a gun off a calgunner and have never done the shipping thing before. anyone schooled in the art of transfer from PP to FFL? Please fill in the details. Thanks guys...

[sealocan]

I wish I could help you but I've only receive them through fedex. (& the one I did was a C&R way back in the day when you could do that kind of thing legally.)

maybe a FFL or frequent shipper here will see this and give you better advice.

[Rosereader]

Just tell UPS it's a mock firearm and they'll ship it. Even works your way around the "Dangerous object" or hazmat or whatever it's called fee!

I mean, the only issue is how illegal that is.


In my experience you give it to your FFL, along with the FFL number of where it is being sent, give them some money and away it goes.

[SkyHawk]

First question is, pistol or not a pistol. There are different Fed laws for shipping pistols. Pistols are much more expensive and difficult for private parties to ship.

Tell us if it is a pistol or not, then we can fill in the details as requested.

[Pardini]

An off roster handgun has to be transferred face to face. It cannot be shipped to an FFL within the state to be transferred.

[Lone_Gunman]

I've shipped several long guns UPS. I'm not sure how many exactly, somewhere around 7.

Do yourself a favor, sign up for a MY UPS account for free online. Then you can box the gun up, pay for shipping, print up your label, and either schedule a pick up, or drop it off at a UPS customer counter.

it's legal to ship a long gun buy ground, so that's all I've ever used, UPS Ground. You need to either schedule a pickup, or drop it off at a UPS Customer Counter. Don't drop it off at one of those retail drop off counters, and you need to disclose that it's a firearm. If you don't and the package is lost, or damaged you're screwed.

In short:
Pay for shipping and print your label at home
Schedule a pickup or drop it off at a UPS customer counter
Ship it "adult signature required"
Disclose that it's a firearm
Declare the actual value of the firearm.




I will be doing exactly this in a few days with a rifle I sold here on CalGuns.

Edit: it is perfectly legal for a non-FFL to ship a firearm to an FFL, but you need to make sure that your FFL is willing to accept a shipment from a non-FFL.

Edit2: The receiving FFL will probably require you to send a copy of your ID with the firearm.

[kustomkat1950]

Yeah sorry.

It is a long gun. Thanks all, for the input.

[edgerly779]

Have your ffl send paperwork to seller and he can ship ups or fedex ground. You pay the seller and then go to ffl to start dros after arrival.

[Chapped Hide]

An off roster handgun has to be transferred face to face. It cannot be shipped to an FFL within the state to be transferred.

Incorrect, an off roster gun can be shipped to an ffl. It will need to be SSE'd again though.

[ocabj]

Every firearm I've sent has been via UPS.

Use a good box. Some of the best boxes are the ones the CMP uses to ship their rifles to you in. That's why I've always saved them.

After that, it's nice to have a copy of the destination FFL's paperwork to bring with you. But less than 1 out of 10 times the guy at the counter will ask for FFL information. Usually (s)he will just ask who you are sending it to. Just say an FFL holder (dealer / gunsmith) and they'll accept that without seeing proof. If the destination FFL won't fax / email you a PDF of their license, they have to at the very least give you enough of their FFL number for you to run the EZ Check lookup on the ATF website. Do that, and print the result page and bring that with you for backup.

Then just head over to your closest UPS hub. I'm not talking UPS Store. I'm talking an actual UPS staffed service center (e.g. where their delivery trucks deliver out of).

Don't label your box with anything (including address) since when you get there, you'll use a self-service terminal to enter all info (dest address, source address, item info, insurance value, etc) and they'll have a final label to be printed for you. That's pretty much it.

[toby]

You need to use one of their HUBS, you need a copy of your FFL holder, you need to package your firearm really well, you NEED insurance!.

[ralph.garmin]

***

[PyroFox79]

When i shipped a gun ups, I had to show them the recipients FFL license and my Drivers license. I had to go back twice because i left my drivers license in my copier and apparently the copy of my drivers license wasnt good enough for the lady. nor was my DOD CAC card nor my Reserve ID. When I went back the guy that helped me told me that lady is a *****. He was cool about it and even asked if I what kind of gun it was. other than that lady giving me a hard time it was pretty painless.

[Gunsmith Dan]

Remember to ALWAYS get insurance because you never know what will happen AND getting a signature is part of the insurance so do not pay extra for that.

FYI common carriers are required by law to get a signature from the recipient when shipping Interstate.

18 U.S.C. 922 (f)

(2) It shall be unlawful for any common or
contract carrier to deliver in interstate or foreign
commerce any firearm without obtaining
written acknowledgement of receipt from the recipient
of the package or other container in
which there is a firearm.

[rp55]

As stated previously you must take it to a hub (Customer Service Center) and do not seal the box as they will make you open it to inspect it. Also, there can be no indication on the exterior of the package that it is a firearm, including the shippers address. For example do not ship to "Joe's Guns" or "Joe's Gunsmithing," rather you must ship it to a name like "Joe Schmuckatelli."