shipping a pistol

[Retriever Believer]

I wish to buy a pistol from a private party in another part of the state. Does the seller have to go through a FFL dealer on his end or can he send it directly to my FFL dealer. My dealer would send him a copy of his FFL to accompany the gun in transit and then complete the DROS and 10-day hold on my end. If this is kosher, then what is the best way to ship. I have heard it would be through the post office via registered mail. If so, does anyone know what the cost of postage and say approximately $500 insurance would be?

[CSACANNONEER]

Ask your FFL if he will receive shipments from non FFLs. Some will. Some won't. Only FFLs can ship handguns USPS.

[Retriever Believer]

\Assuming my FFL will receive from private parties, can a private party ship to him? If so, by what method?

[Mssr. Eleganté]

\Assuming my FFL will receive from private parties, can a private party ship to him? If so, by what method?

Yes, a private party can ship a handgun to an FFL. The only two methods available are UPS and FedEx Express. Both companies require that private parties ship via an overnight/next day service level. It will probably cost $60-$75 to ship. If he has his local Licensed Dealer ship it then he can use USPS to ship a handgun to another Licensed Dealer. The shipping charges will be considerably less, but he will have to pay the local FFL something for his time and effort, so it might be a wash. And USPS tracking sucks balz.

[Retriever Believer]

Thank you Mssr. Elegante. That was the information I was looking for.

[kemasa]

As a side note, the BATF says for FFLs to not give a copy of their FFL to non-FFLs. The person would just need to verify the FFL on the BATF ezcheck web page.

Often times paying the FFL to ship the firearm can come out cheaper, plus I think it is better to pay the FFL than to pay FedEx or UPS due to their stupid rules.