I use my FFL to ship for me. He charges a $20 transfer fee and shipping charges. It usually costs me about $30 - $35. When I was working in SC I had a buddy that owns a gun shop and he would ship them for me for USPS medium flat rate box for $10.70. My suggestion is to talk to your local FFL and see what he would charge you. Most charge their transfer fee and shipping charges.

abraves

 

+1 on using an FFL. Mine is $25 + Flat Rate box. Then I don't have to check the validity of the receiving FFL either.

 

....

 

UPS isn't supposed to allow 2nd Day Air Saver for handguns, although you may slip it through with an inexperienced clerk. (If you read their tariffs, you'll see that both UPS and FedEx supposedly refuse the 2nd Day service for handguns. They're available for reading or download on their sites.)

If you've got a friendly FFL, the FFL can use Priority Mail -- and that can be as fast and far cheaper than shipping it yourself, through UPS or FedEx. (Mine doesn't use USPS, so it's not an option for me.)

 

UPS isn't supposed to allow 2nd Day Air Saver for handguns, although you may slip it through with an inexperienced clerk. (If you read their tariffs, you'll see that both UPS and FedEx supposedly refuse the 2nd Day service for handguns. They're available for reading or download on their sites.)

If you've got a friendly FFL, the FFL can use Priority Mail -- and that can be as fast and far cheaper than shipping it yourself, through UPS or FedEx. (Mine doesn't use USPS, so it's not an option for me.)

Unless you have an FFL, you must ship a handgun next day air with UPS.

 

As others have said, shipping it through an FFL and paying the transfer fee + the 10 to 15 bucks it'll cost in priority insured postage is your best bet.

 

Last and only time I shipped a handgun it was nearly $50.
Won't do that again!

Oh, yes you will. There are not many options for an individual shipping a handgun. UPS Next Day is about the only way. The charges will depend on the weight and destination Zone. As others have stated, a friendly FFL will ship for you, probably cheaper than you can.

 

Law states Handgun must be air shipped. and only to a FFl or original manufacturer. Days to ship by air is slightly gray, according to law. Most carriers have their own rules for shipping handguns (not laws). And most carriers will happily push you towards the most expensive options. USPS is cheapest for a FFL. But the FFL must fill out extra paperwork to register, at his/her local post office to participate. I for one am sick of fed/ex grounds overflow contractors, bumping priority shipments on long guns, due to my remote location. No matter what shipping costs.

 

If I take into account my time, since this task gets done during work hours, I think it's cheaper to pay the $50 at UPS. I can be in and out in 5 mins vs a minimum 30 at my FFL. Plus, I'm not tempted to buy more stuff!

 

Agreed about shipping through the FFL, but why would you pay a transfer fee to your own FFL when you already own the gun? My FFL charges me shipping costs only - about $10. I always make sure to buy a box of ammo to thank him for the favor.

 

Agreed about shipping through the FFL, but why would you pay a transfer fee to your own FFL when you already own the gun? My FFL charges me shipping costs only - about $10. I always make sure to buy a box of ammo to thank him for the favor.

You've got an unusually friendly FFL -- darned few will be that accomodating to someone, unless that someone gives him (or her) a lot of business.

You ship through the FFL to 1) save time and hassle, 2) to allow him to use USPS Priority Mail, as even with a transfer fee, it can be less that way, or 3) the receiving FFL refuses to accept a gun from a non-FFL.

Over the years I've had a number of buyers use an FFL who refused to accept guns from non-FFLs. It happens. I've either refused the sale, or had the buyer pay the extra costs if he was determined to use THAT FFL.

 

Law states Handgun must be air shipped. and only to a FFl or original manufacturer. Days to ship by air is slightly gray, according to law. Most carriers have their own rules for shipping handguns (not laws). And most carriers will happily push you towards the most expensive options. USPS is cheapest for a FFL. But the FFL must fill out extra paperwork to register, at his/her local post office to participate. I for one am sick of fed/ex grounds overflow contractors, bumping priority shipments on long guns, due to my remote location. No matter what shipping costs.

Unless I'm misinterpreting this FAQ, the law does not specify that handguns be shipped by air, only that non-licensees must use a contract carrier like UPS. The overnight service requirement is imposed by UPS/FedEx because they don't want the handguns in their possession any longer due to the opportunity for theft.

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?
A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.
[18 U.S.C. 1715, 922(a)(3), 922(a)(5) and 922 (a)(2)(A)]

Q: May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by common or contract carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by a common or contract carrier to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun. In addition, Federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm and prohibits common or contract carriers from requiring or causing any label to be placed on any package indicating that it contains a firearm.
[18 U.S.C. 922(a)(2)(A), 922(a) (3), 922(a)(5) and 922(e), 27 CFR 478.31 and 478.30]

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity?
Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

 

Unless I'm misinterpreting this FAQ, the law does not specify that handguns be shipped by air, only that non-licensees must use a contract carrier like UPS. The overnight service requirement is imposed by UPS/FedEx because they don't want the handguns in their possession any longer due to the opportunity for theft.

Exactly. The law says you have to use UPS/Fedex/etc.

UPS/Fedex/etc. says you have to use overnight.

And yes the main reason is that they don't trust their employees not to steal your stuff.

 

Although UPS policy is the next day service only, I've received handguns via UPS 2nd day from large vendors (J&G Sales for example). If you ship via another service you are not breaking laws, you are breaking a UPS/Fedex policy. People fairly commonly use the slower services against company policy.

 

That is true, but the risk is that if something does happen and the shipment is "lost" they may not honor the insurance claim as you shipped it in a way not allowed by their policy.

 

 

As noted in an earlier message, Federal Law does NOT require that handguns be shipped by AIR.

That was a requirement imposed by FedEx, UPS, and DHL as, also noted, their employees were stealing them blind. Apparently the most cost-effective way of dealing with the problem was to impost tighter controls, the cost of which was passed on to the customers.

Gun acquisition was apparently a very lucrative "business" for dishonest UPS, FedEx, and DHL employees. I'm sure company profitability went up substantially after that change -- as they had far fewer loses and insurance claims to pay. And WE paid the costs of the extra effort.

Don't just blame the companies -- blame all of the red-blooded American employees who were working for them and stealing the guns, too.