Shipping ammo question
Whats the best way to ship ammo? Is it illegal to ship thru USPS? UPS?
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I have a client that want to sell some 45 and 357 ammo.
are there any restrictions or guideline I would need to follow to do this?
Any help would be appreciated.0 -
Yes, you can use USPS. Ammunition is considered "ORM-D" material, so there are rules concerning the type & quantity you can mail, how it is packaged, & how it is labelled. See Publication 52 for details.
Neal0 -
quote:Originally posted by nmyers
Yes, you can use USPS. Ammunition is considered "ORM-D" material, so there are rules concerning the type & quantity you can mail, how it is packaged, & how it is labelled. See Publication 52 for details.
Neal
No, USPS cannot be used for small arms ammunition. Small arms ammunition is classified by the Dept of Transportation as a Division 1.4S explosive. It can be reclassed as ORM-D for ground shipment within the US if packaged properly. The USPS will accept certain ORM-D materials but Class 1 explosives reclassed as ORM-D are not allowed.
Here are the DOT regs concerning small arms ammunition:
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 173
173.63 Packaging exceptions
(b) Cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices. (1) Cartridges, small arms and cartridges power devices (which are used to project fastening devices) which have been classed as a Division 1.4S explosive may be reclassed, offered for transportation, and transported as ORM-D material when packaged in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section; such transportation is excepted from the requirements of subparts E (Labeling) and F (Placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter. Cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices that may be shipped as ORM-D material is limited to:
(i) Ammunition for rifle, pistol, or shotgun;
(ii) Ammunition with inert projectiles or blank ammunition;
(iii) Ammunition having no tear gas, incendiary, or detonating explosive projectiles;
(iv) Ammunition not exceeding 12.7 mm (50 caliber or 0.5 inch) for rifle or pistol, cartridges or 8 gauge for shotshells; and
(v) Cartridges power devices which are use to project fastening devices.
(2) Packaging for cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices as ORM-D material must be as follows:
(i) Ammunition must be packed in inside boxes, or in partitions which fit snugly in the outside packaging, or in metal clips;
(ii) Primers must be protected from accidental initiation;
(iii) Inside boxes, partitions or metal clips must be packed in securely-closed strong outside packagings;
(iv) Maximum gross weight is limited to 30 Kg (66 pounds) per package; and
(v) Cartridges, power devices which are used to project fastening devices and 22 caliber rim-fire cartridges may be packaged loose in strong outside packagings.
Part 172 (Marking)
172.316 Packagings containing material classed as ORM-D
(a) Each non-bulk packaging containing a material classed as ORM-D must be marked on at least one side or end with the ORM-D designation immediately following or below the proper shipping name of the material (Cartridges, Small Arms). The ORM designation must be placed within a rectangle that is approximately 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) larger on each side that the designation.
(b) The marking ORM-D is the certification by the person offering the packaging for transportation that the material is properly described, classed, packaged, marked and labeled (when appropriate) and in proper condition for transportation according to the applicable regulations of this subchapter.0 -
All my ammo arrives via FedEx.
I've shipped UPS. The office said "O.K." The driver said "No".
I said "CALL THE OFFICE. IT IS ALREADY APPROVED!!"0 -
I get the opposite, FedEx wont take ammo, UPS is no problem.. 0 -
Beats me who's right here. I've had 1,000's of rounds delivered by both ups and fedex. And I've never signed for any of it. It just appears on my porch when I get home from work. 'Course where I'm at, the drivers are a little looser with the rules and they've gotten to know me.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.0 -
Our local shop gets ammo via UPS on a regular basis. The cartons are marked 'ORM-D' I shipped rifle ammo sold here at GB via UPS 3 times in the past six months.
"Happiness is a warm gun." The Beatles
Remember Ruby Ridge.0 -
I get ammo all the time.. from UPS and FEDEX.....[?]
It will hurt you, More than it will hurt me..
Life Member... NRA & Friends of the NRA
American Legion, MECU, MWCA, SMSC, NASDS
Thanks for all the help!0 -
I'm gonna ship one box of ammo properly labeled through USPS to make them jump through the regulatory hoops. I'll get my Fed-Ex guy go get me some of the official ORM-D stickers .. unless anyone can sent me a few???
Once I mentioned shipping a rifle, and they freaked out.
This ammo box should get the entire staff in a tizzy[:D][}:)][:o)]
If it makes the local papers, I rreprint the story.0 -
quote:I'm gonna ship one box of ammo properly labeled through USPS to make them jump through the regulatory hoops. I'll get my Fed-Ex guy go get me some of the official ORM-D stickers .. unless anyone can sent me a few???
Once I mentioned shipping a rifle, and they freaked out.
This ammo box should get the entire staff in a tizzy
If it makes the local papers, I rreprint the story.
You're going to have a problem since it is illegal to mail small arms ammunition.
According to the Domestic Mail Manual, Section C023.1.3, the only ORM-D materials that can be mailed are those with the Proper Shipping Name "Consumer Commodity". Ammunition reclassed as ORM-D has the Proper Shipping Name "Cartridges, Small Arms".
The Department of Transportation classifies small arms ammunition as a Division 1.4S explosive. According to the Domestic Mail Manual, Section C023.2.2, the only explosives permitted in the mail are certain Division 1.4S toy propellant devices and safety fuses.
So, even if you managed to convince a postal clerk to accept the shipment, you would still be violating the law. In addition, if you mislabel the package as consumer commodity in order to get it accepted, you have violated several DOT regulations. Marking an inproper shipping name on a package can result in a civil fine of $6,000.00 a DAY for every day the package is in transit. That doesn't include any possible criminal penalties.0 -
UPS and Fedex will mail ammo with barely a blink, and the USPS won't...And they (the Post Office) wonder why they've lost so much business... 0 -
EOD Guy,
You've got this really confused for all of us.
First you say that USPS can't handle these materials at all. Then you paste the references from the USPS that state that we can ship as long as we package their way and mark it their way.
No, USPS cannot be used for small arms ammunition. Small arms ammunition is classified by the Dept of Transportation as a Division 1.4S explosive. It can be reclassed as ORM-D for ground shipment within the US if packaged properly. The USPS will accept certain ORM-D materials but Class 1 explosives reclassed as ORM-D are not allowed.
Then the regs state:
(b) Cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices. (1) Cartridges, small arms and cartridges power devices (which are used to project fastening devices) which have been classed as a Division 1.4S explosive may be reclassed, offered for transportation, and transported as ORM-D material when packaged in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) of this section; such transportation is excepted from the requirements of subparts E (Labeling) and F (Placarding) of part 172 of this subchapter. Cartridges, small arms, and cartridges power devices that may be shipped as ORM-D material is limited to:
(i) Ammunition for rifle, pistol, or shotgun;
Then you post this from today:
You're going to have a problem since it is illegal to mail small arms ammunition.
And go on to quote or paste another set of definitions from another source within the USPS.
The information that you pasted in your 1st response indicates that we can ship via USPS according to their wording, as long as we package the ammunition correctly and have the appropriate label.
What gives? Do you know or are you a govenment employee trying to keep us confused?
Does anyone have a definite, correct answer?0
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