Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Postal regulations shipping long guns??

doninky
what are current post office shipping rules relative rifles/shotguns? Can I ship to myself at another US destinations? I cant seem to get the answer locally. Any info appreciated....
0

Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    USPS rules for shipping firearms are covered in Publication 52.

    While Pub 52 doesn't specifically address this situation, they do say that, as long as shipment of your long gun doesn't violate federal law, an individual can ship USPS.

    Federal law is covered in Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide (ATF P5300.4), which permits you to ship a firearm to yourself in another state, as long as your possession of that firearm is legal in the state to which it is being shipped. So, for example, if you are a CA resident, you can't drive to Nevada to buy an AR-clone & ship it to your home address.

    Neal
    0
  • chemeng
    Go to the USPS website and download Publication 52. Here are the pertinent excerpts:

    432.1 General

    The following conditions apply:

    a) Pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person (referred to as handguns) are nonmailable in domestic mail. (There are some exclusions for Military and Govt)
    b) The disassembled parts of a handgun or other type of nonmailable firearm that can be readily assembled as a weabon are nonmailable. (Excludes Military and Govt)
    c) Unloaded antique firearms sent as curios or museum pieces are generally permitted as specified in exhibit 432.1 adn DMM C024.2.0.
    d) Unloaded rifles and shotguns may be mailed if the mailer fully complies with the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-61*) and 18 U.S.C. 921. The mailer may be required to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the gun is unloaded and not excluded from mailing because of the restrictions in 431.2b and c.

    Hope this helps, I always use FedEx for pistols anyway. Mike
    0
  • scott
    i have shipped a few guns through the post office with no problems...the person i dealt with suggested that the gun be dissassembled to the point that it wasnt readily fireable upon opening the package...i dont know how clear the postal employees are on the rules...i have had one post office say you flat cant ship guns and another one not even ask if it was going to an ffl holder...I feel the postal service handles packages with more respect then ups, but because of the cost differences, only use them on special items....you have a very interesting question; I will be curious to see if you get a precise answer
    0
  • TED GAR
    I ship all my rifles and shotguns USMAIL priority 2day mail. It averages 13 dollars. Plus insurance. It arrives in great shape, and really fast. The post office will want a copy of the FFL dealer, that you are shipping to, for their records, and may wish to view the gun, so leave one end open, for inspection. No squashed boxes, like UPS,
    No waiting....what more could anyone want.?
    0
  • cletus85
    I've had no trouble with the U.S. Postal Service mailing long guns to a dealer and I am not a dealer. I found the best way to ease the tension is to advise the post office that you are using a day or so in advance that you intend to ship a firearm. This way you can be sure they know the rules and no one gets any surprises.
    0
  • drl50
    You are not required to ship to an FFL unless there is a transfer of ownership involved at the other end.(a sale). You do not need FFL's to ship long guns. They are required to conduct background checks when ownership changes. Gunsmiths/manufacturers returning your firearm, can in turn send directly back to you. Pistols may require FFL shipping and receiving in some states. In either case P.O. doesn't require FFL info. Clerical ignorance is not uncommon, despite their training requirements. Post office is best way and they have an affidavit form that they may have you sign certifying the arm is not loaded. They require that there be no indication on the package, that it contains a firearm. If your sending it to "Bob's Gun Sales" , address it to "Bob's Sales".

    There are no extraordinary men...just extraordinary circumstances with which ordinary men must deal. Admiral Bull Halsey
    0
  • EOD Guy
    quote:Originally posted by drl50
    You are not required to ship to an FFL unless there is a transfer of ownership involved at the other end.(a sale). You do not need FFL's to ship long guns. They are required to conduct background checks when ownership changes. Gunsmiths/manufacturers returning your firearm, can in turn send directly back to you. Pistols may require FFL shipping and receiving in some states. In either case P.O. doesn't require FFL info. Clerical ignorance is not uncommon, despite their training requirements. Post office is best way and they have an affidavit form that they may have you sign certifying the arm is not loaded. They require that there be no indication on the package, that it contains a firearm. If your sending it to "Bob's Gun Sales" , address it to "Bob's Sales".

    There are no extraordinary men...just extraordinary circumstances with which ordinary men must deal. Admiral Bull Halsey



    As far as the Federal regulations are concerned, transfer of ownership has nothing to do with it. The regulations address possession, not ownership. When you ship a firearm, you are transferring possession of the firearm and the regulations concerning FFL's and who you can ship to apply. The reason a firearm can be directly returned to you from a repair facility is that the regulations specifically allow that. You must ship to an FFL unless the regulations specifically exempt you from the requirement.
    0
  • drl50
    I have to admit I stand corrected. EOD is indeed correct but as to youre question it seems that you would be one of the authorized exceptions when mailing to yourself. Sorry I mis-lead and thanks for the correction.Following is pasted from the ATF site of FAQ's:


    (B10) 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.



    There are no extraordinary men...just extraordinary circumstances with which ordinary men must deal. Admiral Bull Halsey
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity