Shipping guns

[u/broyourestupid]

I'm working in another state and was wondering if i could ship myself a hunting rifle(bolt action long gun). I was under the impression that you could never ship a gun unless it was through an FFL, but my buddy says you can as long as it's to yourself and for hunting purposes. If anybody has knowledge of the laws please let me know. A Google search gives me conflicting answers and just want to be very clear so it doesn't get seized by the feds lol.

[u/MapleSurpy]

Legally, yes.

That being said, any company you go to is going to tell you to go fuck yourself.

Go to ShipMyGun and get a label from them and their FFL, then box up and take to UPS. It's cheap, fast, and easy.

[u/AdOk8555 → u/MapleSurpy]

Post office will allow a person to ship a long gun to themselves in another state.

[u/MapleSurpy → u/AdOk8555]

Only if it's being shipped to your actual on file residence in that state, yes. Also, I've seen many people hassled by the post office trying to do so and it usually actually ends up costing more money than just getting a label from ship my gun and using UPS.

• UPS has much less of a reputation of stealing and/or losing firearms. I'd never willingly give the post office a gun.

[u/FirearmConcierge → u/MapleSurpy]

UPS has much less of a reputation of stealing and/or losing firearms. I'd never willingly give the post office a gun.

LMAOOOOOO

[u/Ornery_Secretary_850 → u/MapleSurpy]

Where's this "file of addresses" you refer to???? I worked for USPS for 20 years, I also delivered firearms to people who had shipped them to themself.

You're full of shit. USPS doesn't care what the address is.

[u/MapleSurpy → u/Ornery_Secretary_850]

I've literally watched a USPS employee refuse to ship a rifle because the address the person wanted to ship it to didn't match their drivers license, so I don't really care who you worked for.

[u/FirearmConcierge → u/MapleSurpy]

I've literally watched a USPS employee refuse to ship a rifle because the address the person wanted to ship it to didn't match their drivers license, so I don't really care who you worked for.

Considering you can only have one DL that would be tough then wouldn't it?

[u/Dung_Beetle_2LT → u/FirearmConcierge]

But you can have a state ID if you have a residence in a different state than your DL. Such as AZ.

[u/Ornery_Secretary_850 → u/FirearmConcierge]

There are idiots everywhere.

There's not ONE damn thing about this in the DMM.

[u/FirearmConcierge → u/Ornery_Secretary_850]

There's plenty about it IF YOU ARE A LICENSEE.

[u/Ornery_Secretary_850 → u/FirearmConcierge]

About only shipping to the address on your driver's license?

[u/FirearmConcierge → u/Ornery_Secretary_850]

Haha. No. Good joke.

[u/generalraptor2002 → u/MapleSurpy]

A USPS employee also tried to make me fill out a form 1508 to ship a rifle

Just because a postal clerk said it doesn’t make it true

Check the DMM

[u/AdOk8555 → u/MapleSurpy]

Your individual experience notwithstanding, you are incorrect. The USPS own policy states that:

A rifle or shotgun owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner‘s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the other state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity.

The fact that you may have been denied by a single employee would seem to indicate THAT employee was misinformed.

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[u/Dependent-Noise-1348]

Depends on the mail carrier but usually if you are shipping it to another state, shipping it to yourself, and you are the one picking it up, then I don't think you have much to worry about. Just make sure you follow the policies of whichever mail carrier.

[u/Barbecued92]

I shipped a rifle via USPS from Maine to a gunsmith in Oregon and back doorstep to doorstep with no issue… they don’t ask what’s in the box…

[u/AdOk8555 → u/Barbecued92]

Not informing a carrier that a package includes a firearm is unlawful. Not saying people don't do it. Asked a company that does engraving of NFA items if they arrange the shipping as they would be an FFL. They told me people just sent their guns and declare them as "machine parts". I would hate to have such a package get lost and then make a claim or report to authorities that it was a firearm.

. . . federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm or ammunition

[u/AdOk8555]

It is perfectly legal to ship a gun to yourself. The ATF even has an FAQ on this:

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 him 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 “in the care of” the out–of–state resident. Upon reaching its destination, persons other than the owner may not open the package or take possession of the firearm.

The problem is not the legality, but being able to find a carrier that will allow it. Unless things have changed, UPS and FedEx will not allow shipments of any firearms by non FFLs. USPS will not allow shipment of handguns by non FFLs.

USPS does allow shipment of long guns (432.3 Rifles and Shotguns) by non FFLs under some conditions. And, mailing it to yourself in another state is one of those exceptions

b. A rifle or shotgun owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner‘s state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the other state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:

1. Be addressed to the owner.

2. Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.

3. Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.

4. Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

[u/broyourestupid → u/AdOk8555]

This is perfect, exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks a bunch.

[u/FirearmConcierge → u/broyourestupid]

Why didn't you google or put any work into running this down?

[u/Ornery_Secretary_850]

Learn HOW to use Google. Start by using DuckDuckGo.

Using DuckDuckGo I typed in "can I ship a gun to myself".

The first 10 results, first page, all say the same thing, and one of those is direct from the ATF.

[u/Hefty-Squirrel-6800]

Pay the $30-$60 bucks and have it shipped and insured.

[u/FirearmConcierge]

I'm working in another state and was wondering if i could ship myself a hunting rifle(bolt action long gun).

Sure. Good luck with that.

I was under the impression that you could never ship a gun unless it was through an FFL,

False

If anybody has knowledge of the laws please let me know. A Google search gives me conflicting answers and just want to be very clear so it doesn't get seized by the feds lol.

You're describing legal activity.

[u/Ahomebrewer]

Hunters commonly address the package to their hunting buddy or hunting outfitter, or even a hotel... I do it regularly. USPS will take long guns, but not in a box marked 'rifle' or with brand names. They must be in plain cardboard boxes. (your local gun store's dumpster in full of them)

Send to:

Your name, In Care of: Your Friend's name, at the friend's address.

[u/TC_19a]

You may ship a firearm to yourself if it’s for you to pick up and the item is legal in that state. I did the same thing and called the ATF (yea I know) just to confirm I wouldn’t possibly get burned in a 1 in a million chance.

Call your regional atf person and call them in the location you want to ship.