Shipping Firearms FAQ ...

Author: SGB

Last Updated :: 7/3/2010 10:04:45 AM EDT

Originally Posted By Miami02TJ:

Q: I want to ship a pistol to someone (non FFL) within my state. Can I and what do I need to do?

A: You can ship in state to anyone who is allowed to own the pistol without going through a FFL. Only UPS allows you to do this and they require you to ship it next day air, adult signature required. You must, by law, notify the carrier you are shipping a firearm.

Q: I want to ship a rifle/shotgun to someone (Non FFL) within my state. Can I and what do I need to do?

A: You can ship in state to anyone who is allowed to own the rifle/shotgun without going through a FFL. You can either ship it USPS (any method) or UPS (any method). You need to make sure that a "Adult Signature" is required to receive the package. You must also, by law, notify the carrier you are shipping a firearm.

Q: I want to ship a rifle/shotgun to someone out of state. What do I need to know?

A: The receiver needs to pick it up from them and fill out the appropriate paperwork. You can ship it either via USPS or UPS by any method you like. You can also ship it via FedEx but they require you to use next day air. You need to make sure that a "Adult Signature" is required to receive the package. You must also, by law, notify the carrier you are shipping a firearm.

Q: I want to ship a pistol to someone out of state. What do I need to know?

A: You must by law ship the pistol to a FFL. The receiver needs to pick it up from them and fill out the appropriate paperwork. You can ship it either via UPS or FedEx but they require you to use next day air. You need to make sure that a "Adult Signature" is required to receive the package. You must also, by law, notify the carrier you are shipping a firearm.

Q: Is a lower considered a firearm?

A: Yes a AR lower is treated just like a full AR. It follows all the rules of shipping a rifle. If it is registered as a pistol then you follow the pistol rules.

Q: Is a AR upper considered a firearm?

A: Its considered a part –– not a firearm so do what you wish with it.

Q: I want to ship my pistols slide to a FFL for sight install. Do I need to treat it like a pistol?
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Laws regarding firearm shipments:

1. Any individual who can legally possess a firearm can legally ship a firearm (rifle or pistol) to any other individual who can legally possess a firearm within his state without going through a FFL (dealer).

2. Any individual who can legally possess a firearm (rifle or pistol) can legally ship a firearm out of state to any other individual who also can legally possess the firearm. BUT, the firearm MUST be shipped to an FFL dealer in the receivers home state and CAN NOT be shipped directly to the receiving individual. It is not necessary when shipping out of state to have a local FFL dealer ship it for you to the out of state FFL.

ATF 'Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide' (ATF P 5300.4) says:

(B8) May a nonlicensee ship a firearm by carrier?
A nonlicensee may ship a firearm by 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) and 922( e), 27 CFR 178.31]

www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/922.html

www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/27cfr178.html

3. Federal law also DOES allow you to ship a firearm to yourself out of state without going through a FFL.

ATF Rule on shipping to yourself

Carrier related Rules/Laws:

1. A pistol can NOT be shipped via USPS (unless you're an FFL) and must be shipped by a common carrier (IE UPS/FEDEX) FedEx only allows shipments of pistols via Next Day air and requires that either the shipper or receiver is an FFL - there rule not law. UPS does allow individuals to ship pistols without a party having to be an FFL and also requires them to be shipped Next day Air (their rule not law). Both Carriers require the package to be sent "adult signature required". Either way, you are required by law to notify the carrier you are shipping a firearm.

2. A rifle can be shipped USPS or UPS by any method you like (ground or air) but you are still required by law to notify the carrier it is a firearm. It can only be shipped via FedEx next day air to an FFL or from an FFL and you are still required to let fedex know it is a firearm.

3. DHL says no no to firearms unless you get special approval from them

FedEx rules pertaining to firearms

UPS Rules pertaining to shipping Firearms

DHL Rules pertaining to firearm shipments

NOTES:

–– YOU ARE required by law to notify the carrier that you are shipping a firearm. (see above referenced code)

–– The carrier is not allowed by law to mark the box indicating it is a firearm.

–– UPS' website states "UPS does not accept automatic weapons, including machine guns, for shipment." This is not a law but rather their rule.

–– Any firearm shipment must be handed off directly to a representative at either the post office or a main UPS/FEDEX hub (not a UPS store).

–– The term "firearm" means the registered part of a weapon or silencer and is not limited to a complete assembled firearm. A silencer is defined as a firearm in federal and FL state law.

–– Get a copy of the recipients FFL and verify it is valid here : https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck

–– Antique' firearms need not be shipped to a licensed dealer. These can be shipped directly to the buyer even of out of state. An antique firearm is a firearm built in or before 1898, or a replica thereof. ATF states an Antique is:

Antique firearm. (a) Any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898; and (b) any replica of any firearm described in paragraph (a) of this definition if such replica (1) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or (2) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

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