Was the box marked ORM-D?

Wholly shit... did you make a bet you could use that in a sentance?  Very articulate today... are you drunk Evil?

Isn't a gun barrel just another "machine part"?

It's not in itself a firearm.

Do they really need to know exactly what it is, If you know it is not illegal to ship?  

+1.

Why does UPS get so much hate when they tell you up front to not bother shipping gun stuff the the "UPS Store".

If I was there, thats exactly what I would have done.

The stores charge more also.

Have to make money somewhere.

Yes it is & in addition the box has to have ORM-D labels affixed to it.

I hear the OP's frustration, but a little more research on his part would have saved him a heap of trouble.

Gonna have to side with UPS on this one. Sorry Jeffreysox... you're the one who went full retard in this instance.

He broke protocol then.  UPS stores aren't allowed to ship ORM-D materials.  They have to go through a hub.

the UPS Store won't.  but your local UPS hub will, take it to them. attach orm-d label..good to go.

FYI: http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=133&t=372846

Jeffreysox, I recommend Fed Ex.  To open an account go to www.fedex.com/us.

Billmanweh, yes, I save time and money with my own account.  I'm paying only Fed Ex, not some store's overhead.

I don't have arguments at counters.  I am never asked the contents of a package.  When I do the shipping label online, it asks only the value of the shipment.  If it is over $500, it is automatically "Signature Required".  If under, default is no sig, they can drop it on the doorstep.  But you can designate it "Signature Required".

Like tojan19 says, just like UPS, Fed Ex is also billed on my credit card.  

I can just drop my pkgs off at any Fed Ex place, or I can schedule a pickup.

I can also arrange to have a package picked up from a customer and brought back to me.  The driver brings a label.

At the end of the month, on the statement, I can see just how much each shipment has cost.

Guys, if you ship this stuff a lot it just makes it easier all around to get your own account.

This.  Or schedule a pickup, where you just have a driver come by and pick up your package.  The driver doesn't really care what's in the package for the most part.  In my experience, they usually don't ask.  I worked for UPS as a driver helper (temp) in 2007, so I have seen things from the other side as well.

The UPS store isn't "real" UPS.  That's the simplest way to put it.  UPS store employees don't even have to follow the same dress code as UPS ground employees.

UPS shipping station has sign that says No Concealed Handguns Allowed.
Fedex shipping station does not.

Guess which one I use?

UPS: So, whatcha shippin'?

Me: Machine parts.

UPS: Wow, heavy...what kind of machine?

Me: An industrial waffle maker.

UPS: Cool...that'll be $17.25.