Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Shipping long gun through USPS

It's been quite a while since shipping a long gun so I need a refresher. It's my understanding that I need to tell the PO that the package contains a long gun, but I don't think there is a paperwork requirement, correct? No markings on the packaging. Can I use the USPS app to print the label and drop it off at the counter?

Go to your local PO and ask.
All the PO's make up their own rules, whether you like it or not.

Don’t ask, don’t tell.

How about a 1879 Parker shotgun shipping OUT of California in a piece of pvc?

Maybe go ups instead of usps?

Asking for a friend

The only thing that you are required to do is hit the little buttons on the billing machine stating your not shipping anything explosive or liquid.

My only fear would be is if they ask and you said no what would happen if an insurance claim had to be made?

Otherwise if they don't ask, don't offer up any information.

Is your "no" answer recorded on any of the documents involved?

"Is it a firearm" has never been one of the questions I've been asked about anything I've ever shipped.

That said, good luck with ANY insurance claim with the USPS.......

Never had to say "no" but doubt it would be documented.

Have had 1 claim with them and it went smooth. Don't need to press my luck though.

Some should ask for advice, not give it.

You are correct and they are specifically not allowed to ask if it is a firearm.

USPS Mailing Firearms

These are the USPS rules, does not mean your postmaster will follow them or that you have to follow them also.



432.3 Rifles and Shotguns

Except under 431.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing. The following conditions also apply:

Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when intended for delivery within the same state of mailing. These items must:

Bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement.

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

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:

Be addressed to the owner.

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

Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.

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

Mailing of rifles and shotguns between licensed FFL dealers, manufacturers, or importers are not restricted. The Postal Service recommends that these items be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

Rifles and shotguns may be mailed by a non-FFL owner domestically to a FFL dealer, manufacturer, or importer in any state. These items must be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

Except as described in 432.3a, licensed curio and relic collectors may mail firearms meeting the definition of curios or relics under 27 CFR 478.11 domestically to licensed FFL curio and relic collectors in any state. These items must be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

Firearms meeting the definition of a rifle or shotgun under 431.4 which are certified by the curator of a municipal, state, or federal museum, which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest, may be accepted for mailing without restriction when mailed between governmental museums.

Air guns (see 431.6) that do not fall within the definition of firearms under 431.1a are mailable. A shipment containing an air gun with a muzzle velocity of 400 or more feet per second (fps) must include an adult signature service under DMM 503.8. Mailers must additionally comply with all applicable state and local regulations.

Local PO will only accept guns (long or short) from a FFL holder. Luckily we have a local guy that will do it for $10. It will still run you about $60 to ship a rifle. Shipping fees have really taken the fun out of trading guns.

Where do you get the "they are specifically not allowed to ask if it is a firearm" part? Just curious.

Notices from ATF have covered it several times over the years. The biggest concern about firearm mail theft is from USPS employees, not porch pirates (why they want a signature because it guarantees a handoff.)

Notice it also says FFLs are not required to use "signature required" class of mail.

I've seen this in looking up the requirements and I think it was written differently concerning the "written certification" requirement and whether they could force you to open the package. That's where I was confused. Nowhere in there do I see a requirement to preemptively state that the package contains a firearm. Or am I missing something?

Heard all kinds of chit from various POs.

"Ok if it's broken down!"
"As long as it has the FFL inside!"
"Gotta take the bolt out."

LOL

Currently, our local outfit does insist there's no firearm label on the box, like a factory box with exposed information. I package as short and covert as possible and pre-label anyways. EZ


Oh, one guy in the N Portland PO insisted that a firearm is potentially hazardous and you must answer yes to that question. Bullchit. It's definitely not hazardous in it's current unloaded state... That was right after one of big mass shooting events and he was a twat...

I have only seen that locally once, a bunch of years ago... one phone call with the employee's name corrected the situation.

Post office rules are one thing, but the label thing is ATF.

But you forgot "you need to send a photocopy of your driver's license."

I ship all my firearms through my local USPS. Never had any issues with it at all. I don't tell them what's in the box and they don't ask.

You are NOT REQUIRED to declare the content of your package.