Home Forums Gear Free Classifieds Advice on shipping a handgun

I've been thinking of putting a few handguns up for sale and looking at FEDEX UPS web I'm confused. I have a C&R FFL and would only ship to a FFL of buyers choice.
It seems UPS I would have to go to a "registered" shipper? FEDEX not sure confusing.
I do not have a "customer center" for either FEDEX or UPS so realize I would need to travel to one, maybe at a larger city airport location.
Or do I just take to a local gun shop and see if they would ship for me?
Any info appreciated. Thanks

Ask your friendly local FFL dealer to mail it for you.

If there's a UPS hub / customer center nearby at all check out shipmygun . Prices are reasonable

UPS Customer Service hub, and you could use shipmygun through them as well. You'd have a printed label, be boxed up, and ready to go. It was stupid easy

By the time you do all of the extra leg work, it's probably easier just to let an FFL do it for you. They can use USPS.

Questions on shipmygun. Do they ship you a box for handguns? Can you use your own box? Also, anyone know how long it takes them to add an FFL once the license is sent to them?

Thanks sorry to. butt in

When using SMG, you use your own box and box sizes are listed on their site for small, medium and large. Check for FFL’s my zip code and if they are highlighted, SMG already has their FFL. If not, just get them to send them one and they will get it posted within a day or so. You pay on the site and get an immediate email with a prepaid label. Pretty easy and no hassle at UPS hub. SMG even sends you a contract letter from UPS to show an uninformed clerk if needed.

I don't know about handguns but an option SMG/UPS provides shippers of long guns is pick up service. Most recently $14 extra.

To me the worst part of shipping was declaring a firearm to the shipper and the uncertainty of how that will go...Tom

My FFL guys ships via USPS Priority Mail. Must ship FFL to FFL is my understanding.

Here in Michigan a handgun is registered in the owners name....so I take it to my FFL it is then put in the FFL book then shipped .....no longer in my name or responsibility ....
It is the safest paper trail to have.....

I used SMG once. Their verbiage is confusing the first time you use it. Once you figure it out, it still doesn't make much sense the way it's worded, but it does work. The clerk at the UPS hub initially said she couldn't process it. I showed her the letter from SMG (a blurry screen grab that a little more effort could have been put into), she called a supervisor, made a copy of the letter, and processed my shipment.

I've shipped a couple firearms since, and simply used a local FFL. He's a good guy, so it cost my only $15 more than SMG, and I don't have to deal with uninformed clerks at UPS.

+1

My FFL charges $25 to log it into his book. Then it can be shipped Priority Mail...the Medium Flat Rate Box is like $22 or so. I bring it all boxed up and labeled, then walk it over to the Post office next door to the gun shop.

Easy.. fed ex ground online. Schedule a pick up. Box it uo and send it to an ffl

Try that and see how it goes.....

Works fine where i live, but i choose to live in a free state.

I found it's very simple from the FFL

I use a well padded heavy duty cardboard box, you want a nice snug fit so there is no movement, never had a problem.

State you live in has nothing to do with it. Unless you are an FFL holder and sign a contract with them, Fedex will not accept your firearm.


Fedex Firearm Shipping Policy

If you have an FFL and are shipping to another FFL it's a simple matter to package it like The Crown Jewels in a USPS flat rate box and mail it. A C&R FFL03 qualifies. I've had a half dozen C&R-eligible handguns shipped directly to me (a C&R holder) from both FFL01's and FFL03's over the last two years and they all came via USPS in flat rate boxes.

Unless you're messing only with "modern" handguns and ignoring the world of stuff available that's 50 years old and older, it pays to spend the $30 and get a C&R license.