You can mail guns (USPS regs inside)

So I have my C&R. I need to ship a pistol, that is on the C&R list to another C&R holder. I need to next day air or overnight it and fill out a form 1580 as well?
 
ATF would say you cannot transfer a handgun to anybody that’s not a resident of the state in which the transfer takes place.

Thus you can transfer it using an FFL in his state, but not yours. You’d have to ship it to that FFL as far as I know, otherwise you made an illegal transfer.

Lots of people here would say something entirely different than what the ATF would say.
according to the instructions, only a dealer can send the package.
Is this true?
Do I need to initiate the transfer back to my BIL in MA via an NCFFL?
Just follow the USPS instructions?

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I remember that being discussed way back. You can mail it to yourself but not to another person.

Not sure on the source (sender) but a FFL needs to be involved on the destination for the final transfer if it's not you.

I might be a bit off... :confused:
 
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I remember that being discussed way back. You can mail it to yourself but not to another person.

Not sure on the source (sender) but a FFL needs to be involved on the destination for the final transfer if it's not you.

I might be a bit off... :confused:
Yup.
I have the FFL info for my BIL's end. From MA when he sent down here he had to initiate at an MA FFL.

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SWAT.jpg
But there was no intent.....;)
 
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Check out Ship my gun, they are part of budsgunshop.com Lot cheaper to ship handguns. They send you a label, since they are FFL, you are shipping to the FFL, SMG then ships the firearm to the destination FFL.
https://www.shipmygun.com/go/
 
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They ask a lot of questions when I mail stuff. I answer them. Some of the answers are truthful. I dont live to be honest to the post office .
 
They ask a lot of questions when I mail stuff. I answer them. Some of the answers are truthful. I dont live to be honest to the post office .

Answering some questions incorrectly at the post office can land you in the pound you in the A** type federal prison.

 
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Losing no sleep. Have you seen the people at the post office? That is the most incompetent bunch of welfare mother's on the planet.
 
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what if you have a auto pistol, and want to send it off to be refinished or tricked out, could you dismantle it , send it in two different boxes on different days ?
 
what if you have a auto pistol, and want to send it off to be refinished or tricked out, could you dismantle it , send it in two different boxes on different days ?
Legally NO. Is it done all the time? Yes. Legally you have to go by common carrier if you are not a FFL holder even if you are shipping to an FFL holder. Shipmygun.com is the cheapest route
 
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what if you have a auto pistol, and want to send it off to be refinished or tricked out, could you dismantle it , send it in two different boxes on different days ?
The serialized part is a “firearm”.
 
Back about 15 years ago I traded with a guy on an autographed picture of Carlos Hathcock. I sent him the picture in the mail. I was waiting for him to set up the meeting to complete his end of the deal. I was sitting in the house and heard a knock at the door. It was the mailman with a package. He handed me the box and said it wouldn't fit in my mailbox. The guy had mailed me his part of the deal a CZ 52. Boy was I surprised.
 
US Postal inspectors are the only people who can open packages andcan only do it with a warrant (unless they have reason to believe it contains something dangerous). Of course nobody tells this to Bubba and Earl.
Media mail is subject to inspection and retail clerks can open and inspect it. It is done often as people try to use media mail for things that don't qualify for it. Media mail is alot cheaper than the other mailing services. Also, we can have the customer open and present the rifle or shotgun for inspection to verify it is unloaded before mailing it. We can also just ask for paper certification stating it also. I was a retail clerk for years until switching positions 2 months ago. I would not ask customers to take the rifle or shotgun out. I would ask if it was unloaded and if there was any ammo inside as we don't ship that at all. Also, when we have packages that are damaged and leaking something we isolate it and have the supervisor make the call on how to handle it. Most of the time they just bag it and deliver. However if something very suspicious is leaking like a white powder then we can isolate it and everyone from it. We wash thoroughly and shut off the HVAC system as to not move it around in the air and then we contact Postal Inspectors.
 
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Media mail is subject to inspection and retail clerks can open and inspect it. It is done often as people try to use media mail for things that don't qualify for it. Media mail is alot cheaper than the other mailing services. Also, we can have the customer open and present the rifle or shotgun for inspection to verify it is unloaded before mailing it. We can also just ask for paper certification stating it also. I was a retail clerk for years until switching positions 2 months ago. I would not ask customers to take the rifle or shotgun out. I would ask if it was unloaded and if there was any ammo inside as we don't ship that at all. Also, when we have packages that are damaged and leaking something we isolate it and have the supervisor make the call on how to handle it. Most of the time they just bag it and deliver. However if something very suspicious is leaking like a white powder then we can isolate it and everyone from it. We wash thoroughly and shut off the HVAC system as to not move it around in the air and then we contact Postal Inspectors.

Both of those situations the customer can take the package and leave, so it's either the customer opening it himself, or agreeing that the clerk can open it. Once it's out of the hands of the clerk, it's not open-able without a warrant. It sucks that people try and cheat media mail. It's one of the few bargains left.

Once the parcel is accepted, it's out of the hands of retail clerks and cannot be opened without a warrant (or if it's leaking epoxy or ricin, as you say) .
 
Years ago I knew a guy that went for 2 weeks of firearms instruction at Front Sight outside of Lost Wages, NV

after class he headed to California to visit his home state and family. He had 2 ARs and a mess of 30 round mags. Bad Juju in Ca. So he mailed them to his best bud in Utah.
Walked into the PO, picked up three boxes and put the items into the three boxes, mags were empty of course. His friend picked them up from the PO and handed them over when he got there.
No fuss no muss Thankfully!
 
Before I went hunting in Wyoming in 2019, I checked out different ways to send my rifle. In the end, I flew with it. It was fairly easy. I declared it at the counter, filled out a form (absolutely required to be in the rifle case), and flew with a locked case that no one could stick their hands in or pry open with their bare hands, and I kept the combination and key. The downside was that the airlines dinged up my case. I checked my zero when I arrived, and dropped the antelope in my profile pic. No need to mail, but the carriers like USPS certainly could make more $$$ if they chilled and let us mail things more w/o red tape.
 
I had my FFL ship a pistol to another FFL in Nevada using USPS. The insured firearm was stolen in route by a dishonest USPS employee. The empty package was returned to my FFL, the sender. My FFL filed the insurance claim as required and after many denials from the USPS, a Congressman attempting to expedite my claim and finally a US Senator investigating, my claim was FINALLY APPROVED 9 MONTHS LATER. So you ship with USPS if you choose, I'll stick with FEDEX.
 
Both of those situations the customer can take the package and leave, so it's either the customer opening it himself, or agreeing that the clerk can open it. Once it's out of the hands of the clerk, it's not open-able without a warrant. It sucks that people try and cheat media mail. It's one of the few bargains left.

Once the parcel is accepted, it's out of the hands of retail clerks and cannot be opened without a warrant (or if it's leaking epoxy or ricin, as you say) .
My level 7 Window Tech inspects them frequently with no warrant needed. She has a log to record items in and we have a pamphlet of sorts that we put in the box that explains what media mail is for. This is used when the items do not meet the Media Mail requirements. We then return the box to the sender with the enclosed official paperwork explaining why. I don't have a copy on me now as I've been out for medical reasons. When I go back I'll post a picture of the paperwork we use. It's been done like this for around 2 years at least now to my knowledge but Media Mail has always been subject to inspection. Nowadays alot of people use Click n Ship and drop them at the end of our counter. Thus the sender walks off and just leaves them. Same way on out loading dock. So alot of those get inspected by our Window Tech but the Level 6 Retail Associates or SSAs or SSDAs are also told that they can inspect and it's in our window training. I'm just telling you what happens in our training from Greensboro. I did some research online and I see alot of retail associates concurring that they have been trained the same and also inspect packages that are Media Mail from time to time. We actually informed our OIC as our Postmaster has been on detail and they called one customer that had been continuously trying to cheat the system and had a discussion with them. Also of possible interest but Supervisors open packages of any type sometimes when they are physically damaged and leaking anything to determine if it's worth calling the inspectors in. Last one I saw opened by management turned out to be grape jelly. Just for reference I've been an employee of the USPS since 2005. I've done most jobs within including 204b supervising. Only thing I've not done is Bulk Mail Technician. I have no interest in learning that. If info above is incorrect well get with someone high up in within because that's how we've been trained and how we operate. I have some crazy stories by the way I could tell. The place can be a mess sometimes. My location. I won't divulge it here. Some may already know. It's not the same place I began working for in 2005. It's really gone to.....well use your imagination. I would have left years ago if they didn't pay me so well but sometimes I still think about resigning. Something funny to mention. My ID badge that must be worn in the building expired years ago. My pic on it is from 2009. I have told management over and over and they don't even care to take the time to get it updated and turned in for me to get a new one. I gave up asking. If I stay I plan to retire with that ID badge that expired circa 2015. I'm too lazy to go to the car to check the exact date right now. Imagine my pic of myself at around age 28 being on there when I retire at 57 (my minimum age based on start date) 😂
 
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It's ok to inspect a package at the time it's being accepted to determine if the contents match the postage paid (your example of the Media Mail is the best example. It's never OK to inspect a flat rate box. I think the key is "as it's being accepted" (whether it's FTF or when Click N Ship is being accepted) . Mail where the address information is lost somehow (defaced, or obscured or lost) can also be inspected to determine the owner. I guess if your gallon jug of Super Glue is leaking they could look at that also.

I went back and re-read the postal inspector web pages in regards this, and it's pretty specific in that the time where mail can be opened and inspected are times where there's doubt if the rate matches the contents. They are very clear in that flat rate boxes are never opened.

Otherwise it's warrant time.

I never had my badge updated at work either (not at a PO). The friction of a decade of my picture badge rubbing against the "10 Commandments of Safety" or whatever it was called badge, slowly abraded my printed image. To me, it was perfect! :)
 
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It's ok to inspect a package at the time it's being accepted to determine if the contents match the postage paid (your example of the Media Mail is the best example. It's never OK to inspect a flat rate box. I think the key is "as it's being accepted" (whether it's FTF or when Click N Ship is being accepted) . Mail where the address information is lost somehow (defaced, or obscured or lost) can also be inspected to determine the owner. I guess if your gallon jug of Super Glue is leaking they could look at that also.

I went back and re-read the postal inspector web pages in regards this, and it's pretty specific in that the time where mail can be opened and inspected are times where there's doubt if the rate matches the contents. They are very clear in that flat rate boxes are never opened.

Otherwise it's warrant time.

I never had my badge updated at work either (not at a PO). The friction of a decade of my picture badge rubbing against the "10 Commandments of Safety" or whatever it was called badge, slowly abraded my printed image. To me, it was perfect! :)
My best friend there is a Rural Carrier. Check out his badge. I'll attach a picture. He has been working 6 days a week wearing that badge and noone says a thing. Somehow its acceptable 😂
20210818_175218.jpg
 
Agreed, but verifying FFL/physical address etc would require them to maintain a current list, use the EZ check system and/or the shipper to provide FFL # or file copy.
Based on the typical USPS employee in Durham, that's asking way too much.
Agreed
 
Mailed a rifle to Alaska yesterday. Dealers FFL copy in the package and in the shipping envelope taped to the outside. Fully insured for full value. Clerk didn't say a word.
 
Agreed, but verifying FFL/physical address etc would require them to maintain a current list, use the EZ check system and/or the shipper to provide FFL # or file copy.
Based on the typical USPS employee in Durham, that's asking way too much.


Never been to Greensboro huh?


Wow reading that link made my head hurt. I need to brush up on my attorney language.


Nah, you just need the secret decoder template. Place it over any legal document and all the gibberish disappears and only the words that mean something are left.
 
I had my FFL ship a pistol to another FFL in Nevada using USPS. The insured firearm was stolen in route by a dishonest USPS employee. The empty package was returned to my FFL, the sender. My FFL filed the insurance claim as required and after many denials from the USPS, a Congressman attempting to expedite my claim and finally a US Senator investigating, my claim was FINALLY APPROVED 9 MONTHS LATER. So you ship with USPS if you choose, I'll stick with FEDEX.
I see this thread has become a zombie so I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. Match director at one of my BR clubs shipped a rifle via USPS that went missing. He called ATF with serial number and told them what happened. They "found" his rifle. I aint shippin' nothing that goes bang. I'll let my LGS handle it for what ever nominal fee they charge. They dont seem to have any problems.
 
I see this thread has become a zombie so I thought I would add my 2 cents worth. Match director at one of my BR clubs shipped a rifle via USPS that went missing. He called ATF with serial number and told them what happened. They "found" his rifle. I aint shippin' nothing that goes bang. I'll let my LGS handle it for what ever nominal fee they charge. They dont seem to have any problems.
Good. They found his rifle. Whats the problem?
 
Can I get a QRD on this - I’ve always been under the impression that in order to send a firearm via mail, you must take it to an FFL who is the only authorized person to send a firearm via mail, and can then only send it to another FFL.

Hypothetical situation: can I put an AR lower in the mail as a private citizen and send it to a friend?
 
Can I get a QRD on this - I’ve always been under the impression that in order to send a firearm via mail, you must take it to an FFL who is the only authorized person to send a firearm via mail, and can then only send it to another FFL.

Hypothetical situation: can I put an AR lower in the mail as a private citizen and send it to a friend?
You cannot send a pistol through the mail unless you are a licensee sending it to another licensee. That's US mail. Common carriers have their own rules but those rules are not laws. And no, Receivers should be considered pistols and cannot be shipped any more than you can legally ship a P320 frame as they can be built into a pistol. . You can however ship a rifle in state to a friend as no interstate transfer has occured. Rifles have barrels and buttstocks.
 
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And no, Receivers should be considered pistols and cannot be shipped any more than you can legally ship a P320 frame as they can be built into a pistol.

I'm gonna assume you are not referring to what's called the 320 Grip module.

I'm not super familiar with the 320. What is the "frame" that you are referencing?
 
I'm gonna assume you are not referring to what's called the 320 Grip module.

I'm not super familiar with the 320. What is the "frame" that you are referencing?


In ATF legalese the frame is the serialized part . In the case of the 320 its the internal gizmo.
 
Can I get a QRD on this - I’ve always been under the impression that in order to send a firearm via mail, you must take it to an FFL who is the only authorized person to send a firearm via mail, and can then only send it to another FFL.

Hypothetical situation: can I put an AR lower in the mail as a private citizen and send it to a friend?

Just FYI, the answers to your questions are spelled out clearly in the BATFE FAQ website.
They change their opinions daily so always best to look in their FAQ.
 
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