I have daily pickup with FedEx.

I've never had USPS loss a Priority delivery in 12 years (knock, knock). If whoever you use has an issue with a firearm, you're kidding yourself calling it anything different, when/if you ever have to make a claim.

Charlie

Actually I didn't. Don't even know where I came up with the idea. I'll have to look into it. But in general USPS is the easiest I've experienced. Just to clarify, the regular postal service.

I didn't even have to tell USPS what was in the package when I shipped a shotgun last week. I even insured it with no questions at all. Just an entirely different experience (and price) than UPS and fedex. Better in both regards.

And to top it off, the package literally arrived the next morning even though I just used Priority Mail.

Holy cow guys!

Federal law 18 USC 922(e); 27 CFR 47831(a) requires a non-licensee to provide written notice to the common carrier (FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.) that the package contains a firearm. Period. Not a bunch of "machined parts" or other shady description (this would make it even worse!). A violation of these provisions of the law is a federal criminal offense. And, yes, folks who haven't declared guns (lawfully owned by them) have been arrested and prosecuted.

If you don't believe that, do your own research and you'll find out.

I can't imagine why anyone would risk the chance of being prosecuted? WOW.



That is correct. It can be returned directly to you.



Only if you want to be prosecuted. Worst advice EVER. Don't do that!!

If anyone is recommending to not disclose that the box contains a firearm, please create a separate topic. It’s illegal and this thread will be deleted. Thank you.


My gun collection is growing, and I’ll be doing more and more trades and gunsmithing work on my firearms. This is why I need to figure out the best way (not necessarily the cheapest, but the easiest way) for shipping a rifle.

At this point, and after reading the replies, these are my 3 options:

Option 1:
Go to UPS distribution center, ask them to make a box for the rifle case (empty), come back to the car, put the rifle in the case and the case in the box.
Question: how much does it cost for UPS to make a box for the rifle case?

Option 2:
Use USPS or Fedex. I have read many bad feedbacks on both. Do they also make a custom box for the rifle?

Option 3:
Use my FFL. He will provide the box and pack the rifle. CDI won’t be able to ship it to me directly. So I have to go see my FFL twice. I have an LTC, so each transaction will only cost me $10 and I won’t have to go through a background check when my rifle arrives. This is the option I’ve been using so far.

Everyone likes to complain about the time they feel like one of the carriers screwed 'em, I believe they're largely all equal. If it's insured, you're covered.

I would do #3 and be done with it.

Charlie

So am I missing something or is there not a way to do this legally through USPS, UPS, FedEx?

Have it pre-boxed and labeled, ready to go, and hand it to a UPS driver...

^^^ This. Goodness, y'all are making things difficult.

If the rifle is being shipped from TX to FL (CDI), then you will need CDI's FFL to include inside the shipment. You send it to them, they send it back directly to your address, all legal like.

How you ship it is up to you. FedEx requires firearms to be shipped over night, so you will pay a heavy fee for this. And I hate FedEx. USPS is fine, they are cheaper and very slow for delivery. I ship all my ammo and firearms via UPS. I have an account and create and print my own labels online (which you can do online, also) and print the labels and tape it to the box. If it's insured for more than $1000, then you will need to print off the high value signature sheet that will print with the shipping label. This, a UPS driver (not the UPS store) will need to sign the high value sheet (which proves UPS has taken possession of in case of a loss/damage), and you can deliver it directly to any UPS driver driving around town (or wait at the UPS store when you know what time their pick up is- I do this often if the POS attendant at the UPS store won't take my ORM-D packages).

To find a box, go to any pawn shop or firearms shop, and they have plenty of them. When I ran out of shipping rifle boxes, I went to the local pawn shop and they sold me 5 of them for a cheap price.

Since you are close, bring it to me and I'll ship it for you, and create a return label that CDI can use to mail it back to you directly. Shipping rifles is actually pretty common and easy to do once you figure it out.

Thank you good information to have

Also, any rifle being sent inside of Texas (Mailed from TX address to another TX address), an FFL is NOT required. If you send a rifle out of state (from TX address to a non-TX address), the rifle must ship to an FFL. In this case, if CDI has an FFL (which I would imagine they do), you will need a copy of their FFL to include inside the shipment to be legal. The outside of the box only needs the shipping label displayed, and the FFL paperwork on the inside.

For shipping pistols, ALL pistols must go through an FFL, no matter the location.

This is in a nut shell, and there are some restrictions on certain states. But this is general for the most part for gun friendly states.

ChadTRG42, thanks for the offer. I ended up going to the Mckinney UPS distribution center and shipped the rifle today. It was very easy. There was no wait and the staff was friendly. I took the gun in that cheesy plastic gun case (it even has the shape of the gun, so it's obvious it's a gun) and told the young lady at the counter that I have a rifle to ship. She said I can just put some tape on the gun case and they could ship it like that. I said but it's obvious that it's a gun. She wasn't that concerned about it. After I asked a couple of times, she ended up making a box for it at no charge (she said it would normally cost around $2).

The total cost was $38.50 for ground and $800 insurance.

Awesome people and great experience.

The only thing I didn't like about that place was the 30.06 sign (not even sure it's valid, but it shows their intent)

Good to hear!!! I like UPS and they are very knowledgeable on shipping when it comes to firearms and ammo. They don't freak out like FedEx has.

Chad - try to go into a UPS store and ship it not as a dealer. At least around here, they WILL NOT take it. They always ask what's inside, and when you say "rifle", they always tell you to take it to the distribution center. Seriously frustrating to the point that I don't use UPS for anything unless a vendor sends me a pre-paid label that I can only use there.

where in McKinney is ups?

UPS Mckinney HUB
3000 Redbud Blvd, McKinney, TX 75069

Thanks, beats driving to Dallas

That is because UPS "stores" are franchises that are owned by individuals (similar to fast food restaurants). Therefore, UPS has made company policy that those locations cannot ship firearms due to liability reasons.

Yes, the UPS Stores are an independent store not owned by UPS. The UPS store nearest to me won't even take my pre-labeled boxes with my ORM-D stickers on them (signifying that it is ammo) if one certain lady is on shift there. They are not supposed to take these. But thank goodness I know every single UPS driver around (and they all know me, anyway) and I'll call them, meet up with them, deliver my ammo packages, and usually give them a Sprite, Coke or cold drink for their troubles. UPS and their drivers have gone out of their way over and over for me, and I am very appreciative of them and what they offer for me. I've tried to use FedEx, and it's laughable, honestly.

Gotcha. That makes sense that the UPS stores and distribution centers have different policies. Well, I understand why, but it's a stretch to say that it "makes sense".

I agree that FedEx isn't a whole lot better and they are incredibly expensive. I use USPS whenever possible.

This is pretty funny to me.
In this post, you see me struggling to figure out what’s the best way of shipping my rifle. I finally ship it and all is good….Until today…..
I receive this email from CDI precision:
“Please let us know which shipping option you would like. All of the ship quotes below include $900 ship insurance and signature required.

These are the two rates we got If we keep your rifle boxed as it came in (in the case and in a box):
$53.39 Priority Mail and is 2-3 days ship time
$55.93 via UPS ground and is 4 days ship time

Or if we ship the rifle back in just the case and no box the rates are less:
$33.45 Priority Mail and is 2-3 days ship time
$43.22 UPs Ground and is 4 days ship time”

Don’t get me wrong…. It’s very nice of them to give me all the options…. It’s just funny that they give all these options again…..This time I just told them to go with the cheapest (unless they see any risks/issues)…..Or I don’t know, I might start getting a headache again