Hello All-

I realize keeping legal is ultimately an individual's responsibility, that being said:

I am the legal owner of a handgun that is in need of repair. Is it legal for me to ship FedEx or UPS directly to the manufacturer, or does it have to go FFL to the company? I know U.S Postal is a big no-no for non-FFL's with shipping firearms.
I live in Washington state if that helps on advice.

Thanks in advance for your replies

Contact the manufacturer, they will advise you on how they prefer you to ship. Plus they'll give you a return authorization number so they know it's coming.
When I had to send my sigma to S&W, they gave me the address and specific shipping instructions via Fedex and even paid for the shipping!

Don't know how other mans. handle it but if it is a Sig just contack C/S and they can tell you all you need to know and will probably e-mail you a UPS shipping label, that's how they did me when I sent my 229 in for the Sig Service Plan. Whatever they tell you will comply with all laws.

Yes, you can ship it to the manufacturer, or a gunsmith for that matter, without having to ship it through an FFL. I have done both, with no problems using both FedEx and UPS. Marvin is right though. S&W will give you a specific address so that would-be gun thieves are not alerted to the contents by the address you place on the package.


Bullseye

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Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

Best thing is, they ship it directly back to you.

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Sure you did

Has to be with UPS or Fedex, and according to their rules they have to be notified that it's a firearm being shipped, which makes it cost twice as much to send...

Last time I tried to send a rifle UPS they said they wouldn't pick up a firearm from my home. A local gun shop agreed to be the pick-up, drop-off point for me.

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Jon

UPS doesn't pick up rifles from individuals. They do, however, pick up machine parts.

Rifles and shotguns can be shipped for repair, by the owner, through the U.S Post Office. An FFL can ship a handgun to another FFL (like a manufacturer or gunsmith) through the post office. He has to run it through his books like a transfer or purchase, though. Depending on how much he charges, it may be cheaper to use him and the post office than UPS or FedEx. They both demand handguns be shipped next day air, which is pretty expensive.

I've sent handguns back to S&W and Springfield for warranty work this year and they both emailed me a FedEx shipping tag, 2-day from S&W and overnight from Springfield and they both returned the guns to me the same way.

That's just my experience with two brands, I understand that not all will cover the cost from you to them.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Any firearms can be shipped to a manufacturer or authorized FFL for repair and refinishing by an ordinary civilian. Common carriers like FedEx and UPS must be used, not the USPS.

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~~Mort semper tyrannus

I recently sent my XD.45 out for their recall and got it back. The company sent me a label. The problem is at least as happened to me is the people do not know the law and at first my shipment out was refused at a FedEx drop off point. I had paper work from the gun company and know the law and asked for the manager, after a couple of minutes of talk he took it but was not happy about it. Note I live in the people’s republic of NY and to some people gun owners (especially handguns) are lower than whale excrement) in their opinion.

After a while the gun came back and as I have heard of nasty tricks concerning disappearing handguns I told the driver to wait a second as I opened the box. He said a few words I could not understand and then said I DID NOT SEE YOU OPEN THAT BOX, I CANNOT DELIVER A HAND GUN TO any place other than a FFL. I told him no problem him, me and his company did nothing wrong/illegal. Doubt he believed me, but I had signed for it and no way was I giving that package back to him.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Sent an m22 for warranty repair to S&W and they emailed pre-paid shipping label, return shipping was free. Had to pay shipping to send out of warranty Model 10 for repair. They comped the return shipping.

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noli illegitimi carborundum

Call the company and ask for a return shipping label. Even it you have to pay them for the shipping it will be cheaper on their corporate contract rate than what you will pay the carrier direct. They then become the shipper not you. If it is lost in shipping you don't have to fight FedX/UPS you deal direct with the manufacturer and their corporate legal deals with the shipping company.

Please be aware....IIRC when the firearm is returned to you.. without using an FFL.. It can only be returned to the address it was originally shipped from.. If the mfg. has your firearm for 6-9 mos. and you move in the interim, you'll have to receive it thru an FFL.. I've had it happen to a customer of mine..
JIM.....................

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SWCA # L-1911