I've had a strong itch for a smallbore flintlock lately.

I've been shooting percussion muzzleloaders since my dad built a Hawkin kit from Sears about 45 years ago.

I found one for sale in Tennessee. Funds were transferred. The seller was skittish about shipping to CA, so I sent him my local FFL info. When the seller went to ship, UPS refused. He went to his local FFL and they do not ship to California. The seller has decided he will only do a local sale now and is returning my money.

My frustration is not with the seller. It is with the whole situation. UPS has recently changed or at least changed how they apply their policies of shipping anything firearms related.

In case you are wondering, shipping a flintlock, even to CA does NOT require any special handling or an FFL.

Edited to add:

USPS seems to remain the way to ship black powder arms. I tried to explain this to the seller, but he was done with the idea of shipping.

How far is Ridgecrest from Carson City?


I had problems getting a Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine, made in 1874, shipped to me when I lived in California. The then California Attorney General made up some fantasy laws to keep it from being shipped to California. "Weapons of war of any age are illegal to come into California." No such law exists. I had the carbine shipped to my friend in Carson City, and I picked it up from him. If Ridgecrest isn't too far from Carson City, have the rifle shipped to me and then come over and get it from me.

This was the sellers first attempt at shipping anything. I tried getting him to ship to my FIL, but he said he is going to do local sale only now.

I really appreciate the offer.

This whole shipping thing is getting ridiculous. Federal gov. wants to dictate everything, states cry out, and mail carriers are caught in the middle while the true victim is the People!!

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Jorge

It's called Gun Control ... under the present leaders ... it's just going to get worse .
There will be a time when shipping to any state will be illegal ... if we let this bunch continue to run the show .

A Flintlock ... Come on Man ... it's just a black powder Flintlock !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

But in 1776 it was an assault rifle.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I haven't seen any black powder since the madness started.

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No baby we aint

Chubb103 posted, "The seller has decided he will only do a local sale now and is returning my money."

I don't see the problem. You're getting your money back and the seller is doing what he chooses with his flintlock. Everyone wins. Find another one and buy it or continue crying about shipping issues over which you have no control.

Powder Inc. has it on-line. It looks like a minimum 5lb order.

The LGS down the street just got 2f and 3f in as well as CCI percussion caps. Prices were high, but I didn't have to pay HAZMAT and shipping.

I bought some 3F because it was there, and I was still expecting my purchase to ship. I already had Pyrodex, but flintlocks won't run it.

I agree it is very frustrating. I shipped som ammo with UPS, the counter at first said I couldn’t. I guess it is time to vote with my feet and select anyone other than UPS when I have a choice of shippers. Maybe FEXEX will step up, I hear they are in dire straits.

Just part of the master plan to render guns useless because they can't be fixed or shipped to get repaired. It ain't gonna get easier- that's fur sure!

Same thing with ammo shipping!

Self sufficiency seems to be the solution.

The guys I started shooting black powder cartridges buy it by the keg, and split it up. Find a organization of muzzle loader or black powder cartridge, or cowboy action shooters and you will find a source of black powder.

Then there is this method
Make Black Powder - High Quality - With 10 Pound Chemical Kit — Skylighter, Inc.

Actually in 1776 the "Assault Rifle" was a smoothbore, actual Rifles were too slow to load and too sensitive to powder fouling to qualify as a Military Arm. Yeah, our side did use Rifles to a limited extent but they were mainly used by local Militia's and were used for sniping at British Officers.

The OP never said whether it was rifled, but I see the joke police have arrived.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

This isn't a federal government problem, it's a California problem. Businesses with a presence in CA cannot ship something they shouldn't to that state for fear of punitive sanctions. Yes, I know this only applies to CA, but the cost of training the staff to do it different ways for different states and still having the risk it will go wrong means that the simplest, and cheapest fix is to say no everywhere.

The only fixes I see are:-

1) Somebody with a LOT of money brings a lawsuit against CA for interfering with interstate commerce

2) The common carries break up into the CA, MA, NY, Cook County LLC and the "everywhere else" LLC.

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Release the Kraken

Yes and no on the CA issue.

The FFL wouldn't ship because it was CA.

UPS is trying to go full stop on anything gun related. Their refusal had nothing to do with CA.

Yes, UPS has gone full bore on this because multiple states, including CA have brought in all kinds of regs regarding the shipping of firearms, both in and out.

While there may be an anti-gun sentiment in the UPS, the amount of different rules in different states is enough to make most businesses say, "We're done dealing with this nonsense, it ain't worth it". That's especially true today when they have more work than they can deal with with people ordering everything online. In terms of profit in the shortest for the least amount of hassle, dropping guns is the way to go. That's business.

Until multiple states have their attorneys general band together and take CA, MA, NY and other to court on our behalf, this is creeping death will continue. Now, the other alternative is that ALL the states are told that the rules regarding shipping firearms will be regulated at the federal level under preemption precedents. I'm sure we can all see the dangers of that.

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Release the Kraken

If I really wanted the rifle a road trip to Tenn. would be the answer.

Heck Yeah ... I've done "Road Trips" with sightseeing and buying on the agenda more than a few times ...
Nice way to see the Country and get what you want !
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

I'm in Ca. and I don't think it has anything to do with Ca. It's new UPS rules.... not wanting to ship from someone that is not a licensed dealer plus a firearm that might not have a serial number. Could also be the individual UPS outlet not wanting to take any chances... so they say no way to anything having to do with any firearms.
I have shipped firearm via UPS to FFl in Texas.... no problem, but it was 5 years ago.I just followed all the protocol and they never looked twice at the box.
BTW ... I like Minden Nevada! If I remember there was a really good gunshop there..... I was so sad I only had CA ID....

I ran into a similar problem when I bought my heavy dragoon horse pistol, a reproduction of an 1750s era flintlock. Seller was originally going to mail it but told his local PO that it was a hand gun. They refused flat out to handle it.
We managed a FTF to complete the transaction and I took along paperwork to show he could have sent it via USPS.
Personally, if it were me, I would have just boxed it up and sent it without telling the PO what it was.

John

Hmmm, I'll be in Fallon next week. I could drive through there on the way home.