How would a C&R license ship a modern pistol to a gunsmith?

[Waldo]

I am in the process of having several pistols worked on. All by gunsmiths, no factories. I do not think any of them are 50 years old. I had my dealer ship one today. Shipping and transfer fee came to $70.00. So I am curious, would there be any advantage in me getting a C&R license and shipping them myself? Does the USPS allow C&R license holders to ship modern handguns? Thanks for any advice.

 

[raljr1]

Maybe have the gunsmith give you a shipping label and you could be able to use USPS Priority mails, which is way cheaper than the other methods.

USPS does not permit C&R users to ship by USPS as far as I know.

 

[Yaworski]

Does the USPS allow C&R license holders to ship modern handguns? Thanks for any advice.

Sadly no although according to my ATF guy, a C&R can receive them in the mail. The reasoning is that shipping a handgun by mail is allowable for a licensee if it is for business. We're not in business.

You need to find a cheaper FFL. Priority mail is only about $23 for across the country. My local guy charges $20 plus postage to ship a gun.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

A license is not required for you to ship the gun to a gunsmith, assuming he has an FFL. USPS will not ship handguns, it'll have to go via UPS or FedEx. Upon completion of the work, it can be returned directly to you. You need to have the gunsmith send you a copy of his license, then contact FedEx and/or UPS for details on their requirements.

 

[ACORN]

A license is not required for you to ship the gun to a gunsmith, assuming he has an FFL. USPS will not ship handguns, it'll have to go via UPS or FedEx. Upon completion of the work, it can be returned directly to you. You need to have the gunsmith send you a copy of his license, then contact FedEx and/or UPS for details on their requirements.

I believe FedEx and UPS have changed their company policies and won’t allow a private individual to ship a firearm to an FFL. I think it has to go FFL to FFL.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

I believe FedEx and UPS have changed their company policies and won’t allow a private individual to ship a firearm to an FFL. I think it has to go FFL to FFL.

You are correct, sir. I checked and my info was outdated. Legally, they can do it, they just won't anymore.

 

[Yaworski]

I believe FedEx and UPS have changed their company policies and won’t allow a private individual to ship a firearm to an FFL. I think it has to go FFL to FFL.

I've never been asked for documentation when shipping a gun. What is the penalty for lying to UPS?

 

[Yaworski]

When I was sending a gun back to both S&W and PSA, they sent me shipping label. Ask the 'smith if he'll send you a label (at your expense), that way he's shipping it to himself.

 

[OutAtTheEdge]

I've never been asked for documentation when shipping a gun. What is the penalty for lying to UPS?

It's not the risk of lying to UPS per se, except fed regs stipulate that the carrier must be notified that the package contains a firearm, so that's the risk you'd be taking.

 

[Muley Gil]

I've never been asked for documentation when shipping a gun. What is the penalty for lying to UPS?

If the firearm gets lost during the shipping, you probably won't get paid.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

No.

I'd leave it there but the Forum requires a longer answer.

Still..........no.

 

[alwslate]

This question comes up over and over. Has anyone ever been asked what was in a Flat Rate Priority Mail box that costs a little over $20?

 

[Yaworski]

This question comes up over and over. Has anyone ever been asked what was in a Flat Rate Priority Mail box that costs a little over $20?

Well, if something goes awry, the box rips open, they check their records, and find that you didn't declare a handgun, you could be subject to prosecution.

 

[alwslate]

Well, if something goes awry, the box rips open, they check their records, and find that you didn't declare a handgun, you could be subject to prosecution.

Yeah, what if, what if, what if? What if a piece of cloud breaks off and hits me in the head when I go outside and kills me? Flat rate box with lots of strong clear packing tape. How many actual experiences?

 

[Nick B]

This question comes up over and over. Has anyone ever been asked what was in a Flat Rate Priority Mail box that costs a little over $20?

Yes the counter person can ask you to open the box for inspection. And yes you can refuse to open it but then they will refuse to accept it .

 

[NewLiberty]

Yeah, what if, what if, what if? What if a piece of cloud breaks off and hits me in the head when I go outside and kills me? Flat rate box with lots of strong clear packing tape. How many actual experiences?

I'm an FFL, I ship a lot of pistols in flat rate boxes. Doing so as a non-FFL is a bad idea, illegal, and in no way worth the $30-50 saved by doing so.

I've had to open a couple USPS investigations when shipments had issues. If you have an issue with a shipment, they may ask what the contents are. The lost shipment will get much more attention if it is a firearm.

When you ship a package, you are affirming that you are abiding by all their regulations, either when you drop it off, or create the shipping label.

USPS is also open about the fact that some packages (no way to know which ones) get x-rayed while going through their facilities.

The USPS tracks and photographs every piece of mail that comes into their system including things like who shipped it and where it is going, that's how you can get a daily email previewing all the mail coming to your address.

 

[deadin]

How about a FFL03 (C&R) mailing a C&R qualified handgun to a FFL01?

 

[sbrmike]

I have had a C&R FFL for a lot of years. I still have the last copy of paper regs that they sent out. I am not 100% positive, but think it is actually forbidden for a C&R licensee to mail a C&R handgun. The regs are not that clear. Many times they use Dealer here and Licensee there.

It has been a few years since I researched it but do believe it is illegal for a C&R holder to "Mail" (USPS) a C&R handgun.

As far as modern, non C&R firearms go your C&R means nothing. You are under the same regs as a non-licensee.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

How about a FFL03 (C&R) mailing a C&R qualified handgun to a FFL01?

Since the FFL1 can accept anything that his FFL1 covers and it covers antiques this is not even close to an issue, it's a total non-event.

Mailing a firearm without declaring it violates postal regulations. I'm not saying it cannot be done but you risk prosecution and fines, loss of the gun, etc.

 

[Yaworski]

It has been a few years since I researched it but do believe it is illegal for a C&R holder to "Mail" (USPS) a C&R handgun.

That's what I was told by my ATF inspector. C&Rs aren't in "business" and mailing is for "business shipments." This was about 20 years ago and he said that ATF was trying to convince the USPS to allow C&Rs to mail handguns but USPS was standing pat on the "business" stipulation. Of course that was in friendlier ATF times.