mailing primed cases

[IAM Rand]

I am going to be mailing some 40 S&W cases to another member here. They are primed but no powder or projectiles. I have been looking at USPS and UPS. Not sure I can use either one of them. I know that I have received powder through FEDex.

Who can I send this stuff through? It is about 40-50 cases with primers and another 49 rounds with used primers.

 

[rockquarry]

I am going to be mailing some 40 S&W cases to another member here. They are primed but no powder or projectiles. I have been looking at USPS and UPS. Not sure I can use either one of them. I know that I have received powder through FEDex.

Who can I send this stuff through? It is about 40-50 cases with primers and another 49 rounds with used primers.

Why not just knock out the live primers and mail it?

 

[laytonj1]

Post office is a hard no. UPS will take them as I just shipped a bunch of ammo through them. It is not considered hazmat when it's in primed cases. Has to go through a UPS hub (customer service center).
But, it hardly seems worth the cost for 100 cases.

Jim

 

[tlawler]

UPS is the way to go. They treat them like regular ammo, so they have to be in cardboard boxes with the tray or dividers or in plastic ammo boxes. They go by weight, so it won’t be that much. Unless they are unique or rare calibers, I agree with Jim. Not really worth it.

 

[Miracle Man]

Why not just knock out the live primers and mail it?

That's what I do with so small a quantity.

 

[DWalt]

By far the most efficient way to go is to deprime and mail the cases.

 

[rockquarry]

That's what I do with so small a quantity.

I misunderstood; I thought it was only about fifty cases that needed to be deprimed.

 

[505Gibbs]

I asked that question at my local UPS hub and the answer was that they required a hazmat sticker! This is very expensive if you don't have an agreement with UPS.
If you declare them as primed cases you are at risk IMO. Deprime them or ??
at your own risk.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For same strange reason primed cases and loaded ammo do NOT require Hazmat shipping while plain primers do. I Repeat, primed cases do not require Hazmat shipping, only an ORM-D sticker or written on the package. It is perfectly legal and proper.

Don't ask me why but primers in brass are alright, primers out of brass require Hazmat shipping and charges.

No reason at all to remove the primers from the cases.

 

[Tu_S]

For same strange reason primed cases and loaded ammo do NOT require Hazmat shipping while plain primers do. I Repeat, primed cases do not require Hazmat shipping, only an ORM-D sticker or written on the package. It is perfectly legal and proper.

Don't ask me why but primers in brass are alright, primers out of brass require Hazmat shipping and charges.

No reason at all to remove the primers from the cases.

I have not shipped anything recently, but didn't UPS change their rules for ammo in late August of this year?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have not shipped anything recently, but didn't UPS change their rules for ammo in late August of this year?

It's very possible and if so, I apologize for giving incorrect information.

Please check anything you read on the NET. Some bonehead might be giving wrong information!

 

[505Gibbs]

I called the main UPS 'help' number and the first person said that you can't ship primed brass without a hazmat but after I pushed bit he connected with the department that covers hazardous materials. That individuals response was that you do NOT need a hazmat. He quoted the regulation number but it was too fast and too long - I didn't ask him to repeat it.
So. . . if you declare the material who knows what you'll get in that time and place as to the legality.

 

[cmansguns]

New ammo labels for UPS and Fed-Ex

First a disclaimer. I have accounts with both UPS and Fed-Ex and have been told the same info by both. I use central hubs, not kiosks or local drop stations when shipping guns or ammo.

My disclaimer is that I have not shipped primers or cases, primed or unprimed so I cannot truthfully answer the OP's post, but I have shipped live ammo as recently as September 2022 and this shipment was across the country.

The NEW label sticker is now called Limited Quantity and it is the diamond with two black triangles. There is NO printed information as to what is in the package...it can be liquids, perfume, ammo, but there are NO identifiers of any kind.

The OLD blue and white ORM-D stickers is obsolete and will not be accepted by either Fed-Ex or UPS.

Other live ammo requirements are the same, i.e. boxes with separators, etc.

I apologize in advance if others have different information but this is the latest from my area and specifically with those 2 carriers mentioned.

Neither Fed-Ex or UPS asks me what is in the specific package. I was told by the Fed-Ex supervisor that the latest sticker is required and if it is a handgun, then I have to print the ASR (Adult Signature Required) label on my home printer and do NOT declare anything about the contents when presenting for shipment. To be able to print labels at home you do need an "account" with both Fed-Ex and UPS, but these are free to sign-up.

Above stuff all a hassle? YES...YES and YES, but the jist of it that I got (also from 2 supervisors) is that the burden of proof that you complied with the "law" (meaning local, State and Fed) is now ON YOU, not them.

Meaning all the carrier is doing is transporting a package from point A to point B and they have no idea if the contents are legal in accordance with all laws or not.

Again I apologize if anyone has different information, but that is how it works for me in this area at this time.

 

[rosewood]

Primed cases ships just like live ammo. You put the current ORM-D sticker and ship it. Easy peasy. If you check through your purchases, you may have a box with the sticker already on it, just reuse that. Even hair dye uses that same sticker.

Rosewood

 

[IAM Rand]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't have any 40 dies so I will have to see if I can rig something up but, I may run by a UPS hub and see what they tell me. If it costs 30-50 I may just try decapping somehow. Worst case is sticking them 1 at a time in my 40 and pulling the trigger.

 

[rosewood]

If it helps any, I have bought primed shotgun hulls over the years and there are no hazmat fees charged with my order. Check out Ballistic products.

Rosewood

 

[rosewood]

Found this on another forum.

Shipping primed brass is not a problem and legal with UPS and FedEx. With USPS it is a no go. About a year ago I checked all the references and they were still current.

You are being redirected...

After a ton of confusion, misinformation (on other blogs) and general assumptions regarding the shipment of primed brass, here are the particulars/facts and the regs that back it up. I have confirmed all of this with UPS and FedEx's hazmat shipping folks and they all confirmed.

FOR UPS AND FEDEX ONLY -

Cases, primed (up to and including 50 caliber) are regulated for shipment by ground only through 49CFR § 172.102 SP(special provision) 50 that states:
" Cases, cartridge, empty with primer which are made of metallic or plastic casings and meeting the classification criteria of Division 1.4 are not regulated for domestic transportation"
49CFR § 172.102 (page 312) - GovInfo

Primed cases meet the classification criteria of Division 1.4c UN0379 - however they are exempted and classified as NON-REGULATED (NOT ORM-D, NOT HAZ-MAT, NOT the new "Y" Limited Quantities classification that will replace ORM-D). Some manufacturers (as per the MSDS) classify their primed cases as UN0055, but the same DOT 1.4c classification applies, as does SP50.

Packaging for primed cases is regulated by 49CFR §173.62 - Packaging instruction #136, which specifies that the primed cases have to be in a bag or box, then packed in a UN 4G standard box - which is defined by 49 CFR §178.601 (g)(2). So - you can't just ship them to your buddy in a shoebox, but most of us out here have received boxes of reloading components from various vendors, and most/all of these shipping boxes meet this criteria. For more mind-bending regulatory details, refer to 178.601.
49CFR §173.62 - GovInfo
49 CFR §178.601 (g)(2) - GovInfo


There is no hazmat fee, extra paperwork, no sign-by-adult or other hoops to jump through - BUT - both UPS and FedEX advised me to clearly mark (with a sharpee) "non-regulated as per SP50" on the outside of the box to ensure that no in-transit problems occur..........because I guess their employees can be as confused as I have been on this subject and you don't want your box torn or ripped into.

As per both UPS and FedEx - You CANNOT take packages with primed cases to your local UPS/FedEx store or mom-and-pop drop off service. They must be taken to a UPS/FedEx corporate-run package hub that has walk-in/retail shipping services.

FOR US POSTAL SERVICE -

Prohibited. Period.
See page 160 at: http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52/pub52.pdf
***USPS Publication 52, Appendix A, "Cases, cartridge, empty with primer"***
They don't have to subscribe to all parts of 49CFR § 172.102's special provisions......because they are special I guess.

 

[ken158]

To add to the confusion that frequently comes up with this question - the ORM-D label was phased out 1/1/21 and the Limited Quantity label replaced it. Looks like a square with black triangles in top and bottom. And NO, primed cases are NOT hazmat.

 

[Sevens]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't have any 40 dies so I will have to see if I can rig something up but, I may run by a UPS hub and see what they tell me. If it costs 30-50 I may just try decapping somehow. Worst case is sticking them 1 at a time in my 40 and pulling the trigger.

If you have -ANY- dies for anything larger than .40cal, you can easily and safely deprime them.

The easy guess is ,45 sizer die... you use the .40cal shell holder and just send the case up in to the .45 ACP sizer die and it won't touch the case anywhere, it will simply push out the live primer.

If you have any reservations about this being "dangerous", I can certainly understand, simply take an old bath towel or beach towel and fold it over a number of times and cover the entire press with it while you slowly and surely move the press lever. You will find quickly that the resistance is almost nothing -- as is the risk.

With all that said! And with all the honesty I can muster, I am NOT trying to come off like a jerk... I think this a crazy operation for .40 S&W brass. Three+ decades of chasing brass at dozens of different ranges has taught me that .40cal brass is probably the second most plentiful/cheap/easy brass to find on planet Earth next to 9mm if we are talking about reloadable centerfire cartridge brass.

Who is needing one hundred .40 S&W pieces? I bet I have 5,000 of them within 20 feet of where I'm sitting.

If you are talking some seriously oddball brass, that's a different story for sure. But .40cal? There might be a tree at my range that grows this stuff.

 

[Marksman]

FYI my UPS refused to ship primed cases based on the fact they considered them a fire hazard. Regardless of ORM-D label they would not accept for shipment.