"Moving" guns to new home in another state

[wgsigs]

I have performed a quick search and did not find my exact situation so I thought I would start a new thread and ask.

My son and I have been bequeathed around 10 rifles, shotguns, and handguns by my mother-in-law in Nevada. We are flying out to settle her estate in a month. The question is how to get the firearms back to Texas legally.

I believe we can buy some gun cases and locks while we are out there and check them when we fly back. The airline says (in their policies) that we can do that.

I believe we can ship them back to ourselves via UPS or FedEx, but it has to be by expensive overnight or two-day or air (?) but we need to be back in Texas to receive them so timing might be an issue as we are flying back on a Sunday.

We are also having movers move a large chest and a few pieces of furniture to Texas. My brother-in-law said that the movers told him we could pack the guns in the locked chest and they would move it, and them. The mover said that he has done this several times before. Is what the mover is offering legal? Is it safe (from theft, relatively)? Has anyone done this before?

I am leaning towards checking them in with the airline, but good, pry-resistant cases, maybe 3, are not cheap, and then there is the checked luggage charges.

Which method have you used or would recommend?

BTW renting a car and driving them back is not an option as we have already paid "big bucks" for the return flights and both my son and I don't have two days to spare to do it. I am also not comfortable stopping at some random hotel and either leaving the guns in the car, or moving them into the room at night. Also, I am too old to drive straight through, even with the help of my son.

 

[nalioth]

I believe we can ship them back to ourselves via UPS or FedEx, but it has to be by expensive overnight or two-day or air (?)

Only the handguns must go overnight, and that is not the law, but shipper's policies. FYI Next Day Air Saver™ from UPS delivers in the afternoon at a considerable savings over the price of first-thing-in-the-morning Next Day Air. Don't bother with FedEx, because they pretty much only deal with licensed dealers (their choice, not the law).

You could ship your long guns via USPS Parcel Post or UPS Ground (with optional insurance) and take the handguns on the plane in your checked baggage.

DO NOT USE the "let the movers put it in the chest" option.

 

[MudPuppy]

I fly with firearms frequently. Get an approved hard side double rifle case and some locks. They must be unloaded (mags unloaded too, no just out of the gun).
You can put multiple firearms in one case, each case will count as one checked bag. It must remain within the specified weight limit or pay extra like any other checked bag.
If you must ship ammo, it needs to be in original packaging or containers specifically designed for transport.

Check the website of your airline for details.

I've shipped through a moving service as well, same rules applied for unloaded. They would not ship handguns or ammunition (I drove as well, so I brought my pistols and ammo in the trunk, locked separately, etc. eta: The mover marked the box of rifles "fishing poles" to deter theft along the way. I think if you're a member of the NRA their insurance would be useful in a case like this? Maybe?

I have no experience shipping through fedex or UPS.

Good luck, ask ahead, and be patient to follow the instructions of the staff at the airport if you go that route. (I've had staff where I've had to explain the regs and others that were snippety and wanted to drive your every move.)

Regards,

 

[CoRoMo]

I believe we can buy some gun cases and locks while we are out there and check them when we fly back. The airline says (in their policies) that we can do that.
....
Which method have you used or would recommend?

You are correct, and this is the method I would recommend.

 

[wgsigs]

DO NOT USE the "let the movers put it in the chest" option.

Why? Legality, or integrity (or lack there of) of the mover?
I was just getting ready to re-edit my post to add that I was leaning toward the mover option for the cost and convenience, if legal, when I saw your reply.

 

[mbogo]

You have several options.

You can ship the rifles and shotguns to yourselves via US Postal Service (check the Domestic Mail Manual on the usps.com site). I recommend using Registered Mail with insurance; every Postal Employee who touches the packages has to sign for them, so chain of custody is established. You cannot ship handguns via US Postal Service (only FFL 01 dealers/gunsmiths/manufacturers can do so).

If using a common carrier like UPS or FedEx, you must send handguns via overnight shipping (due to problems with theft by their own employees). You can ship long guns via 'regular' ground service. PLEASE note that neither of these carriers fully insures your packages for more than $500 regardless of any additional insurance coverage you might pay for (this is clearly stated in their tariffs). If you have a commercial account with them, they may cover for full replacement value.

You can fly back with the guns. Three TuffPak cases would hold all those guns (you might even be able to get them into two TuffPaks, depending on the mix of guns). Each of these costs ~$300 or so, but are extremely durable, have excellent locks, and are inconspicuous (they look like golf club cases). With two of you traveling together, you should not have to pay excessive baggage charges (if you fly with Southwest, there are no baggage charges).

If using a mover, make certain that their cargo insurance covers full replacement value of the firearms (many movers insure loss by the pound), and get a copy of their insurance certificate(s) to avoid heartache later.

You could also elect to drive to Nevada and back, thereby eliminating the headache of shipping the guns or flying with them.

Lastly, you could sell some or all of the guns to a Nevada gun store.

I hope this helps.

mbogo

 

[nalioth]

DO NOT USE the "let the movers put it in the chest" option.

Why? Legality, or integrity (or lack there of) of the mover?
I was just getting ready to re-edit my post to add that I was leaning toward the mover option for the cost and convenience, if legal, when I saw your reply.

Things get "lost in the warehouse" during moves.

If you pack the chest (and the movers have no idea what's in it), your odds of receiving it intact is a lot better than if the movers pack the guns in it for you.

 

[Black Butte]

Rent a car for the return trip, and drive back to Texas with the guns in your trunk and out of sight. There's a good chance that there will be other things you'll be wanting to take home as well.

 

[wishin]

Since driving seems to be out of the question and carrying them on the plane will be costly, I suggest shipping them to yourself by common carrier, fully insured and declared as firearms. As long as it's "piggyback" and not an exclusive truck, the cost will be much less than air.

 

[medalguy]

Sounds like your best and least expensive option will be to ship by USPS (mail) the long guns, and pack the handguns in a hard case and carry them back with you on the airline as checked baggage.

 

[NavyLCDR]

There are no legal concerns with letting the movers move them. The concern expressed by others is theft.

 

[wgsigs]

Thank you very much for the feedback so far. I am leaning toward checking the guns since I can use the cases in the future. However, if it is legal, then I might consider having the movers move them since I can load the trunk, which is very heavy duty, and lock it myself. My wife tells me that the movers will also put the trunk into a crate, making the trunk more secure.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Buy the Cases and fly them home with you.

 

[NavyLCDR]

It is perfectly legal for the movers to move them:
Page 178:
http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf

(B10) May a person who is relocating
out-of-State move firearms with
other household goods?

Yes. A person who lawfully possesses
a firearm may transport or
ship the firearm interstate when
changing his or her State of residence.

Certain NFA firearms must have
prior approval from the Bureau of ATF
before they may be moved interstate.
The person must notify the mover that
firearms are being transported. He or
she should also check State and local
laws where relocating to ensure that
movement of firearms into the new
State does not violate any State law
or local ordinance.

 

[MedWheeler]

Flying with guns is actually pretty easy. I just got back from a trip to ABQ (from where I live in Florida) to bury my father. He left behind two guns, both handguns, which I brought back with me. I also brought one with me for the trip, as NM recognizes both OC and Florida's CC license. The first check-in, in Florida for the trip out, had the US-Air gate attendant have me open the case and show her the empty chamber of my PF-9. Two loaded magazines were fully enclosed in pouches, and placed in the same hard-sided locked case as the pistol. This is acceptable per TSA requirements, and the airlines usually just go by them. On the back trip, I was not asked to open the cases (Continental Airlines, now a US-Air affiliate.) I simply declared them; the PF-9, with its magazines, was in the same small locked cash box it went out in, and the two revolvers picked up from the estate were in a locked briefcase. Also in the briefcase was a box of ammunition for the revolvers. Once declared, the piece of luggage containing these two containers was moved to first-in-line for x-ray, and everything was fine.

 

[wgsigs]

It is perfectly legal for the movers to move them:
Page 178:
http://www.atf.gov/publications/down...f-p-5300-4.pdf

(B10) May a person who is relocating
out-of-State move firearms with
other household goods?

Yes. A person who lawfully possesses
a firearm may transport or
ship the firearm interstate when
changing his or her State of residence.

Thanks for the post. While we are having a mover transport the chest, we are not actually changing residence. That's why I put Moving in quotes in the thread title. Does the law still apply? Is it still legal?

I think we will do both if we can. Check the more valuable (both monetarily and sentimentally) and pack the rest in the chest.

 

[oneounceload]

When I moved from NV to FL, I had the movers move my guns - they were packed by me and placed securely in a wardrobe box - there was a detailed list inside the box, and on the moving manifest. The box was secured - I taped and marked over the tap to be able to detect if the box had been tampered with. I added the proper insurance (over $25,000) and everything came through just fine. Too many folks are way too paranoid about things - properly list the items, take pics, and insure them - securely package them the same way you would her china..............

 

[NavyLCDR]

Thanks for the post. While we are having a mover transport the chest, we are not actually changing residence. That's why I put Moving in quotes in the thread title. Does the law still apply? Is it still legal?

I think we will do both if we can. Check the more valuable (both monetarily and sentimentally) and pack the rest in the chest.

Wherever you are going to, either temporary or permanently, you can either take your guns with you, or ship them via contract or common carrier. The movers are contract carriers. Assuming that it is legal for you to possess such guns according to the state laws in the state you are traveling or moving to.

 

[sig220mw]

If you have real concerns about the movers or shipping them. Then I would agree with Black Butte. Rent a car and put them in the trunk out of sight. This also gives you privacy. Something I would lean toward since it is no one else's business anyway.

As far as concerns about movers, I have those same concerns. The last time I moved I did it myself due to the fact that in past moves certain things that I valued seemed to "get lost". Other things were in less than ideal condition on arrival. The bottom line is when a claim was submitted to the movers they discounted the original price and used the excuse "well we have a relatively large turnover in our employees". Sure I got a discount but some things can't be replaced.