Seeking guidance on moving my collection

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piste

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I will be moving across country in a month or so for a new job and need to figure out how I'm going to move my collection. The facts: the move is from west coast to PA; I have about 50 longarms and handful of handguns; moving them myself is NOT an option and yes I am aware of risks of using a moving company. The long guns are inexpensive milsurps and I have a Sackup for each as well as the box I took each home in from the store. My new employer is paying for them move. I'm interested in hearing experiences and advice on moving my collection.

My options as I see them are: Option 1) pack as many will fit in my safe in Sackups and have the moving company move them. The downside is I believe they will be itemized along with household goods which would then reveal to the wife my many "extracurricular" purchases..can't have that happen. But maybe I can get the driver to itemize separately? Option 2: Make totally separate arrangements to have them moved but that would probably mean I would have to pay for moving them (not totally averse to that so long as it's not crazy money) and I don't have a clue about what companies to call to arrange that. Any advice on that? Does anyone have any experience with using a regular old moving company to move a large collection? Or are there outfits that specialize in moving collections that I should focus on?

For those who have gone through this...what requirements were imposed with respect to storage while moving? Were you required, or prohibited, from putting them in a safe? Were they otherwise required to be locked or secured? Ammo...Any things to know about using a third party like a moving company to move ammo? Thanks in advance for any and all comments and information. Obviously this must all be done in a legal, secure, and hopefully cost effective way.
 
Not really what I'm after...

Thanks for the reference to those posts. Actually I did not see any threads that pose the questions I have posed. So there may be recurring threads about moving ....Most of them are about whether or not to use a moving company followed by a litany of responses indicating that all movers are direct descendents of Charles Manson. I get the risks...but none of that is particularly helpful for my situation...though Insectguy did have one similar situation that was helpful. The information I am seeking would likely only come from those who have experience using a moving company to move a SIZABLE collection...which is a very very small percentage as most folks are lucky enough to be able to move themselves which I am not.

So my questions are posed above in my OP...and I'm definitely interested in how many did like Insectguy and stuffed all your long guns wrapped up and in a safe and had the movers take it without doing an inventory? Can anyone name moving companies that WON'T even move firearms? How about any that will? Are there any that SPECIALIZE in moving large collections. TIA.
 
Is renting a small u-haul trailer an option?

Otherwise I'd box them up separately and move them with the rest of your stuff. CMP and Century use "gun" boxes so they exist, not sure where to buy them. Uhaul.com sells a bunch of moving supplies, might find the right size there. Videotape or photograph what you have and speak to a manager at the moving company to see what happens if a rifle turns up missing. Remember: movers are about as careful as FedEx and UPS employees.
 
I agree on the U-Haul

Just be careful where you park it at night.

I don't have the number of long guns you do but I have moved them several times by putting them in the large wardrobe boxes, surrounding with clothes and letting the movers taken them with the rest of the stuff. My theory is that
thiefs won't bother opening boxes like that and even if they did the guns are really hidden inside the clothes.

You'd have to call each individual mover to see what their policy is. Some do, some don't.
 
Personally, I would find a way to at least take my favorites with me. I don't trust movers as far as I can throw them. Been there, done that.
 
Depending on travel time, cost etc...you can always overnight them to yourself @ the new location. Otherwise I'd make an inventory keep them in the safe and then box the safe in cardboard so it doesn't get scratched and then security wrap the packaging. This will allow you to see if teh safe has been compromised, willl protect your safe & guns too.

I tend not to want anyone to know about safes guns or other. I personally move them myself or with a close friends help.
 
carry them yourself.
or, stuff them safes and lock that s* down.

i personally know crooked movers. they overcharge, steal, and break things.
happens every day. but they will not "lose" an entire safe, nor will they try to break into it. they may however drop it out of spite so make sure that it will keep your guns safe.

kev
 
How much are you willing to pay?

One option for the long guns is to mail them to yourself. It costs about $9.00 per gun. The hand guns can be sent from an FFL to an FFL for about $25.00 per 3.
I work for an FFL and FFLs are allowed to send handguns regular mail. You can fit about 3 in a flat rate shipping box. On the PA end you would pick them up at the receiving FFL.
I know that the whole thing will cost some money but everything will be insured.
 
I would break the bunch up into a few lots. Bag them and crate them yourself. Pick up shipping stickers that state Fragile and Glass. Make the containers secure, but dont overdo it resulting in raising interest or make them appear to contain something important. Put it with kitchen or bedroom stuff. OR... Ship via FFL like loumarch sugested. Probably the safest route.
 
Moyers and Sons out of Clarksburg,Md. Moved my safe with the guns inside (more than one gun but less than 500) three times now. Very honest trustworthy family company. They'll move you across the country. Google them for the website.
 
I would buy or rent a trailer, or rent a truck to move the collection. Period. Doesn't matter if it is 10 guns or 1,000. You don't want anyone handling them except YOU.
 
Most van lines companies specifically state that they will not move firearms (or ammo, though that's usually more of a hazmat issue). Even if they were willing there's about a snowball's chance that I'd let them move my collection anyway. I've watched the guys they hire. Most are hardworking, but many also have obvious prison tattoos, or look like meth addicts.

If I were you, I'd take as many as I could (starting with the favorites/most valuable) when you are flown/drive to the new home state. If you have a pickup, even if its just a little Ranger or S-10 size you could take most if not all of them in that. If you don't have a truck, but your car can handle some kind of trailer then look into the cost of that. You might, however, find it cheaper or about the same to ship your guns than rent a trailer going cross-country. Whatever you can't take with you I would either ship by common carrier or sell before you move. Perhaps sell a couple/three to pay for the shipping of the remainder.
 
I have always purchased sufficient hard cases to transport my arms from one location to another -- including two trans-Atlantic trips.

If my cross-country trips were to be of more than one day's road travel, I was lucky enough to know of old friends along the route where I could secure my truck/trailer for the night. The single time this wasn't possible, I used the FFL-to-FFL technique but I only had about twenty long arms and a dozen handguns.

I trust no one with my hardware.
 
Drive From the Left Coast to PA

How are you moving your personal vehicles? I would back them in piles of clothes during the day, and move them into the hotel at night. It would take 3 days plus to make the drive at 900 miles a day along.

Once you get over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, there are no states - you would have to be careful of is to stay out of Illinois for stopping beyond gas and pit stops- that would be a problem, assuming that you can legally own a weapon under Federal law.

Do you have a CCW? Your permit could be good in some states along the way. Utah and Florida (both are not available in a month, as far as I know) would cover many. Check http://www.handgunlaw.us.
 
If you have or can get sufficient boxes, consider purchasing a JOB BOX tool box. They run from $300-$1500 depending on the size. The guns will have to be packed individually in sturdy cardboard boxes to protect them. I would also place them in a lubricated sack-up inside the box. Moving vans are not climate controlled. Then purchase GOOD quality padlocks for the boxes. The padlock pockets are recessed to protect the lock, but a cheap lock can still be pulled out. Then have the movers cart the job box from west to east. I would list the contents and check on insurance.
 
Your company is paying for the move? Leave them in their sleeves in the safe or safes.

Any get broken, stolen, or missing they are responsible same as for any other possessions. Paranoia will destroy ya!!!!!!!!!!!

I understand your feelings but get real, buck up there will be no problems.
 
Is your safe sufficiently secure that you could pack it full of as many guns and foam rubber as possible and have it itemized as just a safe, with your knowlege that the guns are securely locked inside?
 
Besides being bumped around, I don't see what the problem is, especially if its mostly milsurp. Wrap each gun in a blanket or towel, enough to prevent scratches and marring, and stuff the safe so nothing can rattle around if the safe is tipped. Lock it up and wait for it to get to you. A gunsafe isn't going to just disappear off the truck, and if it does, you've got the records/papers to take care of it.

Isn't that exactly what a safe is for, to prevent unauthorized access to your guns?
 
Use Atlas Van Lines. I've used them for moves from Canada to the US and across states. They have a defined policy for firearms moves. If you use a moving company, you MUST declare the firearms. Do not listen to anyone on the forum who tells you not to tell the company. That will get you in hot water legally. If you use a company other than Atlas, inquire about their policy. Purchase a high level of shipping insurance, also, make sure that your regular insurance covers the guns. Wrap the guns in towels or bubble wrap (the large office max type). Place them in something like a large rubbermaid tub. Put a "Fragile" sticker on it. You should be OK. Again, I recommend Atlas Van Lines.
 
Good luck. I do think you should check with moving companies you are considering. (you should be able to do that online) and find out policy.
Personally I might be tempted to remove(LABLE) the bolts and ship them seperat. IF anyone steals guns they will be (almost) useless. Depending on company/policy maybe you could stick the best ones in your safe (securly protected) and rest in other boxes.
BTW make dang sure you safe.... How do I put this? Most quality "security cabinets" have a glass relocking "do-hicky" My understanding is that if someone "Punchs" the combo/dial/tumblers this glass thing breaks and a spring powered relocker drops down (spring so they can't just tip safe over) and then its $$$ to get safe open. THe combo won't work. Often they advise to leave safe UNLOCKED when transported and severe jolts are possible. (that way if its dropped the part can be easily/cheaply replaced without paying locksmith (with expertise on cracking safes) to break into it.
If I may suggest go to www.glocktalk.com and look up rfb45colt He knows safes/how to transport them without rude surprise at other end.

Good luck.
 
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