Shipping guns...

[Sinixstar]

So, here's the situation.
I have a few guns stored at a relative's house out of state. If I wanted to have a few of those guns sent to me, does it have to go through an FFL?
We're not talking about anything exotic or highly regulated. A .22LR, a .50 muzzleloader, and a 12ga pump. Would be shipped from Indiana to Nevada.

The cautious side of me says - send it through an FFL regardless of what the law says. Better to be overly careful and have all your ducks in a row in case somebody decides to try to make a problem out of it.
The practical side of me says, it's going to be expensive enough to ship as it is, if I have to pay for FFL Transfers for each on top of that - i might as well just go buy a new gun.

Thoughts?

 

[fireman 9731]

It cost me $97 to ship one rifle from myself in colorado, to myself in Kentucky through regular postage. The people at the post office said no at first, once I informed them of the laws and regs they loosened up some but still didn't like it one bit... It was a hassle to say the least.... not to mention lots of worry...

 

[Sinixstar]

It cost me $97 to ship one rifle from myself in colorado

YIKES. I didn't think it would be THAT much. I was thinking it was going to be like, $20-$30 each.

I think that alone tells me they can stay there until I have a chance to go there and bring 'em back myself somehow.

 

[everallm]

Federal law says you can ship the long arms to yourself so long as there is no state restrictions at either end.

There is no necessity for FFL transfer assuming no strange state law.

You can ship them USPS

Only the owner (you) can open and take possession of them at the far end

From the ATF website

(B9) May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? [Back]

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in care of another person in the State where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner. Persons other than the owner should not open the package and take possession of the firearm.

It does not say YOU should post them although it is implied

 

[uvarmint]

Shipping

If they are and have been your guns, you shouldn't need an FFL. Like if you used to live there and never brought them with you, or you let your cousin borrow them and he drove them back to his state. Now if your cousin always owned them and just recently gave them to you, the ice get's a little thinner. You can ship your own gun to yourself across state lines. That having been said, USPS won't allow an individual to mail a handgun anywhere. That's not a Federal Firearms law just a Post Office rule. UPS has the same rules. I think FedEx will still allow an overnight shipment, I don't know if they'll deliver it to an individual.

 

[fireman 9731]

The 97 dollars included insurance ($1200) overnight shipping (that took 4 days) and delivery confirmation with signature on receipt. .... not to mention that my gun case was damaged during shipment, and insurance only covers the contents, not the shipping container

 

[Sinixstar]

f they are and have been your guns, you shouldn't need an FFL. Like if you used to live there and never brought them with you, or you let your cousin borrow them and he drove them back to his state. Now if your cousin always owned them and just recently gave them to you, the ice get's a little thinner. You can ship your own gun to yourself across state lines. That having been said, USPS won't allow an individual to mail a handgun anywhere. That's not a Federal Firearms law just a Post Office rule. UPS has the same rules. I think FedEx will still allow an overnight shipment, I don't know if they'll deliver it to an individual.

Na, they're mine.
They were left at my father's house when I started criss-crossing the country as a young'in. Didn't want to be hassled with moving guns cross state lines on a regular basis (certainly not when those states included NY, NJ, and MA!). Now a little more permanently settled in a rather gun-friendly state - would like to get 'em back...

 

[NavyLCDR]

That having been said, USPS won't allow an individual to mail a handgun anywhere. That's not a Federal Firearms law just a Post Office rule.

Post Office rules happen to be Federal regulations, a private party mailing a handgun via USPS would be prosecuted as a Federal felony.

For the purpose of shipping and transfer, etc., the .50 cal muzzleloader is NOT considered a firearm at all (unless by state law), and that can be sent from anyone to anyone by whatever means.

The two rifles -- technically only YOU can ship them to yourself, c/o another person at the receiving end, not the sending end, that's if you want to apply the "sending out of state for sporting purposes" rule. Actual interstate shipment is kind of a grey area, in this case, because ownership of the guns is not being changed, only possession.

With all the hassles and considering it is a .22 rifle and a 12 ga, personally, I would just wait for a different means of transportation other then shipping.

Edit: I know a shotgun is not a rifle...