carnaby
Member
I'm having an interesting discussion with one of my AR-15 parts sources who also does firearm refinishing. Here's what he has to say about sending individual parts via USPS (short version, no problem):
What's the consensus here? Sound good or sound bad?
Even though for BATF purposes, the serial number on the frame is the "tracking unit," that does not mean it's a firearm in function for shipping purposes (or for any other purposes.)
I'll give you an example that may illuminate the difference. I am not a licensed firearm manufacturer. I buy AR-15 uppers and lowers, and sell them as parts. The BATF knows (because I called to speak to them about it) that I sell both the upper and lower, and that it's possible for you to give me one order that has all the necessary components for a complete rifle, which you can assemble in under a minute.
If I were a manufacturer, I could sell a complete rifle as one line item. The downside is that I would have to pay 11% excise tax on each unit that I sold as a complete rifle. This why it's always cheaper to buy an upper and a lower separately. When I asked the BATF if I was okay with this, their reply was "you are selling parts, not rifles, so don't bother us with this."
In other words, even though the ATF tracks the lower receiver with a serial number, even THEY don't consider it to be a working gun. The track-able part is what they consider the gun for 4473 and tracking purposes, but not for all purposes.
The shippers (USPS, FedEx, UPS) have nothing at all to do with what ATF considers the "track-able part" (i.e. the handgun frame, receiver or AR-15 lower.) To them it is just another part. You can't take a frame or receiver and put a cartridge in and shoot anyone. That's all they care about. I make sure that what is in each box cannot under any circumstances be considered a gun. A handgun slide and barrel without a frame is a piece of plumbing, and a frame without a slide and barrel is a paperweight.
But, it's ultimately up to the shipper to do what he deems best, and safest.
What's the consensus here? Sound good or sound bad?