So how do you ship a gun?

Triton

Triton

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Aug 8, 2000
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Alright so suppose I buy my brother (who lives in California) a pistol for Christmas. (Or a rifle for that matter) How would I get it to him? Is there a reliable way to ship such things? I understand that you can't do this via USPS?
 
You can't mail the pistol to him but you could mail an unloaded shotgun or rifle. Go to http://pe.usps.gov/ and open the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) and look at section C024 (Section C is also labelled "Characteristics and Contents").
 
you can mail it to yourself if you are going to be visiting. That is legal.

Otherwise you need to ship to a firearms dealer.

And the thing is, I have heard that Fedex will only ship to a firearms dealer even though Federal law lets you ship to yourself. It's a quandary. But if you have a firearms dealer then you will not have a problem using Fedex.
 
I am preetty sure that you need to ship to either a dealer or someone with an FFL licencse. I number of these guys will do it for a fee, or if your brother is a good customer at some firearms store, they might do him a favor. Good luck.
 
The easiest way to do it is to give him a shotgun and mail it CA FFL in care of him with your name and address for a CA FFL to log into his bound book. Something that Brother would have to set up and pay for. With handguns, it's a good chance that it would be prohibited in CA. With rifles, if it is an Aussault Looking gun, it would be prohibited in CA. The same with magazines with a capacity greater 10 rounds. It's a ****** up place.
 
Take the thing apart and mail it in two or three separate boxes.

Now you are mailing machine parts, not a gun.
 
Gollnick said:
Take the thing apart and mail it in two or three separate boxes.

Now you are mailing machine parts, not a gun.
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anything with a serial number is considered a firearm under Federal law. So barrel, receiver, etc. are considered firearms even if shipped separately.
 
Drat! I was going to ask about shipping it in separate packages. Will they allow you to carry a pistol in checked luggage on a plane these days? Also are handguns actually illegal in California? I agree that it's a screwed up place.
 
Triton said:
Also are handguns actually illegal in California? I agree that it's a screwed up place.
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It's not quite that screwed up. :) But there are various laws like only buying one handgun per month, ten day waiting period for purchase, etc.
I *think* that firearms are still legal in checked luggage--ask the airline.
 
Now you are mailing machine parts, not a gun.
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And then you can go to prison for violating federal law.

The receiver with the serial number is a firearm (AR15 lower, 1911 frame), whether it has any parts in it or attached to it. A barrel and parts are not considered firearms (parts kits, T/C Contender barrels, shotgun barrels, etc).

You are allowed to ship to an FFL even if you do not have an FFL. The problem is that AFAIK neither Fedex or UPS will ship a firearm from an individual. UPS requires 2nd day Air or some other similarly costly shipping. Rifles and shotguns can be mailed, but not pistols.

Which leaves you shipping from FFL to FFL. Fees for the transfer alone have cost me $20-40.

As pointed out, California has it's own set of gun laws, and much of what is legal elsewhere is not legal there.
 
To take a gun in checked luggage, you need to call the specific airline and ask about any additional regulations. But basically, you need to have the gun in a clclosed (not locked) box within a piece of luggage (closed, not locked). You need to tell the person at the counter that you have an unloaded gun in there. It is best not to bring any ammo, but certainly none may be in the suitcase. they will make you sign a form that the gun is unloaded etc. You should also have a trigger lock on it. If it is a revolver, swing the cylinder out, and put either a padlock or cable lock through the frame so that the gun is inoperable.

You should then have no problem with the airlines.

However, a problem on the ground still can occur, "Carrying" a gun is ill defined, and even in states where possesion of a gun is ok, "carrying" may be a problem. that is why it is best to have no ammo ony you, and have the gun locked, and double, and triple locked. then you are only transporting. In some states, the state patrol will tell you that that is also illegal.

One mitigating factor is if you are on your way to an NRA-sposored shooting event (and have some event info to prove it).

Generally, if you are flying from Memphis to Birmingham, you will have few problems. New York to Boston could in theory, be problematical.

In upstate New York, it is (relatively) easy to get a gun license. However, that license is NOT valid in NYC. So if you fly out of LaGuardia or JFK, there could be problems.

Obviously, it all depends first and foremost on the state. I believe that CA has very restrictive gun laws. (What a surprise, Barbie Boxer and DiFei for senators.) Check specifics like the NRA website for details about the state law. Tread carefully here, if you violate these laws, it is usually a felony.
 
Bloody heck, so what you are telling me is that there is no way to mail a handgun from one part of the country to another, and that it's ugly hard to own a legal handgun in California anyway? What a screwed up situation. I would say I'd get him a nice knife but I suspect that the same stupidity would apply.
 
Triton said:
Drat! Also are handguns actually illegal in California? I agree that it's a screwed up place.
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It IS a screwed up place. Handguns are NOT illegal, well some of them aren't illegal. I don't know exactly how to find it but their is a california approved list of guns that meet certain requirments (drop test, magazine capacity etc.) This is for both long guns and hand guns. You will find that it is very strict, but there are quite a few nice guns you could still get him.

Probably a better way to find out whats legal would be to do some reading, or post a question over at www.thehighroad.org . Its a great site, alot like this only geared towards guns. They can give you exact information on shipping guns and what is legal in california.
I think you will find that the other guys are correct, you have to use Federal Express and ship to an FFL. If I remember right it costs about $30 for the shipping, and who knows what the FFL will require for a transfer, mainly depends on whether or not they consider him or you a good customer.

To my knowledge you are still allowed to take guns in checked luggage on airplanes also. There are some very strict guidelines you will want to read up on in terms of how to get the gun there and checked. I'm pretty sure you CANNOT just put it in your suitcase like normal checked luggage.

To be honest, with all these stupid laws and hoops to jump through, I think that provided your going to go out and see him, you take him to a gunshop out there, pick a gun, hand him the cash and have him buy it. That way he does all the paperwork, you know its a legal gun and you don't have any expense or hassle getting it to him.
 
raghorn said:
Maybe you should consider taking a looong road trip...
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Be careful about the laws on the roadtrips as well. If you are stopped for a traffic violation and searched--and they can do it-- you may be seriosly screwed. Again, depends on the state.

Your best option-- either the FFL, or the cash option suggested by Matt Shade.
Otherwise, get another gift. You will not run into the same probelm with a knife if it isn't an auto. At least I don't think so, but I never lived in CA.

Anyway--you think this is bad? We have to protet the children :rolleyes: .
 
I just hope that everyone who reads this and realizes for the first time how stupid the laws are, and how hard they make things on law abiding citizens.....they will remember it the next time they vote!
 
Gonna move this to Gadgets & Gear.
 
Good Evening All-

Technically speaking, mailing a firearm in multiple pieces as "machined metal construction parts" might not adhere to the letter of the law, but who is ripping open the sealed overnight boxes during that twenty-four hour period? They still are machined metal parts, after all.

I say reduce the hassle and send him the pistol in three boxes via three different overnight shipping companies. It is the poster's brother, so I would tend towards any solution that would eliminate difficulties and let him enjoy his Christmas gift. I've sent firearms to companies for recoating and repair and they have sent them back to me at my office with no problems at all. It seems that the government has successfully caused many citizens to feel very apprehensive with regard to firearms.

No flames intended, so no flames in return, please. Just trying to obtain a solution that keeps everyone happy.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
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