How do you ship C&R handguns?
- Thread starter Lavan
- Start date
UPS will ship any handgun, at a price. USPS (Post Office) regs follow:
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1198527
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#1198527
Lavan,
Is the handgun an "antique firearm" under federal law?
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000921----000-.html
An "antigue firearm" under federal law is not considered a "firearm" and may be mailed. Even this can get messy as the federal statute and the postal reg define "antique firearm" differently.
If not an "antique firearm", it may not be mailed by a private individual (there are some extremely limited exceptions in the
statute).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001715----000-.html
The bottom line is that the overwhelming majority of C&R handguns are not "antique firearms" as a matter of law and may not be mailed (it is a federal felony to do so). One quick example - a Makarov is C&R eligible but is not an "antique firearm." It cannot be mailed unless dealer/manufacturer FFL to dealer/manufacturer FFL.
Your best course is to find a local FFL dealer who will mail the handgun to another FFL dealer or manufacturer for you.
Mailing dealer to dealer will likely be cheaper than using FEDEX or UPS.
Is the handgun an "antique firearm" under federal law?
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000921----000-.html
An "antigue firearm" under federal law is not considered a "firearm" and may be mailed. Even this can get messy as the federal statute and the postal reg define "antique firearm" differently.
If not an "antique firearm", it may not be mailed by a private individual (there are some extremely limited exceptions in the
statute).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00001715----000-.html
The bottom line is that the overwhelming majority of C&R handguns are not "antique firearms" as a matter of law and may not be mailed (it is a federal felony to do so). One quick example - a Makarov is C&R eligible but is not an "antique firearm." It cannot be mailed unless dealer/manufacturer FFL to dealer/manufacturer FFL.
Your best course is to find a local FFL dealer who will mail the handgun to another FFL dealer or manufacturer for you.
Mailing dealer to dealer will likely be cheaper than using FEDEX or UPS.
Last edited:
troy_mclure
New member
my local dealer charges $20+shipping($12) to send a c&r hand gun to a c&r holder, which is 1/2 of what ups charges.
carguychris
New member
UPS and FedEx charges depend on where the package is going. They increase with distance to and remoteness of the final destination, and shipping is drastically higher to and from AK or HI.
That said, I would suggest that Troy_McClure may want to check out the UPS "Next Day Air Saver" service; the cost is generally 2/3 to 3/4 of normal Next Day Air, and the only difference is that they don't guarantee AM delivery.
FWIW that particular category of antique firearms- replicas that use ammo that's not commercially available- almost doesn't exist anymore. One downside of the Internet is that the "ordinary channels of commercial trade" are much broader than when the law was drafted. If a firearm is interesting enough for someone to make a replica, it's almost a certainty that somebody somewhere is offering special-order custom-loaded ammo for it, and you can find his or her name with a Google search.
dogtown tom
New member
Close........
USPS regulations do not use the term "FFL", but "licensed dealer" and "licensed manufacturer". Both (as well as LE in certain circumstances) can mail handguns through the USPS.
While it is true that anyone can ship a handgun UPS or FedEx, the receiver only needs to be an FFL if the firearm is being shipped interstate. Federal law allows residents of the same state to ship firearms to each other WITHOUT the need for an FFL. Federal law also permits you to ship a firearm interstate to yourself. (ex: you ship your rifle to your destination for a hunting trip)
*Note that FedEx will only deliver to licensees.
dogtown tom
New member
Well, yeah....but you said:
"Only an 01FFL can send or receive a handgun via USPS"
That clearly is not the case. There are three FFL types that are allowed to mail handguns via USPS: 01 Dealer, 02 Pawnbroker/Dealer and 07 Manufacturer.
Many "dealers" actually hold an 07FFL because it allows them to do everything an 01 can do PLUS engage in activities deemed as manufacturing.
troy_mclure
New member
ive shipped several pistols, the cheapest was next day air saver, at $61. the most was $79.
fedex was much more.