[Big Bore]

My dealer just told me that there is no need to pay the extortion that UPS and Fed-Ex charges for shipping firearms, even handguns, if being shipped between dealers. Use the US Postal Service. According to the USPS web site:

Handguns may be mailed by a licensed manufacturer or dealer of firearms, an authorized agent of federal government. Although unloaded rifles and shotguns not precluded are mailable, mailers must comply with the Gun Control Act of 1968, Public Law 90-618, 18 USC 921, et seq., and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, 26 CFR 178, as well as state and local laws. Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any shipment of rifles or shotguns. Contact the nearest office of the Bureau of ATF for further advice.

My dealer acted like this is a recent change, all I know is no more paying $25-$40 for overnight shipping. Looks like buying firearms over the net just got a little cheaper. When you go to buy your next firearm from some DEALER across the country, instead of paying the higher UPS and Fed-Ex rates, insist he ship it USPS, Priority Mail and insured of course.

 

[kciH]

Big Bore,
as far as I've been told by my dealer, there is no problem with dealer to dealer through USPS. That said, I care little for the post office or it's efficiency. The USPS Priority Mail, with the insurance rate they charge, is of relativley small saving over UPS/FEDEX next day as a result of the exorbitant rate for insurance. If I send a firearms for gunsmithing or repair, I just send it UPS Ground and insure it for replacement value. When you ship on account there is no questioning as to what's in the box.

 

[Big Bore]

I don't know the rates, but my dealer said the change is saving him a ton of money on shipping. The way I understand it though, if not an FFL dealer or SOT, and individual cannot use the USPS for handguns. Since I have to have my guns shipped to an FFL anyway when I buy, I will give the USPS a try next time and see what the difference is. The last handgun I bought and shipped through UPS was $29, S&I. It may not be as big a deal then as my dealer let on to me it was. I guess to him a $2 saving per gun is a ton of money since he is the third largest police supplier in the nation, but for one like me who only buys one or two guns a year out of my locality the saving may not be worth the bother since the UPS distributing center is only a mile from my home. Oh well, so goes the war...

 

[kciH]

Big Bore,
I did a comparison of the USPS and UPS, the difference was about $9 between the two, so it was larger than I had anticipated. $17 USPS, $26 UPS for 5 lbs insured for $500 in a box about the size a handgun would be shipped in to and from the same zip codes. With a purchase price of $500, about normal for many handguns, I'd still go with the UPS. I've had packages from the USPS go missing and NEVER show up, not to mention mail on many occasions. If you add on for the services that UPS/FEDEX provide as part of the normal fee, the USPS would be much closer. I can see where this difference could save a dealer a lot of money, but I'm partial to non-government entities when it comes to any sort of performance and accountability that can be relied upon daily.

 

[IDShooter]

The cost for me to ship a Ruger revolver from Ideeho to the Ruger factory was $47 plus some change. I was ticked off to say the least! This was two years ago now, I have no idea what it would be today.

IDShooter

 

[kciH]

IDshooter,
Did you take the package to Mailboxes Etc, or some other house of shipping rape? With UPS it is MUCH cheaper to drop it at a UPS location, or drop it at a pickup site with your own account. It cost's nothing to have a UPS account, except for the actual shipping, and allows you to print your labels at home ,on-line, with your standard printer.

 

[IDShooter]

kicH,
I took it directly to the UPS facility down in Couer d'Alene.

IDShooter

 

[kciH]

Ouch!

 

[twillis]

When shipping handguns through UPS, you can not ship from one of their "vendors". UPS requires you to go to one of their customer service counters. The rules are different if you are a UPS shipper.

 

[Old Jim]

You know, of course, that all USPS packages are now transported by FedX.