Firearms Shipping Questions

[theGinsue]

I have a coworker who has 12 firearms (all rifles and shotguns - no handguns) at his fathers house in Vermont. He wants his dad to ship them to him (via UPS or FedEx) here in CO.

The two questions I have about this are:
(1) Does he need to have them shipped to an FFL, or can they be shipped directly to him at his home?
(2) If an FFL is required for the "transfer", is there someone here in the Springs (from this site) who does these transfers, and, if so, what would you charge for performing the transfer?

[Daniel_187]

I have shipped a few rifles from back east to here and I did it through FedEx with no problem just make sure he gets them issured it only a couple extra bucks. and shipping them 3 day would be better then ground, yes its more $$ but they are not on the truck as long with a less likely chance of something happening to them

[BigBear]

And try to pack 'em in an unidentifiable package. You have to declare the contents, but don't put any marking on the outside of the box... Firearms have a nasty way of dissapearing during transit with DHL, FedEx, USPS, UPS, et al.

[TFOGGER]

From a legal standpoint, if his dad ships them directly to him across state lines, it is illegal. However, he can ship them directly from himself to himself without the assistance of an FFL dealer. Rifles and shotguns can be mailed via USPS registered mail, or shipped my common carrier (FedEx), but the shipper and the recipient MUST be the same person. Last I heard, UPS would only accept handguns, and they had to be shipped via Next Day Air only.

[Bailey Guns]

Answer to 1st question is "Yes". If dad ships the firearms they must be shipped to an FFL. Unless he can somehow ship them to himself. From the ATF website:

Q: May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity.
A: 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.

Can't answer the second question since I'm not familiar with Springs dealers.

[Great-Kazoo]

From a legal standpoint, if his dad ships them directly to him across state lines, it is illegal. However, he can ship them directly from himself to himself without the assistance of an FFL dealer. Rifles and shotguns can be mailed via USPS registered mail, or shipped my common carrier (FedEx), but the shipper and the recipient MUST be the same person. Last I heard, UPS would only accept handguns, and they had to be shipped via Next Day Air only.

yes as mentioned above. However UPS does accept long guns.

[sniper7]

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#a4

go down to unlicensed persons. this is straight from the ATF.

this website is actually really good at answering a lot of the questions out there.

[sniper7]

so from that, your friend needs to ship them to himself. his dad can accept them, but not open them and your friend needs to be named as the sender and receiver as well as the one to open the package for it to be legal. (from what I read on the ATF site)

[Irving]

The issue, I think, is that the friend is here, and the dad has the guns back east. So the dad would have to be sending the guns as the friend. Probably cheaper to go through an FFL than to fly out there just to write out an address.

[xjtwo]

Couldn't you just send self addressed label/s to have them shipped back to yourself?

Or like others said go thru a FFL, I think Circuits or Aloharover can take care of your friend but you might want to double check to be sure.

[pickenup]

Rifles and shotguns can be mailed via USPS registered mail
Does not have to be "registered mail" can go regular mail.
I would insure the package though.

[theGinsue]

Couldn't you just send self addressed label/s to have them shipped back to yourself?

Or like others said go thru a FFL, I think Circuits or Aloharover can take care of your friend but you might want to double check to be sure.

He spoke with UPS and they told him the sender must be the receiver as well and must sign at both ends for the packages [wouldn't accept an "in care of" pickup by the son]. UPS says they will only do Overnight Air for self-to-self firearms shipments and they must be picked up at the UPS office, not delivered. Of course, there are different rules if they are shipped to an FFL.

My friend says he is just going to have them sent to a local FFL, so if Pete (aloharover) or Circuits (sorry, don't know your first name) read this, please either post here or PM me with your fees and if you'd be willing to do this sort of transfer and with any otehr info you think is pertanent.

[Ranger353]

But wait a minute, if the guy in Colorado already owns the guns, i.e. is the registered owner, then there is no requirement to have them re-registered to himself. The Dad is not selling them to the Son, the Son is only getting his property shipped to himself.

I would prepay the UPS here and send the shipping labels back east, package them for shipment, affix the prepaid label and drop them off at UPS, or better yet have them come and pick them up.

[sniper7]

But wait a minute, if the guy in Colorado already owns the guns, i.e. is the registered owner, then there is no requirement to have them re-registered to himself. The Dad is not selling them to the Son, the Son is only getting his property shipped to himself.

I would prepay the UPS here and send the shipping labels back east, package them for shipment, affix the prepaid label and drop them off at UPS, or better yet have them come and pick them up.


that might actually work. then he would be shipping them to himself.
Depending on what the cost is for the FFL to re-do a transfer on the firearms, you could even call the local ATF office and ask them about it, if they approve it, get it in writing and then have them shipped.