Shipping firearms to myself?

[Mtneer]

My Dad recently passed and left me his gun collection, roughly a half dozen handguns and a half dozen long guns. None are NFA and most are registered in the District of Columbia. Since they are legally mine and I'm not a prohibited person, can I ship them to myself or do they have to go to an FFL? Anything else I should know? I'll be selling some of them but sure as hell don't want to deal with that in DC.

[JohnnyEgo]

Too complicated for me to give you any advice, given the circumstances. I will say in my traveling days, I used to ship my rifles to myself at the hotels I would be living out of for months on end. It was easy. UPS ground.

Personally, to avoid most of these complexities, I'd have the executor ship them to your local FFL.

[FoxtArt]

That's mixing estate and firearm law. An estate requires a probate, an executor, etc to be proper, (executor then transfers property to decedents, sort of) and then you are out of state which is a problem. Colorado's UBC does not provide an exemption for transfers between an executor to a decedent, only from the deceased to the executor IIRC. DC of course requires registration and I wouldn't be surprised if there are few to no transfer exemptions, and certainly even less when you are dealing with interstate. DC knowledge would be applicable and I doubt many know it. Even then, person to person transfers in states where it is legal can only occur between residents of that state.

In this circumstance, I'd suggest shipping the handguns in bulk through a FFL there to your Colorado dealer (so they go first class USPS mail, cheaper), and personally ship the long guns to a FFL in Colorado using either UPS or Fedex, then pick them up under a 4473 once you are back in the state. It may be a slightly different story if you personally owned them, but you are in the process of inheriting them, and from a jurisdiction where they are registered, no less.

This is of course, based on current regulatory understanding and it is not legal advice.

ETA/TLDR:
1) Go to a FFL around DC and ship all the handguns out to your dealer in Colorado. It will save you money as opposed to shipping it yourself (Fedex and UPS make individuals do overnight air usually)

2) Ship the long guns out yourself, to your FFL in Colorado, by going to either the UPS hub or Fedex hub with them prepackaged in carboard boxes, no identifying marks on the outside that they are guns. They should ship via ground.

[O2HeN2]

An estate requires a probate, an executor, etc to be proper, (executor then transfers property to decedents, sort of)

Why, IMHO, everyone should have a trust (I'm not talking about an NFA trust here, I'm talking a general trust) instead of depending on a will/probate to take care of everything.

IANAL, but a trust is an entity that continues to exist beyond your death, facilitating the transfer of the items you owned smoothly, expeditiously and inexpensively to your heirs.

Another way to phrase it: Pay now (for a trust) or pay later (for probate). I suggest you pay now when you have control over the process.

O2

Ps. You can have very fine control over a trust. My parents had a trust. It specified that money could ONLY be distributed to the kids if it went directly into a trust, and the trust gave us all a reasonable amount up front, enough to form a trust. We did, got our distributions and their trust went away.

[eddiememphis]

Sounds like the easiest way is to take a road trip back east. Make sure everything is done correctly.

[Wulf202]

Iirc there are no dc ffl and the cops took it over and have made a mess of it. As of a couple of years ago at least

[Great-Kazoo]

Iirc there are no dc ffl and the cops took it over and have made a mess of it. As of a couple of years ago at least

Correct. As mentioned, before. Take a drive back east, bring back what ever you know is your's.

[Mtneer]

Yeah, I kinda figured a road trip might be in my future. FWIW, there is now an independent FFL in DC, a branch of a gun shop in Virginia.

[SideShow Bob]

Correct. As mentioned, before. Take a drive back east, bring back what ever you know is your's.

Rent a vehicle there with local tags,make sure it topped off with fuel, be low profile and obey any and all traffic laws, attract as little attention as possible, put everything in cases or covered & camouflage don?t stop until you are in 2A friendly territory.

[bradbn4]

if there is ammo - make sure it is stored in a different locked container.
Yep, I would try to make sure that I did not even have to stop for gas, never leave the car...
If I was hauling lets say a glock pistol, I would pull the slide off - and even put that in a different locked container.

not sure what the law is on trigger locks, etc -

[Eric P]

Other than DC, what states are you worried about transporting through? Illinois can be avoided with a southern route.

Is Virginia bad?

I see a route of DC to Virginia to Tennessee to Kentucky to Missouri to Kansas to Colorado.

You could get to west Virginia to limit mileage in Virginia without going to Maryland.

[Great-Kazoo]

if there is ammo - make sure it is stored in a different locked container.
Yep, I would try to make sure that I did not even have to stop for gas, never leave the car...
If I was hauling lets say a glock pistol, I would pull the slide off - and even put that in a different locked container.

not sure what the law is on trigger locks, etc -

A firearm, in a locked unit IS LEGAL in all 50 states for traveling. We we drive through N. Ca, the guns are in a locked ammo can. Ammo / mags in a separate can. Well that's what it looks like if stopped, hypothetically.

Lock em in secure transportation units. One could even go so far as to throw trigger locks on the guns, as well.


other than that, you're gtg.


OH yeah 1 more item NO I DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH OF MY VEHICLE, TROOPER.

[colorider]

Fly there, put all guns in approved cases with proper locks and fly them home with you. It?s actually pretty easy if flying is in your budget. . All info available on whatever airline you choose website. You may already own such a case.

[Bailey Guns]

From the ATF website:



6. May I lawfully ship a firearm to myself in a different State?

Any person may ship a firearm to himself or herself in the 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 “in the care of” the out-of-State resident. Upon reaching its destination, persons other than the owner must not open the package or take possession of the firearm.


That's what I'd do if you actually have possession of the firearms. Or, fly/drive there, get guns, fly/drive back as others have noted.

[Mtneer]

Fly there, put all guns in approved cases with proper locks and fly them home with you. It?s actually pretty easy if flying is in your budget. . All info available on whatever airline you choose website. You may already own such a case.

This is the direction I'm now leaning, even if I have to buy some cases.

The logistics of the drive are intimidating; didn't suck as much when I was young and dumb. It's 24 hours, give or take, and the halfway point is St. Louis. That's near the bottom of the list of places I'd want to spend the night with anything valuable, let alone guns. Leave guns in the vehicle, it gets stolen. Tote them inside, get reported as a terrorist. Detouring around shit holes adds many hours.

[Great-Kazoo]

This is the direction I'm now leaning, even if I have to buy some cases.

The logistics of the drive are intimidating; didn't suck as much when I was young and dumb. It's 24 hours, give or take, and the halfway point is St. Louis. That's near the bottom of the list of places I'd want to spend the night with anything valuable, let alone guns. Leave guns in the vehicle, it gets stolen. Tote them inside, get reported as a terrorist. Detouring around shit holes adds many hours.

Better get a quote how much they're going to charge you for over weight baggage.

[Delfuego]

I would take a boat trip, but that's me...

[VolksDragon]

Correct. As mentioned, before. Take a drive back east, bring back what ever you know is your's.

This is pretty much the only way to guarantee no hiccups. Fly one way, rent a car, bring 'em back.

[Wulf202]

This is the direction I'm now leaning, even if I have to buy some cases.

The logistics of the drive are intimidating; didn't suck as much when I was young and dumb. It's 24 hours, give or take, and the halfway point is St. Louis. That's near the bottom of the list of places I'd want to spend the night with anything valuable, let alone guns. Leave guns in the vehicle, it gets stolen. Tote them inside, get reported as a terrorist. Detouring around shit holes adds many hours.

Cut it into 3rds

[kidicarus13]

Cut it into 3rdsThen he is effectively doubling the chances of getting his vehicle or things stored in the vehicle stolen.

[SideShow Bob]

Then he is effectively doubling the chances of getting his vehicle or things stored in the vehicle stolen.

Rent a cargo van, get a Walmart sleeping bag & mattress pad Eat, sleep, wear adult diapers and only exit the vehicle to gas up just like that astronaut did??. I heard she made good time for that cross country trip.
Or he could get a buddy to go on a road trip to co-drive.

[JohnnyDrama]

Other than DC, what states are you worried about transporting through? Illinois can be avoided with a southern route.

Is Virginia bad?

I see a route of DC to Virginia to Tennessee to Kentucky to Missouri to Kansas to Colorado.

You could get to west Virginia to limit mileage in Virginia without going to Maryland.

This.

Y'all make it sound like the trip is a run through post-apocalyptic-Australian-Outback.

I would avoid air travel at the moment due to the unreliable nature of service these days. Having them shipped to myself would be my first choice. I heard it may be less expensive to rent a moving van than a car. That depends on where you're going though.

[Ah Pook]

I would take a boat trip, but that's me...

I love boat trips...but they never end well for me. [Wink]

I usually try to stay in less traveled areas. Not sure how many firearms we are talking about. I have never had a problem "discretely" bringing them into a motel room. Hit Wally World for some gym bags.

[Wulf202]

Then he is effectively doubling the chances of getting his vehicle or things stored in the vehicle stolen.

Nope. Skipping the crime ridden areas pretty much makes it a wash. I would sleep at a rest area before stopping in st Louis again. Also rural areas hotels care less about bringing in gun cases.


So to the task at hand, I suggest grey man. Living in apartments for decades has created some funny habits of mine. pistols and rifles that can be broken down and put in large luggage. Pack towels and blankets for packaging materials. A large cooler is great for ammo. Large double rifle cases fit inside snowboard bags. Tennis bags fit shorty's just fine.

The cooler gives you the excuse to use a luggage cart.

Colorado plates gives you a story about the snowboarding stuff. omit the contents as if its obvious.

[colorider]

Guitar branded stickers work awesome on a Pelican case ! Been to major Resort/casinos in Vegas using this method. No locks on the case while rolling through on the way to my room. Locks give a bad vibe to security and the desk dudes.
also helps to not look nervous, suspicious or like you are trying to get away with anything.

[Great-Kazoo]

Guitar branded stickers work awesome on a Pelican case ! Been to major Resort/casinos in Vegas using this method. No locks on the case while rolling through on the way to my room. Locks give a bad vibe to security and the desk dudes.
also helps to not look nervous, suspicious or like you are trying to get away with anything.

I've used a golf bag, complete with the club covers. Not even a second look.


Back the the OP's question. If it's say 3-4 guns, fly home with them. IF one was confident about an actual flight being on time, not cancelled. Like say sidetracked to O'Hare, due to weather, or covid.

If not, i'd have a rental already reserved, fly out, drive back. Pay the 1 way not returned to original pick up and call it good.

[Mtneer]

So here's how it sorted out. There is a great local shop in Maryland that does consignment and only takes a 15% cut; they got a half dozen of the funky stuff that I didn't want to deal with. I shipped a bunch of ammo via UPS Ground; well packaged and mixed in with other stuff over several boxes. Guy actually asked me "Is there lead in this box?" Nope just tools and books; okay.

Dad had a nice hard case that fit two long guns and a couple pistols. Flying back with that was fairly simple. I'll need to take the empty case back for the next visit to retrieve the last from the safe. Then I have to figure out how to sell the gun safe in the DC area.

So what fits in a hard case? Ruger Precision 22 and Ruger Precision 6mm Creedmor (scopes sent with ammo); guess I'm a long-range shooter now. An old cheap derringer with some family history. A Sig P229 Legion w/red dot...suhweeet gun. And as soon as I opened the soft case, my wife proclaimed "That's mine" when I showed her the 1968 Colt Python.

[MrPrena]

So here's how it sorted out. There is a great local shop in Maryland that does consignment and only takes a 15% cut; they got a half dozen of the funky stuff that I didn't want to deal with. I shipped a bunch of ammo via UPS Ground; well packaged and mixed in with other stuff over several boxes. Guy actually asked me "Is there lead in this box?" Nope just tools and books; okay.

Dad had a nice hard case that fit two long guns and a couple pistols. Flying back with that was fairly simple. I'll need to take the empty case back for the next visit to retrieve the last from the safe. Then I have to figure out how to sell the gun safe in the DC area.

So what fits in a hard case? Ruger Precision 22 and Ruger Precision 6mm Creedmor (scopes sent with ammo); guess I'm a long-range shooter now. An old cheap derringer with some family history. A Sig P229 Legion w/red dot...suhweeet gun. And as soon as I opened the soft case, my wife proclaimed "That's mine" when I showed her the 1968 Colt Python.


^ Very nice!