Shipping a handgun out of state?

I have some questions for those of you who have experience doing this sort of thing. I understand most of it but the small things I have no clue about.

So, my buyer wants it. Then what? I assume he sends me payment? What type of payment should I accept and what should I avoid?

After payment, does he give me his FFL info? Do I take that info to my FFL and let him contact the other FFL? Or do I contact the buyers FFL before I go to my FFL?

My work day usually starts around 5:30 am and often doesn't end until 6:30 or 7:00 pm. Sometimes I travel on Sunday and might be gone for fourteen straight days. I basically don't have time to screw around with figuring this out on my own.

For now, I've told the potential buyer I am not willing to ship it to him because I don't have time to deal with it. He has contacted me twice about it and he seems pretty serious about wanting it.

Thanks for any help.

Postal Money order, OR personal check, 5 day hold till clear. Along with payment should be a signed copy of the receiving FLL. Is there anyone else at home who can drop it off at the ffl?

Your FFL handles S&H& ins. You pay them transfer fees for doing it. If paperwork is in hand your FFL and the receiving FFL are the ones who handle everything.

I thought you could ship a firearm to an ffl yourself (you don't need to take it to an FFL on this end to ship it to the FFL on his end). Isn't that correct?

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Originally Posted by generalmeow

I thought you could ship a firearm to an ffl yourself (you don't need to take it to an FFL on this end to ship it to the FFL on his end). Isn't that correct?

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Yes and no. The receiving FFL must be willing to accept from an individual, some do, some don't. With hand guns i use FFL's, less hassle on my end.

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Originally Posted by jim

Yes and no. The receiving FFL must be willing to accept from an individual, some do, some don't. With hand guns i use FFL's, less hassle on my end.

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...and you as an individual (if you are not an FFL) cannot/should not use the US Postal Service as the carrier for shipping a handgun (or anything concealable on a person, like an SBR/SBS).

However, FFLs CAN use the USPS to ship/send to other FFLs/Mfgs (and a few other "exception" cases).

See the following:http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

You (a non-FFL) CAN use the USPS for shipping long guns (and a few other "exceptions") to FFLs (EX: manufacturers, gunsmiths, dealers, etc.).

UPS/FEDEX etc. CAN be used for an individual (non-FFL holder) to ship a handgun but there are some gotchas:

1) Officially most of them have a policy that requires NEXT or 2nd Day delivery, of which the cost may be significantly higher than expected.
Take this added expense into account if you, personally (and a non-FFL) are shipping it, rather than your local FFL doing this, as Jim suggests.
These are private policies established by the carrier, and not laws.

2) Many local UPS/Fedex are privately owned franchises and might deny you to the ability ship a firearms from their location. Call and ask first.
Be sure to speak to the manager, as the seasonal help may often be uninformed of details like this.
I've also had them deny me the ability to use their store as a "pickup" location for ammo, even though their website allowed me to select it.
Seems it's OK to deliver it to my house, but not to hold for pickup.

3) I have found a few stores that will waive the next/2 day policy and ship at a reasonable cost. Ask and be polite.
I feel that being polite and respectful is partially what allowed me to get the "yes" nod from the manager and save some $$$.

4) It is often cheaper (slightly) to use the online webpage (Fedex/Ups and USPS) for generating a shipping lable and providing payment rather than
doing it on-site. The manager at a franchised Fedex store told me he can set rates as he sees fit, but must accept a package (non-firearm) if a
Fedex shipping label is on it.

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Originally Posted by jim

Along with payment should be a signed copy of the receiving FLL.

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ink-signed copy rule went away in 2006 - receiving FFL can get a fax or email attachment

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Originally Posted by Circuits

ink-signed copy rule went away in 2006 - receiving FFL can get a fax or email attachment

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Thank you for the clarification. Shows how long ago i shipped a hand gun.

All of this is good info.

Just GET PAID first, this is the most important step, USPS money order is best in my opinion and cash it before you ship.

I've done this relatively recently.

USPS Money Order is the "gold standard" for accepting payment. Nothing else comes close (not Western Union, not Moneygram).

Assuming that his FLL will accept shipment from a private party then you can ship directly to the FFL. If his FFL will not accept shipment from a private party then you will need to go FFL-to-FFL. Any additional costs caused by this should be paid by the buyer IMHO.

If you ship direct to FFL then have the FFL fax/email you a copy of their license. Then put the license number into the ATF FFL eZ Check web page, which will verify that the license is still valid and you have the correct address.

It is illegal for you to ship via USPS. Use UPS next day air and ship from the actual UPS service counter (not the UPS store).

It all isn't really that big of a pain in the ass, but you might just want to use an FFL on your end so you don't have to deal with any of these hoops.