shipping a gun

[coydog]

If i sold a gun would i have to take it to a dealer to ship it for me or how does that work. I have bought guns before and i know they have to be shipped to a dealer but can i just ship it myself to the buyers dealer. thanks

[Chas.]

Short answer is yes, you can ship to an FFL dealer, as far as BATFE is concerned. To better answer your question - is it a long gun or a handgun? Some of your shipping options are different. Also, there may be state laws that come into play where you live that are more restrictive than federal law.

[J Miller]

You can legally ship via UPS or Fed-EX a rifle or handgun to an FFL in another state.
I believe you can also mail rifles via USPS, but not hand guns.

The crux is, although it's legal for you to ship without an FFL, it is NOT mandatory for the receiving FFL to accept from a private citizen. Some (all I've talked to in central IL for example) simply will not accept from anyone but another FFL. Paranoid azhats.

I know there are others here that can fill in the details I've left out. They'll be around directly.

Joe

[Hobie]

Based on what I've seen their paranoia isn't unfounded. Ask if the buyer's FFL will accept shipment from an individual and check to be sure it is legal in your state.

[Pete44ru]

IF, however, both seller & buyer are in the same state - neither needs an FFL to either ship or receive the firearm under Federal Law.

.

[J Miller]

Hobie,

There is a definite line between paranoia and caution. When I went through the ordeal with the FFLs here in IL ALL of them had crossed it.
Their problem was that they felt they could not ID the shipper even if the shipper sent copies of his photo ID, Gun Permit, or any other device. To a one they all stated that any person who wanted to ship without an FFL was a criminal who could not prove to them otherwise.

According to the local BATFE enforcement agent I spoke to, accepting a photo copy of the shippers DL or Gun Permit or other photo ID was perfectly OK. He went even farther to say that just because someones face is on a picture ID doesn't mean it's valid. So there are times you have to just take things at face value.

That is why I call the dealers in this area paranoid.
And that is why I am so very PO'd at them.

Joe

[Hobie]

In VA, and I have to assume in IL with the FOID, the dealer doesn't just deal with the BATFE but also with the state agency. In my experience, the state guys can be even bigger <what you said>s than the feds. You might be or have been inconvenienced but in the long run such spineless critters can't be trusted with anything. You MIGHT use them, but you can never fully trust them. It has always been so. If you work such baseless fears into your "plan" for whatever it is you want to do, you can sometimes come out ahead. In other words, don't get mad, get even.

[Ray Newman]

See what Chas. earlier wrote.

[olyinaz]

It all depends on what the FFL's in the area you're shipping it to demand. Also, UPS, FedEx and the USPS are all picky about shipping guns so you might want to check into those rules to discover if you want to jump through their hoops. Frankly I can't be bothered with all of shipping the bull carp so I just take anything I've sold to a dealer I know and he handles it for me for a few bucks. However, here in Tucson our FFL holders have no qualms about accepting shipped guns from non-FFL holders.

Good luck,
Oly

[coydog]

It sounds like it would be worth it to let a local dealer ship it for me. Im in Alabama and our laws are pretty gun friendly but i know its not like that everywhere. thanks for the replies

[awp101]

It sounds like it would be worth it to let a local dealer ship it for me. Im in Alabama and our laws are pretty gun friendly but i know its not like that everywhere. thanks for the replies

I always state in my ads for long guns that the receiving FFL must accept from an individual. Handguns (which I rarely part with) are FFL to FFL only with very few exceptions. That cuts down on surprises down the road.

Also, most FFLs will charge a paperwork fee in addition to shipping. Make sure it's settled up front who will pay for that portion of the transaction.

The one FFL I trust around here to do things right charges a $35 transfer fee (shipping or receiving) plus actual shipping.