Shipping rifle sold online?

[JC0352]

I’m looking at listing a .308 on here but I’ve never sold a firearm online. How do you typically go about this? Ship via UPS to buyer’s ffl? I don’t think I still have the box the rifle came in. How much does shipping a rifle typically cost? TIA

 

[Slo cat]

You can legally ship a rifle through the US Post Office as a non-FFL person. I've done it a couple of times. Some ship in a cheap plastic rifle case covered with cardboard. I've sometimes detached the rifle's action from the stock, wrapped them separately, then they will fit in a shorter box. My local PO demands that you let them check the rifle to see it is unloaded, then seal it up. Funny, it is illegal to bring a firearm on to the premises of a USPO, yet it is legal to ship it thru them. A FFL can legally ship a pistol using the USPS. It makes sense to insure your shipment.

 

[Tnc]

I shipped a .308 I traded on here via UPS to his FFL. Put it in a plastic case and put that inside a bigger cardboard box. It’s fairly expensive due to the size. I think it was around $170 to ship

 

[davsco]

as an individual, you can ship a long gun via usps, fedex or ups. hit your local gun stores and see if they have any boxes you can use. generally i double box - box the gun came in, inside an outer box. somewhere in the $50 range iirc if you don't expedite it. you must ship it to a ffl/gun ship, NOT to the buyer (unless of course he has an ffl).

 

[HogsLife]

Just make sure the FFL you are shipping to accepts firearm shipments from an individual. Some don’t and want firearms shipped to them through an FFL.

 

[sabrecross]

You can legally ship a rifle through the US Post Office as a non-FFL person. I've done it a couple of times. Some ship in a cheap plastic rifle case covered with cardboard. I've sometimes detached the rifle's action from the stock, wrapped them separately, then they will fit in a shorter box. My local PO demands that you let them check the rifle to see it is unloaded, then seal it up. Funny, it is illegal to bring a firearm on to the premises of a USPO, yet it is legal to ship it thru them. A FFL can legally ship a pistol using the USPS. It makes sense to insure your shipment.

Have they ever given you are hard time. I've heard stories of post offices not cooperating. Is there a regulation?

 

[JC0352]

Thank you all for the replies!

 

[davsco]

Have they ever given you are hard time. I've heard stories of post offices not cooperating. Is there a regulation?

yeah it's in their regs in plain english. just hit their website and search for firearms. one time the person behind the counter squawked and i had her look up the regs and then it was no problem. the most recent time, another person had no idea what the rules were but took my word for it and processed it without even looking in the box (i told her it was unloaded with bolt removed but she prob had no idea what i was talking about).

 

[Habituallinestepper]

Gunbroker has a really good overview. I’ve taken copies of the USPS regs with me in case its new to clerk. Paid off one time.

 

[MOUNTIC]

I always schedule a pickup from FedEx or UPS. I shipped a 22lb package last month. Cadex rifle in a double rifle case. With a cardboard box over it. From me, an individual, to an FFL. Was $70 bucks, shipped and insured for $3,800. I don't bother going to the local store and have to battle the employees. It's about 4 bucks to have them come pick it up and worth every penny. Open an account online and your on your way.

Sometimes buying a plastic hard case from Walmart for 15 bucks and going to the golf store to get a box for free is the best way for discrete packing. Couple that with the above pickup and your golden.

 

[wade2big]

I ship through USPS. I bring it in packaged up and hand it to them. I don’t tell them what is in the box and they don’t ask. If shipping with $1000 or more insurance signature is required to accept the package anyhow. If less or no insurance than I add signature required. Simple as that. Shipping insured runs $50 give or take.

I get a free box from the local gunstore and wrap the hell out of the rifle and pack tight so it doesn’t move.

 

[JC0352]

Thank you all! Super helpful!