Author Topic: Packing the gun for shipping USPS? (Read 697 times)

stiff neck · « **on:** February 07, 2005, 06:34:32 AM »

OK, I'm gonna ship it off today to get a new barrel fitted. How should I pack it? Obviously in foam or something protective. Is there a trick to packing it nice? How about the box? Can I seal it at home or are the postal workers going to peek inside first? Do I declair that it is a firearm?

Thanks!

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:53:14 AM »

Paging Quickdtoo..... :roll: I won't comment on USPS.............I take the stock off(if ya don't it will come back in not the same shape as you sent it!! :x ask me how I know.... :wink: ) Wrap your receiver up with bubble wrap and put in a box and seal....don't forget to write down your serial number and keep it while your receiver is away and also put what you want done and return address in a note in with the receiver.... (do you have a Fed-Ex close to you??

Nixter · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:56:24 AM »

stiff neck, I'm hoping to hear some responses as well. The only thing I know is if they ask what it is, answer machine parts.

I thought FedEx got out of the firearms shipping biz? Enlighten me.

Nixter

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2005, 07:01:09 AM »

I ship mine in the box the rifle came in, but I cut it down because you're not shipping the entire rifle, just the frame, butt and forend. I wrap the frame and forend separetely in bubble wrap, newpaper would work too, just make sure that the contents can't move around inside the box and the box is strong enough that rough handling isn't gonna bust it open. Seal it, they can ask to inspect it, but probably won't, they'll probably ask what you're sending if you ask for insurance which I would recommend, and I would also add delivery confirmation so you can go online and know when it was delivered. You may want to print section 431 and 432 of Pub 52 in case you get someone that is not familiar with shipping firearms and/or parts.

The address with zip+4 is...

60 INDUSTRIAL ROWE
GARDNER MA 01440-2832

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub52.htm

http://usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm?from=home&page=0035trackandconfirm

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2005, 07:16:02 AM »

Deadeye, their instructions say to include the stock, have you actually sent a frame in for a barrel without the stock? I thought about doing that too to save weight to reduce cost, and it would be substantial with the laminated stock.

Quote

To obtain an additional barrel(s), please take the following steps:

Open the firearm by pressing the release lever, and be sure the chamber is empty.
Remove the forend screw and forend.
With firearm fully open, lift the barrel off the hinge.
Carefully package the stock, forend and frame (receiver) for shipping. (DO NOT SHIP YOUR EXISTING BARREL.) Send by U.S. Mail or U.P.S. insured to the following address (DO NOT MARK CONTENTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF SHIPPING CARTON)

hellacatcher · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2005, 10:59:37 AM »

The 3 that I have shipped, I took to the UPs store with out the barrel they packaged for me. The last time I went in the young girl flat told me they didn't ship guns even tho they had twice before from that store. I just went to another UPs store and they packed it up for me and shipped with no problem. Go to H&R s web site copy their form fill it out keeping one copy and putting a copy in with the gun. Another good thing to do is call H&R and talk to customer service they can lead you through. May be I have been lucky but never had any damage, the time I shipped my 357 I noticed a scratch on the receiver when I shipped it when it came back the scratch was fixed.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2005, 11:10:30 AM »

UPS won't knowingly accept firearms for shipment at the UPS stores, only at Customer Centers.

Quote

Your packages that contain firearms will not be accepted for shipment at UPS Drop Boxes, with UPS SonicAir® service, at locations of The UPS Store or any third-party retailer, or with international services.

Quote

You can only ship your package that contains a firearm from UPS daily pickup accounts and through UPS Customer Centers
When you are shipping a package that contains a handgun, you must verbally notify the UPS driver or UPS Customer Center clerk.

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html

I would also recommend that you not allow them to pack your rifle/parts, the 45-70 barrel I bought recently was packed by a UPS store employee in a mailing tube, it arrived with both ends of the tube punched out and the barrel was loose, surprised I even got it. If you want it to arrive securely, pack it well, don't depend on someone who could care less....

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2005, 11:11:27 AM »

First time I sent off for an extra barrel I left the stock on...it came back with some scratches that were not on there when I shipped it (also had a pad screw that was stripped out! :x )... :roll: I called them to whine about it and they said to ship it back and they would possibly exchange it......this was a stock I had refinished so I did not want for them to exchange it! :evil: Several times afterward I just took the stock off...no more problems... :wink:

P.S. Fex-Ex automatically insures contents for 100 bucks and give ya a free tracking number.... :wink:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2005, 12:00:11 PM »

UPS does the same free $100 insurance and tracking, plus the UPS Customer Center that accepts firearms and ammo is less than a mile from my home! And....BIG, BIG PLUS,... my UPS delivery person is a cute little blonde gal!!!

MGMorden · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2005, 02:00:22 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

And....BIG, BIG PLUS,... my UPS delivery person is a cute little blonde gal!!!

Well I'm never home when stuff arrives, but I can where that'd be a plus

.

I shiped my Pardner frame back to H&R to get a new barrel (old one was fine but the forearm lug had come off after a number of years. figured $40 to replace it wasn't bad

). Went via USPS without problems. I shipped a barreled action to a gunsmith last week to have some work done. He hasn't told me that it came in destroyed, so I assume all is well

. I'd recommend using a box not much bigger that what you're shipping (don't want it to bounce around too much) with some rather dense but soft material around the item to act as a shock absorber. Fitted foam works the best here, but if you can't find that then tighly packed packing foams will work well also. Just remember if you shake it and can here ANYTHING move then it's not packaged as well as it should be

.

I'd avoid UPS if possible. I've had a LOT of packages damaged from them. All my C&R rifles that I've ordered look like they've been through the ringer when they come via UPS. I've had much better luck with Fedex. They're much quicker (and the color scheme is better than the drabby UPS truck :lol:). I rarely use either of these for shipping myself though, only for recieving.

95Road King · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2005, 04:23:40 PM »

If you need a box to ship a gun, go to your local gun store and ask for one. All they do is burn them or throw them in a dumpster!!

Nuttinbutchunks · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2005, 05:21:28 PM »

That's easy. Just break the rifle in two pieces, wrap them in newspaper so they cushion each other and just ship it. If you go to Officemax, their shipping is cheaper than the post office. I think it's Airborn express or something. I wouldn't say a thing about what's inside. You don't have to.

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:29:40 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

UPS does the same free $100 insurance and tracking, plus the UPS Customer Center that accepts firearms and ammo is less than a mile from my home! And....BIG, BIG PLUS,... my UPS delivery person is a cute little blonde gal!!!

Dang ...You guys have all the luck.....my UPS delivery GUY is a 6'5" Black Guy that weighs about 165 pounds....looks great in shorts!! :shock: Fed-Ex Delivery GUY is a white dude and weighs about 325 and sweats like a pig even when it's 38 degrees outside!! USPS mail GUY is a fellow shooter also and always wants to know what the heck I'm getting thats so heavy in some of my packages with a big wink..... :wink:

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:37:47 PM »

:-D :-D :-D

turkeyhunter · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2005, 06:38:35 PM »

Ok guys, ship it FedEx so I can get a Christmas bonus! That way I can buy more guns!

Seriously though. I would ship FedEx even if I didn't work there. Did you know that if you ship express with the USPS we are the ones handling the transport?

while99 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2005, 07:56:38 PM »

I tried to ship a firearm via UPS one time and they told me I had to be a FFL dealer or they would not ship it. So, the next time I tried to ship a firearm I went to FedEx. The person I talked to wasn't sure if FedEx would ship a firearm for a non-dealer but she said she would check. A week or so later she told me that FedEx will not ship for non-dealer. Exasperated, I went to a friend who has a FFL and asked him to ship the firearm and he said "heck, just take it to the U. S. Post Office, they'll ship it". I took it there and they did.