Mail vs Ship vs Next Day.........
After talking to Springfield about a problem my XD has been having with it's ability to accept magazines they asked me to FED EX it to them for troubleshooting and repair. The company sent me a pre paid label and then it hit me. I thought you where not allowed to mail firearms without being a FFL dealer. Am I missing something or did I misunderstand federal law. I know I have been at the post office and I have seen signs saying you can not mail guns or ammo. Is there a trick in mailing my gun for repair?
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/ship/packaging/guidelines/firearms.html
http://www.fedex.com/us/freight/rulestariff/prohibited_articles.html
I am going to presume you are talking about a handgun and you are not an FFL dealer.
I just shipped a handgun last month with UPS. Fedex gave me the "are you an FFL line" so I went to UPS. For some reason the person at FedEx was not able to read thier own shipping rules. I was directed to the local UPS "main shipping hub" as the local stores were not licensed to ship firearms.
You may not "mail" the handgun you must "ship" it with a next day service. I suggest using UPS Next day air saver. You are required to ship using next day service and since UPS has two next day options with a twenty dollar difference I used them and was very happy with the service.
Aside from the cost the difference between the UPS next day options is the guaranteed delivery time. UPS Next Day Air and Early A.M. will be delivered before noon, UPS Next Day Air Saver is delivered by 4pm.
It should ship right back to your door. Hope this helps a bit.
~Whitney
FAQ From
FEDERAL FIREARMS REGULATIONS REFERENCE GUIDE
(F14) Who may ship handguns through the U.S. Postal Service?
Federal firearm licensees may send an unloaded handgun in the mail to another FFL in customary trade shipments.
Handguns also may be mailed to any officer, employee, agent, or watchman who is eligible under 18 U.S.C. 1715 to receive pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed on the person for use in connection with his
or her official duties. However, postal service regulations must be followed. Any person proposing to mail a handgun must file with the postmaster, at the time of mailing, an affidavit signed by the addressee stating that the addressee is qualified
to receive the firearm, and the affidavit must bear a certificate stating that the firearm is for the official use of the
addressee. See the current Postal Manual for details. The Postal Service recommends that all firearms be sent by registered
mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of
any parcel containing firearms.
(See also Questions B7 and B8.)