Shipping a long gun

[Robert Richardson]

Who in the Indianapolis area has the best price on shipping out a long gun?
I do know that I can legally ship it to a FFL holder myself after talking to a postmaster yesterday, just don't know if I want the hassle of packaging it up and all that. Any suggestions??

 

[Mgderf]

Who in the Indianapolis area has the best price on shipping out a long gun?
I do know that I can legally ship it to a FFL holder myself after talking to a postmaster yesterday, just don't know if I want the hassle of packaging it up and all that. Any suggestions??

Try your local gun shop.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Checked out a couple. Was told, probably be just under $100. Just sounds a little salty to me.

 

[Mgderf]

Checked out a couple. Was told, probably be just under $100. Just sounds a little salty to me.

Sounds like WAY too much to me.
Last long gun I shipped I think I paid $35.
That was a year or two ago and not around Indy.

 

[AllenM]

Who in the Indianapolis area has the best price on shipping out a long gun?
I do know that I can legally ship it to a FFL holder myself after talking to a postmaster yesterday, just don't know if I want the hassle of packaging it up and all that. Any suggestions??

Not to be rude, but if you want to save money you should do it yourself.
If you want a gun shop to enter it in and out of their A&D books, box it and ship it and then be obligated if it gets lost in the mail. I would expect that cost something.
Cost of shipping 35 to 50 bucks. 50 bucks to do the rest seems fair.

Just saying

 

[Basher]

The last one I shipped set me back ~$65 with insurance. Tack on their fee for the hassle of adding it to their books and doing the packaging for you, and $100 seems about right.

USPS rates have gone up, and there’s a surcharge for packages over a certain length. Be ready for sticker shock, it ain’t cheap.

 

[two70]

USDS charges their normal $20 transfer fee (if paying cash) plus actual shipping costs but you have bring your own packaging. Unless the dealer has access to special rates or a different carrier, it'll likely cost you around $100 just for shipping and insurance on a properly packaged long gun though.

Sounds like WAY too much to me.
Last long gun I shipped I think I paid $35.
That was a year or two ago and not around Indy.

That was correct a year ago. Last year I shipped a 10.5 lb. CZ 550 magnum with a 25" barrel with max insurance for $75. Now, it'd have to be a pretty short and light weight long gun to ship for $60 and that likely wouldn't include insurance. Three of the last five I've shipped have been at or around the $100 mark with insurance and that was without dealer's fees.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Not to be rude, but if you want to save money you should do it yourself.
If you want a gun shop to enter it in and out of their A&D books, box it and ship it and then be obligated if it gets lost in the mail. I would expect that cost something.
Cost of shipping 35 to 50 bucks. 50 bucks to do the rest seems fair.

Just saying

That was the price quoted after I had it packed and ready to go. Then go to post office for weight and insurance. Then do some kind of paperwork.

 

[Indy574]

I think it’s been a year when I shipped one from a local FFL. I may have had $50-60 total in it.

 

[AllenM]

That was the price quoted after I had it packed and ready to go. Then go to post office for weight and insurance. Then do some kind of paperwork.

IC

 

[Robert Richardson]

Maybe I've just become a tightwad in my old age, lol.

 

[SheepDog4Life]

Good thread... last long gun shipping I was involved in was receiving end on a GB deal that cost me $35 plus my LGS transfer fees. (small, light, not expensive 22 rifle)

Sounds like the insurance part has went way up... which makes me wonder, since the people most likely to lose/steal the gun are their employees.

Oh, well... good to know in advance.

 

[marvin02]

@Robert Richardson - if you have any pawn shops that sell guns and already ship try one of them.

Does Brownells still have their shipping service? You used to be able to buy the label from them and drop off the gun to the shipper.

The person you are shipping to might be able to get a shipping label from their FFL?

Good luck.

 

[brdhntr37]

I recently went to a FFL to get a quote for a long gun I'm trying to sale. He quoted me about 100... 75 to ship (little oversized) and 25 for his fee. He said they recently passed that you have to send from an FFL even for long guns. Looks like you may be ok for USPS, but here's the link for reference that I looked at after I left there. https://www.nraila.org/articles/20220919/shipping-companies-prohibit-the-lawful-shipping-of-firearms

 

[Robert Richardson]

Spoke with a Postmaster Friday, he said I was good to go as long as the Shipping Address matched the address on the FFL and I declare the package as a firearm with nothing on box stating contents. Size of the box is the biggest cost factor it appears. The one I'm shipping can be broken down like an AR so that helps. I'm going to take it down next week and get a shipping estimate. I'm not shipping mine until I receive the one I'm trading for. I'll update with the cost of shipping and insurance. Information may help someone else.

 

[223 Gunner]

I have always shipped my own, when selling on Gunbroker.
I include a copy of my DL and make sure the buyer's FFL will accept from an individual.
The last one I shipped about 2 years ago went to KY, it was an AR fully assembled. It was under $30 dollars with Insurance.
That one was insured at $1500.
If you're shipping within the State I wouldn't think it would be too bad.
Also in our State you can ship a rifle directly to someone, it is the same as a face to face deal.
Cannot do that with a handgun.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Update : I did ship USPS.
15.5 lb. Indianapolis to Tucson AZ. $49 +$20 for $1200 insurance.
Addressed to FFL, nothing on box about content. You do have to declare that it is a firearm. Signature on delivery required.
Easiest way to prove you are sending to FFL is to get license code from receiving dealer and use FFL EZ find on the AFT website, pulled it up on my phone and showed it. Shipped 10/20/22, expected delivery 10/24/22.
No hassle whatsoever.

 

[Purdue1991]

Update : I did ship USPS.
15.5 lb. Indianapolis to Tucson AZ. $49 +$20 for $1200 insurance.
Addressed to FFL, nothing on box about content. You do have to declare that it is a firearm. Signature on delivery required.
Easiest way to prove you are sending to FFL is to get license code from receiving dealer and use FFL EZ find on the AFT website, pulled it up on my phone and showed it. Shipped 10/20/22, expected delivery 10/24/22.
No hassle whatsoever.

I've never declared it's a firearm. And yes, USPS is easy to use for this purpose.

 

[scout5]

I've shipped three long gun through USPS in recent months. Cost $102 to Texas, $97 to New Jersey and a SXS I was Able to break down and use a shorter box, 28", was $57 to Arizona.

It's been a couple of weeks since I shipped and I'll have to stop by the post office to make sure I can still ship through them. The FFL I used for the ammunition will ship a gun for an extra $20. Worth it if I need to ship a handgun. So far what handguns I've sold have been listed here and I've met the buyer so no shipping involved.

I recently had some health issues and I'm just selling off some extra stuff. I am not in the business of buying and selling things. But I have sold over 40 items in the last few months. These new changes are a PIA.

 

[Robert Richardson]

I've never declared it's a firearm. And yes, USPS is easy to use for this purpose.

Yeah, that works too, until it is damaged, lost or, stolen and you try to collect the insurance. You have to describe the loss. Insurance will not pay because you didn't follow the proper procedure when you shipped it. It will probably involve the ATF at that time.