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What's involved in mailing a pistol for repair?

Only an FFL can mail a handgun. You can send it by "common carrier" to a gunsmith.

From my dim recollection:

I believe only an FFL can *receive* a handgun.

Private citizens can ship firearm/handguns to manufacturer or repair facility for maintenance. They must be shipped back to your FFL.

Also, if it's an AP it isn't really a firearm HOWEVER if it gets XRayed in transit you will have "lot's of splainin to do" even if in the right.

Also- USPS will not accept handguns (long guns only). UPS and FedEx will; but you must ship them by overnight/air.

Be sure to DECLARE THE FIREARM (don't get cutesy on that score) because misrepresenting the item as "paper punching equipment" or some such is a 10 yr in jail/$10,000 fine (IIRC).

Steve Swartz

guests wrote:From my dim recollection:

I believe only an FFL can *receive* a handgun.

Private citizens can ship firearm/handguns to manufacturer or repair facility for maintenance. They must be shipped back to your FFL.

Also, if it's an AP it isn't really a firearm HOWEVER if it gets XRayed in transit you will have "lot's of splainin to do" even if in the right.

Also- USPS will not accept handguns (long guns only). UPS and FedEx will; but you must ship them by overnight/air.

Be sure to DECLARE THE FIREARM (don't get cutesy on that score) because misrepresenting the item as "paper punching equipment" or some such is a 10 yr in jail/$10,000 fine (IIRC).

Steve Swartz

Steve,

I believe your memory is dim:-)

The OP asked about "...mailing a pistol." Only an FFL can put a pistol in the mail. You are correct that an Air Pistol is not a firearm under the GCA.

The pistol can be shipped by "Common Carrier" to/from a gunsmith for repair. Some state/local laws may require that it be shipped back to an FFL, but that's not a Federal issue.

Misrepresenting the contents of your parcel can cause a lot of grief; don't do it.

Here is what Fed Ex says on their website:

Firearms

FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:

Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or

Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).

If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release or indirect delivery.

Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx Express cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.

Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Express is required to notify FedEx Express that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.

The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.

FedEx Express will transport ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Dangerous Goods section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.

"The OP asked about "...mailing a pistol." Only an FFL can put a pistol in the mail. You are correct that an Air Pistol is not a firearm under the GCA. "

When you say the mail, you mean United States Postal Service, correct? If you are referring to common carriers, are you referring to company policies? If you mean shipping a pistol, in general, can you please cite the federal regulation or law concerning this matter (i.e. which chapter in Title 19 of the U.S.C.) ?

Just trying to make sure we are all in compliance.

Thanks,

F. Yewmans

F. Yewmans wrote:"The OP asked about "...mailing a pistol." Only an FFL can put a pistol in the mail. You are correct that an Air Pistol is not a firearm under the GCA. "

When you say the mail, you mean United States Postal Service, correct? If you are referring to common carriers, are you referring to company policies? If you mean shipping a pistol, in general, can you please cite the federal regulation or law concerning this matter (i.e. which chapter in Title 19 of the U.S.C.) ?

Just trying to make sure we are all in compliance.

Thanks,

F. Yewmans

Mail means US Postal Service. In general, 18USC83 Section 1715 states that "Pistol, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed are nonmailable..."

18USC44 Section 921(a)(3) says a firearm means any weapon which will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. So an Air Pistol is not a firearm. Section 922(a)(2)(A) allows shipping back and forth for repair/service without an FFL.

18USC44 Section 922(e) and (f) address shipping by common carrier.

Does this cover your query?

Richard

GOVTMODEL wrote:

F. Yewmans wrote:"The OP asked about "...mailing a pistol." Only an FFL can put a pistol in the mail. You are correct that an Air Pistol is not a firearm under the GCA. "

When you say the mail, you mean United States Postal Service, correct? If you are referring to common carriers, are you referring to company policies? If you mean shipping a pistol, in general, can you please cite the federal regulation or law concerning this matter (i.e. which chapter in Title 19 of the U.S.C.) ?

Just trying to make sure we are all in compliance.

Thanks,

F. Yewmans

Mail means US Postal Service. In general, 18USC83 Section 1715 states that "Pistol, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed are nonmailable..."

18USC44 Section 921(a)(3) says a firearm means any weapon which will expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. So an Air Pistol is not a firearm. Section 922(a)(2)(A) allows shipping back and forth for repair/service without an FFL.

18USC44 Section 922(e) and (f) address shipping by common carrier.

Does this cover your query?

Richard

Expertly! Thanks Richard.

F. Yewmans

PaulB wrote:Here is what Fed Ex says on their website:

Firearms

FedEx Express will transport and deliver firearms as defined by the United States Gun Control Act of 1968, between areas served in the U.S., but only between:

Licensed importers; licensed manufacturers; licensed dealers; licensed collectors; law enforcement agencies of the U.S. or any department or agency thereof; and law enforcement agencies of any state or any department, agency or political subdivisions thereof; or

Where not prohibited by local, state and federal law, from individuals to licensed importers, licensed manufacturers or licensed dealers (and return of same).

If your shipment contains firearms, select the Direct Signature Required or Adult Signature Required Delivery Signature Option, depending on the requirements of your shipment. See the Delivery Signature Options section for details. Firearms shipments are not eligible for signature release or indirect delivery.

Firearms must be shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight service. FedEx Express cannot ship or deliver firearms C.O.D. Firearms shipments cannot be placed in a FedEx Express Drop Box.

Upon presenting the package for shipment, the person tendering the shipment to FedEx Express is required to notify FedEx Express that the package contains a firearm. The outside of the package must not be marked, labeled or otherwise identify that the package contains a firearm.
The shipper and recipient must be of legal age as identified by applicable law.

The shipper and recipient are required to comply with all applicable government regulations and laws, including those pertaining to labeling. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can provide assistance.

FedEx Express will transport ammunition when packed and labeled in compliance with local, state and federal law, and the Dangerous Goods section of this Service Guide. Ammunition is an explosive and must be shipped separately as dangerous goods. You agree not to ship loaded firearms or firearms with ammunition in the same package.

I shipped 2 rifles to a dealer via FEDEX on Friday. I shipped both ground, and the shipping time is 6 days. I know that FEDEX requires overnight for handguns via a FFL, but I have shipped a handful of rifles, and they all went ground. When shipping handguns, the FFL dealer had to ship, and overnight shipping (even local) had to be done.
I will also remind shooters to keep the serial numbers and some pictures for insurance purposes.