Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: andersonjk4 on September 06, 2018, 10:42:51 AM

Title: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: andersonjk4 on September 06, 2018, 10:42:51 AM: I've been looking into shipping a rifle and have come across a bunch of differing opinions on which carrier (UPS, USPS, FED-EX, etc) is the easiest/cheapest for shipping a long gun from Washington to another state. I know there has to be a bunch of guys on here that have shipped rifles out of state recently. Is one carrier better or worse than any of the others?
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: carlyoungs on September 06, 2018, 11:48:37 AM: I used UPS. It was the cheapest out of the three. I went to one of the little mail places that has PO boxes and such. He had a box that they sold me that he said they use all the time for shipping long guns.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: b23 on September 06, 2018, 12:57:40 PM: I've always used USPS, mostly because it was the most convenient, and I've never had any problems. I don't think there's more than a few dollars difference in cost between all of them, so pick the one that's the most convenient for you. USPS has no problem with shipping long guns and their staff is usually fully aware of that which helps things go smoothly without any issues at the counter.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: Zardoz on September 06, 2018, 02:43:54 PM: It's all about the packaging..... :twocents:
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: yorketransport on September 06, 2018, 08:59:53 PM: Quote from: Zardoz on September 06, 2018, 02:43:54 PM
It's all about the packaging..... :twocents:
:yeah:

I've been in the package delivery industry for about 15 years now and I can assure you that the big 3 shipping companies are all comparable in how the packages are handled in shipping, and that's a good thing. If you're shipping a rifle I'd plan on taking it straight to a hub though if you're going through either FedEx or UPS. There's no rules or laws about the drop stations accepting rifles, but most of them won't do it without a hassle.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: CAMPMEAT on September 06, 2018, 09:33:58 PM: I shipped one to Washington State a couple months ago using UPS for around $50 with insurance.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: andersonjk4 on September 06, 2018, 09:58:26 PM: Thanks for all the replies. I got a little bit of grief from a Fed-Ex print and ship location when trying to ship a Muzzleloader a few years back. The guy was clueless about all gun and shipping laws. So I was curious what people’s experiences were when actually shipping a firearm.

Next question: If you don’t have the original box or any other rifle boxes around to ship them in. Where does one get such a box? In the past I have built my own boxes by folding/cutting/taping sections from other large boxes, but I would be way easier to go buy one.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: yorketransport on September 06, 2018, 10:24:43 PM: Swing by a gun shop and just ask them for an old shipping box that one of the stock guns came in.

I’m a big fan of sticking the rifle in a soft cast and then building a box around that. Most items that get damaged in shipping are damaged because of poor packaging.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: mountainman on September 06, 2018, 10:40:51 PM: Quote from: yorketransport on September 06, 2018, 10:24:43 PM
Swing by a gun shop and just ask them for an old shipping box that one of the stock guns came in.

I’m a big fan of sticking the rifle in a soft cast and then building a box around that. Most items that get damaged in shipping are damaged because of poor packaging.
Shipped over 1,000 longguns with basically this same method. You could count on less then one hand ever having damage claims, using both UPS and FedEx.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: BULLBLASTER on September 07, 2018, 08:45:43 AM: ive Only shipped one in state to a ffl and went to the kinkos fed ex and they were great and knew everything that was needed and helped me along. It was the one on Sullivan and sprague in the valley.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: jackelope on September 07, 2018, 08:52:38 AM: I've shipped a few, always used USPS and never had an issue. They ask me if there's any liquids or explosives or whatever....no...
Never had a problem.

Probably goes without saying, but make sure you're shipping to an FFL holder.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: andersonjk4 on September 07, 2018, 09:16:52 AM: Quote from: jackelope on September 07, 2018, 08:52:38 AM
I've shipped a few, always used USPS and never had an issue. They ask me if there's any liquids or explosives or whatever....no...
Never had a problem.

Probably goes without saying, but make sure you're shipping to an FFL holder.

Yep. :tup: But a good reminder.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: b23 on September 07, 2018, 09:30:49 AM: This kind of goes without saying, but per my post office dude, when using USPS as your shipper, the outside of the box can't say gun/s or firearm on it. I used an old Remington box to ship a stock once and at first they told me it was a no go. When I asked why, he explained USPS has a rule/s about what the outside of the box can say on it. The box I was using said Remington but nothing about gun/s or firearms so I said to the counter dude how do you know this isn't a box for Remington shavers. He said good point and all was good.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: jackelope on September 07, 2018, 09:53:02 AM: Quote from: b23 on September 07, 2018, 09:30:49 AM
This kind of goes without saying, but per my post office dude, when using USPS as your shipper, the outside of the box can't say gun/s or firearm on it. I used an old Remington box to ship a stock once and at first they told me it was a no go. When I asked why, he explained USPS has a rule/s about what the outside of the box can say on it. The box I was using said Remington but nothing about gun/s or firearms so I said to the counter dude how do you know this isn't a box for Remington shavers. He said good point and all was good.

I always wrapped mine in brown paper with lots of clear packing tape. Nothing whatsoever indicating it was a firearm.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: BULLBLASTER on September 07, 2018, 09:59:07 AM: Fed ex stuck blank white labels over all markings on the box I used to ship
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: thinkingman on September 10, 2018, 10:17:50 AM: Quote from: yorketransport on September 06, 2018, 10:24:43 PM
Swing by a gun shop and just ask them for an old shipping box that one of the stock guns came in.

I’m a big fan of sticking the rifle in a soft cast and then building a box around that. Most items that get damaged in shipping are damaged because of poor packaging.
Absolutely.
1X4 and 1/4" plywood and a handfull of 1X#6 screws.
Costs about $10, weighs about 1.5lb and sturdy.
I have purchased sheet foam insulation to use to pack.
Never a complaint or a claim.
Title: Re: Best Shipping Carrier for Shipping Long Guns Out of State
Post by: follow maggie on September 12, 2018, 06:26:08 PM: I’m not sure what you’re shipping it for, but if you’re going there for hunting trip or whatever, you can ship a gun to yourself in care of the person living there without using an ffl.