I’m on my “high horse” again about shipping firearms and thought I’d post some comments here.  I realize that many of you seldom have the need to ship a firearm.  But if you do I highly recommend FedEx.  I have shipped many higher-priced rifles across the country using FedEx Ground, and the cost has been around $25 to $35, including insurance.  I like FedEx's easily to use on-line service whereby I can print shipping labels and charge shipping to my credit card.  Hence no standing in line at the FedEx counter.  Just run in and toss the package on the counter, no question asked.  And, if desired, you can request an automatic acknowledgement of shipping to the receiver.  Of course, on-line tracking and shipping acknowledgement is available.  I also find my local FedEx office is much more customer friendly than UPS.

By now most of you know that UPS’ policy is to only ship handguns via Next Day Air, an option that typically costs about four times what it costs to ship via ground.  So most folks use other carriers.  But many still use UPS for long guns.  I’ve had three rifles damaged in transit with UPS.  All three were packaged very well.  One sender (owner of a large gun shop) said, “this was the last straw”, they would no longer use UPS.  I’ve noted similar sentiment from other dealers.  It sure makes one wonder if there are individuals within UPS with an agenda.  Plus, it’s been my experience that UPS customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

I’ve experienced other problems with UPS and have used FedEx to ship all my firearms for some time and have had excellent service.  US Postal Service (USPS) will ship firearms and has a good reputation for minimal damage, but the drawback is the costly insurance fees and sometimes dealing with ignorant staffers.  A $1500 firearm costing approx. $25 to ship FedEx (fully insured) will cost close to twice that insured through the USPS.  So I’m promoting FedEx in hopes that us firearms owners use them enough to insure they don’t change their policies, as did UPS.  I understand that DHL, the latest carrier to compete with UPS and FedEx, does not ship firearms.  So with UPS’ restrictions and internal problems; the USPS high fees and sometimes very unfriendly and ignorant staffers, I feel we need to do everything possible to insure FedEx realizes that the shooting community is a valuable customer.

And some final words of advice, regardless of the carrier you use, do not put anything in the address or write anything on the box that suggests the content of the package is a firearm.  Most shippers assume that a long skinny box likely contains a rifle.  The contents of a box holding a pistol is less obvious, but play it safe and don’t confirm the contents by sending it to Bob’s Gun Shop or Jim’s Firearms Inc.  Consider using BGS or JFI respectively.  It’s the actual address that matters, not the name of the business.  And don’t forget to fully insure that package.

Wayne

As a fulltime engraver, I ship many firearms thru the USPS "Registered mail" and find it less expensive. Over the last seven years I have used USPS Reg. mail, I have not had one problem and have no intentions of changing . FedEx and UPS have given me terrible service. In fact, I tell clients (unless it slips my feeble mind) that I won't accept packages from these shippers !    FWIW,   Ken

I second the USPS Priority MAil service! It's been tops for me, and no hassles either!
Now let me tell you about the special order antique 1894 Marlin that never made it to me, stolen by UPS at some place in Ft Worth!
And then there was the gun that came to me 9 days ago via FedX! Came home to a note on the front door, "Package in flower beds" There in the flower bed was a long box, and inside an expensive antique rifle I purchased! Now why would some knucklehead driver leave an insured package in the flower bed, at the front of my home, 30 ft. off the public sidewalk!? They (I) got lucky this time, cause it was still there!

I agree,  USPS Priority Mail is the way to go if you don't mind spending a bunch on insurance.  I just shipped an expensive rifle (insured for $2500) to a buyer in Maine.  Cost him $60, about twice the FedEx fee.  I've had one rifle damaged by FedEx.  They were a pleasure to work with in resolving the claim compared to my past experiences with UPS.   

Another problems with USPS Priority Mail is the sender cannot insure an item for over $500 if using their on-line service to create and pay for the shipping label.  Had to stand in line for 20 minutes to ship the rifle. But it made it to Maine without damage.

From my viewpoint, the bottom line is if you don't mind paying the extra fees and spending more time USPS Priority Mail is the way to go.  I definitely would not use any other USPS method to ship.  I still prefer FedEx for the reasons previously stated in my initial post.

Wayne

Hi Wayne... 

I too have had FedX and UPS leave expensive adult signature required items on the doorstep or in the bushes on 'driver release' which I why I asked you to send the 1885 to me here in Maine via the USPS.... for all their faults they do not tend to leave things that require a signature in the bushes! also with the emphasis on speed these days the way packages (esp ones that are 'heavy for their size' ) are thrown around by the shipping firms and their automated machinery it is no wonder that extra steps need to be taken to protect things from their terder attentions! I saw a film on FedX home base opperations and the way that some things were treated was frightening!

for max protection in shipping nothing beats injected foam IMO.

Most package shipping storefronts now offer this service in this area... double wrap the gun in plastic (with silaca gel inside too) and then space it in the inner box on some small blocks of foam... then put it in the outer box and do the same thing wrap the inner box in plastic...inject the foam between the box holding the gun and the outer box.

Of course with a new gun if the manufacturer has done a good job you can skip the first step

strap with fiberglass reenforced tape and I have never had any damage in all the time I have been shipping C&R guns using this system ( I had been using the cans of builders foam for this before the local boxing company started offering the service... but a lot of the time you will find that you can not get the can to work again if it has been a while between shipments.... I do this with all things that are fragile

Cheers
Randolph

Gentlemen---   I only ship "Registtered mail" because it is cheaper than Priority mail but will take about a day longer. For inexpensive items, priority is okay. For expensive $800. and up items, Registered is cheaper. This is because the package has to be signed for every step of the way.       Ken

Wow... so much excellent information - thanks, guys!

I shipped an antique Martini single shot a few weeks ago. That was the first time I shipped a firearm, and it was a nightmare.  I had no box, my local gun shop did not either, so I went to the local “package and shipping” kind of shop for a box and advice on shipping..  A lady who works for this local store and recently retired from the Post Office, told me that  it was illegal to ship a firearm though the post office, even an antique rifle. The shop employees insisted the rifle be dismantled at first, and said it had to go though UPS, as the other carriers did not accept firearms. They also told me I could not insure it over $100. They packaged the rifle in such a way that it only fit in a very large box, and it cost me $89 to send it across the US by UPS ground. They said it would cost me $249 for UPS second day delivery.

I don’t think the shop employees are “anti-gun”. They were friendly and I believe they are just ignorant.  Amazing though that a lady who retired from USPS after at least 30 year working there had no clue.

From the link given on this forum, I printed the relevant text from the USPS site, just in case the post office staff knows no better, and now I will ship that way.

By the way- the Martini did make it on time and undamaged, but from what I read about UPS, it may be more by luck than anything else, especially as I had the name of the gun shop it went to right on the front of the package!

JLC in San Diego

Quote:



.............now let me think about that word, "working", hmmmm............

Not so amazing when you consider the source, and the source's history of messing things up at the expense of the rest of us. If the USPS had to make a legitimate profit like the other carriers, they'd be in bankruptcy by next week. Typical government FUBAR, but it does seem to work OK most of the time if you know how to play the system. My local mail carrier is a prince of a fellow, but the employees (notice I did NOT say 'workers') at the main PO are ill-tempered, obstructive idiots for the most part.
Too bad, Joe