it is at best a crapshoot. now on the positive side i just sent two packages to Gillette ,Wy. both got there safely and in 5 days. one was a heavy barreled action.
my son works at the post office and he has all kind of stories. the most horrible was the box of live chickens left sitting on a counter. does anyone know how long a chicken can survive in a closed box??     modern America!

Last time I had a package get to Oregon from Ohio it got here in record time of two days! I was extremely happy to see that on my daily tracking check until the next day when tracking showed it in transit back to Ohio! 
Even when they do get something shipped quickly they figure out a way to screw it up! That package eventually got to me about 4 weeks later after I filed a complaint.

USPS says they are going to run out of money before years end. Go figure

I understand the problems/complaints. But with a recent loss/theft I actually had a positive outcome.
I sent a barrel packed very well in a tube. Tube got there with no barrel, broken tube end and taped back up. I had insured it. Filed claim. Easy to do and got a reply in four days. To be paid. And I got the check a few days later. 
Now I do have a complaint. The online site says something like don’t put shipping cost in claim. So I didn’t. Figured they would include it. Figured wrong. I have to file an appeal. Gentlemen I spoke with at USPS said the policy made no sense.