Question about shipping a handgun.

[gjohnsoniv]

I have a friend who wants me to clean up his 1911 and have it re-coated. He was just going to ship it to me and when I was done I was just going to ship it back. Is this legal to do or do any precautions need to be taken such stripping it down to pieces and sending it, or just sending the pieces that need to be coated? Any input would be great before anything is done.

[TripleDigitRide]

If you both live in Tennessee, you can ship it directly to each other. If he's out of state, both of you are required to ship/transfer through FFL's.

Edited April 11, 2012 by TripleDigitRide

[gjohnsoniv]

Ok, he's from out of state, or rather is in and out of state but thought it would be easier to ship. What does shipping through the FFL involve? Taking it to them and saying I need this shipped to (name of FFL)?

Edited April 11, 2012 by gjohnsoniv

[TripleDigitRide]

Ok, he's from out of state, or rather is in and out of state but thought it would be easier to ship. What does shipping through the FFL involve? Taking it to them and saying I need this shipped to (name of FFL)?

He would have to take it to an FFL in his area, pay to have them ship it to an FFL in your area. I'm pretty sure you'll have to also pay for and go through a background check when picking it up.

The same thing would need to be done when you send it back to him.

[TripleDigitRide]

You'll want to make sure both FFL's know to be expecting the shipment. The shipping FFL will need the receiving FFL's information prior to shipping.

Edited April 11, 2012 by TripleDigitRide

[gjohnsoniv]

Right, right. Hmm, I'll talk to him and see if he really wants to send it/if it really needs a re-coating that badly.

[Jonnin]

if its just the slide, you can ship that without any troubles. Or most of the other parts, except for the serial numbered frame, the frame is the "gun".

[Guest bkelm18]

It does not have to ship from an FFL, it only has to ship to an FFL. Meaning you can ship the gun yourself to his FFL, and in return he himself can ship it back to yours. Different FFLs have different poilicies regarding reciving shipments from individuals, some won't do it at all, so just make sure everything is kosher on both ends before doing it. The only part of the handgun that is considered the "firearm" is the frame. So you can ship any part of the gun other than the frame back and forth to each other and not have to deal with FFLs, but any package that contains the frame must go through an FFL on the recieving end.

Edited April 11, 2012 by bkelm18

[Guest bkelm18]

He would have to take it to an FFL in his area, pay to have them ship it to an FFL in your area. I'm pretty sure you'll have to also pay for and go through a background check when picking it up.

The same thing would need to be done when you send it back to him.

It doesn't need to be shipped from an FFL. He can ship it himself.

[TripleDigitRide]

It doesn't need to be shipped from an FFL. He can ship it himself.

Yes, I should have mentioned that. I've tried it twice, but neither FFL's would accept shipment from an individual, so I actually forgot that was a possible option.

[Guest bkelm18]

Yes, I should have mentioned that. I've tried it twice, but neither FFL's would accept shipment from an individual, so I actually forgot that was a possible option.

Yeah many FFL's won't accept them from individuals. Not sure why.

[gjohnsoniv]

Okay, that would make things a little bit easier if he doesn't have to run it through an FFL for the first ship. Let me get this correct though before I say anything else. He can ship directly to my FFL without going to his first, then once I'm done I can send it to his FFL without running it through mine. Is that correct?

[Oh Shoot]

Okay, that would make things a little bit easier if he doesn't have to run it through an FFL for the first ship. Let me get this correct though before I say anything else. He can ship directly to my FFL without going to his first, then once I'm done I can send it to his FFL without running it through mine. Is that correct?

Correct, as long as the FFL agrees to it beforehand. FFL will charge on each end + extra $10 on TN end.

Also: can't ship USPS, so that leaves UPS or FedEx, and must go form of overnight class according to their terms of service, which is gonna be ~ $30 and up depending on zone.

This is gonna be rather pricey job before you add anything for your services!

- OS

Edited April 11, 2012 by OhShoot

[gjohnsoniv]

Correct, as long as the FFL agrees to it beforehand. FFL will charge on each end + extra $10 on TN end.

Also: can't ship USPS, so that leaves UPS or FedEx, and must go form of overnight class according to their terms of service, which is gonna be ~ $30 and up depending on zone.

This is gonna be rather pricey job before you add anything for your services!

- OS

That's my one concern. Thankfully though I have a FedEx shipping number and all of that, if I can use it for this purpose. At the same time though I'm not doing it for any profit since he's a friend of mine, and I really just like working on guns. Edited April 12, 2012 by gjohnsoniv

[wcsc12]

Also: can't ship USPS, so that leaves UPS or FedEx, and must go form of overnight class according to their terms of service, which is gonna be ~ $30 and up depending on zone.

- OS

You can ship firearms via USPS and it doesn't have to go Express Mail. You cannot ship AMMO via USPS because it's considered an explosive.

Well, "dealers" can ship handguns. But anyone can ship rifles and shotguns.

Edited April 14, 2012 by wcsc12

[Oh Shoot]

You can ship firearms via USPS and it doesn't have to go Express Mail. You cannot ship AMMO via USPS because it's considered an explosive.

Well, "dealers" can ship handguns. But anyone can ship rifles and shotguns.

Thread is about a handgun. That's why I said it can't go USPS.

- OS

[gjohnsoniv]

I'm thinking I'm just going to get him to bring them to me next time he's in Knoxville. The shipping is going to be way too much of a hassle and expensive I think.