Moving & Shipping Firearms

[bradsteen]

Hey folks, friend of mine is relocating to the east coast and has a collection of 20 or so guns he needs to take with him. The relocation is for work, and while the company will pay the moving expense for the gun safe (it's considered furniture), they will not move the guns themselves. So he's trying to figure out the best way to do that without having to drive them across the country. Any thoughts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Edit to add:
All the guns are legal in the state he is moving to, and none are NFA items.

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[TTSX]

I believe you are allowed to ship guns from yourself to yourself through USPS.

 

[bradsteen]

I believe you are allowed to ship guns from yourself to yourself through USPS.

You can't ship handguns via USPS, and you can only ship long guns within the same state. Out of state must be shipped to an FFL.

43 Firearms | Postal Explorer

pe.usps.com

 

[TTSX]

May a nonlicensee ship firearms interstate for his or her use in hunting or other lawful activity? | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Yes. A person may ship a firearm to him or herself in care of another person in the state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. The package should be addressed to the owner “in the care of” the out–of–state resident. Upon reaching its destination, persons other...

www.atf.gov

Per ATF, aka the big league. Doesn't specify which carrier, though

 

[titsonritz]

You can't ship handguns via USPS, and you can only ship long guns within the same state. Out of state must be shipped to an FFL.

43 Firearms | Postal Explorer

pe.usps.com

People do it for out state training and hunting all the time.

 

[bradsteen]

People do it for out state training and hunting all the time.

Ah, my bad, i missed the second part on rifles and shotguns..

A rifle or shotgun owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner's state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the other state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:
Be addressed to the owner.
Include the "in the care of" endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.
Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.
Be mailed using a class of mail, product, or Extra Service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.

 

[Caveman Jim]

In June, Ima gonna throw all mine in the back of the Subaru an haul arse to my free state.

 

[hongkong2]

In June, Ima gonna throw all mine in the back of the Subaru an haul arse to my free state.

You can fit all your guns in the back of a Subaru?

 

[Caveman Jim]

You can fit all your guns in the back of a Subaru?

Yep, I hoard my ammo and reloading stuff, not guns. Lol

 

[bradsteen]

You can fit all your guns in the back of a Subaru?

 

[nwslopoke]

View attachment 2096104

Aren't they pointing in the wrong direction

 

[L84Cabo]

This topic comes up on repeat. And the best answer always ends up being, "move them yourself." There are just too many risks and problems with the other alternatives. So he can either road trip them out there, or figure out the most compact solution to get them on the plane.

You don't mention how many rifles and how many pistols. But as an example, I could pack 10 handguns into a carry on size pelican case (And obviously I don't mean take them as carry on). Rifles will be a bit more challenging. But I could probably get 10 rifles into the equivalent of what would be the size of two golf bags. Bite the bullet (pun intended) and pay for the extra checked luggage and be done with it.

 

[gmerkt]

20 guns isn't that many to move by yourself.

 

[Koda]

Is it some law, or is it just the moving companies policy?

What would happen if you just put them in boxes marked "livingroom"?

 

[ilikegunspdx]

1. Shipmygun.com?

2. Ship safe seperately (or with same moving company and same shipment?) on his own dime. That way co is not paying or even aware of them -separate invoice if same company.

3. If the safe is locked, how will they know what's in it? Could be full of expensive ammo.

 

[Caveman Jim]

View attachment 2096104

Oh and I definitely gotta get me one of them there stickers, just to be safe…

 

[Caveman Jim]

Aren't they pointing in the wrong direction

Well mister don't you remember that we've determined that gunz don't shoot by themselves, we are safe…

 

[ktgee]

In my opinion, I would consolidate and sell some of them. If the guns are legal in the state he's moving to, they can be replaced. Shipping each gun would be expensive. Moving all those guns by yourself across the country is a lot of risk. Several days' drive with numerous bathroom breaks, food breaks, and motel/hotel sleepovers. Too much risk of getting your car broken into and getting it stolen. Sleepover is a challenge. Either you left them in the car or you take all of them inside your room. Motels are big targets for thieves, with people leaving their belongings in the car. Moving numerous long guns into your room is suspect and can bring lots of problems.