USPS form for shipping a rifle?

[Cholla]

I am in the process of trading rifles with another SASS member. I am trying to send the rifle via the USPS. I am sending the rifle to an FFL holder. I am not an FFL holder. According to the USPS sending a rifle to a license holder is allowed. 
Upon going to the USPO I was told I needed to download a form from the USPS website. They could not tell me the form number. Along with the form I need to provide a copy of my drivers license. 
To the FFL holders here, what form are they referring to? The recipient FFL has no idea. 

[Hoss]

Postal clerk is incorrect 

[Three Foot Johnson]

Maybe -

 

https://about.usps.com/forms/ps1508.pdf

[Rip Snorter]

They sure don't want you to find the info, https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

1 hour ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

Maybe -

 

https://about.usps.com/forms/ps1508.pdf

 

"This form can only be used by manufacturers or dealers of firearms.

...

The undersigned is a manufacturer of firearms or bona fide dealer therein,"

[John Kloehr]

2 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

They sure don't want you to find the info, https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

Specifically section 432.3d. Pistols and rifles have different treatment at USPS.

 

You (not an ffl) can mail a rifle to an ffl in another state. Check with the ffl in that state first to make sure it will be accepted from a non-ffl. And what info and forms that ffl expects.

 

And make damn sure everything is letter-perfect! An ffl I know recently received a rifle and the sender reversed the buyer and seller information. How is he supposed to transfer it considering how picky the ATF is on paperwork.

 

And if the post office is still making it difficult, balance arguing with them against the minor additional cost of having your local ffl ship it for you.

Edited November 4, 2023 by John Kloehr
Forgot a word

[Three Foot Johnson]

22 minutes ago, PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L said:

 

"This form can only be used by manufacturers or dealers of firearms.

...

The undersigned is a manufacturer of firearms or bona fide dealer therein,"

Ya, I read that, but it's the only thing the clerk could have been thinking about that makes any sense.

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

From the ATF web site:

May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?

 

 

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another state. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of their own state or to a licensee in any state.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms.

Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.

 

I don't recall that a special form is required.  All I was ever asked  by the clerk at the P.O. was to verbally declare the rifle was not loaded.   The one time the clerk on duty didn't know the procedure, she called another office to find out.  If you don't want to make an issue of it, send it via an FFL. 

[Hoss]

I’ve mailed long guns to non FFLs in state, and to FFLs in another state.  I’ve never told clerk what was in box. Just that it was non-hazardous, no liquids. 

[Flanigan Flats]

I have had the front counter clerks come up with some crazy stuff when I have had occasion to ship long guns through the post office. I always calmly ask for the manager on duty and we have always been able to work through it. 
 

Once while I shipping an AK variant I had to coerce the manager to call the area post master but in the end it has always worked out. 
 

shouldn’t be that way but…..

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

On 11/4/2023 at 11:28 AM, Cholla said:

I am in the process of trading rifles with another SASS member. I am trying to send the rifle via the USPS. I am sending the rifle to an FFL holder. I am not an FFL holder. According to the USPS sending a rifle to a license holder is allowed. 
Upon going to the USPO I was told I needed to download a form from the USPS website. They could not tell me the form number. Along with the form I need to provide a copy of my drivers license. 
To the FFL holders here, what form are they referring to? The recipient FFL has no idea. 

To Hell with USPS us Ship My Gun they're great!

[Mustang Gregg]

I am an FFL (actually for 45 years now) and am known to the local postmasters and clerks.

I still identify myself and bring ID and FFL documents each trip. 

And I still get the "DID YOU REMOVE THE FIRING PINS" question.  I reckon that most do not know their own regulations, so they make stuff up.

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by Mustang Gregg

[Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L]

Over the last 30 plus years I've found very few USPS workers that understand their own rules and most of the time the Post Master doesn't either.

 

 

[Matthew Duncan]

Regulations make have changed and/or my memory is faulty.  As I recall USPS isn’t allowed to ask what you are shipping.

[Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326]

On 11/4/2023 at 3:17 PM, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

From the ATF web site:

May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?

 

 ...

 

I don't recall that a special form is required.  All I was ever asked  by the clerk at the P.O. was to verbally declare the rifle was not loaded.   The one time the clerk on duty didn't know the procedure, she called another office to find out.  If you don't want to make an issue of it, send it via an FFL. 

They make us follow the rules.  Make it a two way street and have them also follow the rules!

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

I’m lucky enough to have had a great friend and co worker that has a FFL, and convinced me to get mine break in several Post Masters. I stop at one of two local post offices a week where I’m known and workers know the rules. Occasionally holiday help needs assistance from management but my shipping days go smoothly 99% of the time. 

[Cholla]

I took it to a different PO and they took it with no issues. Lesson learned; never trust a postal worker with two nose rings and blue hair. 

[Hollifer A. Dollar]

I have shipped long guns to FFLs a few times.  First time I did it, the local postmistress was really helpful & showed me all the applicable rules.  She said that a lot of USPS counter employees don't know the process, so they just come up with some kind of obscure rule so they didn't have to handle the shipment.  She also told me about shipping direct to another person within the same state & recommended insuring the package for more than the value of the firearm inside, said it was pretty cheap insurance.  She was one of the few that was always helpful & courteous.  That's one of the nice things about living in a small town.

 

Holler

[Eyesa Horg]

I've shipped 2 in the triangle boxes with ffl info and my drivers license info. Didn't say anything to the PO lady and off they went 

[Irish Dan O'Shootem]

On 11/7/2023 at 11:59 AM, Cholla said:

I took it to a different PO and they took it with no issues. Lesson learned; never trust a postal worker with two nose rings and blue hair. 

Yep that's what i did, I believe the first one was a anti gun nut.