Shipping Firearms

[ehenry]

Not sure how many here are FFL license holders, I'm not, but I've got three hand guns and two rifles I have to ship from Canton, MS to Tok, AK. These guns belonged to a gentleman who passed away and the will specifically stated they were to go to his son who lives in Tok, AK.

As I understand it and my being the executor of the estate, since the will has been executed and the estate closed now I can ship these guns to Tok, AK to an FFL license holder and the son can get them from him after the proper forms have been filled out and NCIC checks done. The guns are in pretty bad shape and not worth much. It is going to cost dang near the value of the guns to ship them to Tok because the law states they have to be shipped express next day air. Them money will come out of the estate to pay to the cost but its crazy its going to cost this much. $270 UPS and $175 to the FFL holder to receive them and handle everything in Tok.

Sorry yall.....just had to vent a little bit.

 

[GA_Boater]

Why not have the heir get the background check done first before shipping. It would be the pits if the recipient can't take delivery.

 

[alldodge]

Not a guru in this area but what I have read you are correct, that due to a hand gun is involved it has to be a FFL person in the same state. That said it has to be in the same state not the same city. Wonder if there is a way to find a lower cost FFL person?

 

[ehenry]

Tok, AK has 8 FFL holders that I found on the net. I emailed all of them and checked those that had sites. Of the ones I emailed, only one responded. I did some checking around down here and most gun shops and FFL holders charge $20 to $25 to receive and handle. They're charging $35 up in Tok. I guess that's the price in Alaska.

I tried to buy the guns from the son and was going to give him a good bit more that what they appraised for just because they were his Dad's and his Dad was a very good friend of mine but he wants the guns.

With the price of revolvers now days I really want the two revolvers. A Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 mag 7.5" barrel and a Colt Peacemaker .22 6" barrel with a .22 mag cylinder. Those were the only two I really wanted but would have bought them all if he would have sold them.

 

[southkogs]

$35 is a little high but not terrible ... I thought the $175 was their handling fee.

... Tok, Alaska ... talk about "out there." Wow.

 

[gm280]

Something smells fish there with both costs to me. And I was under the impression that any gun changing hands between family members does not have to go via any FFL dealer. That's not to say you can't go that route, but that it doesn't have to. It is basically the same thing as a person selling a gun to another person. There is zero need for any FFL dealer with that sell. That IS the law. JMHO!

 

[alldodge]

Not trying to get in the middle, but the regs as I read them the FFL just needs to be in the state. So Anchorage, Paxson , Deltona, Gakona or other.

 

[jbcurt00]

The guns arent transferring between family members gm280, the deceased father cant ship them to his son.

Might argue that it was his intent, but who do you ask and get a legally binding favorable decision. Then how do you make sure anyone that questions it after they're shipped, arrives at the same 'its legal' decision. In a time frame that doesn't cost the executor a great deal of time and money?

 

[ehenry]

AllDodge, not sure what you're saying by being in the state but Tok is in the state of Alaska. Its about 200 mile east of Fairbanks close to the Canadian border.

The $175 is $35x5. There are 5 guns total to be shipped. I'm not going to argue over $175 especially when they're 3k miles away. $270 is what UPS wants to ship the 3 pistols. That doesn't include the two rifles. I'm going to send the two rifles through the USPS. They don't have to go to an FFL holder and it will be somewhat cheaper.

Gm280, the law states that handguns cannot be shipped interstate unless either the shipper or the receiver is an FFL holder. Now, If the son chose to fly down to Mississippi from Alaska he could check the guns as baggage on the return flight home and the FFL holder wouldn't not be involved. That originally was the plan. His sister was going to fly down, visit family here and take the guns back with her but that didn't happen so now I've got to ship them by private carrier.

 

[jbcurt00]

I think Alldodge was suggesting FLLs in other (nearby?) cities might be less per pistol.

Good on ya for handling it and honoring his wishes

Holding them a bit longer for later pickup an option?

 

[ehenry]

Jburt00, my friend passed in November 2013 and I've had the guns since that time. I'm ready for them to not be my responsibility any longer. This is the last thing I've got to do as executor of this estate. Once I ship them I will be through with exception of distributing some money and I'm waiting on a tax refund coming to the estate before I do that.

 

[jbcurt00]

Just had to ask.

Your right, its time

 

[thumpar]

You may want to use a local FFL to ship them to the other FFL. FFLs can use USPS to ship so it is MUCH cheaper. A private person has to ship FedEx or UPS overnight priority and it is expensive. When I shipped my Glock in for warranty FedEx changed $80. My FFL friend then told me he could have done it for about $12.

 

[MTboatguy]

As a FFL holder, I can tell based on experience, get a hold of a gun dealer in your area and ship through them, it will cost a fortune to ship as a private person. That said, in order cover your self and the legalities that can be involved, you need to ship to a FFL and the background check will have to be preformed before the recipient can take possession of them. The days of dropping a gun off at the local post office are gone and you want to make sure that you don't have any problems with shipping firearms.

gm280,

these are not between family members and it is an interstate transfer, also some states have passed laws that require background checks even when it is between family members, I know that WA has and I believe that OR has as well, it is always best to have the background check done these days, just to many things that can go wrong.

 

[thumpar]

When you do find an FFL on the other end look for one that charges by the form not by the firearm. A lot will charge for each firearm even though they can do up to 5 on one form. There is a local place here that is a little more expensive than others but they charge by the form not each firearm so I use them when I have a few shipped in.

 

[gm280]

I have no idea if either side of this transfer are NRA members or not. However, if the receiving person does happen to be an NRA member, then a lot of FFL dealers don't charge a single penny to transfer guns for members. May be something to look into. :noidea:

 

[MTboatguy]

I have no idea if either side of this transfer are NRA members or not. However, if the receiving person does happen to be an NRA member, then a lot of FFL dealers don't charge a single penny to transfer guns for members. May be something to look into. :noidea:

That is a great Idea, if you are a NRA member, then use the resources they provide.

 

[jbcurt00]

That could be well worth joining, if you're so inclined and nit currently a member

 

[fhhuber]

Check about shipping disassembled in a few boxes. Most of the parts can be bought/sold/traded with no FFL involved.

Then you can ship the parts that need FFL the expensive way (or maybe since its not a complete working gun it doesn't need the expensive way at all) and the rest go the cheap way.

May or may not help with the FFL charge on the other end too....

Just an idea.

Someone who knows what they are doing can reassemble in just a few minutes (or just a few seconds...)

 

[MTboatguy]

The problem with shipping disassembled is the part that has the serial number is still going to be an NFA item and that is what they are charging the fee for, taking a revolver apart and then shipping in different parts is really not going to save you any money, they are going to charge you on the frame.