shipping longrifles

[Roger B]

It's been a while since I shipped a muzzleloader & I'm getting all kinds of BS static from the local shippers.  Who do you guys use to ship muzzleloaders?  (This could be the wrong heading under which to put this subject, so move away if need be>)
Roger B.

[Birddog6]

I have a wooden crate made of 3/4 x 4" pine on the sides & luan plywood top & bottom. Inside is 1 sheet of styrafoam, then 2 layers of same with the cutout of the rifle in it, then a top layer of styrafoam. The bottom & sides are glued together & have lots of 1" sheetrock screws in them. The top is screwed on the same (no glue)  All of this is encased in cardboard & taped up good. I put the rifle in a gunlcok to keep the styrafoam from rubbing the finish.

Shipped by UPS & it  is a replicated Antique.

[bob in the woods]

Being in Canada, I  can tell you that I have never had a problem shipping longrifles via the mail.
Every time I tried to use a courier, I regretted it. Especially if the package had to cross the border.
The Postal Service is the best, [ and the least expensive}

[Tommy Bruce]

I've always used the US postal service.  They've always given me good service. Sometimes coming up with a box is tough. 

[Birddog6]

Finally found a photo of my rifle shipping crate.  Have shipped over 30 rifles in this one & have not had any damages to date.

[roundball]

Solid looking shipping carton Keith...I can see why you want it returned after each delivery.

TVM uses one of similar dimensions...1" wood around the inside perimeter...but instead of a precise form-fitting styrofoam cutout like yours they use use padding material like what is installed under new carpet...instead of a wooden carton its a thick strong commercial grade cardboard carton...looks it it could be reused a few times.

[erdillonjr]

I use the USPS to ship guns . They are very reasonable and never ask me any questions. Ed

[Nate McKenzie]

I use Track's boxes and have UPS pick it up at the house. No problems.

[rsells]

I have been using UPS for years, but have had two problems this year.  One was last week.  I am changing over to TOF shipping cartons only.  They work well and I have not had any issues with rifles shipped in them, but the older type shipping cartsons I used in the past have caused me some issues this year.  I have no problems shipping UPS when I list the rifle in code like inventory numbers.  Example :  .36calflttN.  However, the post office does not want me to ship through them.  They ask pointed questions and push back when I tell them it is muzzleloader.  The will ship it for me if I ship the lock in another carton.
                                                         Roger

[flehto]

Last year I tried to ship a LR through USPS and the clerk gave me a hard time  and seeing it took forty minutes for him to process the crate, I thought I'd find out just what the  USPS regs are. Talked to the postmaster and she said that she would talk to 3 other postmasters. and get back to me. 2 days  later she called and said the following....if the content is a MLer, it must be declared as such and will only be shipped by "ground transportation"  because they can't vouch as to whether it's loaded. She said no firearms of any kind can be shipped by air. Don't know if what she said are in fact the USPS regs because when the USPS was contacted later through the internet at their website, they told me to contact the local postmaster. By the way, the crate took 16 days from Wisconsin to Texas and the customer was very nervous seeing he had given me a check for the full amount before shipment......Fred

[George F.]

What would the cost be to ship Fed Ex (if they do it) as compared to other methods? If the customer was willing to cover shipping expenses, 18 days I guess would make you nervous. Just wondering, if any body has tried it.   Geo.

[flehto]

The local FedEX/Kinko wouldn't ship the MLer...I was toild it was against their company policy....Fred

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I recently sent my Kuntz rifle down to Tom Curran in NY via Canada Post and the USPS.  It arrived safe and sound in 7 days.  I declared it "Antique Flintlock".  We can also ship handguns via Canada Post.

[bob in the woods]

I just sent a "package" to TOW last Monday by Canada Post. They received it Friday. Labelled "antique
firelock"  Simple and no hassles. UPS was a nightmare. Gun was tied up for 2 months .and extra charges of duties and brokerage fees added to the headache

[T*O*F]

Any problems you might have using USPS, UPS, or FedEx are the result of local ignorance of the regulations.  Most UPS or FedEx franchise locations will not ship.  You have to do it company direct.  I routinely ship bolt action inlines via USPS and UPS.  I have also shipped cartridge rifles via USPS to FFL holders to make the transfer.  You cannot ship cartridge pistols unless you are an FFL holder and it is going to an FFL holder and I don't believe USPS will allow that.  You also have to be aware of state and local laws of various places which would preclude your shipping a ML.

[t.caster]

I have always shipped rifles by UPS in the US. They have never given me any hassle. I guess it depends on you area. UPS picks up at my place of work every day, so the driver never questions it. I ship in a wooden box like birddog6 so it is well protected. Driver knows it is a longrifle just by looking at the size of the package, and couldn't care less. Make sure you INSURE it for full value!!!

I'm not saying it's the best way to ship, just that in Mid Mich. they don't give you any trouble, from my experience.

Usually costs me $44 to $54 to ship around the country. How does that compare to USPO??

[oakridge]

I agree with TOF. Depends on who you're dealing with on the local level. Some are ignorant of the rules -  some are just a******s. I live in a small town and know most of the folks I'm dealing with, so I've had no problems shipping antique guns with USPS, UPS or FedEx. Even a local franchise (handles UPS and FedEx) is no trouble. I walked in with a long wooden box one day and asked him to insure it for $7,500. All he said was "must be a @!*% nice gun". He knew what I was shipping without asking. Said he'd take care of it. As to containers, I've used both wooden cartons with screwed down lids, and my aluminum case (made by Kalispell). It has a long rod that slides through the latches, with a padlock on one end.

[billnpatti]

Good Grief!!  These are a lot of horror stories about shipping muzzleloaders via the various carriers.  I live in Indiana and only once did I have a slight bit of trouble shipping a muzzleloader.  I tried to ship from a UPS franchise and they had to call the central office before they would accept it for shipment.  Since that time, I have had absolutely no trouble shipping either through UPS or USPS.  I just tell them exactly what is in the carton, place a value on it for insurance purposes and they figure my cost and off it goes.  No problemo!  I have found that USPS is less expensive.

If either of these folks continue to give you trouble, I'd just get a copy of the applicable regulations and keep them on hand to show when you need to ship a gun.

[Bob Rearley]

You can access the USPS shipping regs on line.  Black powder firearms do not fall under the same regs as conventional firearms.  I always take a copy of their regs with me when I go to ship a gun and they always want to see my Federal Fire Arms License.  After about a half hour of interrogation they finally will ship for me.
Bob

[Dennis Glazener]

Had toe broken by Fed Ex and fixed it myself rather than try to collect.

I have had 3 rifles damaged by UPS and only turned one in for damages. It took me 8 months to get a settlement (only asked to pay actual repair bill).

They were horrible to deal with and I will try never to use them again.

I have been using USPS Priority ever since and have had one with slight damage caused by dropping the box on the end. That problem was settled by the post master and the receiving party on the other end after I mailed him the insurance papers.
Dennis

[Long John]

I have used Fed Ex to ship my rifle to myself when going on a hunting trip.  No problem!  I call them up, they came to my door, took the gun case and the next day it was waiting for me in Salt Lake City.  It is expensive, but I never had any poblems at all. 

In my brother's case the air weigh bill got torn off his case and Fed Ex called information, got his telephone number for the name and address on the case and called his office to find out where the package was supposed to go.  They got it there the next day, no extra charge.

But, Fed Ex is expensive!

JMC

[Daryl]

Costs too much to insure full value from here - hundreds and hundreds of $$.

[flehto]

Judging from some of the posts, the local shipping sites have personnel  who use their personal judgements if and how MLers can be shipped. My local FedEx will definitely not ship a MLer because I was told it's against company policy. My local USPS will not ship a MLer by Priority Mail, only ground transport. Neither the local  FedEx or USPS will listen to any arguements contrary to what they think are the regs so one just has to be tolerant and accept reality as difficult as that might be.....Fred

[rdillon]

I use Track's boxes and have UPS pick it up at the house. No problems.

Me too!!!!!!  I just don't have enough time to build a nice shipping box.  These boxes are readily available and cost isn't bad either.  I runs about $40-$80.00 to ship USPS with insurance and delivery conformation depending on how much insurance you need.  No problems with shipping it thru the local PO either.  Just state as said before.  "Antique Firearm"

[Blackpowder Barbie]

Well, for us I don't list any finished gun as a whole gun, but rather as parts and the more details on the parts the less ??'s I get.  For example:

Curly maple wooden stock, antique replica steel lock, brass castings, and 12L14 42" steel machined tubing. 

Vague and truthful all at the same time. 

First off ML guns are not classified as firearms so no need for us to call them that when trying to ship.  They are classified as antique replicas, so refer to them as such and you can avoid triggering the gun freaks.  If questioned, list out the parts above, still no reference to "a gun!" 

It is completely legal to ship them through the USPS but you may need to educate your local staff by providing them with their own documents.  UPS ships our stuff all the time, but being a privately owned company they can deny any gun, antique or not if they fee like it.  We don't have any experience with Fed-Ex or other shippers. 

All of our kits and a few lower priced finished guns are shipped in cardboard boxes stuffed with news paper.  This has worked well for us for over 20 years now.  If we are shipping any high end guns then we use an aluminum case from Kallispell with the option of the customer to buy it, or send it back at their expense.

This year however, UPS broke one of our kits and refused to pay the insurance claim of $250 to replace the stock.  Their Claims/Insurance company is outsourced and thus not all agents are aware of UPS Field Rep. recommendations (our Rep. says news paper is fine - the claims agent said it's not).  So after doing what we should have done years ago, we evaluated how much we spend a year in insurance from UPS verses the cost of the handful of broken stocks we get (typically one every 18 months.)  When it was all down on paper UPS could break 10-15 stocks a year and we'd still come out ahead by not paying insurance on them.  So we have completely dropped insurance on the rifle kits.  Dad sent them a nice letter explaining how perhaps they should send their claims agents to a class on money management - pay $250 or loss $3000 seems clear to me, but not to the claims agent.   

If shipping international just drop me an email and I can tell you how I'd ship your specific item.