I inherited a rifle from my grandfather a long time ago. It’s been sitting in my uncle’s basement in Pennsylvania and he’s moving, so it’s time to either give it up or get it to California.
What is the best way to get it out here? I have looked around the web a bit and called gun shops here and in PA, but I’m getting a lot of conflicting advice.
One thing that worries me a little is getting a hassle from the employees at USPS or UPS or whatever even if I’m doing everything correctly–I want to get this done in a day if I can and don’t want to deal with people who won’t follow their own rules. Any tips on a legal surefire way to retrieve the gun?
I’ve shipped a rifle through ups several times with no problems. I had to send it back to the factory to have warranty work done. I just used a plain cardboard box. Even told the shipping agent what was in the box and no problems at all. It was sent back to me in the same box.
Found this on The Gun Zone .com which pretty well sums it up: http://www.thegunzone.com/ship-guns.html
It describes each of the major carriers and their own internal regulations.
Most importantly, you need a licensee, aka a FFL (Federal Firearms License) holder as the recipient if it crosses state lines. Many gun shops provide this service for a nominal fee (in my experience $25 - $75). Rates may be higher in your state.
This. My sister shipped my dad’s long guns to me across state lines. She found an FFL dealer in her state and he shipped them to an FFL in my state. I paid the shipping charges and nominal handling fees to the shipping FFL dealer. The receiving dealer may want a small fee as well.
Shipping guns into and out of California is not easy. As has already been mentioned, only licensed gun dealers can ship guns, so I’d suggest that you have someone take it to a gun shop and ask them to arrange shipping there. Or, if you have time, just drive there and put it in the trunk of your car. Unloaded, and covered with other things that you are bringing back. Drive the speed limit and don’t look like a drug smuggler and all will be good.
The OP has not identified what kind of a rifle it is. But the receiver is classified as a firearm so with the exception of shipping it to himself (from himself) it can’t be shipped except via a dealer. The rest of it can be shipped same as shipping anything else.
It’s an ancient (1930s) single-shot 22. No value except sentimental. I will in fact be in PA soon for the express purpose of taking care of this, but as I said–for only one day.
Can I really ship to myself with no problems? What is the law on this?
Can I ship via USPS? or can I/should I use UPS or FedEx? Given my time frame I really can’t afford to deal with ignorant employees who may refuse shipment. What service might be most helpful?
Under federal law, yes. But I can’t speak for California law.
I am not a lawyer, that is not legal advice. But I have owned a successful gun dealership for over 30 years. I’ve made a ton of money selling guns online in which I had to ship them. The rules for me were different, but I still have to know the rules [laws] for everyone so nobody gets tripped up.
If the uncle is going to CA anytime he could ship the arm to himself there. It doesn’t have to be his own address he receives it at. Sportsmen do this all the time.
The OP needs to study California law, though. Is the rifle even legal to own there, ship there, etc., etc.!
That. It really is the best and most sure way for a positive result.
Now if that doesn’t work and depending on California law which could be different from most states (and probably is) – you inherited it from your grandfather (direct blood line) long ago so its yours. It has just been stored in a different state from the one in which you currently reside. Assuming you are not a convicted felon, are not under a restraining order/OoP, or the like I see no reason you can’t ship it to yourself.
Remember – it’s yours; you own it. All you are doing is transporting it home. (I suspect in CA that could be important)
And worse comes to worse, I’m in PA and I always have room for another .22 single-shot until you can work out the details. Seriously, not wink-wink – I got a fairly good safe and room.
Generally anyone can ship, but a FFL must receive it. All three major carriers will do rifles. Pistols I think are only UPS or FedEx and overnight. Declare it as a firearm when shipping!
Gunbroker.com and other sites maintain lists of local guys to ship to. Find a cheap one!
Even California considers a locked trunk a case. Ammo should be carried in a separate container. This type of rifle should not have any California restrictions.
Depends. E.g. AR15s are easy to break down. But legally the receiver is the firearm and is considered such no matter what state it is in. Barrels etc. can be shipped without FFL. In this case even if it can be split it is more work than is necessary.
My uncle is not coming here anytime soon so that route is not an option. And as I understand CA law, this gun is not an issue as far as ownership/registration. I own it, have owned it, the gun type is legal in CA, don’t need to do anything special for the state.
pkbites, it is not a Springfield. It’s a Marlin.
kopek, thanks for the offer, that’s more than generous. But I think I’m going to either do what it takes to get the thing here now, or give it to other family in PA–I have cousins who would take it. They’d probably be pissed to know I “have” it
I’m fairly sure now that I can get a PA dealer to ship it to a CA dealer and I pick it up here. That will cost me more money than the gun is worth, but making a one-day side trip to ship the gun is already more than its monetary worth…
Senders do not need to visit a FFL unless there is some PA law that I am unaware of. The horse’s mouth. Another cite. Your uncle’s legal requirement is that he declare it to the sender (probably USPS is cheapest?), but ship in an otherwise nondescript box.
So you are only out one FFL fee. FFL search. Some in CA appear rather extortionate in price but wade through the pages, YMMV depending on where you are.
Thank you,** thelurkinghorror**, if that even is your real name.
So I box the thing, mail it to me, say nothing, Bob’s your uncle? Although it makes my life easy it does seem slightly…too easy. But if that’s the law that’s what I’ll do.
But wait. You mention an FFL holder, but your cite says “A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State”.
Which if I understand, means “Me (not a holder of an FFL)” can send a rifle to “Me (a resident of the destination state)” and not say nothing to nobody about the contents.
I hope I’m not being to prissy/pedantic/pissy about this. It’s just that I’ve got one shot (heh) to get it right.
I think that is not the case unless you are physically present in PA. Otherwise your uncle is mailing it to you, a different person. He can carry it to the post office, but a licensed guy has to receive it as it is interstate.
