Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Shooting Traditional Firearms and Weapons => General Interest => Topic started by: Indiana on March 05, 2009, 05:17:53 PM

Title: Mailing a caplock
Post by: Indiana on March 05, 2009, 05:17:53 PM

Hi guys

Are there any special things I have to do to mail a caplock muzzleloader or can I just ship it regular USPS?  One of my high school teachers gave me an old .45 TC Hawken capper because he broke the stock on it back in the 80's and never got it fixed.  Well I call up TC and they are going to replace the stock for free, all I need to do is mail it to them.  

So what do you guys do when you mail a gun?

Thanks,
Indy

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Post by: Bruce Bogart on March 05, 2009, 05:38:23 PM

Make sure it's not loaded, pack it well to protect it, label it as machined parts, insure it, and UPS it! Thats my thought. Others may differ!
Bruce

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Post by: Uncle Russ on March 05, 2009, 05:44:47 PM

Just take it to the Post Office.
You don't have to declare it, or anything like that, but they will ask you the routine questions of; Does the package contain anything prohibited? Anything Flammable? etc, etc,

You may end up with a case of "Sticker Shock" once they tell you the cost, but that is mostly due to the length. ($40+ is about what you're looking at.)
I insure everything I ship USPS, and although many feel it is not necessary, I have had toooo much go south on me over the years.

Insurance is important IMHO, and for the price, $4.60 on a $250 item, it is well worth it.....Ohio Joe and myself went through this last year, and although it is something of a hassle, it is well worth the money.

Maybe Joe will see this and chime in.........

Hope this helps a little bit.

Uncle Russ...

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Post by: jbullard1 on March 05, 2009, 05:45:46 PM

Indy
Be sure you put extra padding on the hammer area that can protrude through the package
I think the USPS used 600# gorillas as package handlers

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Post by: Gordon H.Kemp on March 05, 2009, 07:36:32 PM

I would also encourage putting enough insurance to cover loss or breakage. Sooner or later UPS, USPS and Fed=x will get you. I had never had a problem with UPS untill last year.They managed to drop the pakage off at the wrong house and we never could get those people to give it back. (a whole long and sordid story). about 4 years ago I traded for a Navy Arms double 12 ga. SxS in excellant condition. It was well secured and pakaged. Fed-X managed to drop a round shaft end wise on the pakage and splintered the stock.. And not to be left out the USPS managed to lose 2 pakages of books and papers. SOoooo put lots of insuranceon it.

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Post by: Three Hawks on March 05, 2009, 08:34:07 PM

Put the [size=150]stock only [/size]in a box that fits, pad it well, then simply mail it.  Take off all metal, send only the stock and you'll keep the weight down.

If, for some unfathomable reason, T-C  wants the entire rifle,  take the barrel off the stock, pack as above.  Shortens the box, lowers the postage.

Three Hawks

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Post by: Indiana on March 05, 2009, 08:38:23 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.  

Unfortunately, TC DOES want the whole gun to make sure everything lines up right in the new stock, or so they say.  Oh well, it'll still be cheaper than buying a new stock! :D

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Post by: Captchee on March 05, 2009, 09:14:38 PM

Indiana . i ship UPS all the time , no issues . long rifles run  25-35 bucks . no issues .

 now you may get a stupid clerk who will rais a fit about  it being a firearm .  i actualy have more problems with  that through the USPO . thats why i dont send that way .

 to stp this issue with UPS i called the HQ and had them send me a letter stating the rules . copy it and take it with you .
 you will have no problem shipping it as one complete piece . just make sure its un loaded

Quote

Subject
Shipping

Discussion Thread
Response (Ana Vega) 07/27/2007 02:01 PM
Dear Charles,

Thank you for your inquiry. There are no restrictions when shipping a muzzle loading rifle. The definition of an Antique Firearm:

For a firearm to be considered "Antique", it must be manufactured in or before 1898 or any replica, muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute and cannot use fixed ammunition.
Antique firearms, as defined, may be shipped via the UPS system, and not required to be shipped via UPS's Next Day Air service.

Antique firearms, as defined, that meet the above criteria as an Antique Firearm, are acceptable for shipment at The UPS Store, Commercial Counters, and UPS Authorized Shipping Outlets. Antique firearms, as defined, are not limited to and from the authorized parties listed in the table: "Who Can Ship & Receive Handguns/Firearms?"*

Definition of a Firearm:

Any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designated to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive
The frame or receiver of any such weapon
Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer

Firearms, as defined, or parts of a firearm will not be accepted for shipment at The UPS Store, any Commercial Counter, or UPS Authorized Shipping Outlets. Antique Firearms or replicas of antique firearms made in or before 1898 are accepted.

Automatic weapons are not authorized to ship via UPS services. In addition, there are multiple restrictions and requirements associated with transporting firearms in the UPS system.

*The following list explains who can send and receive shipments of firearms through UPS:

A Licensed Collector can ship firearms to the following receivers:

- Licensed Collectors

- Licensed Gun dealer

- Gun Manufacturer (as a result of repair or adjustment only)

- Law Enforcement Agency (not a police officer at home)


A Gun Manufacturer can ship firearms to the following receivers:

- Gun Manufacturer

- Licensed Gun Dealer

- Licensed Collector

- Individual (as a result of repair or adjustment only)

- Law Enforcement Agency (not a police officer at home)


A Licensed Gun Dealer can ship firearms to the following receivers:

- Licensed Gun dealer
- Licensed Collector
- Gun Manufacturer (as a result of repair or adjustment only)
- Law Enforcement Agency (not a police officer at home)


An Individual can only ship firearms to a Gun Manufacturer for repair or adjustment only. This is contingent on the individual not being prohibited by Federal, State or local law to ship firearms.

Please be aware that the shipment of a firearm from an individual to an individual is prohibited in the UPS system.

Additional information regarding the shipment of firearms in the UPS system is available at the following links:

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resour ... earms.html (http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/firearms.html)
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resour ... svl=Footer (http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/service/tariff.html?WT.svl=Footer)

Please contact us if you need any additional assistance.

Ana Vega
UPS Customer Service

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Post by: Gordon H.Kemp on March 05, 2009, 09:24:39 PM

This certainly makes it clear that UPS welcomes the shipment of muzzleloaders. I think those agents who claim UPS will not accept muzzleloaders have no idea of this co. policy. Thanks for posting the letter.

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Post by: Mitch on March 05, 2009, 09:46:55 PM

have sent and had sent to me several muzzleloaders-FedEx or Post Office-had a friend have a Harpers'Ferry 1804(built by "Pappy) show up to his door with busted lock via UPS-they tried real hard to make it "not their fault"...

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Post by: wwpete52 on March 05, 2009, 09:52:00 PM

I've also shipped firearms (muzzleloaders and others) many times.  There are no restrictions on muzzleloaders.  I've never had a problem.  Do not ship through one of those "shipping stores" like Mail Box Plus or anything like that.  They overcharge! Sometimes as much as double what it should cost.  If you don't have a UPS Center or Hub in the area then just go to the post office.

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Post by: Uncle Russ on March 05, 2009, 10:04:10 PM

Charlie I wish I had that letter on several different occasions. Personally, I have had nothing but grief lately from UPS when trying to ship muzzleloaders.

The local UPS has flat turned me down when I told them I was shipping a Muzzleloader.
Before I moved here,  the UPS in Shelton shipped two guns in 2006, and a bunch before that when I was selling off inventory   with no problems at all, and then, after that, it was nothing but grief so I turned to the Post Office, which turned out to be a little more expensive.....

I noticed the date of that letter being 7/27/07... I wonder if there has been some kind of change around  that date because my last attempt with UPS was made in Jan 2007, and I swore to heck with 'em, ' cause it ain't worth it.

Now having said all that, I have to say I have not tried UPS since the last time which was about Jan 2007, IIRC....maybe, just maybe, things are a little different right now. I don't know.

You can bet I will be checking here locally come tomorrow. And, I'm going to have a copy of Captchee's letter in my pocket when I start asking questions.

Uncle Russ...

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Post by: Captchee on March 05, 2009, 10:26:51 PM

russ , i have shipped 4 rifles and 1 pistol in the last 2 months . that i know , there has been no change to the UPS rules as such . I also think it depends on the hub . you have to ship through a hub , the stores  I have been told , cant take them .
 as i said i take that letter every time i go down to ship . each time there seems to be someone new . i hand then the letter , they call a manager  who comes in and  reads the letter  and says no problem .
I also always insure  AND i tell the person filling out the form that i exspect 100% condition  on dilivary  anything else will rsult in me filing a claim  For damage  based on  replacment cost .  I can say that I have never ,,, Knock on wood , had to file a claim . but i also go over board on the packaging  and in some cases  i pu the piece in a scabbard  when i have exstras that the piece will fit into .
 i also have been known to  mumify  the piece in carpet pad.
 the added wieght IMO is no consiquense  to protecting the  rifle

 if you go to the UPS web site you can send them an email .
c opy the letter and ask them if there has been any changes . .  when i got that one . they replied to me within 24 hours .
 I also had an older letter dated 2004 .
 that time i called  and talked to a  rep . i ask them to e-mail me a copy of the rule so that i could take it with me to the  hub . they had that e-mail to me in 5 minutes ..

 i would ask though that  when you get the reply , you post it here so we can have an updated  letter .
 now i do know that there is a couple states that they cannot send to without going to an FFL   if i recall correctly they are NY and NJ

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Post by: Ohio Joe on March 05, 2009, 10:28:50 PM

Quote from: "RussB"

Just take it to the Post Office.
You don't have to declare it, or anything like that, but they will ask you the routine questions of; Does the package contain anything prohibited? Anything Flammable? etc, etc,

You may end up with a case of "Sticker Shock" once they tell you the cost, but that is mostly due to the length. ($40+ is about what you're looking at.)
I insure everything I ship USPS, and although many feel it is not necessary, I have had toooo much go south on me over the years.

Insurance is important IMHO, and for the price, $4.60 on a $250 item, it is well worth it.....Ohio Joe and myself went through this last year, and although it is something of a hassle, it is well worth the money.

Maybe Joe will see this and chime in.........

Hope this helps a little bit.

Uncle Russ...

Yep!  Insure it for full value.  Don't be a nice guy and trust that your product will be safely delivered undamaged, (as Russ & I found out)...

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Post by: Captchee on March 05, 2009, 10:36:58 PM

yep  what joe said .
 i should i think clerify here . I dont  insure for  cost . I  insure for value . there is a diffrance .
 cost is what the rifle  was worth .IE what  it was paid for as
value is what it would cost to replace it
 i  recently sent a lancaster  to a fella in Florida .
  I  built the rifle for 1000.00 . that was the cost .
 but i also had 245 hours into the rifle  @ 15  an hour "cheep  mind you " that comes to 3675.00 + parts .

 what you have to be carful of though is that both UPS and USPO have a insured limit .
 as such  when im shipping new guns , I insure for the max  alloud  or actual value , what ever is greater .

 another thing about USPO  that folks need to be carful of . if you dont diclair the package  and its inspected  and deemed  by that inspector ,  not to be allouable , no mater if true or not . you will be in deep . its also up to to you to prove  that  the piece is allowable . not the other way around .
 so always be truthful . dont hide anything  dont ship it  as declaired  metal  parts or fittings . be honest  100% of the time

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Post by: Indiana on March 06, 2009, 06:13:38 PM

Well I'm going to try it at the post office.  We don't have a UPS or fedex hub around here so if I wanted to go that route I'd have to wait a week and a half until I am back in the city at school.  They know me pretty well at the post office and I had them look up the regulations on ml's in their hand book just to double check so I don't think Ill get any grief.  I probably just won't mention im shipping a ml.  You don't have to declare it, do you?

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Post by: Uncle Russ on March 06, 2009, 06:23:53 PM

Indiana, it sounds like a recording every time you mail a package... Does the package contain any this, that, the other, and whatever. If you're not shipping anything that most of us already know is illegal, you just say, "no" and they slap it on the scale...they pull out their little handy / dandy Boy Scout measuring tape, do their little trick, and ask you just how you want it shipped....

It's all a walk in the Park....except for paying the bill.    

I'm like you when it comes to having a UPS hub nearby...It just ain't here.

I live in a little "Po-Dunk" town where you can't get anywhere from here, you have to go someplace else to start....but I sure do enjoy it!

Uncle Russ..

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Post by: Mitch on March 06, 2009, 06:27:17 PM

Indiana-that fancy pistol I posted awhile back was sent from Tenn via the Post Office with no problems...the builder showed the guy at the counter the pistol(small town, he wanted to see the fancy gun!)-taped it up and shipped it...he also put a huge "value" on it in case of loss/damage...hope this helps,Mitch

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Post by: butterchurn on March 15, 2009, 11:22:01 PM

MAny clerks don't the difference between guns.  They just hear "gun" and go bananas.  I have a friend who owns one of those Mail Boxes Plus joints and he mails my muzzleloaders for me no problem.  Once when he was gone I had trouble with a new clerk, but got it straightened out when I had the clerk call UPS.

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Post by: Gambia on March 16, 2009, 12:39:30 AM

One advantage to living in a small logging town where the post office is classified as rural (no home delivery)is that they will accept almost anything,and are much more knowledgeable than the larger city POs.I have shipped muzzleloaders no problem they don't even blink,the local UPS is another story they only hire people who can break an iron ball.

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Post by: Three Hawks on March 16, 2009, 12:52:05 AM

Package size is why I suggest taking the barrel out of the stock.  Pack very well so things are not bashing about in the box.  I also take the lock out of the stock then pack it in a heavy ziploc bag with  thescrews, side plate or washers, and wedge(s) in it, then tape it to the stock which is taped securely to the barrel.

As long as you are not shipping contraband, [size=150]Keep'a  you big'a mout' shut about what's in'a  da box!![/size]  It is none of their business and they really do not want to know.  They'll ask if there's anything liquid, hazardous, perishable, Yada, Yada.  Say "No." That's it.  Then they ask how you want it sent and do you want insurance.   Insure it for full value. Other than that, [size=150] Keep your pie hole shut ![/size].

More people make huge   unnecessary trouble for themsleves by jacking their jaws.  [size=150]Shut up! [/size]If you simply must tell someone, tell your dog when you are home.  [size=200]Do not answer questions not asked, volunteer no information, and use one word answers!    Capiche?[/size]

If you keep quiet you will not be there a full hour arguing with a mousy clerk who has a tiny bit of authority, no boy friend, and an IQ half her bra size while the huge ticked off guy in a hurry  behind you is getting mad enough to tear your  head off and yell dirty words down your dead neck hole.

One last bit of hard earned wisdom:   [size=150]"KEEP QUIET!"[/size]

Three Hawks