Shipping Ammo

[Ty17]

First of all, not sure if this is the correct place for this but I'm don't really see anywhere else it should go.

I see a lot of ammo for sale in the classifieds. How are you guys shipping it? I'm assuming UPS. Can you just box it up and use pirate ship or some other labeling company? I called the UPS store and they told me I can't ship ammo through them. I have some that I'd like to sell and will post it if I can figure out shipping.

 

[mthayr]

Google is your friend: https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...ardous-materials-guide/how-to-ship-ammunition

 

[AZ Gator]

Has to be shipped with the proper hazardous placard (can print online or probably get from UPS) and shipped directly through UPS, not through a UPS store. It is against pirate ship policy, so you “can’t” use them.

 

[Ty17]

Google is your friend: https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...ardous-materials-guide/how-to-ship-ammunition

I have read that. When I called the UPS store they told me no though. We don't have a real UPS location within an hour of where I live so it's not really feasible for me to call them.

 

[Ty17]

Has to be shipped with the proper hazardous placard (can print online or probably get from UPS) and shipped directly through UPS, not through a UPS store. It is against pirate ship policy, so you “can’t” use them.

The closest real UPS "hub" is like an hour and 15 minutes from where I live unfortunately. Maybe I just won;t be shipping ammo. I'm hoping someone has figured out a different solution. It's crazy that I can ship a rifle or shotgun directly to someone in state with USPS but can't ship ammo.

 

[Chris in TN]

Just list it for local sale?

Worst case, someone in another state sees what you have and offers to help you figure out a shipping option.

 

[MuleyFever]

The UPS Store is not UPS. They don't accept it but UPS does. Do you or your wife work someplace that uses UPS? If so just ship it from there. Make sure its in a box with the Limited Quantity placard.

 

[Macintosh]

UPS says they take it, but they DO NOT all take it. Ask me how I know. Both of the hubs in my area refuse to take ammo, even properly marked. Check before you commit, regardless of what UPS’s published regs say.

 

[MuleyFever]

UPS says they take it, but they DO NOT all take it. Ask me how I know. Check before you commit, regardless of what UPS’s published regs say.

You don't have to tell them what's in the box. I never have.

 

[Macintosh]

That was not my experience. Its a hazmat item subject to different regs, I dont know the nitty gritty but they would
not take it without knowing what it was that it needed the label, and they were 100% adamant that they had no care at all what ups’s website said, that their policy was zero ammo. I imagine its some local managers personal power trip, but I also imagine if both local hubs refuse to follow regs, that there are others as well.

 

[EdP]

I've never shipped ammo but I've had it shipped to me and it was UPS that delivered it. Well, except for the time they left my 500 rounds of 9 mil at the neighbors back door.

 

[chizelhead]

I've shipped ammo recently. You can use UPS or Fedex. I've only used UPS. UPS stores will not accept it as they aren't owned by UPS rather they are owned by franchisees which have different rules/liabilities. You can use a box that ammo was shipped to you as long the box is in good shape. It should have the placard on it, UPS says the box must be new, but I haven't had a problem reusing those boxes. You need to create a UPS account, otherwise, you can't create a label. You can pay to have UPS pick it up for ~$15 or you can hand it to a UPS driver if you don't have a UPS customer care center near by. I think few centers exist now, UPS has been shutting them down. The $15 pick up charge can kill the economics of selling your ammo. The fee may be different based on your locale. I've waited for multiple packages to accumulate before scheduling a pickup to spread the cost. The UPS driver frequents my street, so I've also skipped the pick up fee and flagged him down.

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Also curious how guys who regularly do this go about it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Ive had guys just fill a box up an send it. lol

 

[h2so4]

Call the ups store, ask them what time last pickup is. They say 6pm. Perfect, go to the back door at 5:50 and meet the driver and hand directly to him.
Don’t have an ups store? Make an ups account online, make a label (use the simple rate for best rate) and then add a scheduled pickup when making the label. You give them the pickup location and time window.
Or just drive around with the package in your car hoping you bump into an ups driver.
You may be able to get away with using pirate ship and handing it off to the ups store a few times, but they will wise up quick.

 

[wapitibob]

I've shipped by ground, thousands of primers sporting goods items from the ups store, packaged better than any hazmat shipper. I would do the same with loaded ammo without hesitation. My last 10# shipment of powder was loose in a 20 x 20 box. All that hazmat stuff does is make sure is stays on the ground and not in a plane that might fall out of the sky.

 

[Goseth04]

It must be packed in its original manufacturer's packaging (cardboard box, plastic tray, etc.). If original packaging is missing, you must use inner packaging (like a small plastic ammo box) that prevents movement and contact between cartridges.

 

[5MilesBack]

I shipped just under 1000 rounds of ammo a few months ago. It was in a properly labeled box and cost $5 extra to schedule a UPS pickup at my house. Wasn't a big deal, just $5 extra bucks.

Recently I did receive some ammo that was sent Fedex without hazmat labeling, and the box was falling apart. I've also received ammo through USPS in unlabeled boxes. That's all risky.

 

[hunthikecamp]

My experience with a small package, 40 rounds, was that as soon as you put that hazmat placard on it, very few stores will even want to touch it. Like others said, it may be a manager power trip of not wanting to deal with it, or they may just not be willing to admit they don't know their own rules as well as they should. The lesson I learned was call ahead and make sure they will accept ammo. I ended up at a Fedex warehouse and a guy there helped me out because he could see how ridiculous the runaround was they were putting me through and he knew what needed to happen. It can be a PITA for sure, but sounds like some others have it figured out.

I was tempted to remove the label and ship it as 'books' or something but the reason for the placard is so that it doesn't go on a plane, it goes by truck only, so keep that in mind if you decide to go that route. Plus at some point in label generation they do ask 'is there anything hazardous?'.

 

[cowdisciple]

Of course, flying commercially with checked ammo is no problem at all :/