Shipping Rifle

[Therealmccoy]

What is the best way to package a rifle to be shipped across the country? My first idea is to put it in a hard rifle case and then use two fedex golf club boxes. Seems like there should be a better way. I am shipping a rifle to get rebarreled.

 

[rayporter]

i usually do something similar. just make real sure it cant move in the case. can you just send the action or the barreled action?

 

[Therealmccoy]

It will be barreled action. I can't find anyone local that wants to just remove my barrel. I actually think I would like the gunsmith installing the new barrel to remove the old also just so one person is doing the whole job.

 

[ODB]

I have shipped a bolt action taken apart, well padded in a plastic case. Not a Pelican but a thinner type. If you are just shipping the barreled action, look for a cheaper plastic case that will fit the length, a d when you get it, keep the cardboard box. Remove the bolt, pad/pack the whole thing very well, then put it back in th cardboard box. Use strapping/fiber tape to reinforce all corners. On the end you want them to open, draw a black line on the seam you want them to cut. Write “open here” in black marker with an arrow pointing to the black line. Take picture with your phone. When you ship the rifle, send the tracking info and picture to your gunsmith. Ask him to cut on the line show and to ship the rifle back in the original box. This has worked about 10 times for me.

And you are right, have one guy do all the work.

Like this:

 

[def90]

Bubble wrap rifle, place in a plastic rifle case, wrap plastic rifle case in cardboard and use more tape than you think you need, place zero identifying marks on it that it is a rifle.

 

[handwerk]

If it has a wood stock I might put it in a plastic case, otherwise I take the barreled action out of the stock, bubble wrap each and then double box in decent cardboard boxes. Make sure to insure it for it's true value.
I've shipped dozens of rifles and have yet to have a problem.

 

[fwafwow]

Do you still have the original box and styrofoam? It may sound horribly naive, but when I sent a Cooper back to them, they suggested just putting the rifle back in the original box and taping it up pretty well. It worked fine, but I also sent by UPS and paid for insurance.

 

[Wapiti1]

For a barreled action, a 4" round heavy cardboard shipping tube is the best option. Or a PVC pipe with foam donuts slid over the barrel and action. This is how I send parts out to get blued.

Place any small parts in a plastic baggy and tape to the barrel. Also tape instructions to the barrel.

Jeremy

 

[ChrisAU]

Do you still have the original box and styrofoam? It may sound horribly naive, but when I sent a Cooper back to them, they suggested just putting the rifle back in the original box and taping it up pretty well. It worked fine, but I also sent by UPS and paid for insurance.

This. I saw boxes for this purpose. Sending a barreled action to JES tomorrow, will just put it in the original box and then inside another box.

 

[Motown]

I have shipped a bolt action taken apart, well padded in a plastic case. Not a Pelican but a thinner type. If you are just shipping the barreled action, look for a cheaper plastic case that will fit the length, a d when you get it, keep the cardboard box. Remove the bolt, pad/pack the whole thing very well, then put it back in th cardboard box. Use strapping/fiber tape to reinforce all corners. On the end you want them to open, draw a black line on the seam you want them to cut. Write “open here” in black marker with an arrow pointing to the black line. Take picture with your phone. When you ship the rifle, send the tracking info and picture to your gunsmith. Ask him to cut on the line show and to ship the rifle back in the original box. This has worked about 10 times for me.

And you are right, have one guy do all the work.

Like this:

View attachment 249002

I would recommend this as well. You can order a plain jane plano case from Amazon for $29 right now. I would do that and just make sure to keep the box and reuse it in the future again when needed.

 

[Therealmccoy]

Thanks for the replies. I am liking the order a hard case and reuse the box suggestion. It will cost about the same as my first idea of buying two golf club boxes from fedex. Appreciate all of the other ideas.