Only in narrow cases can you mail firearms, and the carrier and the type of gun decide which ones.
USPS lets licensed dealers and manufacturers mail handguns. It allows unloaded rifles and shotguns under strict conditions. A private owner’s main route is mailing a long gun to himself or herself in another state for a lawful activity.
Federal law and postal rules both apply. So can you mail firearms with every carrier?
No. The answer changes sharply between USPS, UPS and FedEx. This guide covers each carrier, the packing rules, and the points where the published rules stop short.
Can you mail firearms through USPS?
It depends on the gun. USPS Publication 52 splits firearms into handguns and long guns.
The two groups follow very different rules. The USPS shipping restrictions page says only licensed manufacturers and dealers may mail or receive handguns.
The rules below come from Publication 52 section 432, the mailability section. It tells mailers to follow the Gun Control Act of 1968 and Title 18, section 1715, the statute that keeps handguns out of the mail, and every firearm shipment must use a USPS product or extra service that provides tracking and signature capture at delivery.
Postmasters are not authorized to give opinions on the legality of any firearms shipment. Publication 52 points mailers to the ATF for that question.
Can you mail firearms that are handguns?
Publication 52 defines handguns as pistols, revolvers and other firearms that can be concealed on a person. That definition also covers short barreled rifles and short barreled shotguns. Concealable firearms are nonmailable except in a short list of cases.
- Between licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers.
- By authorized law enforcement, with the required documents.
- Between curio and relic collectors, when the item is an antique firearm.
Section 432.2 also names other authorized recipients, such as military officers, law enforcement officers, federal enforcement officers and purchasing agents, each with an affidavit signed by the addressee. Licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers instead file PS Form 1508, Statement by Shipper of Firearms.
A private owner who wants to send a pistol to a gunsmith or a relative cannot use USPS. Short barreled rifles and shotguns that can be concealed on the person are also nonmailable.
Can you mail a gun to another state?
For rifles and shotguns, sometimes. Publication 52 says unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable with restrictions.
Section 432.3 lets an owner without a federal license mail one to himself or herself in another state for lawful activities, or to a licensed dealer. Licensed dealers may mail them freely. Shipments inside one state must carry a “Return Service Requested” endorsement along with the tracking and signature service.
The self shipment rule exists for cases like moving a hunting rifle to a cabin in another state. It is not a way to send a gun to a friend. A sale or repair goes to a dealer who holds a Federal Firearms License.
Publication 52 section 431 sets the line between long guns and handguns. A rifle has a barrel of at least 16 inches.
A shotgun has a barrel of at least 18 inches. Both must be impossible to conceal on the person.
How USPS wants a long gun packed and sent
USPS adds practical conditions to a lawful long gun shipment. The package must not carry any marking on the outside that shows what is inside. USPS may ask you to open the package or give written certification that the guns are unloaded.
Long gun shipments also need tracking and signature capture at delivery, the same as handguns. A service such as Registered Mail adds a custody chain and meets that test. Publication 52 does not require Registered Mail specifically, so Signature Confirmation on a tracked parcel also qualifies.
The Mail Class Selector can show which mail classes offer tracking and signature options. Pick one before you go to the counter.
Can you mail a gun to a licensed dealer?
A licensed dealer is the one party the rules treat as a normal recipient. Licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers can exchange handguns by mail. Dealers may also ship rifles and shotguns.
That is why many private sales and repairs go through a dealer instead of the counter. The dealer holds the license that unlocks the handgun rules. You still need to confirm what your own shipment may include.
Can you mail antique firearms?
Publication 52 defines antiques narrowly. They are muzzle loading rifles, shotguns or pistols designed to use black powder, with specific manufacturing dates and conversion limits. Most antique firearms fall outside the general firearms definition.
The handgun rules still mention antiques in one place. Curio and relic collectors may mail antique firearms to each other. If your item is an antique replica or a converted gun, the answer may differ, so check the section 431 definitions first.
Is ammunition mailable?
No. The USPS shipping restrictions page lists ammunition as nonmailable.
That holds even when the ammunition is meant for a legal rifle. A lawful gun shipment must be unloaded and sent without any rounds in the box.
Air guns are treated differently. Publication 52 says guns that use compressed air or gas are not regulated as firearms.
That includes paintball and pellet guns. The exception is an air gun built on the frame or receiver of a real firearm.
Who can ship what, by carrier
| Carrier | Handguns | Rifles and shotguns | Ammunition |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers; law enforcement with documents; antique firearms between curio and relic collectors | Unloaded, with restrictions; owners to themselves in another state for lawful activities; licensed dealers | Nonmailable |
| UPS | Licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers and collectors by contract; Next Day Air only | Licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers and collectors by contract | Shipped separately from firearms under the UPS hazmat rules |
| FedEx | Only approved holders of a Federal Firearms License | Only approved holders of a Federal Firearms License | Prohibited; never accepted at a retail location |
Can you ship a gun with UPS or FedEx?
For most private owners, no. UPS accepts firearms only as a contractual service and only from shippers who are licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers or collectors. Handguns move only by UPS Next Day Air services.
Each package needs Adult Signature Required and Direct Delivery Only, new corrugated packaging, a label that does not identify the contents, and no ammunition inside. Firearms cannot be tendered at The UPS Store, other third party retailers or UPS Access Points, as the UPS firearms shipping page explains.
FedEx is stricter about who qualifies. Only customers with a Federal Firearms License can ship.
They need approval through a FedEx account executive and a signed Firearms Shipping Compliance Agreement. Those without a license are not eligible, as the FedEx firearms page explains.
What FedEx requires for approved firearm shipments
Approved FedEx shippers must remove all ammunition and engage the safety. Rifles and shotguns must be broken down.
The firearm goes in a sturdy outer box or hard case with cushioning. That case then goes into a plain outer box with no identifying marks.
Every shipment needs either Adult Signature Required or Direct Signature Required. FedEx Office locations accept packed and labeled firearms. Staff cannot pack the gun or create the label for you.
Ammunition may never be shipped from a FedEx Office or other FedEx retail location. It must be completely removed from the firearm. UPS likewise requires ammunition to travel separately from any firearm, under its hazardous materials rules.
Can you mail firearms internationally?
Do not plan on it. The Publication 52 table of contents shows a section that extends restrictions to international mail, and firearms are generally prohibited in cross border shipments. UPS also lists firearms as restricted for international shipping, accepted by contract only.
Export and import rules sit with federal agencies, not the carrier counter. Contact the ATF before you arrange any shipment that crosses a border.
State law and what the carriers will not tell you
Whether you can mail firearms also depends on where they land. Carrier rules are only one layer.
State and local laws on receiving, owning or transporting firearms can differ. The carrier pages do not cover them.
Confirm the rules at the destination with the ATF or a licensed dealer. A rule that is legal under postal regulations can still be blocked by a state or city.
No extra postal form exists for a private long gun shipment. PS Form 1508 is the form licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers file when they mail handguns, and the affidavit applies to the other authorized handgun recipients. A private owner should expect to be asked for written certification that the gun is unloaded, and nothing more.
What to do before you ship a firearm
- Identify the gun: handgun, rifle, shotgun, antique or air gun.
- Check whether you or the recipient hold the required federal license.
- Contact the ATF if anything is unclear, since postmasters will not give legal opinions.
- Unload the gun, remove all ammunition, and pack it in a plain box with no markings.
- Choose a service with tracking and signature on delivery.
If a package is lost or damaged, the USPS claim process has its own deadlines and evidence rules.
For general shipping steps, see how to ship a package with USPS.
UPS users can read how to ship a package with UPS for the basics.
Alcohol is another restricted item. It is covered in can you ship alcohol via USPS.
Bottom line: can you mail firearms or not?
USPS is the only major carrier with a path for some private owners. That path covers unloaded rifles and shotguns sent under tight conditions. Handguns are limited to licensed businesses and a few special cases.
Ammunition never goes in the mail. UPS and FedEx are effectively closed to unlicensed shippers.
