USPS problem

[Rifleman1776]

I have received a couple of muzzleloaders in New Jersey by accident. More often I have black powder guns that I buy online shipped to Vermont or Virginia where I travel to regularly. I ship cap and ball revolvers out of state through the mail. If asked what it is, I answer "antique." Absolutely legal ship to most states, but don't count on the postal clerk knowing that.

Almost every package I ship is done by the online 'Click and Ship'. I have boxes from USPS and print out the shipping labels. We get rural delivery and pick up. When printing the labels one must simply verify the contents don't leak, stink, etc. You are never asked for the contents. I leave the package on my porch and the carrier picks it up. No fuss, no muss.
I even shipped an ml long gun this way. It was packed in a gun shaped hard plastic gun case. Pretty obvious but went and was returned with no problems.
Talking to a clerk at the P.O. can be another matter altogether. Many are smug and put on the bureaucratic act just to make themselves feel important. Their contract and union makes them virtually 'fire proof'. Best to avoid if possible.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Today I tried to send a muzzleloder through the mail and the post office refused it. I spoke with the local Postmaster and he also refused the shipment saying that the post office only accepts muzzleloaders for shipment from licensed dealers. I then went to the next town and tried to mail the rifle and got the same refusal. The second person went as far as calling the regional office in Waco and was told that muzzleloaders could only be shipped by dealers. Has anyone else run into this problem or is it unique to Central Texas? I have, in the past, mailed several muzzleloading rifles and shotguns with absolutely no problems. What's up?

I have shipped just about anything you can think of through the local post office. I just tell them it is going to a lic gunsmith for repair as they were (M1, M1A & etc). I have shipped muzzle loaders also with no problems. Once I take them apart to fit in smaller box they become parts.

Problem with the post office is the clerks do not know their own rules and when they hear gun they just say no to be on the safe side. so take them apart put them in smaller box and call them parts.

 

[ihuntsnook]

As long as it isn't liquid, hazardous, perishable, and it's legal to ship, the postal clerk has no business knowing what's in your package. Give them more information than they need to know, and you may reap the wind.

The big but is knowing the law. In New Jersey, I can't recieve muzzleloaders. Here they are classed as weapons, just like modern guns. Sending them out of state is another matter, so long as the destination doesn't have similar restrictions as New Jersey. It's a slippery slope.