Shipping carrier rules on guns and ammo
FedEx, UPS, and USPS have different policies for different things. Certain things can only be shipped through an FFL.
GunTab provides this guidance with the warning that it may be incomplete or out of date. It is your responsibility to know and follow laws and policies that apply in your jurisdiction.
Do not lie to your carrier about what a shipment contains, because it's not worth the risk. First, it might be a federal crime. BATF says: "federal law requires that the carrier be notified that the shipment contains a firearm". Also, your carrier might X-ray your shipment, discover it does not contain what you stated, and destroy it.
Firearms
Handgun (pistol or revolver)
Pistol. A weapon originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and having (... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Long gun (rifle or shotgun)
A rifle or shotgun. Rifle: 'A weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designe... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail
- USPS Priority Mail Express
NFA firearms
Short-barreled rifle (SBR) or shotgun (SBS)
A short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun. Short-barreled rifle: 'A rifle having one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length, ... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Machine gun
Any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by ... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Any other weapon (AOW)
Any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive, a pistol or r... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Other firearms
Antique gun (fixed ammo design in manufacture before 1899)
Antique firearm. Any firearm not designed or redesigned for using rim fire or conventional center fire ignition with fixed ammunition and manufactu... see full definition.
- FedEx Ground
- FedEx Express Saver
- FedEx 2Day
- FedEx 2Day (AM)
- FedEx Standard Overnight
- FedEx Priority Overnight
- FedEx First Overnight
- UPS Ground
- UPS 2nd Day Air
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM)
- UPS 3-Day Select
- UPS Next Day Air
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver)
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM)
- USPS First Class Mail
- USPS Media Mail
- USPS Parcel Select
- USPS Priority Mail
- USPS Priority Mail Express
- USPS Retail Ground
Curio or relic (manufactured 50+ years ago)
Curio or relic. Firearms which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for ... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
Frame/Lower/Receivers
Handgun lower receiver/frame
That part of a firearm which provides housing for the hammer, bolt or breechblock and firing mechanism, and which is usually threaded at its forwar... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Long gun lower receiver/frame
That part of a firearm which provides housing for the hammer, bolt or breechblock and firing mechanism, and which is usually threaded at its forwar... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail
- USPS Priority Mail Express
Ammunition
Handgun ammunition
Ammunition designed for use in a pistol or revolver.
- FedEx Ground
- UPS Ground Carrier account required
Long gun ammunition
Ammunition designed for use in a rifle or shotgun.
- FedEx Ground
- UPS Ground Carrier account required
Ammunition flammables (powder, primers, etc)
- FedEx Ground
- UPS Ground Carrier account required
Others
Silencer/Suppressor
Any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, an... see full definition.
- FedEx Priority Overnight FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Ground FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS 3-Day Select FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver) FFL only Carrier account required
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM) FFL only Carrier account required
- USPS Priority Mail FFL only
- USPS Priority Mail Express FFL only
Magazines
A detachable ammunition storage and feeding device for a repeating firearm.
- FedEx Ground
- FedEx Express Saver
- FedEx 2Day
- FedEx 2Day (AM)
- FedEx Standard Overnight
- FedEx Priority Overnight
- FedEx First Overnight
- UPS Ground
- UPS 2nd Day Air
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM)
- UPS 3-Day Select
- UPS Next Day Air
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver)
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM)
- USPS First Class Mail
- USPS Media Mail
- USPS Parcel Select
- USPS Priority Mail
- USPS Priority Mail Express
- USPS Retail Ground
Other merchandise (non-regulated uppers, parts, accessories, etc.)
- FedEx Ground
- FedEx Express Saver
- FedEx 2Day
- FedEx 2Day (AM)
- FedEx Standard Overnight
- FedEx Priority Overnight
- FedEx First Overnight
- UPS Ground
- UPS 2nd Day Air
- UPS 2nd Day Air (AM)
- UPS 3-Day Select
- UPS Next Day Air
- UPS Next Day Air (Saver)
- UPS Next Day Air (Early AM)
- USPS First Class Mail
- USPS Media Mail
- USPS Parcel Select
- USPS Priority Mail
- USPS Priority Mail Express
- USPS Retail Ground
Learn more
- FedEx guidance and FedEx policy (page 144)
- UPS policy on firearms and UPS policy on ammo
- USPS policy
Something missing?
Is something missing from this list? Please contact us or tell us on Twitter.