Shipping gun/parts (AR lower) to manufacturer for service

[mythaeus]

I need to ship my AR lower to Smith and Wesson for service. What are the regulations/laws on shipping parts and shipping entire gun, both for rifles and handguns to manufacturers? I know as a private individual, I can't ship USPS an entire gun and must overnight using common carriers. What about just the AR lower? Thanks.

Al

[rwilson452]

The AR lower is the gun according to the BATFE. It makes a difference if the lower is on the books as a rifle or a pistol as to just how you can ship it.

[mythaeus]

Originally Posted by rwilson452

The AR lower is the gun according to the BATFE. It makes a difference if the lower is on the books as a rifle or a pistol as to just how you can ship it.

Thanks for the post. It's a rifle lower.

Al

[bloomautomatic]

Contact S&W and they should be able to tell you exactly how they want it shipped. They ship and receive plenty of guns, so they should know the rules.

I think pistols have to be shipped overnight/next day, but long guns are standard delivery.

Vince

[Xringshooter]

To preface my answer, I am a FFL. It being a rifle you CAN ship it USPS to a gunsmith or return it to a manufacturer. Handguns being shipped by individuals have to go by common carrier (UPS, FedEx, etc) and typically the common carrier specifies that it must go overnight. FFL's can ship handguns via USPS if they want to.

As said above, contact S&W, they will tell you how to ship and may even send the paperwork needed to ship it.

[Garpman]

Originally Posted by mythaeus

I need to ship my AR lower to Smith and Wesson for service. What are the regulations/laws on shipping parts and shipping entire gun, both for rifles and handguns to manufacturers? I know as a private individual, I can't ship USPS an entire gun and must overnight using common carriers. What about just the AR lower? Thanks.

Al

As xring said, you can indeed ship an "entire gun" (long gun) via USPS back to the manufacturer. In your case, the AR lower is in fact the entire gun according to the ATF.

[mythaeus]

Thank you for all of the replies guys. Yeah, I figured the lower is really an entire gun per BATFE since it's serialized.

I just got off the phone with S&W and they say that the only method is UPS ground and I have to drop it off at a main location (not UPS store or authorized shipper, these places won't take it). I asked about USPS, he said I won't be able to ship it out from there since I am not an FFL.

Al