Starter Pistol shipping

[sparky45]

I can't seem to get a straight answer from USPS/UPS/FEDx on whether a old starter pistol needs to be shipped to a FFL. Any advice?

[Texas by God]

I wouldn't think so as they are allowed at school track meets everywhere. It's not capable of firing live ammo, is it?

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[JonB_in_Glencoe]

That looks more like two questions, to be asked to two different entities.

1. Ask the BATFE if a starter pistol needs to be shipped to a FFL? (I suspect the answer is no)

once you know the answer to question #1, then...
2. Ask the Shipping service of your choice, if they allow starter pistols to be shipped and if they require any special labeling? (I suspect the answer is yes, and no special labeling required)

[dangitgriff]

Is it serialized?
If not, shipping to an FFL will be useless as teats on a bull.

[Tatume]

That looks more like two questions, to be asked to two different entities.

1. Ask the BATFE if a starter pistol needs to be shipped to a FFL? (I suspect the answer is no)

once you know the answer to question #1, then...
2. Ask the Shipping service of your choice, if they allow starter pistols to be shipped and if they require any special labeling? (I suspect the answer is yes, and no special labeling required)

I suspect it is three or four questions.
3. Is it legal to receive in the destination state without jumping through further hoops.
4. Is it legal to ship from the home state without jumping through hoops.

In most states, I suspect the answers would be yes and yes. However for states like NJ and CA, I would be "wery wery careful."

[sparky45]

I don't know if it's serial'd or not, but I did find a AJ 140 on the bottom of the handle.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

i suspect it is three or four questions.
3. Is it legal to receive in the destination state without jumping through further hoops.
4. Is it legal to ship from the home state without jumping through hoops.

In most states, i suspect the answers would be yes and yes. However for states like nj and ca, i would be "wery wery careful."

oh, you are so right !

[Duckiller]

Not sure that a starter pistol is a firearm under Federal or California state law. ATF could advise you about Fed Law and regs. Not sure where you would find out about state law. DOJ would be an obvious sourse but they are stupid. You say pistol and they would say firearm without knowing what it is.

[gwrench]

I read a suggestion several years ago about how to guard against theft of camera equipment out of checked luggage when traveling. The tip was to buy a cheap starter pistol and put it in with the camera gear. The column said you were required to declare the starter pistol as a firearm but there wasn't an extra charge. It just got special attention and was not treated as common luggage with it's associated theft possibilities.

I never tried it so can't verify any of that information.

[NyFirefighter357]

A starter pistol does not need to go through an FFL. In NY it would need orange at the muzzle to indicate it's not "real".

[JimB..]

You asked for advice, mine is to not ask a shipping company employee for legal advice. I admit that asking strangers on the internet is also of dubious value, but the folks here do tend to know a thing or two about it.

It is not a firearm under federal law. If you’re not shipping it to one of the stupid states then don’t worry about it and don’t even disclose it (it’s not a firearm and not hazardous, so doesn’t need to be disclosed IMHO), just wrap it up and drop it off. USPS doesn’t ask whats in a flat rate box, they just ask if it is on a list of prohibited items, it’s not and so off it goes. Obviously, don’t ship the blanks.

[trapper9260]

I have a starter pistol and it have no number on it to ID it . So you know . it is a clip that you put the blanks in the size of a 22 with a hole on the top for the powder to discharge to give you a idea of the one that is out there .

[sparky45]

Thanks for all the info. BATFE regs are a Catch 22 in lots of situations. Almost like it's a interpretation thing; some say yes, some no, and some maybe.