Selling rifles

[abunaitoo]

So..friend is asking me to sell some rifles for him.
Haven't had any luck selling them here.
Haven't done it in a long, long time.
I would prefer to send then to an FFL.
Would I need someone with an FFL send it?????

[Winger Ed.]

Unless they are an antique, curio, or relic it would be a real good idea to go through a FFL on each end if you're not face to face.

Without a pretty decent incentive, I wouldn't mess with 'em.

Another option:
Some local gun stores will take weapons on consignment.
Going rate is 20%, and they usually get more for them than you could anyway.
It's worked out OK for me a few times.

[Land Owner]

To answer the OP, it depends. If shipped across state lines, [Case 1] some private citizens ship through the Seller's FFL to the Purchaser's FFL as the safest (but not least cost) way to go. [Case 2] private citizen ships to the Purchaser's FFL.

In Case 2 you will want to talk to the Purchaser's FFL. Get a feeling for the man. Get a copy of his license to assure it is valid and current, to add it to the shipping manifest, and to assure that he is willing to accept the transfer from a private citizen through his FFL prior to your accepting the sale or shipping anything.

A phone call should help you decide if the FFL is real or a shill. If a shill, you may get "pushback", "attitude", a denial of the necessity for him to provide a copy of his FFL to you for shipping, or a host of other "flakey" responses that might tip you off to his being less than cooperative to complete the transfer safely, correctly, timely, and transparently.

If selling face-to-face (FTF), [Case 3] insist on seeing and copying the Purchaser's valid and current Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Permit for your record of the sale. If FTF and they do not have a valid and current CCW then [Case 4] insist the sale occur through the Seller's FFL.

Only you will know, from your short FTF (and maybe phone call) interaction with the Purchaser, if that individual is respectful, agreeable, presents well, sober, or nervous, won't make eye contact, shifts weight from foot to foot, or any number of "red flags" raised in your gut about the sale. You can sell to whomever you wish within the laws of your State...or in the end - [Case 5] sell to someone else.

[smithnframe]

A description of them would be helpful!

[Ed K]

Consignment usually works well because the #1 enemy of most retail operations it $$$ in inventory - no problem in this case so the shop will take them on for much less margin.

If rare then Gunbroker or auction house.

[rancher1913]

if you haven't had any luck selling them here than maybe he thinks they are gold and I doubt you will have much luck selling them elsewhere unless you go to gunbroker and take your chances.

[JimB..]

Obviously you need to follow state law for an in-state deal, but that rarely include doing things like producing a bill of sale or maintaining copies of drivers licenses or other permits to “prove whole you sold it to”. These extra-legal requirements accomplish nothing, and while I support the seller’s right to ask for whatever he wants, I am disappointed that the culture of fear has so permeated the community.

For an interstate sale you can ship to the buyers FFL, and in your ad you may say that the buyers FFL must accept shipment from an individual. In this situation the buyer contacts his FFL and has them send you an electronic or fax copy of their FFL, if it looks good you ship to the address on the form including a copy of your ID and a note about who the buyer is so the FFL can contact them when the shipment arrives, I usually just write the buyers name and contact info on the FFL and put a copy inside the box and keep a copy for my records. A simple google search will often make it clear if they are a valid and current FFL.

Even though you can send it, you may find it cheaper to have your FFL send it because they have fewer shipping restrictions. The difference is significant for handguns, I don’t recall for long guns.

Good luck, and if the guns haven’t sold locally in the past month the seller’s expectation of value may be incorrect.

[dverna]

How a good a "friend" is he/she? Red flags go up for me when I hear stuff like this. It is not rocket science to sell a gun on Gunbroker.

I used to use Gunbroker a lot and had no problems shipping guns but always shipped to an FFL. I plan on selling another 10-12 guns this year and may post here first but will use GB if I must.

Some "specialty" guns (high end trap guns, CAS etc) can be sold in forums that cater to those sports.

[rockrat]

Some FFL's don't want to provide FFL's as they are afraid that someone might create a fake FFL using their number. If the FFL won't give you a copy, then ask for the first three numbers and the last five numbers so you can do an FFL EZ-Check and verify validity of their FFL and don't ship to an address not on the FFL. That way their full FFL numbers aren't revealed but you have enough to do your due dilligence

[white eagle]

So..friend is asking me to sell some rifles for him.
Haven't had any luck selling them here.
Haven't done it in a long, long time.
I would prefer to send then to an FFL.
Would I need someone with an FFL send it?????

normally when I sell a rifle the buyer actually provides the ffl the gun goes to
all they need from the seller is a copy of their drivers license

[M-Tecs]

So..friend is asking me to sell some rifles for him.
Haven't had any luck selling them here.
Haven't done it in a long, long time.
I would prefer to send then to an FFL.
Would I need someone with an FFL send it?????

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/firearms-frequently-asked-questions-unlicensed-persons

https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/222836508-Firearms-Shipping-Guide

https://www.pewpewtactical.com/how-to-mail-guns/

You do not need to use an FFL holder to send a firearm to another FFL holder legally, however, a lot of FFL holders chose not to receive firearms from non-FFL senders. Also noter the shipping regs within your own state. Your state also may have State Level requirements.

[abunaitoo]

Theses have to go out of state. We're on an island.
These are Steyr Mannlicher.
People here don't even know what they are.
No one here is willing to pay what they are worth.
When I've sold before, I sent to a FFL only.
I'll probably go FFL to FFL and add to the price.
Plus my having to box them real good.
Shipping is going to be high.
I was thinking of using a cardboard tube.
This way it doesn't look like a firearm.

[abunaitoo]

Tube idea is out.
Just can't find any that are reasonable.
Where would I find rifle boxes?????
I have a few, but those are mine.
Want to have him get his own.

[PNW_Steve]

I don't know the particulars in Hawaii but some states are now requiring FtF private transfers use an FFL. I suggest looking into that if you haven't already.

Here in WA if I want to buy a $50 old single shot .22 fron my next door neighbor I have to pay the local FFL $35 for the transfer and background check on the buyer.

[snowwolfe]

Amazon sells rifle shipping boxes.

[JimB..]

Tube idea is out.
Just can't find any that are reasonable.
Where would I find rifle boxes?????
I have a few, but those are mine.
Want to have him get his own.

One thing about using a local FFL to ship, they are also getting stuff in and so will often have boxes. Of course the FFL will need to log the rifle in, pack it, and ship it. If you pack it up he’ll have to unpack it to log it in and out.

[Edward]

Theses have to go out of state. We're on an island.
These are Steyr Mannlicher.
People here don't even know what they are.
No one here is willing to pay what they are worth.
When I've sold before, I sent to a FFL only.
I'll probably go FFL to FFL and add to the price.
Plus my having to box them real good.
Shipping is going to be high.
I was thinking of using a cardboard tube.
This way it doesn't look like a firearm.
Use what a dealer of fine guns would ship in and insure as such, and it does not matter if it looks like a gun !My C Sharps $3000.00 + I UPS shipped insured in a crate I built ,it got there priority and safely ,why would you skimp on shipping???

[abunaitoo]

I'm not planning on making anything on these.
Just helping him out.
I have sold some of his rifles for him at the Gunshow.
This is turning into more work than I thought.
Taking them to a Gunshop is an option.
But they take big cut, so they might just sit for a long time.
Then getting the back, he has to go through all the BS with changing back the ownership.
If I knew someone moving to the lower 48, that would be the best option.
Friend mover to the great state of Tennessee last year.
But he was over loader with all his toys.
I'll have to get with him and hash this out.

He is not walking very good.
Not really doing all that great.
His kids are more or less useless.
I think there might be some urgency in doing this.

[M-Tecs]

Put them on GunBrokers. If you want you can include the the FFL must take from private sellers or pay the additional FFL fee.

[abunaitoo]

I used to buy and sell on gunbroker a long time ago.
I think they changed hands a few times since then.
Had a bad experience selling there.
Don't want to deal with the lurkers there.

[M-Tecs]

Can't sell them in HI, don't want to sell them on GB so selling them here is as good of option as you have left.

[perotter]

I'd send send the whole lot of them to one of the big auction houses.

[snowwolfe]

A 12 year old could list a gun and photos on Gunbrokers. Its free, until the item sells.
Is there a reason your friend can't package them and take them to a post office?

[daengmei]

Tube idea is out.
I once shipped a rolled painting inside a PVC tube using the USPS...to Australia. He received it without any damage.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I used to buy and sell on gunbroker a long time ago.
I think they changed hands a few times since then.
Had a bad experience selling there.
Don't want to deal with the lurkers there.
Dealing with buyers nationwide in America can be a pain. Since I know this myself, I would not offer to sell Rifles for a friend, I'd just point him to a consignment Auctionhouse...yes they take a good sized cut and they may not sell for a high price, but it's quick and painless. The Auctionhouse in my town has a FFL and will pack and ship firearms...since there is one like this in my small town in MN, there has got to be one in HI.



Tube idea is out.
Just can't find any that are reasonable.
Where would I find rifle boxes?????
I have a few, but those are mine.
Want to have him get his own.
If you still feel compelled to help your friend out, MBTcustom offered some great advice for shipping Rifles. If you compose your selling ad to include shipping, just include a little more to pay for a inexpensive hard case.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?235589-How-to-package-a-rifle-cheap-and-safe-for-shipment&highlight=

[jsizemore]

I buy inexpensive hard side gun cases especially with a cardboard box. I tape hell out of them and they ship fine. If they come with the cardboard box I'll turn it inside out so it's a little less obvious.

[abunaitoo]

Friend is not in the best of condition.
Cannot walk to well.
His hearing and sight are going.
Mind is off and on.

With the shut down here, hard to do things.
I'm sure I can find boxes that would work if not for that.
I will probably try listing them here and see what happens.

[Chihuahua Floyd]

Guns and golf clubs usually fit in the same size box. I've heard they play golf in Ha.
CF.

[Wayne Smith]

Use a hard side box. I had Tennessee Valley Muzzleloaders make me a flintlock and paid an additional $50 for a wooden box. It was 3/4" softwood sides and ends and the top and bottom were 1/4" ply. It was shipped from Mississippi - and I got it with a 1/2" deep punch in the side. If that had hit the 1/4" ply it would have gone right through. As it was the box was pushed out of shape by the impact. Fortunately the gun was untouched. I would never ship a gun in cardboard only after seeing that.

[frkelly74]

I have shipped guns to FFL receivers and would advise , take the bolt out of a bolt action and wrap it up and put it in the box by itself so the handle doesn't come through the side of the box, If it is a break action , break it down, shorter packages are more likely to survive. You can make boxes out of scrap card board , the thicker the better and multiple layers are better better. Insure the package, and get a recipt from the post office or shipper you use. The padding that is used under laminate flooring makes pretty good padding , tape is your friend. Good luck!!

[IHuntDragons]

If you order a hard rifle case online it's typically shipped in a cardboard box. Pack the rifle in the hard case and put it back in the box you received the case in. Problem solved for less than $30 typically.

[snowwolfe]

Here are boxes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JD3LKW/?coliid=IJSAQT4HQV9J6&colid=3M6HP60U5LYDY&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

If your mailing a rifle in a long box with a shipping weight of 12 pounds or so and then adding insurance and shipping it east of the Mississippi you can easily hit $75 in USPS fees.

[BigAlofPa.]

Armslist.com I have sold guns there. Free to use that site. Then when you make a deal. Local FFL does the transfer.

[Wayne Smith]

wow I wish I had the money to buy one or more of them. One of my dreams, but the gun budget is currently empty. I have my FFL03 so you could send one directly to me, no gun store involved. However the lack of money prevents that.