Posting air guns

[johnboy19 38]

Im selling a gun but dont know if im going to be able to sell it locally. Was just wondering how easy it is to post air guns? I still have the original box, so packaging it will be easy enough. But can anyone who has done it tell me how to? Will Royal Mail deliver fire arms and how much might it cost?

 

John

[Tiddler66 3]

Have a look at this link on AirgunBBS

 

http://www.airgunbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336904

 

It should answer your question.....on second thoughts, you might not get access so I will paste the article below.....hope it helps.....and I have not read it but it looks usefull

 

To clear up any confusion on this subject, caused by Post Office staff thinking Royal Mail has discretion on whether it can carry airguns, please note that the RM regulator Postcomm ruled clearly in our favour in June 2005.

 

Royal Mail is stuck with this decision like it or not. They must carry legal airguns, properly packaged, as long as they meet the size requirements of Standard Parcels and Special Delivery.

 

The Postcomm press release is HERE and the full ruling is HERE.

 

It makes sense that we do our bit to make sure all Postmasters, counter staff and so on are aware of the decision if challenged when trying to post an airgun. Print out the press release if it helps and take it with you.

 

We should also take care to wrap air rifles very securely, in bubble wrap, stout boxes and with lots of parcel tape, to minimise the chances of the contents spilling out when being rough-handled and causing an "incident". The RM bosses would probably like more of these "incidents" since they support their anti-gun stance.

 

Please be advised that the RM next day Special Delivery service specifies a maximum parcel length of 610mm, which is suitable for pistols and some smaller rifles.* When POs enforce this rule - and some don't - longer parcels can be sent only using RM Standard Parcels, which takes about three days and has a 1.5m length/ 20kg weight limit.

 

Unlike Special Delivery (which has barcode tracking and up to max. £2,500 compensation), Standard Parcels has no tracking and optional compensation of up to max. £500. So although the item can be insured, there is no way of independently tracking its progress and arrival. Many BBS members have used this service for years without incident and report it to be reliable. But there remains a danger that an unscrupulous buyer might claim the item has not been received - although they risk a criminal prosecution if when the RM investigated, the local office could show the item was indeed delivered.

 

One more thing - you can't send items over 100 years old with RM Standard Parcels, so remember that when you want to sell vintage items made before 1910!

 

 

DETAILS OF PARCELFORCE BAN ON CARRYING FIREARMS FOR NON-ACCOUNT HOLDERS:

 

Although a subsidiary of Royal Mail, for some reason Parcelforce is exempt from the Postcomm ruling and so its ban on carrying airguns for non-account holders is apparently lawful.

 

GENERAL PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

 

"All types of ammunition are prohibited from being sent using any of our services. Section 1 and 2 arms and firearms may be permitted for Zone 1 to Zone 1 collections and deliveries for our account customers only, subject to prior written agreement being provided by Parcelforce Worldwide to the customer, such agreement to be given at Parcelforce Worldwide's absolute discretion.

 

"Zone 1 to Zone 1 collections and deliveries of Section 1 and 2 arms and firearms will only be accepted where it can be shown to Parcelforce Worldwide's satisfaction that both the customer and the addressee are registered firearm dealers. All types of firearms are prohibited from import and export to and from the UK."

 

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* Items longer than 610mm can be sent by Special Delivery in tube-shaped parcels as long as the total length plus twice the diameter is no more than 1040mm (ie. 800mm long + 2 x 120mm diameter = 1040mm). This might be useful if you want to send an action without a stock.

[johnboy19 38]

Cheers for that mate. Not read through it all as yet but looks like what im after. Appreciated