Trying to decide the best way to get my guns from Vegas to Orlando. I am not driving .. movers are hauling my positions while I fly. I have 5 handguns and another 6 or so long guns.

Some has suggested using an FFL on both ends.

Thoughts?

Have you discussed it with your movers? Some won't do it, others will.

Package them yourself and insure them for replacement value. If your mover does it great, if not, go FFL route. Either way, package them yourself and insure for replacement value.

Who will pack them like you want them packed? If needed, the insurance will replace anything lost.

You could also get something and fly them with you, but again, pack them yourself and insure for replacement value.

Sometimes KISS is best. Keep It Simple Silly

The only options for me would be either drive them myself or ship them to another ffl where you are going. However, it will be expensive to ship them but I would not trust any trucking company to be the ones I rely on to secure my guns while they across the U.S.. If they become stolen, which is a real good chance of happening, your guns are gone forever and if you have anything that has been handed down to you, you will miss it.

Another option would be to sell them and buy new ones but it might not be the best option.

I guess you can discuss it with movers, but when we moved, no firearms or ammo, and I’m not sure I would trust them even if they would move them.

The office people you talk to send the job out to a van operator. He hires a crew from the local office to pack and load the truck, then drives to the unload point, often with other load unloads on the way.

They number every item packed and loaded, with little adhesive stickers, and a log of those numbers. Still, we have stuff we have never found since the move.

I loaded my firearms, ammo and wine collection into my LS430 and drove. It looked like a low rider, but what the hey.... it made it and all the contents did too.

I have a couple of FFL's in the Orlando area that I've used. E-mail me if you want their contact information.

I have flown with firearms multiple times and have never had an issue.

If you're shipping to yourself over state lines, do you need to go through a FFL?

quote:

have flown with firearms multiple times and have never had an issue.

Your answer is right here.
They have to be in an approved case,with locks,and the carrier [ tsa rent a cops] will inspect and allow you to lock in their presence

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
If you're shipping to yourself over state lines, do you need to go through a FFL?

No. It's right in the ATF FAQs.

The day before I hopped on the plane, I'd ship the rifles from myself in Vegas to myself in Orlando via the U.S. Post Office which allows them to go ground and is cheaper UPS or FedEx. I'd pack then handguns in a case check the case. Use you own non-TSA approved locks and keep the keys. If anyone needs to open the case, you must be the one to unlock it.

This way you don't have to buy expensive cases for the rifles and pay extra baggage charges to the airlines. Post Office won't ship handguns and UPS and FedEx require firearms to be shipped by air which is expensive. FFLs are under different rules and maybe able to ship them cheaper than you can, but the fees involved may still be expensive.

When I moved from NH to FL I hired a mover. I had a couple dozen long guns and hand guns to move among all the other stuff going. I went to home depot and bought a bunch or wood and plywood. I made up a customer crate just for my guns. Strapped them down and pad locked it shut. I told the mover it was crate number 12 and weighed 275 pounds. When he asked what was in it I said "stuff, don't worry about it". No problems

I've moved several times in the past 30 years. The movers took the furniture and stuff.

I always took the guns and ammo in my car.

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Some has suggested using an FFL on both ends.

If you ship handguns to an FFL in Florida, you can't get them back until you establish residency. You can ship them to YOURSELF, though.

Flying with guns is surprisingly easy, just get a hard case stuff as any guns as you can in, use some clothes to keep stuff frommmoving around. And get some master locks.

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Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Some has suggested using an FFL on both ends.

If you ship handguns to an FFL in Florida, you can't get them back until you establish residency. You can ship them to YOURSELF, though.

No. He just has to reside in Florida. It's a much easier standard than residency and direct from the ATF FAQs.

For example, I'm a Florida resident, have a home there, vote there, FL driver's license, Florida CWL, kid's go to school there, etc. I currently reside in Michigan, have for the last month and will continue to do so for another month. Federally, I can buy all the handguns I want. I still have to comply with Michigan laws and beyond getting permission from law enforcement, I don't know what they are.

I'd bet most Florida FFLs are experienced with part year residents, aka snowbirds. In the OP's case, getting his Florida driver's license will speed things up at tbe FFL.

Several people have mentioned the ease of flying with firearms. It is, but have you guys read to OP? "another 6 or so long guns" Most long guns don't fit in a case that meet the normal dimensions for standard baggage on most airlines. At a minimum, he needs three double rifle cases which aren't inexpensive and will be subject to oversized and excess baggage charges.

Unless his long guns are AR types. Then he could pack up the uppers and but them on the truck. Pack the lowers into one case and put them on the plane.

My concern with having the movers take them and not telling them what is in it (as one member did) is if they turn up missing / damaged / destroyed and aren’t insured.

Personally I’d buy a hard case and fly with several / all of the handguns (checked baggage) and ship the long guns to myself in FL.

Good luck! You have exchanged heat for heat & oppressive humidity!

Be sure you use a well known mover, we used Graebel, they were very good. I packed my guns and custom knife collection in various boxes with books, fishing gear, clothes etc. It was no big deal, showed up in great condition. Had a good driver and tipped him at both ends.

My move was NJ to UT.

What part of Orlando?
I think i'd mix some flying and shipping of guns via FFL. I'm not a fan of secretly loading them in a truck without telling the moving company.

I'm almost surprised there isn't a shipper who specializes in this.

I have moved a few times in the Midwest and once from IL to FL. Each and every time things were missing or damaged, in the IL to FL move, valuable Herman Miller was gouged, the "adjustment" offered was laughable.

Unless movers insurance has changed since my last move it is extremely difficult to insure something for a stated value. So you have a Ming Vase, roughly 400 years old and it goes missing, by the adjusters logic, it has depreciated to a value of $0 or less.

By their logic a WW1 Artillery Luger, used in excellent condition, with a red 9 on the grips is worth $25. Of course you can always sue, I expect hundreds of people sue movers every day.

I would not put firearms or other easily sold items on a moving truck. Drive valuables to FL and try to arrange a straight through drive with a co-driver. That includes items of little intrinsic value but of importance to you, papers, photos, and the like.

I did not even ship empty firearm boxes to FL, all firearms, ammunition, and many $$$ worth of reloading supplies went to FL in two trips. This is the result of experience gained through expensive life lessons.

If I was not moving a car, I would rent one.

Vegas-Sig, may I ask why the move? Reason I ask is we are thinking of pulling the pin and moving. I want Vegas, she wants Florida.

I would be in favor of driving them to Florida. Not having to pass though gun unfriendly states is a real plus. The suggestion of driving straight through with a co-driver is a good one. Depending on the value of the guns it may be a better idea than shipping.

When I moved to Florida I drove carefully and well within the speed limit so as to not have to answer any intrusive questions about what I was up to.