Shipping of live ammo
 

I planned on mailing out some Steyr 9mm to a forum member I was giving away. When I was headed to mail it, but thought I'd better check first. I see live ammo cannot be shipped through USPS. To do so is a felony. Most likely I can have just shipped it and no one would know, but why risk it. Checked with UPS, they would ship it, but it would be listed as such and I would need to pay a HAZMAT fee on top of shipping. Did not ask the cost of that. So I apologized to the forum member that I would not be mailing it. Guess back into storage it goes, or maybe just give it away to a dealer at a gun show.

UPS kicked back a shipment of metalwork I'd sent--because I'd used an old ammo carton, and they could read through the magic marker used to cross the label out.

On the other hand, I've received ammo won at a couple of different auctions appear in the mailbox in small flat-rate boxes. (However it's shipped, it's supposed to go to my FFL dealer, where I pick it up, according to the S.A.F.E.Act in NY State.)

I gave up on shipping ammo about 5 years ago. I spent half a day bouncing from USPS to UPS sub-store, to Fed Ex, to Fed Ex Ground, back home to get documentation to make a Fed Ex account, then finally found the UPS main hub and had to wait 2 hours for the 2-3 hours of the day that they were open to customers. Lady had me carve "Haz mat" off of the box (it was an ammo shipping box that I had received) because all it needed was "ORM-D"... Swore I'd never try it again; and haven't.

I buy large quantities of loaded ammo from SG Ammo, and they ship either Fed Ex or UPS ground. They place the white/black warning sticker on the box but I believe there is a difference between that and the Haz.Mat. sticker that costs $25.
Always been told that loaded ammo does not require Haz.Mat. but that loading components, primers, powder, do.
Also, those square stickers have to be completely covered or removed before the box can be re-used.
Such is the world we live in.
Just my $.02.
dju

I believe you must mark the package with an "ORD" diamond ordnance label, but loaded ammo doesn't have to be shipped as HAZMAT.

UPS, FedEx, DHL and other commercial shippers are your options.

As David mentions above, reloading components like powder and primers do have to ship as HAZMAT.

Even though my local shop has a UPS "contract", they won't/can't ship ammo; seems it takes another level of "permission" or maybe higher contract level/cost to ship ammo.

Each UPS and Fex Ex outlet is different; quite often the "boss" of the place gets to decide if ammo is shipped or not- guns too; regardless of the the actual rules of the company.

Ammo is indeed a pain to ship, and I don't try anymore either.

Bill,
don't give your ammo to a dealer! Give it to a guy that needs it, the gunshow must be full of guys walking around that need Steyr ammo. :)

I get ammunition shipped direct to me from Target Sports; no problem. I believe it comes FedEx but not sure, they all just leave it on my doorstep. :)

But here's something to consider: Both UPS and FedEx have sub-contracts with USPS to handle their 'Ground' deliveries. That just means they dump their undesirable [cheap, ground-rate] business on USPS, so even if it was shipped and has a FedEx/UPS label on it, it may actually be delivered by the Postal Service. :rolleyes:

I keep seeing reference to UPS "outlets", and wanted to clarify that the UPS Store is a privately owned franchise and they have their own rules and restrictions. Plus costs are much higher. Therefore I always print labels on the computer and drop off at the depot, whether it is motorcycle parts, or whatever.
I don't know if this applies to Kinkos/Fed Ex., etc.
dju

UPS requirements.
https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-cente...mmunition.page

USPS restrictions.
https://www.usps.com/ship/shipping-restrictions.htm

I hear all the time about Hazmat charges and it makes it not worth it. UPS Ground is expensive, expect $13-$17 for a box of ammo, each additional box of ammo is a bit more.
BUT, Hamat is only for components, there is no charge for say, 1,000 rounds, just the ORD-D requirement.

I have an account and pack, and hand it to a driver or owned UPS store / main depot and I'm good.

Ed

PS - its a stupid rule for ammo for USPS, same with restrictions on shipping handguns to C&R's, loss of money that is silly reules.