What is the prodcedure to sending a firearm out of state for some refinish work done?  To some place like having a Glock redone and Salient Arms or sending a bunch of AR lowers, uppers and rails out for some fancy coating.  Do I have to send these items through an FFL?  Sorry for the noobish question, I tried searching a few terms but got nothing that works.

The firearm is your name, you can mail it directly to an FFL or manufacture. once the work is completed they can also mail it directly back to you, no local FFL is required.

rifles and shotgun can be shipped with USPS, however handguns must be shipped via a private carrier.
Only FFL to FFL shipping of handguns by usps is legal

private carriers also require 1 day express shipping as their policy. and it gets expensive going round trip from hawaii

plan to pay $70- $90 shipping one way!

The firearm is your name, you can mail it directly to an FFL or manufacture. once the work is completed they can also mail it directly back to you, no local FFL is required.

rifles and shotgun can be shipped with USPS, however handguns must be shipped via a private carrier.
Only FFL to FFL shipping of handguns by usps is legal

Okay, so if I want to send my Glock to Salient Arms I need to use Fed Ex, UPS or DHL and ship it direct.

But what if I want to send my AR lower, upper and rail to just a company that does anodozing and that company does not have an FFL.  Do I need to ship it directly to the closest FFL dealer of that company?

correct ups FedEx Dhl


the receiving end gunsmith must have an FFL
basiclly one FFL is required and the gun is shipped directly back to you

just checked ups next day 5lbs is $88

correct ups FedEx Dhl


the receiving end gunsmith must have an FFL
basiclly one FFL is required and the gun is shipped directly back to you

just checked ups next day 5lbs is $88

Mahalos for the reply.

Mahalos for the reply.

Suka's reply is only relevant to the Glock.

The AR, you can mail (USPS) to the company, and they can mail it back to you.  No FFL need be involved.  You are allowed to mail longarms to yourself, to FFLs, and to places of repair. 

§ 178.147 Return of firearm.

A person not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State or local law may ship a firearm to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer for any lawful purpose, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer may return in interstate or foreign commerce to that person the firearm or a replacement firearm of the same kind and type. See § 178.124(a) for requirements of a Form 4473 prior to return. A person not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State or local law may ship a firearm curio or relic to a licensed collector for any lawful purpose, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the licensed collector may return in interstate or foreign commerce to that person the firearm curio or relic.

Bookmarking for great info!

private carriers also require 1 day express shipping as their policy. and it gets expensive going round trip from hawaii

plan to pay $70- $90 shipping one way!

Carriers require at least 2nd day air for handguns.

I sent a 1911 off to Arkansas via FedEx for a full makeover about a year ago. I was instructed by the girl at the counter to:

Declare it as a handgun.
Double box it.
Provide the ffl number of the company I was sending it to (first time I've heard of that).
Ship only next day air for about $80.

It was returned to me via UPS at the cost of about $60. Will check with UPS the next time.

Suka's reply is only relevant to the Glock.

The AR, you can mail (USPS) to the company, and they can mail it back to you.  No FFL need be involved.  You are allowed to mail longarms to yourself, to FFLs, and to places of repair.

NEGATIVE!!!!!!!

an AR lower is a firearm must ship to an FFL.

An 01 FFL is required to work on firearms for profit. Mailing a firearm across state lines is interstate commerance , whereas, they are collecting money from you to refinish the Lower.

Since the receiving Gunsmith is not "yourself" one cannot mail it to "yourself". which also the company is not a 01FFL.  It is a technically a out of state transfer, which requires a FFL on both ends.



ATF FAQ:
Q: Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?
Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.

[27 CFR 478.11]



GCA:
.............may ship a firearm to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or  licensed dealer for any lawful purpose, .................... the  licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer may return in interstate or foreign commerce to that person the firearm or a replacement firearm.........

non-licensee to non-licensee  (FFL required)
back to  non-licensee (FFL required)



 non-licensee to  licensee (FFL required)
back to SAME non-licensee (no FFL required)

Oho, playing quote wars, are we?  Let's try this again:

§ 178.147 Return of firearm.

A person not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State or local law may ship a firearm to a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer for any lawful purpose, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the licensed manufacturer, licensed importer, or licensed dealer may return in interstate or foreign commerce to that person the firearm or a replacement firearm of the same kind and type.

But the statutes are large, and complex, and it's easy to cherry pick a few words.  Let's look somewhere less confusing, like the USPS Publication 52:

432.3 Rifles and Shotguns

Except under 431.2, unloaded rifles and shotguns are mailable. Mailers must comply with the rules and regulations under 27 CFR, Part 478, as well as state and local laws. The mailer may be required by the USPS to establish, by opening the parcel or by written certification, that the rifle or shotgun is unloaded and not ineligible for mailing. The following conditions also apply:

    Subject to state, territory, or district regulations, rifles and shotguns may be mailed without restriction when sent within the same state of mailing. These items must:
    Bear a “Return Service Requested” endorsement.
    Be sent by Priority Mail Express (“signature required” must be used at delivery) or Registered Mail.
    Include either insured mail service (for more than $200) requiring a signature at delivery or Signature Confirmation service.
    A shotgun or rifle owned by a non-FFL may be mailed outside the owner's state of residence by the owner to himself or herself, in care of another person in the other state where he or she intends to hunt or engage in any other lawful activity. These mailpieces must:
        Be addressed to the owner.
        Include the “in the care of” endorsement immediately preceding the name of the applicable temporary custodian.
        Be opened by the rifle or shotgun owner only.
        Be mailed using services described in 432.3a.
    Mailing of rifles and shotguns between licensed FFL dealers, manufacturers, or importers are not restricted. USPS recommends these items be mailed using those services described in 432.3a.
    Rifles and shotguns may be mailed by a non-FFL owner domestically to a FFL dealer, manufacturer, or importer in any state. USPS recommends these items be mailed using those services described in 432.3a.
    Except as described in 432.2a, licensed curio and relic collectors may mail firearms meeting the definition of curios or relics under 27 CFR 478.11 domestically to licensed FFL curio and relic collectors in any state. USPS recommends these items be mailed using those services described in 432.3a.
    Firearms which are certified by the curator of a municipal, state, or federal museum which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest may be accepted for mailing without restriction.
    Air guns that do not fall within the definition of firearms under 431.1a are mailable. A shipment containing an air gun with a muzzle velocity of 400 or more feet per second (fps) must include an Adult Signature service under DMM 503.9.0. Mailers must additionally comply with all applicable state and local regulations.

All the above says must be mailed to a licensed dealer  which is a 01FFL, licensed manufacture which is a 07FFL, importer which is a 06FFL, gunsmith which is also a 01FFL.
Under no circumstances can any firearm be mail to another non-licensee in a different State!
One FFL is always required!

If it is mailed to yourself in care of someone, only yourself can open the box.

Quote
§ 178.147 Return of firearm.

A   person    not otherwise prohibited by Federal, State or local law    may ship a firearm to a  licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer for any lawful purpose, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this part,   may ship a firearm to a  licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer may return in interstate or foreign commerce to that person the firearm or a replacement firearm of the same kind and type.

You do not have to solicit the services of an FFL to send a firearm to those destinations.  Which is what the OP was asking.

What is the prodcedure to sending a firearm out of state for some refinish work done?  To some place like having a Glock redone and Salient Arms or sending a bunch of AR lowers, uppers and rails out for some fancy coating.  Do I have to send these items through an FFL?

He is sending it off to a licensed... coater?  I guess dealer is closest.  How do I know it's licensed?  Suka, you provided that link yourself.

ATF FAQ:
Q: Is a license needed to engage in the business of engraving, customizing, refinishing or repairing firearms?
Yes. A person conducting such activities as a business is considered to be a gunsmith within the definition of a dealer.

So what are we arguing about?  One2boost is shipping firearms to licensed dealers, which he can do without having to employ the services of an (additional) FFL.  And, in the case of the AR parts, including the lowers, he can use the USPS as a delivery service.

OP said the coater does not have a FFL. Which means the coater is not a licensed gunsmith.
Gunsmith business must have a 01FFL.

Often gunsmith outsource their work to non-licensees, which is legal. However, receiving a firearm from an out of state non-licensee must be to a FFL.

But what if I want to send my AR lower, upper and rail to just a company that does anodozing and that company does not have an FFL.  Do I need to ship it directly to the closest FFL dealer of that company?

since the coater is a non-licensee it goes to the coaters FFL as an out of state transfer

the coater finishes his work , again the coater is a non-licensee ,

a non-licensee (coater) cannot send a firearm to another non-licensee (op) in another state.

the coater must send it to the OP FFL, as another out of state transfer.


now if the coater had an 01FFL all this would not apply!

example ;

uncle bob has a company in Florida that nickle plates auto parts. He does great work and does firearm for his friends at cost. uncle bob does not have a FFL .
Can I send him my AR lowers directly for him to plate?
Can uncle bob send me back the AR lowers directly?



No, uncle bob is a non-licensed person and cannot accept a firearm from out of state without a FFL.

No, you nor uncle bob is licensed, thus a FFL is required to receive the firearm from another state.

But what if I want to send my AR lower, upper and rail to just a company that does anodozing and that company does not have an FFL.

Whoops.  I completely missed that little part.  That changes everything. 

OP, disregard pretty much everything I said.  Or change your mind and send your AR to a licensed craftsman, and pay attention to my then-salient advice.