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I want to send my Springfield XDS to an out of state gunsmith for some work. He told me he has a FFL and what is the best way to ship the gun to him?

You can send directly to him via UPS or FEDEX overnight airfreight. It will cost $75-$80 or so (it has been a long time since I shipped that way, so my prices may be out of date. UPS/FEDEX both require overnight airfreight; 2-day or ground is not acceptable.

Depending on your local FFL and their prices, I have found it cheaper to use a local FFL to do the shipping. An FFL can use USPS and a handgun case fits nicely in the Flat Rate box for $15 in postage. I had an FFL who charged me $25 total to ship out handguns that way. Note that a non-FFL cannot ship via USPS -- it would be illegal.

Of course, if a local FFL wants to charge $100 to ship out a handgun for you, then see option A, above.

Bud's Gunshop keeps a nice FFL list online that will tell you local FFL's and their transfer costs, if you want a place to start searching for an FFL.

Since it's a handgun, FedEx or UPS are your options. You're shipping to a licensee so it's perfectly legal.

Note that some box & ship outlets, or even FedEx & UPS branded substations get weird about shipping firearms.

FedEx: http://www.fedex.com/us/freight/rulesta ... icles.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See section B. ii. (you're shipping to a licensee)

UPS: https://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resou ... earms.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can I ship directly to the out of state FFL/Gunsmith if I only send hime the slide?

If he only needs the slide for the work, definitely go that route. You can ship it like any other accessory or generic widget. No declaration needed.

The frame on the XDS is the controlled part.

Edit: You can also send the entire firearm, that's up to you. But the slide only will be hassle free.

Those previous prices on shipping were probably for rifles. A handgun will be in the mid $20 range - roughly. I don't have UPS worldship on this machine to do a quote.

Scott B. wrote:Those previous prices on shipping were probably for rifles. A handgun will be in the mid $20 range - roughly. I don't have UPS worldship on this machine to do a quote.

Nope.

I just pulled a quote to ship an 11x9x6" box from Houston to Smith & Wesson's address. Those dimensions are a billable weight of 4 lbs.

UPS Next day air saver rate was $78.82.

Remember that UPS and FEDEX will not let you ship firearms via ground. They require overnight.

To the OP, if you do not need to send the entire handgun, then by all means simplify your life and ship only the slide.

Wow, $78 is radiculous. Is there any option with other smaller carriers such as On Trac or DHL to ship ground?