• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Shipping Barrels.

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
It's none of their business what's in it. You should box up some plastic flowers and and tell them it's not their business. Might end up with some clarity.
 
I've done this; cut a piece of PVC pipe about 2" longer than the barrel, wrap the barrel in newsprint to fit snug in the pipe and tape it around the barrel. Insert the barrel in the pipe, and cram both ends with cardboard. Cap both ends, glue one and seriously duct tape the other. Send it USPS insured for $1000. If they ask why so much, tell them it's 'art'. ( it is, you drew your icon on the barrel). If you insure it for less, they won't give a dink about it. Ask me how I know. George.
Really bad advice.
Then if damaged, will be replaced or compensation made for the actual replacement value of what it really is.
If the item is lost, you MIGHT get away with it, better have solid documentation of the value and that it was yours in the first place. Serial numbers count. And if it is a gun then it is placed on several stolen gun lists, should it ever turn up or be recorded by one of the commie states, then all hell will break loose. So why lie about it? You are not breaking any laws in the first place.
The only thing they will ask is whether or not the contents are a prohibited item. Nothing long gun, black, smokeless,etc.... that meets the definition of long gun is prohibited. Pistols can also be shipped USPS but you must have a dealer's Federal license or have an FFL of a gunsmith and his shippers form.(Postal Service form 1508)
 
It's none of their business what's in it. You should box up some plastic flowers and and tell them it's not their business. Might end up with some clarity.
Have not experienced USPS asking what was in package, just if it was dangerous or banned. Experience I earlier mentioned was bride telling USPS clerk what was in the package. She knew what was being shipped and I wouldn’t ask her to lie. She just offered it up. Clerk didn’t care. Bride was just being honest. USPS then confirmed delivery address. Company name included ‘Muzzleloader Barrel’ without batting an eye. No state secret what was in the package. Nor did anyone ask or care. Package was delivered second day as promised.
 
Wow. Thanks guys. Going to see how far out Hoyt will bore this .50" TC Hawken barrel.
 
No. I just wanted to know what to expect, or might expect when I shipped it off. Many years ago I shipped one through a copy-shop that had a UPS shipping dept/section/thing., didn't even have the touch-hole drilled, and they unwrapped the whole thing to "check" it. After I explained up and down, sideways and backwards, over and over, that it was no more a firearm than a piece of pipe from the hardware store next door.
 
I guess IQ's just dropped suddenly. I said every time I shipped a barrel, -And answered the list of 'dangerous' questions- the USPS in this jerkwater town INSISTED on knowing what I was shipping, EVEN after I bought $1000 worth of insurance. How I know they don't give a dink about uninsured stuff? I received a carved premium curly maple stock smashed in the middle with a clearly legible FOOTPRINT on the outside of the box. Not the only time stuff showed up busted. Guess maybe I'm a liar or just trying to get other people in trouble? Tell you what, YOU consult an attorney in your locale and ask HIM/HER, since I'm not one, just sharing my real; no BS experience, George OUT.
 
I did a barrel swap with a builder last summer. I shipped USPS using a Sch 40 PVC tube with packing around the barrel. Got to him fine. He shipped the swapped barrel back to me using the same tube. It arrived with the screw end broken off and the packing missing. The barrel was still in the tube, but if you turned it over it fell out. Hate to think how bad they had to hit that tube to break it off like that.
 
I have shipped many barrels to Bobby Hoyt to have work done. The best and easiest way I have found is to wrap the barrel in that rubberized tubing they use to insulate air conditioning lines. Then cut a piece of 2" diameter,(might need 2 1/2" if barrel has taller sights) schedule-40 PVC pipe about 4" longer than the barrel. Glue caps on both ends, and threaded plugs. All of this material is inexpensive at Home Depot or Lowe's. Makes it easy to ship, and get the barrel back. And, you can reuse the same tube again.

Rick
 
I guess IQ's just dropped suddenly. I said every time I shipped a barrel, -And answered the list of 'dangerous' questions- the USPS in this jerkwater town INSISTED on knowing what I was shipping, EVEN after I bought $1000 worth of insurance. How I know they don't give a dink about uninsured stuff? I received a carved premium curly maple stock smashed in the middle with a clearly legible FOOTPRINT on the outside of the box. Not the only time stuff showed up busted. Guess maybe I'm a liar or just trying to get other people in trouble? Tell you what, YOU consult an attorney in your locale and ask HIM/HER, since I'm not one, just sharing my real; no BS experience, George OUT.
Unfortunately you triggered the questions and crossed the money threshold when you bought 1K worth of insurance. Anything over 500 and contents have to be declared. If package or contents are damaged then if the contents and the declaration do not match, you don't get insurance coverage. IE: There is no need to lie to the Post Office.
 
54 has become my favorite, not too small, not too big. Will take anything in North America.
What rifling are you asking for?
Round ball rifling, most likely .54", but whatever he'll take it out to is fine with me. I picked up a .50" TC Hawken for free, and can't imagine what they did to ruin the barrel. I've never really seen the likes of it before, like it was severely rusted, and then baked in horse poo, or something. But yeah, .54" would be fine. Thought I might use it for a "back up" rifle on those really rainey days when I'm to lazy to keep the flintlock running. Usually use my 1861 for that, but that's a ten pound hunk of steel and wood. I do love it though. Also a loaner for when my son hunts with me, which isn't often as he is full time National Guard, normal part-time guard, and has a four and a six year old.
 
"There is no need to lie to the Post Office." :thumbs up::thumbs up:

Nor is there any need to volunteer any information.

KISS for all transactions with them.
Agreed 100%.
Taking out insurance in massive dollars beyond value is what triggers the requirement to declare contents. He brought that on himself. Lying to the PO could get you a sentence, not the written kind with a period for punctuation.
 
When I owned my barrel supply company USPS was my preferred method. Barrels are fine to ship that way as at that time I had no FFL's what ever.

My local postmistress loved the business. In 4 years I shipped over 50K barrels with them. Click and ship was the way to go. The only problems ever encountered was theft of the product that went though Salinas CA. Wither an anti-gunner or a general thief the USPS postal inspectors solved the problem.

Over 5 barrels went via UPS as the cost went nuts at that weight level.

By the way over insuring is called insurance fraud one of the easiest frauds to prove. When I was a fire investigator many fell to that felony for burning their cars or buildings. Jail time sucks. At best no payment will happen
 
I think your comment about insurance fraud is true.
The insurance company would consider insuring a $150 item for $1000 to be more than a little suspicious. Especially if the person who did it ever tried to collect on it.
 
You can over insure, but you will have to establish the value with the claim. They won't and don't have to over pay because the policyholder over insured. Over insuring itself isn't fraudulent, it's just dumb.
 
Back
Top