Can You Ship Firearm Parts Through USPS? A Practical Guide for Sellers and Shippers
Can You Ship Firearm Parts Through USPS? Quick answer and why this matters
Short answer, yes, but with big caveats. Can you ship firearm parts through USPS? Some parts, like barrels, sights, and triggers, are mailable as ordinary merchandise. Other parts, especially serialized receivers or frames, are legally treated as firearms and trigger strict transfer rules.
Who this matters to: online sellers, gun builders, gunsmiths, and private sellers who ship across state lines. Example, sending an AR lower to a buyer in another state usually requires routing the package through a Federal Firearms Licensee, and shipping a serialized pistol frame can carry the same obligation.
What this guide covers: how USPS defines mailable firearm parts, which components are treated as firearms, rules for interstate transfers, packing and documentation tips that avoid seizures, common mistakes that lead to criminal exposure, and a quick checklist for domestic and international shipments. If you sell parts on marketplaces or ship for customers, read on, because small labeling or routing errors can cost you a package, or worse, a legal problem. Start by confirming whether the part is a receiver or frame, then follow USPS Publication 52 and federal and state transfer laws.
USPS rules at a glance
Short answer: USPS generally does not allow firearms or ammunition through the mail, so the question "can you ship firearm parts through USPS" usually answers itself. The Postal Service treats frames and receivers as firearms, and those items cannot be mailed. Ammunition and explosive components are also prohibited.
What is typically allowed, practical example: accessories that cannot function as a firearm by themselves, like scopes, cleaning kits, slings, or cosmetic parts, can often travel through USPS. Concrete warning, do not assume: bolts, firing pins, or a receiver blank might be treated as regulated parts, depending on federal and state rules.
Quick checklist:
Prohibited: complete firearms, frames and receivers, ammunition, explosive components.
Often allowed: nonfunctioning accessories and clearly non regulated parts, check local law.
If in doubt, consult the USPS Domestic Mail Manual section on weapons, call your local post office, or use an FFL transfer and a common carrier that accepts firearms for shipping.
Which firearm parts are allowed, which are restricted, and common examples
When people ask can you ship firearm parts through USPS, the answer is nuanced: some parts are fine to mail, others are treated like firearms and carry restrictions. Know the common examples.
Allowed in most cases
Barrels, barrel nuts, sights, scopes, stocks that are not frames, bolt carrier groups, triggers, firing pins, springs. These are treated as components, and USPS will generally accept them when packaged and declared honestly.
Small accessories such as scope mounts, handguards, and nonrestricted magazines in states where they are legal.
Restricted or treated like firearms
Frames and receivers, including serialized AR lower receivers and Glock frames, are regulated by the ATF. These are typically treated as firearms for transfer purposes and often must move through a Federal Firearms Licensee when shipped across state lines.
Complete firearms, completed short barreled rifles or shotgun conversions, and NFA regulated parts require special paperwork and approvals.
High capacity magazines, armor piercing rounds, and live ammunition face additional limits or prohibitions, and international mailing is generally blocked.
Practical advice: if you sell or ship receivers, route them to an FFL and keep records. When in doubt about 80 percent frames or local magazine bans, check ATF guidance and state law before using USPS.
Legal considerations you must check first, federal and state
Before you worry about packaging or USPS labels, do a legal triage. Start with the ATF, because whether a part is a firearm under federal law changes everything. Frames and receivers are treated as firearms, which means interstate transfers generally must go FFL to FFL, with the receiving dealer running the required background check and keeping records. If you ask can you ship firearm parts through USPS, remember that shipping a receiver across state lines without an FFL is a major red flag.
Watch Section 922(r) and related rules. 922(r) can make assembling certain semiautomatic rifles from imported parts illegal, so shipping a parts kit that enables that conversion may expose both seller and buyer to criminal liability. Also avoid shipping machinegun conversion devices or full auto parts, possession of which is tightly restricted under federal law.
State and local laws matter, they vary wildly. California, New York, and some cities ban specific parts or private transfers, so a sale legal in one state may be illegal in the destination. Practical steps, verify the receiver status with the ATF, confirm the buyer has an FFL if interstate, check state and local statutes, and document everything before you ship. When in doubt, consult an attorney or your local ATF field office.
How to prepare firearm parts for USPS shipping, step by step
Before you pack anything, confirm the part is legal to ship. Serial numbered receivers and frames are regulated, many states restrict certain magazines, and international shipments need customs clearance. If you are unsure, call USPS and consult an attorney or your licensing authority.
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Gather paperwork, copies of buyer FFL if applicable, your invoice, and any export paperwork. For FFL to FFL transfers, include both dealer names and license numbers in the package paperwork.
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Clean and protect metal parts. Lightly coat barrels, bolts, and slides with a corrosion inhibitor or gun oil, then wrap in VCI paper or plastic to prevent rust during transit.
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Bag small components. Put springs, pins, screws, and detents in sealable plastic bags, label each bag, and tape the labels to avoid loss and confusion on arrival.
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Cushion and separate. Use bubble wrap or foam to prevent metal on metal contact. Place parts in individual compartments or layers to avoid shifting.
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Choose a strong box. Use a double walled corrugated box sized to minimize movement, add packing paper or foam peanuts, and fill voids so nothing shifts.
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Seal and secure. Close with high quality packing tape, add tamper evident tape if available, and apply tracking. Do not mark the exterior with wording that suggests illegal activity, but do not conceal to evade law.
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Declare content accurately. On forms and labels, list the specific part names and include any required license numbers. For international shipments, complete customs forms fully.
Following these steps keeps parts safe, reduces damage claims, and helps ensure compliance when you ask can you ship firearm parts through USPS.
Choosing the right USPS service, insurance, and tracking options
If you’re asking can you ship firearm parts through USPS, start with service level. For faster delivery and built in tracking use Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express. For maximum chain of custody and extra security choose Registered Mail when available, especially for high value parts.
Always add a signature option, either Signature Confirmation or Adult Signature Required. Signatures reduce theft risk and strengthen proof of delivery in disputes. Buy insurance that matches the item’s replacement cost. If USPS limits fall short, use a third party insurer that covers high value firearms components.
Practical checklist
Photograph the part, box, and serial number before shipping.
Use plain packaging, tamper evident tape, and a snug inner box.
Keep receipts and monitor the online tracking until delivery clears.
Example: a $1,200 custom receiver, ship Registered Mail or Express, add Adult Signature, fully insure, and document everything.
Common mistakes that get packages delayed or seized
Most common errors are simple, but costly. Sellers assume every part is mailable, for example trying to ship a serialized lower receiver without an FFL transfer; that triggers seizure and delays. Another frequent mistake is not checking state or local bans, like magazine capacity limits in some states, which causes packages to be returned or held.
Practical fixes, fast:
Verify USPS regulations and local law before listing an item, check Publication 52 and state statutes.
Use an FFL transfer for regulated components, document the transaction.
Require adult signature and tracking, that reduces disputes and lost packages.
Pack parts so contents are not visible, include a clear invoice with part numbers and serials.
Never include ammunition unless you confirmed carrier rules and legal compliance.
Keep records of each shipment for audits and customer disputes.
If your package is seized or rejected, what to do next
First, document everything. Photograph the unopened box, label, and tracking scan, save emails and delivery notices, and note the date and time you discovered the seizure or rejection. Do not try to retrieve the package without paperwork, and do not open anything law enforcement has marked. Next, contact USPS quickly, start with your local postmaster and then call USPS Customer Service at 1 800 275 8777, provide the tracking number, and ask for the reason for seizure or rejection. If the item was insured, file an insurance claim online at USPS.com, attach receipts and photos, and keep claim IDs. If law enforcement is involved, get the agency name and case number. Seek a lawyer when criminal exposure exists, a seizure notice looks erroneous, or your financial loss is significant.
Conclusion and practical takeaways
Short summary, then action steps you can use today. First, answer the core question: can you ship firearm parts through USPS? It depends on the part and federal and state rules, so always verify before you pack.
Quick checklist
Confirm part classification, for example an AR lower receiver is a firearm and needs an FFL transfer.
If regulated, route sale through a licensed dealer and follow ATF and state rules.
For nonregulated parts, use secure, opaque packaging, trackable service, and adult signature on delivery.
Never misdeclare contents, keep transaction records, and check carrier policies.
Final tip, when in doubt contact an attorney or local FFL, and check USPS and ATF guidance before shipping.
