Posted: 5/13/2008 12:50:29 AM EDT
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I should get back to Fort Lewis in about three weeks, and now I have to figure out how to get my guns back. My parents took them home when I left, so I wouldn't have to put them into storage with my other belongings, but now I have to figure out how to get them back. You see, while I was gone they moved from Oregon to Texas, which is quite a bit farther away. I know I can have them shipped, and I know they can be checked onto an airplane and brought as baggage. What I don't know are the particulars of both. I understand (but do not know for certain) that, if shipped, they need to be shipped overnight. If checked, they need to be in a locked hard-case, separate from any ammunition. Other than that, I'm fairly ignorant about getting them here. Since I own the guns, can I have them shipped directly to me, or do I still need to go through an FFL? Three of them are CMP rifles which were shipped straight from the CMP to my parents house to begin with. I hear there are a lot more fees associated with checking more than one bag on flights now. Are there additional fees for checking firearms? Would those fees be less than shipping them, plus whatever potential FFL fees I would need to worry about? They have seven guns to transport. Thanks for your help, Brian |
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Only handguns need to be shipped overnight. If you are going to be visiting your parents anyway, it might be easier to just fly with them. In SeaTac, and I assume every airport, you can go with your baggage to watch the TSA search you bags. The TSA regs. Airlines might have more restrictive rules. |
+106 Ship them to yourself. Less hassle. |
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When you get back, you'll get a month or so of leave. Two words. Road trip. Enjoy the drive, use it to decompress from your time in the sandbox. Visit some national monuments along the way, Stop and enjoy a desert sunset here in the states without jackasses shooting at you. Hit the rockys for some high mountian driving fun, and make part of your drive along the I84 corridor down the Columbia river. Beautiful country. Just be sure to stay out of Cali. And it works better if you have a buddy to do it with. |
Best advice yet. |
With a .mil ID the limit used to be 75lbs; anyone know if this changed as well? |
I believe that's only when traveling on orders, although the ticket agents have a lot of leeway. If you've got the leave, I "third" the "road trip" suggestion. ETA: Depending on the size and weight, the cost of shipping seven guns might approach that of the road trip, and you may wind up getting dinged by the airline for excessive/oversize luggage. ETA (yes, again!): So when and where are we having the "Welcome Home Soldier Of The Century" party? |
+3, or 4, or whatever... Solid advise... ETA: Brian, do you have a relative in Bothell/Woodinville? Ironically, on my way to work this morning I was behind a white Toyota Prius with "VOILS" on this license plate. |
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A quick check at Concealed Carry.net shows that Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Texas have CCW reciprocity. Only New Mexico and Colorado don't. Personally I'd take the road trip. I just wouldn't spend the night in New Mexico or Colorado (Ironically, I was born and raised in CO.). Guns would go into the hotel room each night. In New Mexico or Colorado, I'd just put the carry piece in the trunk. While driving through Utah, stop for a couple of days, take a class and, get a Utah non resident CCW permit. It's good in 36 or so states. 
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Best bet is to ship them yourself. This means you're in Texas, you ship the guns to your address in Lakewood, and then you pick them up in Lakewod. If you decide you need the services of a transfer FFL, let me know. I've a friend in Lakewood that will do it for you for free (all you other freeloaders pay $20/gun  ).
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I'm not going to do the road trip, but it's not a bad idea. I've already got plans to meet up with captpooby and do some machine gun shooting and skydiving near Tampa for a little while in there. I also want to hit up a few places around the country that would be very hard to arrange on a road trip. Finally, my car's not that great for a cross country trip, and I don't plan on replacing it till I withdraw my SDP fund 90 days after returning. I am going to visit my parents, though, I'm just going to have to fly to do it. I'll look into price differences between shipping them and checking them. |
Voils- This'd be the best way...take Stokes up on the offer, it's the most hassel-free way out. (provided UPS doesn't screw up....but then again that's what insurance is for.) |