Bullets thru USPS. Legal, Correct?

[Christchild]

Problem. I recently sold 1000-1100 .451" bullets thru USPS as LEAD...the box weighed 27 pounds. I brought it into the Post Office pre-wrapped in brown paper, but it fit into a Flat Rate box for much cheaper, so it shipped as such, and I have YET to hear back from the buyer, stating whether or not he received them.

That same day, I needed to ship a few boxes of Barnes XFB bullets, but they were not pre-wrapped. When the USPS personnel saw "bullets" on the boxes, they told me that they couldn't ship bullets. I realized that they MUST NOT know it was NOT Loaded Ammo, but bullets only, and explained it to them. They contacted their "superior" via telephone (to cover their butts) and he denied the shipment, as well.

I obtained a USPS "Bubble Envelope" from a different Post Office, brought it home, put the Barnes XFB bullets in and sealed it up. This past Monday, I went to another Post Office approx. 10 miles from the location that denied me, boxes of bullets pre-wrapped, and sent it off to it's intended destination in Kentucky. All went well.

Today, October 3rd 2009, I received a PM from the intended recipient of the Barnes XFB's. He said the "package" showed up, but it was torn open and empty, and it stated, "Damaged During Delivery".

The bullets, as all of us on TFL know, are just bullets, not loaded ammunition, not hazardous, and Barnes XFB are all copper. The same thing as pennies, just shaped different than pennies.

Does ANYONE, have any info or insight on this subject, in regards to it being Legal or Illegal???

[Shane Tuttle]

It's legal to ship. Like you said, it isn't loaded ammunition. I've never had issues receiving bullets via the mail. I'm wondering if the phone call to their "superiors" wasn't in the best of communications...

[Christchild]

Thank You, Sir! I would just like to gather a little more info on this because the intended recipient is digging into the matter, and as long as I KNOW what's right, I'm headed there, myself.

Thank You, Mr. Tuttle8!

As long as I know I'm legal, I'll be paying them a visit, bright and early Monday morning, with all due respect.

[alloy]

I don't think the postal workers like little 30 lb flat rate boxes, a few I've recieved looked like they went thru a washing machine. But since they were picked up (or at least return addressed) at XYZ BULLET FACTORY, I think it's legal.

[DiscoRacing]

last time i sent bullets in flat rate it was like 12 pounds or something like that.... the girl at the counter said that it felt like a ton a lead.... I said no... only 12 pounds a lead.... she said..."Huh??"

[Doublestack]

I ordered 2000 plated bullet heads from Midway (or was it Cabela's?), and they came via USPS. I just got a note form the post office saying that I had to go pick them up because they were too heavy for the carrier to deliver. I guess they must have a certain weight limit that they are not allowed to exceed per contract. Who knows?

Anyway, I went down to the local P.O. and got them. They were boxed well, but were obviously handled roughly and dropped several times as the corners of the boxes were crunched in. Boxes of bullets in bulk tend to split easily when dropped or thrown about.


DS

[DiscoRacing]

FYI.... I sell fishin sinkers and lead bullets...both shipped via flatrate usps...it usually works best for me to double box(one inside the other)...to help keep from tears during shipping...also covering the majority of the box in one layer of clear tape...also for extra protection.

[zxcvbob]

I obtained a USPS "Bubble Envelope" from a different Post Office, brought it home, put the bullets in and sealed it up. This past Monday, I went to another Post Office approx. 10 miles from the location that denied me, boxes of bullets pre-wrapped, and sent it off to it's intended destination in Kentucky. All went well.

Today, October 3rd 2009, I received a PM from the intended recipient. He said the "package" showed up, but it was torn open and empty, and it stated, "Damaged During Delivery".

I would raise hell about that. Those bubble envelopes don't just tear due to rough handling, they are *tough* to open. Sounds to me like someone figured out what was in the package and took it upon themself to destroy it.

[Christchild]

Thank You all!

The specifications I gathered were Flat Rate boxes ,and "if it can fit, it'll ship", and had a limit of 70 pounds.

I have a gut feeling that someone got "curious" and opened the box, discovered it was bullets and reported it. My gut is also telling me that the police have it, since the office personnel AND the "superior" denied me, so I'm kind of expecting to get some static from that end.

I'm looking forward to see how all this turns out. Kinda ticked, at the same time.

And ZXCVBob, I feel the same way. That's part of the gut feeling I have. This may get a little interesting.

[MLeake]

... the reference you will want to check is 49 CFR.

The following link will bring you to a search engine where you can try to look up "bullets," "inert ammunition," etc.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/cf...i?title=200349

Be prepared for some very dry reading.

[chris in va]

From the Missouri Bullet Company website...

As stated throughout the website, we can ship 2,000 bullets that weigh less than 240 grains to any U.S. address for $10.85. We use USPS Priority Mail boxes for shipping so shipping cost are based on weight. Please check out our Bullet Bundles for larger quantities than can be shipped for $10.85.

[Bud Helms]

I guess they must have a certain weight limit that they are not allowed to exceed per contract. Who knows?

It may be a one person lift restriction.

[oldone]

Isn't UPS better to use? Somewhere either on this site or another I read there is a sticker of some sort that you have to put on the package to be shipped. I get my ammo from UPS all the time. But haven't tried to ship it yet.

[zxcvbob]

Isn't UPS better to use? Somewhere either on this site or another I read there is a sticker of some sort that you have to put on the package to be shipped. I get my ammo from UPS all the time. But haven't tried to ship it yet.

UPS or FedEx for ammo (it's an "ORM-D" sticker), and the Post Office for bullets or lead ingots. Bullets and ammo are not the same thing.

[Bud Helms]

Not ammo. Bullets.

[wally626]

obtained a USPS "Bubble Envelope" from a different Post Office, brought it home, put the bullets in and sealed it up. This past Monday, I went to another Post Office approx. 10 miles from the location that denied me, boxes of bullets pre-wrapped, and sent it off to it's intended destination in Kentucky. All went well.

Today, October 3rd 2009, I received a PM from the intended recipient. He said the "package" showed up, but it was torn open and empty, and it stated, "Damaged During Delivery

"

Ammo is really dense (which I have some experience shipping) and a bullets are going to be more so. I would definitely ship bullets in a box, or double boxed not an envelope. The bag probably ripped on the automatic equipment and the bullets are all over the floor somewhere.

[RickB]

I've ordered "cases" of 2000-2200 pistol bullets many times, and they've always shipped USPS in flat rates boxes. Sometimes the postman will deliver them to the door, and sometimes I have to go to the PO and pick them up.

[oldone]

See this link for shipping loaded ammo

http://www.adazonusa.com/howtoshipam...ammo-a-45.html

[koolminx]

Bullets/Slugs alone aren't banned and aren't dangerous...

Anyhow, Bulk postage is NOT machinable at the USPS, they don't machine anything larger than a large envelope. So the only possible damage came from the rollers, or from transfer from one truck to another. Not this route is the SAME for all post offices.

Once post office can call each office in the route. The mail trucks are NEVER opened between post offices or depots. SO the chance that "someone must have found it" can never come into play.

(Assuming they are slugs and not bullets complete with shell and powder etc...)

There is likely 4 or 5 people that know where the slugs are lying or have been swept to, and it will only take a couple phone calls to find them if you can find a decent employee to deal with. I have my contacts at post offices and have never lost a domestic package for more than a few day's after making some phone calls.

Everybody reacts when you say the word "Theft" meaning a postal employee stole your bullets, because there is simply NO WAY to have a couple hundred lead or copper jacketed slugs hit the floor and have nobody notice.... Since they're NOT illegal to ship they have to reimburse you or give your stuff back.

You simply need a friend at the post office that's willing to give you a half hour of their precious time.


koolminx

[carguychris]

I have a gut feeling that someone got "curious" and opened the box, discovered it was bullets and reported it. My gut is also telling me that the police have it, since the office personnel AND the "superior" denied me, so I'm kind of expecting to get some static from that end.

You won't. As others have already said, there's no law against shipping little inert pills of metal through the US mail. It's no different than shipping ball bearings.

When the USPS personnel saw "bullets" on the boxes, they told me that they couldn't ship bullets.

The dingbat doesn't understand the difference between a bullet and a cartridge.

I would definitely ship bullets in a box, or double boxed not an envelope. The bag probably ripped on the automatic equipment and the bullets are all over the floor somewhere.

+1. I don't see any sort of anti-bullet conspiracy by the USPS here; I think it's simply a matter of poor packaging. If you ship a dense yet loose commodity in a bag, all the weight can become concentrated at one end if the bag is lifted from other end, or the bag will pop if it's dropped. We've probably all seen what happens when someone drops a bag of flour or sugar on the floor at the grocery store.

FWIW I have successfully shipped 1,000 wadcutters packaged in a corrugated cardboard box inside a USPS Flat Rate Box. The recipient reported that they arrived with minimal damage to the packaging.