The Fear of Mailing
 

With the Pheasant season over now. I have considered sending my Parker barrels out for alittle face lift. Now, the fear of putting something into the mail that cannot be replaced no matter how much insurance you put on it has me questioning if I really want to do this. Anyone have any advice on how to package and the best way to send would be appreciated.

I have used UPS,FedEx and USPS to ship many guns and parts around the country.At this point all I use is USPS Priority Mail insured. In fact I just shipped a very nice EH to Oregon for some stock work and it got there in 3 day's and that's coast to coast. I probably over pack my stuff but I would rather err on the side of caution that try to save a few cents on the weight of shipping.

If you can wait until after the Xmas season to ship your gun, way too many packages this time of year so if you can wait untill Jan it would be safer. Eric

In also ship USPS Priority mail. I ship my barrels most of the time in a PVC tube I made. Use the 4" PVC pipe. Glue a Cap on one end, a Threaded union on the other and use a threaded plug to close. Then put a soft towel in the bottom of the tube. Use news paper and bubble wrap around the barrels. Slide the barrels inside. Snug it up with a small towel on top, and screw in the plug. Some wraping tape over the plug and things are well secured.

usps priority mail is how I ship. Did have two guns not make it from 1st. post offfice, but shipper labeled his store as a gun shop on shipping label. I think it is best to have nothing about a gun on shipping label. The guns were insured but what a hassel for all.

Thanks for all the input. I have just heard alot of nightmare stories about packages not showing up, or damaged packages. I think I recall in one of the threads about a PVC tube being busted open??? I guess it is like taking a gamble. When I first purchased the gun I had Griffin and Howe in NJ go over the whole gun... Strip clean, time the ejectors etc... In stead on mailing it, I drove in to them... Took several hours one way.. I understand I can't drive across country to make personnal deliveries...Guess I will keep my fingers crossed........Dave, did you get the two guns??

I share your disdain for shipping Parker's. Sounds crazy but if I need work done I drive out to Ilion NY which is about 265 miles each way.

Registered Mail although expensive seems to be a cheap piece of mind and even the USPS recommends it for valuable irreplaceable items.

http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendm...ailservice.htm

re the PVC tube idea--one of our members has reminded me that he uses the "heavy duty" PVC tubing (80 vs 40) and glues the ends on, after making length a little oversized so that the end can be sawed off and the tube used again.

Agree to wait till after Christmas for shipping. The only addition I make to the posts above is to put the pvc tube in a cardboard box--you local golf club store has a lot of 'em just the right size. Stay with the USPS and it's doubtful you'll ever have a problem. I ship Priority Mail but Registered Mail is probably the safest way possible.

Just made the six and a half hour each way drive to Bend, Oregon, for some barrel work by Keith Kearcher on the most important gun in my arsenal. Good peace of mind.