Good ol UPS

[Parkerman]

Francis
Appreciate your note re PVC. You mention gluing the end caps on and then, further in your note, you mention paying to get them back--I assume for reuse.
I am probably thick-headed but doesn't gluing the caps necessitate sawing them off upon receipt at the shop?

Linn

[Old and Reliable]

You are right Sir- BUT-- the older method of taping the end caps in place did not allow for some sharp thief in a UPS or other facility warehouse removing an end cap, removing the duct or strapping tape first, then taking out the H&H Royal 20 bore set of barrels or whatever- maybe a Gillum Salmon Rod- something of great value indeed- putting back something to add weight to simulate the real insured item, re-taping the one end cap, and back into the system we go- SO-- I cut the tubes way overlength- ie: a 30" set of barrels- I might have a 38" tube (measured sans end caps- I lay out the 30" and fit the end caps w/o PVC glue or pipe dope- and make a "hash" mark for the cut line adjacent to one of the end caps- and denote that fact in my correspondence to the recipient of the tube- that end gets a block of soft pine as a added "buffer- then the wadded newspaper on both breech and muzzle ends of the set of barrels-which are wrapped in bubble wrap, after receiving a light spray of WD-40 or Rem oil aerosol- this way, when the recipient cuts on the mark- his saw hits soft pine-and with a no-slip fit with both ends padded tightly, no rattle or noise when the PVC sch 80 pipe is moved-

I wish we didn't have to take such measures- you are right- end cut off end cannot be refitted, maybe notched for a ash tray at the deer camp, but that's about it- so I loose that cap and the inch or two of the pipe, so if a party ships the used PVC pipe back to me for a refund, it gets "re-sized for a set of 28" or 26" barrels-

Sorry to be so "wordy" but I have beau coup horror stories from friends with either stolen or damaged split cane rods or Parker, Fox, Smith barrel sets, and I am of Irish heritage and realize the words of wisdom in Murphy's Law: If something can go wrong, it will- so I go "overboard" I suppose in trying to prove Bro Murphy wrong (and maybe stand him to a pint o'Guinness--if I do)

[Bruce Day]

For the unwary, the subject of shipping guns and barrels arises on this forum every year or so, with the same issues, same result and same recommendations, that is, ship USPS insured for the full amount, in heavy duty PVC tubing for barrels, sturdy cardboard and inexpensive plastic gun case or built up wood case for guns. Identify it as a gun to the Post Office and insure for full amount. I've shipped guns insured for $10,000 many times with no damage and no issues. The USPS insured procedure takes a few days longer because they are kept in locked bins overnight and must be bar code read and processed at each transit point.

[Marc Retallack]

Francis

I would think one end of the tube with a female threaded coupling and a clean-out plug would solve the need to cut the tube each time it's shipped. Place the tube in a box and ship.

Cheers
Marc

[Bindlestiff]

Good point Bruce, I just added this to the FAQ page. Thanks.

[Old and Reliable]

I prefer USPS insured with tracking- as I don't have a FFL, if I have to ship either receivers or an entire shotgun, I will have my gunsmith friend Brad do this for me- his call as to UPS, USPS or Granny Grundy's Storm Door and Flying Circus MATS--

[Old and Reliable]

But my friend, unless you first "dope" the threads with PVC cement, the same Baggage Apes that can slice off the duct tape can also unthread the end cap and remove the barrels from your 16 ga. LeFever Optomisty and replace same with re-bar-- I am NOT a trusting guy when it comes to shipments of valuable items- so I take the extra and more costly route- if the threaded end cap on one end of the PVC tube has worked for you, I am most glad to hear that-