uglydog said:
A person can ship a gun to themselves, even if it crosses state lines.
Dog I would check your facts as I understand even if a person is shipping a firearm to themself it requires FFL to ship it. All firearms shipped require proof of delivery to the addresse, no firearm will be left on the step or given to just anyone at the door. I expect you could ship it and not claim it is a firearm.
Hopefully this comes through, its from the BATFE website regarding this issue.
http://www.atf.gov/firearm/faq/faq2.htm#b9. If not go to the BATFE website, go to the firearms FAQ area and then look under B9 and you will find the needed info. As long as you are the addressee, the gun does not have to go through an FFL. I've done this for several years sending guns to myself as well as gunsmiths and manufacturers without needing an FFL though one cannot use the USPS for handguns.
When shipping a gun to myself when traveling, I use next day air (a must for handguns) and send the package overnight. If one goes to the shop after "last call" for the day, the package will probably go out on the first flight the next day which might be the same flight. More than once I have seen what later turned out to be my case placed into the cargo hold of the plane I was taking.
In a perfect world one should not find the package sitting on the door step but I, as well as others (including the person I send my guns to in Alaska), have on more than one occasion. One does need to declare the firearm when initially sending it but no markings identifying the package as being a firearm is preferred by the businesses I've used. This way the drivers and loaders have little idea what is contained in the package and reduces the odds for theft and/or loss. Same for delivery at the listed address, the delivery person will just drop it off with whomever will sign for the package and for that reason the BATFE recommends that the person accepting the package, if not the addressee, does not open the package as that is considered as "accepting" it. They may even go to a neighbor as has happened with every service I've used at one time or another, even USPS has done so and a stepson in that line of work does this every day.
It is also a requirement to declare it as a firearm upon sending it, if not it is a violation of company policy if not federal law. Also, if the package is lost or stolen, not declaring it can and probably will void any insurance claim you might make.
Again, for all of these reasons I suggested going to the BATFE, TSA, and airline (if traveling in such manner) websites to further educate oneself on the requirements of such travel or shipping.
Bringing ammo aboard a plane is not a problem if one follows the regulations, certainly not any more so than bringing the firearm. Unless one has some specialty ammunition that they just have to use and can't get anyplace else, it is much easier to buy once there as it is so easy to go above the meager weight allotment now allowed for air travel. That extra cost is probably much more than the price of the ammo.