I had a bad experience using UPS. I shipped a model 42 deluxe through UPS. In transit the buttstock was broken even though it was well packed. They would not honor the insurance I purchased. I was told they would not honor the insurance because it was 1) a firearm, and 2) they were a local branch of the UPS, not an official UPS store. I fought them as long as I could and finally gave up. I had shipped scores of guns that way only to find out when I needed it most that the insurance I purchased with each shipment wasnt worth the paper on which it was printed. From that point forward I have been shipping through the USPS.

Its been about 3 years ago but I think it was likely placed in a soft case, wrapped with bubble wrap, packed with peanuts, and fit into a rigid cardboard box. I think what happened is the thing got dropped hard on one end or something. The buttstock was split at the top next to the receiver from what I remember. We used the local UPS store, a locally owned UPS franchise store, something to that effect. The insurance purchased was equivalent to the dollar value of the gun. I was able to finding another 42 stock and the customer was happy, I was out the money though.

I always send them two day priority through USPS and havent had any problems. They always arrive on time and I havent had one damaged since then.

Your right though, if your shipping higher end guns the best way to pack is a soft case, wrapped in packing material, inside a hard case, with an outer cardboard box. And as you said, its best to ship the first few days of the week so it doesnt sit around over the weekend somewhere.

By the way, I would never ship a rifle through a UPS store or business that contracts to take packages for UPS. I would be concerned that the insurance would be honored if damage occurred and one of the earlier posts on this topic certainly validates my fear.

One of the reasons I switched to hardcases had to do with a rifle I shipped that was broken in shipment. It was a custom M1917 Enfield and it was completely broken in two at the wrist. This rifle had a custom stock that happened to be quite stout at the wrist and it would be about as easy to break that stock at the wrist as it would be take a two x four and break it in half. Curiously, the box showed absolutely no damage, sign of rough handling or anything. And I had double-boxed and used lots of packing inside. It will forever be a mystery what happened. However, UPS did honor the claim and paid up. I will add another caution with regard to be prepared to support the value of a rifle if a claim is made. Typically, UPS wants to see the invoice of something (i.e. what you paid for it at an established business) to determine its value. So, it you purchase a new rifle at a store, and then ship it off – if the rifle is damaged, simply send them your invoice from the purchase and you are good. Unfortunately, such documentation is often unavailable for vintage and collectable rifles. For the M1917 custom Enfield I mentioned, I was able to snake my way through the process by having a local FFL dealer in collectable rifles write me up an appraisal of the rifle. This made all the difference in establishing the value. So, when you ship something and specifiy the amount of insurance you want to purchase, give some thought as to how you are going to document that value to perhaps some very narrow-minded and uninformed claims people who may well be anti-gun. These claims people have a job where they are certainly not told to be flexible and generous. What probably doesn’t work for establishing the value is documentation of what the buyer paid for the rifle, or a copy of a page from a, "Blue Book." I am sometimes amazed at people I have seen who "over-insure" a rifle. They seem to think if that is the value they specify – because the counter person accepted it, that is what they will receive if a claim is made. This is called throwing money away.