Stan,
You asked if it was legal. I JUST sold a pre-1899 gun, so this is all refreshed again for me.
The answer is YES according to the ATF, but NO according to the USPS. I dunno if that makes it "illegal" or simply in violation of USPS "policy"...and whether those two things are the same or not. Here's why:
1. The USPS has their own definition of what an antique is...and the way I read it, it means only muzzle-loaders. (
https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_008.htm)
2. As of late 2011, all long guns must be sent via Priority EXPRESS only. (
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2011/pb22321/html/updt_001.htm)
*Note section 12.2, subsection "a"
This was baffling to me...as Priority Express makes the cost of shipping a gun get to $100+ in some cases.
3. You live in Georgia, so your state regs are probably friendly. But in NY State they have a similar definition to the USPS as to what constitutes an "antique." It CANNOT fire modern ammunition. As such one can be technically IN compliance with ATF, while NOT according to state law.
I have received a different interpretation from the NY State every time I called. Sometimes they say NY State rez can only SHIP without FFL...other times they say NO transaction in or out bound without FFL unless the gun is basically a pre-1899 muzzle loader.
And the USPS office manager I spoke to locally was similarly clear as mud. She seemed to be visably uncomfortable even saying the word "firearm" aloud, as we discussed.
I left there practically hoping the nation's electric grid would go out for 3 minths. (Hopefully, only sane people would survive.)
In all seriousness...how many people on this forum even knew that the USPS says you must ship your pre-1899 shotgun both as Registered Mail, and via Priority Express class service?
NDG