Shipping firearms and ammunition online involves strict responsibilities. For WooCommerce merchants, it’s crucial to ensure safe, legal, and efficient delivery. You must carefully handle every step, from complying with federal and state laws to choosing the right carriers. Whether you’re selling rifles, guns, pistols, or ammo, your WooCommerce store should work with carriers that support regulated shipments.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know to help you ship firearms and ammunition through WooCommerce the right way.
On This Page
- Shipping Ammunition & Firearms: Challenges WooCommerce Merchants Face
- Requirements for Shipping Ammo and Firearms
- Choosing the Right Carrier in WooCommerce
- How to Ship Ammunition/Firearms in WooCommerce
- Real World Case Study
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
Shipping Ammunition & Firearms: Challenges WooCommerce Merchants Face
Selling firearms and ammunition through WooCommerce involves strict regulations and demands greater responsibility from store owners. Here are some key challenges WooCommerce merchants face when offering firearms and ammunition online:
- Regulatory Complexity: Federal and state laws tightly control how, where, and to whom firearms and ammo can be shipped.
- Carrier Limitations: Only select carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS handle firearm shipments, and they require specific packaging, documentation, and merchant approval.
- Restricted Destinations: Firearms must often be shipped to FFL (Federal Firearms License) holders, and certain regions prohibit ammo deliveries altogether.
- Checkout Constraints: Standard WooCommerce doesn’t support restricted items by default. Customizations or plugins are needed to verify buyer eligibility and manage FFL addresses.
- Shipping Risks: These are high-liability items, requiring secure packaging, adult signatures, and shipment insurance.
Shipping firearms and ammunition via WooCommerce requires a compliant, well-managed setup, not just a plugin. Let’s explore the compliance requirements.
Requirements for Shipping Ammo and Firearms
Compliance Requirements
If you’re selling firearms or ammunition through WooCommerce, following legal rules is a must. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Federal Laws
- You must have a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to ship firearms.
- Firearms must be shipped to another FFL dealer, not directly to the customer’s home.
- Ammunition can be shipped without an FFL, but only to states where it’s allowed.
2. State Restrictions
- Some states don’t allow online sales of firearms or certain types of ammo while others may require background checks or permits.
3. Signature on Delivery and Age Limits
Firearms and ammo must be shipped with an adult signature required to ensure safe delivery.
By law, you can only sell:
- Ammunition to customers aged 18 and older
- Handguns or related items to customers aged 21 and older.
4. Hazmat Shipping Details
When shipping ammunition (classified as hazardous), you must provide specific hazmat information in your WooCommerce shipping plugin:
- Hazardous Materials: Indicates the shipment contains regulated hazardous goods.
- Chemical Record Identifier: Internal reference number for the hazardous item.
- HazMat Class/Division Number: Defines the type of hazard (e.g., explosives, flammable).
- HazMat Commodity ID Number: UN number assigned to the specific hazardous material.
- Transportation Mode: Specifies how the item will be shipped (e.g., Ground, Air).
- HazMat Regulation Set: Regulatory code that applies (e.g., CFR for U.S. regulations).
- Packaging Type: Indicates the kind of packaging used (e.g., fiberboard, plastic).
- Packaging Instruction Code: Optional code referring to packaging compliance guidelines.
- HazMat Proper Shipping Name: Official name for the material being shipped.
- HazMat Technical Name: Additional description if required for clarity or regulation.
- HazMat Additional Description: Notes any extra hazard details if applicable.
- Package Type: Specifies the box or container type used for shipping.
- HazMat Commodity Description: Code or abbreviation summarizing the type of hazardous good.
For a complete breakdown of how WooCommerce handles hazmat shipments, see: Shipping UPS Hazardous Material & Dangerous Goods Using WooCommerce.
Packaging Requirements
When shipping firearms and ammunition via WooCommerce, proper packaging is mandatory to meet legal and carrier-specific guidelines.
- Firearms must be unloaded and packed in a rigid, corrugated box that fully encloses the item and is free of any external labels indicating firearm contents.
- Shipped only between licensed FFL holders, with no branding or product info on the box.
- Ammunition must be packed in sturdy fiberboard boxes and sealed to prevent movement.
- The Hazmat label should be there if the carrier requires it.
These requirements ensure you’re shipping safely, legally, and in full compliance with federal and carrier regulations.
Choosing the Right Carrier in WooCommerce
When shipping firearms (rifles, handguns, shotguns) and ammunition (bullets, cartridges, shotgun shells), WooCommerce merchants must use carriers that legally support these regulated items. Each carrier has different rules, and failing to comply can lead to rejected shipments or legal issues.
Here’s a quick overview of what’s allowed:
| Carrier | Firearms (FFL to FFL) | Ammunition | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Yes | Yes | Requires account approval and agreement. An adult signature and proper packaging are mandatory. |
| FedEx | Yes | Yes | Firearms via FedEx Express only. Account setup and compliance are required. |
| USPS | Yes (long guns only) | No | Does not allow handguns or ammunition. Long guns allowed between FFLs. |
| DHL | No | No | Prohibited under U.S. shipping policy. |
Important Notes:
- All firearms must be shipped FFL to FFL (Federal Firearms License holders only).
- Carrier account approval is mandatory before shipping firearms or ammunition.
- Ammunition is classified as hazardous and requires proper packaging and labeling.
- No international shipping is allowed for firearms or ammunition with these carriers.
By choosing the right carrier and meeting their specific requirements, your WooCommerce store can ship firearms and ammunition legally and efficiently.
How to Ship Ammunition/ Firearms in WooCommerce
To legally ship firearms and ammunition through WooCommerce, you need a shipping solution that supports regulated carriers like UPS. PluginHive offers a dedicated tool for this: PH UPS Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce
To get started with UPS shipping in your WooCommerce store, visit the following detailed guide: PluginHive UPS Shipping Setup Guide .
- Select “Adult Signature Required” in the plugin settings, since carriers can only deliver firearms and ammunition to an adult.
Mark the relevant products as Hazardous in the product shipping settings and fill in the required hazmat details (e.g., UN number, hazmat class, packaging type).
Since shipping regulations restrict the display of firearm-related product names on shipping labels, the plugin allows you to replace them with generic alternatives.
Choose UPS services that support firearm and ammunition shipments, such as UPS Ground and UPS Next Day Air.
Display live UPS shipping rates at checkout, including surcharges for hazardous material handling, adult signature, and delivery restrictions.
Generate shipping labels directly from the WooCommerce order page. Labels will automatically include hazmat indicators and signature requirements.
With this plugin, you can generate the DG (Dangerous Goods) Manifest and Signatory Info, both required by UPS when shipping ammunition, to declare hazardous contents and certify regulatory compliance.
This setup helps your WooCommerce store meet legal shipping requirements for firearms and ammunition while simplifying fulfillment and improving accuracy.
FedEx allows shipping firearms and ammunition, but its REST API doesn’t support hazmat label generation. With the PH FedEx Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce, you can show rates for hazardous items and apply required settings like an adult signature. But labels for hazmat shipments must be created manually via your FedEx Ship Manager or with FedEx support.
Real-World Case Study: Shipping Air Rifles & Ammunition in the U.S.
Let’s say you run a WooCommerce store that sells high-powered air rifles, CO₂ pistols, and performance-grade pellets. A customer from Texas places an order that includes a .22 caliber air rifle and several boxes of ammunition.
The Challenges You Will Face
- Legal restrictions allow you to ship air rifles and ammo only to certain states, and you must manually select the adult signature option for each shipment through your carrier portal.
- Ammunition counts as hazardous material, so you must include a hazmat classification with the shipment.
- Product names like “.22 caliber air rifle” or “CO₂ pistol” should not appear on the shipping label. You’ll need to edit the label data manually.
- If you’re not using an integrated plugin, you must manually generate shipping labels with hazmat indicators and the DG Manifest via UPS.
How It Can Be Solved
With the FedEx Shipping Plugin, you can solve these challenges:
- The plugin allows you to mark specific products as hazardous and enter required hazmat fields like UN number, packaging type, and hazmat class.
- You can enable “Adult Signature Required” and include the surcharge in the shipping rate.
- You can replace the product name on shipping labels with a generic descriptor to meet UPS firearm shipping policies.
- The plugin generates shipping labels and the Dangerous Goods Manifest directly from the WooCommerce order page.
The FedEx Shipping Plugin makes it easy to ship air rifles and ammunition within the U.S. while ensuring compliance.
Final Thoughts
Shipping firearms and ammunition in WooCommerce is complex but manageable with the right tools and compliance practices. By using carrier-approved plugins like those from PluginHive, you can automate much of the process while ensuring you meet federal, state, and carrier regulations. From hazmat labeling to adult signatures and FFL handling, every detail matters.
Need help setting this up? Contact PluginHive Support for expert guidance.
FAQs
- Can I ship firearms directly to customers using WooCommerce?
No. Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders must ship firearms to other FFL holders; federal law prohibits shipping firearms directly to an individual’s home.
- Do I need a Federal Firearms License (FFL) to ship ammunition?
Not always. You don’t need an FFL to ship ammunition in many states, but the shipment must still comply with federal and local laws. Some states have restrictions or require permits.
- Are international firearm or ammunition shipments allowed?
No. Major carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS do not permit international shipments of firearms or ammunition due to strict international regulations.
- Do I need to insure firearm or ammo shipments?
Although the law doesn’t always require it, you should insure these high-value, high-liability items to protect against loss or damage.
