How ammunition ships: carrier rules and federal packaging
Guide reviewed 2026-10-09. This page quotes the carriers and the federal regulation that govern ammunition shipments and links our recorded merchant policies. It is not legal advice.
What the federal rule says
The U.S. Department of Transportation rule on packaging exceptions (49 CFR 173.63(b)) covers "Limited quantities of Cartridges, small arms." It lists what may ship this way: "Ammunition for rifle, pistol or shotgun," and "Ammunition not exceeding 12.7 mm (50 caliber or 0.5 inch) for rifle or pistol, cartridges or 8 gauge for shotshells." It sets packaging conditions, including that "Ammunition must be packed in inside boxes, or in partitions that fit snugly in the outside packaging, or in metal clips" and that "Maximum gross weight is limited to 30 kg (66 pounds) per package."
The text was read from the eCFR on 2026-10-09. Regulations change, so read the current section before relying on it.
What the carriers say
- FedEx: "We ship hazardous materials, including Limited Quantity materials, via FedEx Ground within the contiguous U.S. Hazardous materials, including Limited Quantity materials, cannot be shipped to, from or within Alaska or Hawaii."
- FedEx, on its firearms page: "Ammunition is a dangerous good and may never be shipped from a FedEx Office or other FedEx associated retail location."
- USPS Publication 52: ammunition that is regulated as a Class 1 explosive and designed to be fired from a pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun is prohibited from mailing.
The practical result is that online ammunition orders generally move by ground service within the contiguous states, which is why Alaska and Hawaii orders are often declined. Each merchant sets its own carriers, minimums and signature or delivery rules, so check the cart before you pay. We did not find a carrier page we could quote on adult signature requirements, so this guide does not state one.
What merchants record for Alaska and Hawaii
- Alaska: 89% of tracked retailers with a recorded Alaska policy say they do not ship there.
- Hawaii: 95% of tracked retailers with a recorded Hawaii policy say they do not ship there.
Each policy is linked to the merchant's own page on shipping by state. For Texas, see which retailers ship ammo to Texas.
Using this with the price tables
Prices on the caliber tables exclude shipping unless a row says otherwise. Add shipping in the merchant's cart before comparing, as described in how to read price per round and shipping. State rules are separate: see buying ammo online by state.
Sources
Where this comes from.
Sources were opened and read on or before . Quotes are the publisher's own words; the page may have changed since.
- eCFR: 49 CFR 173.63, Packaging exceptions (limited quantities of small arms cartridges, paragraph (b))
- FedEx: Hazardous Materials, how to ship (FedEx Ground, contiguous U.S. only)
- FedEx: How to Ship Firearms (ammunition may not be shipped from FedEx Office locations)
- USPS Publication 52, section 34: Mailability by Hazard Class (small arms ammunition)
- Ammo shipping by state (recorded merchant policies) (this site)
Buyer's guides