Shipping your Airsoft replica

This page will briefly discuss good techniques for shipping your Airsoft rifle, with some specific tips for KWA AEG 2.5 and 3.0 series rifles, while minimizing the possibility of shipping damage.

There are a variety of shipping methods available, and depending on where you are located and the service you elect to use, the cost can vary quite a bit.

The original box your rifle came with is usually acceptable for shipping. You may want to consider wrapping it in brown shipping paper to help prevent thefts of opportunity. A nondescript brown wrapped box is a lot less attractive than one that clearly identifies it contains an expensive Airsoft gun, as an example. Another technique that works very well is to flip your original box inside out. For shipping fully assembled rifles, the cheapest carrier will be UPS.

Please be sure to adequately pad the rifle and prevent it from shifting around the inside of the box. If the gun is able to move inside the box, this will cause damage from the inside out - the muzzle will often poke a hole through the box during transit, as an example. If there are small parts, magazines or batteries lose inside the box, they can be lost through such a hole. A good tip is after you have wrapped everything up, shake the box and see if you feel any rattling or noticeable shifting of the contents.

A Note on UPS / FedEx Stores

While it is convenient to have a UPS or FedEx store pack your box for you, please be aware that they often charge a premium for this service and the packing materials. Shipping fees from using these stores are also generally higher than if you purchased a label off of UPS or FedEx's respective website and shipped it yourself. Additionally, as these are privately owned stores and not actually in the employ of UPS or FedEx, some stores have a strict "no firearms" policy and they may even arbitrarily loop Airsoft replicas within these restrictions and refuse to ship them.

If you have a scale (bathroom or kitchen scales will suffice), tape measure and a printer, then you can print off a shipping label from UPS or FedEx's website. UPS typically has a coupon code that you can input during the checkout process (Code is: EASY or SPARK) that will further reduce shipping costs. You can drop off the package with your local UPS / FedEx store or arrange for pickup from your local delivery driver. Normally a UPS or FedEx store will not charge a fee for dropping off packages.

Third Party Shipping Services

A third option is to use an online service such as Pirate Ship, which offers the absolute cheapest shipping rates of all as they are able to provide commercial discounts. This service is 100% free to use, does not require a subscription or membership dues, nor is it an affiliate marketing site. All it requries is the creation of an account. Again, you will need the ability to weigh and measure your package and a printer for creating the label. Then you can drop off your package at any UPS or USPS shipping location for pickup.

Packing your Rifle for Shipping

When packing your rifle, it is very important to fill any "voids" or empty spaces in the box to eliminate movement of the rifle within the box. A rifle or components that can move around can poke holes in the box and damage it from the inside out during transit. In the worst case scenario, this can result in lost or damaged parts.

The image on the right is an example of poor packaging techniques, and in this case, this rifle was badly damaged upon receipt as the components were simply "dropped in the box" without any care to packing them properly.

It is advised to use rolled up paper, packing peanuts, air-cushions (AKA air pillows), etc. to fill up any voids. It is also advised to wrap your rifle in bubble wrap or another protective sleeve-like material. You can use priority mail padded envelopes joined together (available for free at many USPS locations) as an inexpensive bubble wrap material.

Similarly, if you elect to use the original box the gun came in, please ensure that it is adequately padded and unable to move within the box. Again, you may want to consider wrapping it in brown shipping paper or flipping it inside out to conceal labels to help prevent thefts of opportunity.

Lastly, even though it is an additional expense, always buy shipping insurance for the value of your rifle. In the absolute worst case scenario, you would at least be reimbursed for the loss of your gun and be able to purchase a new one without going out of pocket. Shipping insurance goes hand-in-hand with your packing job - if you have not adequately packed the box the shipping carrier may deny any insurance claims as they view it as an example of gross negligence.

KWA Specifics - Protecting the Fake Bolt Cover & Charging Handle

Note: If you are shipping a fully assembled rifle, you can disregard these instructions.

In the case of separating your upper and lower receivers for shipping purposes, it is important to properly protect the fake bolt cover from damage. If these components are damaged during shipping, it will incur additional expense as they often have to be replaced.

If you are not comfortable removing the bolt cover, use a heavy-duty rubber band to keep the cover retracted against the gearbox and follow up with a tight wrap of masking tape around the charging handle and receiver. This will keep the bolt cover and charging handle secured against the body. Masking tape will not leave behind a sticky residue and is easily removed as opposed to other types of tape.

The other method is to simply remove these components before shipping the rifle. They are not necessary for the upgrade process, and anyone who is mechanically proficient can uninstall and reinstall these parts in approximately 30 seconds or less. The video below describes the process.

Please note that this is only suggested in the event that you are separating your upper and lower receiver for shipping (or just sending the lower receiver in for service or repair).