I am looking at a vacation next summer to AK. I am hoping to get a LITTLE off the beaten trail and do some fishing and stuff. I feel better when I have a short barreled 12 gauge near me. Has anyone from the Lowly 48 ever shipped a gun to themselves and picked it up at an AK FFL? Is that even a thing? Flying with a firearm these days has turned into just a pain and I would like to avoid it if possible.

Following!

Never shipped. Have flown with a gun a few times and thought it was relatively painless as long as you have a good case and locks.

I fly back a forth to AZ with a pistol all the time. I don’t even get questions about the pre ban magazines.

I have done it both directions. From here to the L48 and back again. USPS.......long guns only. Never had a problem.

EDIT: no FFL involved. Completely lega

Ship General Delivery in your name to Post Office at your destination. Present ID to Post Master on arrival.

Leave with firearm ( long gun ) ! I don’t know about pistol/ revolver might be the same.

I have witnessed individuals pick up their firearm at the local PO. Haven’t done it personally.

Maybe procedure changed slightly.

Here's the postal regs on shipping long gun to yourself.

Scroll down to 432.3 Rifles and Shotguns

https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

I've thought about this same thing but a cheap pump gun is $200, figured it'd be easier to buy one at sportsmans warehouse in Anchorage and sell it for $100 to $150 upon leaving

make sure you print those off and bring them with , a lot of lower 48 post offices don't know , don't care and won't take 2 minutes to look

I printed them off when I was shipping a gun to a dealer also covered under those rules and had I not she would have though it Illegal just the way they think now.
I brought them in and checked with the post master first that she wouldn't give me a hard time about it.
she read it , said ok you bring it boxed and wrapped so no one can see and you are not to tell any of my employees what this is , say tools or something like that.

There is my answer, Chapter and Verse! Thank you White.

I had a client ship his gun out to the outfitter one time, so he didn't have to fly with it. He shipped it like three weeks in advance, and ended up having to borrow a gun to shoot his bear with, because his showed up the day after his hunt was over.

I shipped a pistol to the AK. I went through my local gun dealer to a gun dealer in Alaska. I think it cost me around $30.00.

Can’t buy a firearm in Alaska unless you are a resident of the state.

Does that apply to all guns, or just handguns and evil looking black guns? Not questioning you, just curious.

A non-resident of Alaska may buy, and take possession of, most long guns as long as that gun is also legal to posses in your home state.
You can also buy a handgun but it must be shipped to an FFL in your home state before you can take possession.

Thanks White.

Yep, once again Ken comes through. My most sincere "Thank you" Sir.

Like White17, I've shipped many guns from myself to myself, never had an issue.

Thanks all. I figured you AK guys would know how to do this.

I love the internet.