RSIno1 said:
Cheapest way to ship is the USPS priority flat rate boxes.
Unprimed or used brass can also go USPS.
Powder and primers (but not primed brass) are considered hazardous material and require a bunch of paperwork and a fee. Generally places won't accept hazardous materials shipments from private parties.
Hi,
USPS: unprimed brass and/or "loose" bullets (not loaded) are fine, and those flat rate packages can save you a buck or so. My now retired "best mail carrier I ever had" used to question the flat rate box with 50 lbs of lead shot that came once in a while when local sources were dry. I just told him it was "heavy stuff."
USPS: don't even THINK about sending primed brass, primers, powder or loaded ammo. There will be guys in black suits in your future. They're dead serious about what goes or doesn't if the end result is a "bang!"
UPS and FedEx seem to be ok with the hazmat shipments as long as they're properly identified and shipped (ground only for most of them) but I understand you may have to ship from one of their hubs, not a local UPS Store or equivalent where you may get the "We can't do that" story from someone who doesn't know how or isn't authorized to accept your shipment.
As for USPS, if you don't like an answer you get, ask for the next higher person on the totem pole to come talk to you with their DMM (Domestic Mail Manual) in hand. That's their Bible and addresses all you (or they) might need to know to get your package on its way.
Rick C