I was recently asked for my recommendation on shipping handguns, bubble-wrapped vs sending them in a hard case. This was my reply:
The preference is yours. Bubble wrap is fine and works well with handguns. A hard case adds an extra layer of protection, but if your hard case doesn’t fit in a Flat Rate box, the Priority shipping cost will be a little more than double the flat rate to Alaska. Locking your box, after your dealer/shipper records whatever they want to record, is something roughly 5% of our customers do. In the 16 years I’ve been shipping and receiving guns, we have never lost a gun package in the U.S. Mail. Besides, if someone wanted to steal your guns, they would abscond with the package and cut the locks off.
I have seen some rough-looking boxes arrive over the years, but only long guns in a single box have occasionally suffered damage. For long guns, I encourage a hard case (the post office now requires long gun cases to be wrapped in cardboard or in a cardboard box) or double-boxing. Even though we have never encountered damage (or theft) of bubble-wrapped handguns in a single box, you will have added protection by shipping your pistols in a hard case within a cardboard box, Flat Rate, or standard packaging. You can still send your pistol case without cardboard by just taping the label to the case, but if you’re concerned that postal workers might know your package probably contains firearms, put it in a box. Labels sometimes resist label or tape adhesive, so it’s best to use lots of tape and wrap it all the way around the package.
I think it is a matter of economy vs peace of mind.