A different taking, Military PCS moves

[ChrisCook]

I was reading the previous thread about transporting your items. My wife is active duty military and eventually we'll be moving out of Alaska and back to the lower 48, any experiences to share or advice to give on transporting a collection via the US Government provided mover? I do have some firearms and ammunition in my collection, so it's not like I can load them in the vehicle and drive through Canada with them, they will have to go via the shipper. Chris...

When we moved up here we didn't lose anything on the move, but we had some other folks stuff mixed in with ours, just some lawn furniture, however we contacted the military folks (TMO) and the shipper, no one was willing to take it back or help it find it's way back to the rightful owner....after numerous calls we came to a dead end, I'm leary of the fact that could be my stuff one day...

[Colorado]

Pack your own collection and seal. Make sure guns and self-packed items are placed in the center of the shipping containers at the bottom. All guns have to be in the same container, make sure that is different than your other collectibles.

That way, if the box is popped open, the bad guys will have to go through a layers of boxes to get to them.....and that draws attention and takes time.

Most stuff taken was placed on the outsides on purpose.

[evilmike]

good advice from Jeff there, Pile the valuables in with the dirty laundy.... hopefully that'll put anyone off lol

[coorsontap]

Here has been my experience; I go through this every couple of years. The shippers document and pack up my firearms without a problem, everything from AR15's, M1a1, shotguns,and M1 carbines/Garand. The driver signs for them, all SN's are listed and the boxes are affixed with tamper seals. Those boxes are last to go on and first to come off the truck. The mover takes it very serious and I was told that if they turn up missing it is a Federal issue because they are transporting across state lines.
As far as collectibles go; anything valued over $200.00 a pound can be itemized on a high value sheet if you don't transport it in your POV. Ammo; your on you own unless something has changed, they will not ship it.
It's alway a stressful time for me, especially when my favorite items of my collection are in my truck cab and I'm spending the night in a budget motel on my way cross country. I only "hand carry" my M1911a1 collection and a few items that I cannot replace. Everything else I let the movers pack.
If you hide your items in a box marked underwear and that box comes up missing you will be reimbursed for underwear. I think the best way for your collection or firearms to come up missing is for you not to document it. Hope this helps, btw I've got almost 19 years active duty and 6 PCS moves with movers, early on I did a couple of DITTY Moves. Things change yearly so check with your TMO.

[Don D.]

Hand carry anything that you can't replace. Photograph everything with a digital camera with a date stamp. Get additiona insurance thru a good company that insures collectibles. Watch then pack and watch how they palce boxes. If they are going to steal they will have a box set aside and it will never make it on the manifest.