Can I do a NICS in advance?

I have been allowed to fill out the 4473 beforehand and as soon as a transfer gun came in the shop would fill out their parts and call it in.

is it possible to do the NICS background check prior to the firearms being delivered if done within 24-48 hours before the transfer is complete?

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A NICS check is valid for 30 days so your FFL could do the NICS check at their leisure filling out 19.a, 19.b and 19.c in Section B of the 4473 form. They could also add your name in 31. of Section D since you don't provide your name until you complete Section A which you'd fill out once you're at the FFL's place of business. You would only have to make sure that you pick up the firearm within the 30-day window or else your FFL would need to resubmit a NICS check. I use the FBI NICS E-Check System since it's much easier compared to calling. If you have a good relationship with your FFL this shouldn't be a problem but many wouldn't want to go through the hassle for a "stranger".

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/what-period-time-nics-check-valid

Styx said:

Quick question. I usually order my firearms online, so of course, they require shipping time before they reach my FFL. The problem is that I usually get delayed for at least an hour or four. My question is, is it possible to do the NICS background check prior to the firearms being delivered ... I'd like to be able to do the BG check before the firearms show up, and do the rest of the paper work once they get there all on the same day as the shop usually closes before I'm approved.

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YES

I routinely run background (BG) checks with the Illinois State Police off of an ATF Form 4473 prior to the firearm being transferred - in Illinois there is a 24 hour (long gun) or 72 hour (every other type of firearm) waiting period required between purchase and delivery.

SECTION A of the 4473 has to be filled out, signed, and dated before I start on SECTION B with the ID information for the BG check. The Transferee then completes SECTION C on the date of transfer, which must occur within 30 days of the BG check.

Just today I ran BG checks for two customers who had purchased firearms online. By the time the firearms are delivered to me, the FFL, both the Illinois 'waiting period' and the BG check 'Approval' are already completed.

It would entail two separate trips to your FFL, but you can definitely have it all completed so that it is simply a matter of you signing & dating SECTION C at the time of transfer.

Styx, to save on the number of trips to your FFL you could provide them with the information necessary for the NICS check which isn't much at all. As I mentioned, if you're familiar to your FFL they will have your info on file and can easily run a check in advance. No big deal.

Or just get your conceal carry permit (if your State issues it) which does away with the need for the background check.

BSA1 said:

Or just get your conceal carry permit (if your State issues it) which does away with the need for the background check.

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Not possible in New York either. It used to be, until the Feds decided that New York's record-keeping on CCW permits was too sloppy to be trusted. Just goes to prove that NY's permit practices have nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with making gun ownership as difficult as possible.

BSA1 said:

Or just get your conceal carry permit (if your State issues it) which does away with the need for the background check.

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That's only the case in certain states. Here in Ohio it wasn't until last year that our system worked that way.

MCMXI said:

A NICS check is valid for 30 days so your FFL could do the NICS check at their leisure filling out 19.a, 19.b and 19.c in Section B of the 4473 form. They could also add your name in 31. of Section D since you don't provide your name until you complete Section A which you'd fill out once you're at the FFL's place of business.....

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Are you really a dealer? Because this advice is totally and completely illegal.
An FBI NICS check cannot be conducted until the buyer/transferee has completed Section A, signed and dated the Form 4473.
Doing a NICS check prior to that may result in the dealer losing his FBI NICS check privileges at the very least.

MCMXI said:

Styx, to save on the number of trips to your FFL you could provide them with the information necessary for the NICS check which isn't much at all. As I mentioned, if you're familiar to your FFL they will have your info on file and can easily run a check in advance. No big deal.

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A felony isn't a huge deal?
Wow.

So in summary, Styx's dealer can do a NICS check in advance once Styx has completed Section A on form 4473. Styx would only need to complete Section C 22. and 23. with the recertifcation date when he returns to pick up the firearm that would need to be within 30 days of the date entered by the dealer in box 19.a.

Styx, my sincerest apologies for suggesting that your dealer commit a "felony" if that's in fact what I did.

A NICS check is good for 30 calendar days, The count starts the day after the initial contact. Hope this info helps. Here is the link from the ATF web site: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/what-period-time-nics-check-valid

dogtown tom said:

An FBI NICS check cannot be conducted until the buyer/transferee has completed Section A, signed and dated the Form 4473.
Doing a NICS check prior to that may result in the dealer losing his FBI NICS check privileges at the very least.

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The form does not say that. Do you have a reference to some rule that does?

ilbob said:

The form does not say that. Do you have a reference to some rule that does?

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The Form 4473 doesn't say that because it's an ATF form, not an FBI form. The FBI processes the background check, not ATF.
Being that the information in Section A is what is read to the FBI, it's pretty evident that Section A must be completed before the check is called in.
FBI NICS MANUAL: https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/nics-firearms-licensee-manual-111811.pdf/view See page 12.

The FBI " FFL Responsibilities" form that the dealer signs upon enrollment in NICS:
https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/ffl_acknowledgement1.pdf/view

If memory serves, there are two different NICS check processes.

Some of the States conduct the checks at the State level. The rules for those state will differ from those where the call goes in to the central, federal, NICS check.

So, the experience of a person in, say, Illinois, with state review and FOID cards, is going to be different than, say, Dogtown Tom's in Texas, where the process is point-of-sale straight to federal NICS.

BSA1 said:

Or just get your conceal carry permit (if your State issues it) which does away with the need for the background check.

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Not so in Connecticut

CapnMac said:

If memory serves, there are two different NICS check processes.

Some of the States conduct the checks at the State level. The rules for those state will differ from those where the call goes in to the central, federal, NICS check.

So, the experience of a person in, say, Illinois, with state review and FOID cards, is going to be different than, say, Dogtown Tom's in Texas, where the process is point-of-sale straight to federal NICS.

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There is only one NICS, hence the name National (not state) Instant Background Check System. Some states use their own system for their carry permit checks. Generally, those are the states whose permits do not exempt a person from a NICS check at an FFL.

The concealed carry removing the background check doesn't work in IL either. As the saying goes, I have "more guns than I need, but not as many as I want" and a CCL, but when I buy a new gun it's like I was buying my first one. 24 hour wait for a long gun, and 72 hours for a handgun.
It's not like I was in a hurry, it just doesn't make much sense.

Whelp, I get delayed a minimum of 3-4 days. EVERYTIME. When I have a gun ordered, I tell them to run the nics check. By the time my gun is shipped to the shop, Im approved and pick it up.

Mn Fats said:

Whelp, I get delayed a minimum of 3-4 days. EVERYTIME. When I have a gun ordered, I tell them to run the nics check. By the time my gun is shipped to the shop, Im approved and pick it up.

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Apply for a PIN #

AFS

AirForceShooter said:

Apply for a PIN #

AFS

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Sadly, a UPIN is not an antidote for being delayed. I say this based on extensive personal experience. Heck, a few months back I even pulled a DENY with my UPIN, until NICS called the dealer back saying they'd made a mistake; the transfer was changed to PROCEED.

Mn Fats said:

Whelp, I get delayed a minimum of 3-4 days. EVERYTIME. When I have a gun ordered, I tell them to run the nics check. By the time my gun is shipped to the shop, Im approved and pick it up.

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Really? Without you having filled out the Form 4473?
How does your dealer read off your information to NICS?
When you arrive to pick up that gun what date do you put on Question 15 "Certification Date"? If it's to match the date of your dealers NICS check then you are lying on the 4473.

Your dealer and you are committing several felonies.

BSA1 said:

Or just get your conceal carry permit (if your State issues it) which does away with the need for the background check.

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Not in illinois.

dogtown tom said:

Your dealer and you are committing several felonies.

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I may be mixing up something here, but I've had a background check done in advanced, even at big box stores. I haven't bought new in awhile but Im sure Im no felon.

bearcreek said:

There is only one NICS, hence the name National (not state) Instant Background Check System. Some states use their own system for their carry permit checks. Generally, those are the states whose permits do not exempt a person from a NICS check at an FFL.

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You're only partly correct. In TN, the TBI conducts the background check when buying a gun, though they do access the FBI's computers. Our system differs in that the FFL is charged $10 / check, the gun listed is checked to see if it's ever been reported stolen anywhere, and there is no "delayed", only proceed or deny. There is an appeal system though, which was unaffected when the Feds stopped processing them.