How do you sell a gun?

Find out the laws of your state, make sure person to person transfers are legal, get a bill of sale, preferably notarized.

I usually sell on gunbroker if I don't have a face to face buyer in mind, you can ship a long gun without an FFL on your end. You will have to ship to an FFL on the buyer's end. Some FFL's refuse to accept shipments from non FFL's though, so I alway specify that the buyer is responsible for my FFL dealers charge to transfer if it's required. Always keep paperwork of the sale.

Why not meet them at an FFL?

Sounds to me like the OP really needs to find out about firearm sales where he lives.

Around here we probably meet at one or others house, look things over, have some coffee, talk price and decide on it or not. Simple.

The last gun I sold (that I didn't sell online), we met in the parking lot of a shopping center. The last gun I bought (that I didn't buy online), we met in the parking lot of a McDonalds.

I guess I prefer to meet in parking lots in the daytime of well populated areas. For obvious reasons.

I have heard of late night meets in obscure locations where the seller gets ripped off. (For various types of merch.)

kcshooter said:

Find out the laws of your state, make sure person to person transfers are legal, get a bill of sale, preferably notarhzed. Always keep paperwork of the sale.

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Can't stress this enough, even it it's a simple hand written record with both buyer and seller's names, signatures, make and model, and serial number of firearm, date, etc. I was recently contacted by the FBI and ATF regarding an AR-15 that I had sold thru a face to face, and having that information was invaluable.

Usually they hand me the cash, then I hand them the gun. Sometimes we do it the other way 'round. Usually we shake hands after.

Why, do you do it differently?

R

I would only meet at a public FFL (i.e a LGS). Here in CA, that's mandatory (any FFL - at least to transact the deal). But regardless, it's a well lit public place, with understanding and knowledgeable gun folks who can respond to any questions that you might not be able to answer, keep an eye out for a potentially challenging buyer (or seller) and, while not participating, ensure a smooth transaction.
Of course this is moot if it's not a F2F deal.
B

Gun show, shooting range. Two of the places that I have sold firearms. Face to face, check to make sure the person has a valid Florida ID. Make the exchange. Trade or all cash whatever makes both of us happy with the exchange.

Can't stress this enough, even it it's a simple hand written record with both buyer and seller's names, signatures, make and model, and serial number of firearm, date, etc. I was recently contacted by the FBI and ATF regarding an AR-15 that I had sold thru a face to face, and having that information was invaluable.

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All you had to say was "I sold it."

There is no federal law requiring a private party to keep any records.

brickeyee

Quote:
Can't stress this enough, even it it's a simple hand written record with both buyer and seller's names, signatures, make and model, and serial number of firearm, date, etc. I was recently contacted by the FBI and ATF regarding an AR-15 that I had sold thru a face to face, and having that information was invaluable.

Click to expand...

All you had to say was "I sold it."

There is no federal law requiring a private party to keep any records.

Click to expand...

+1

Amazing that everyone gets wound up about ATF regulations yet are perfectly happy adding something that the law does not require.

Enjoy the freedom to hand another person $$$ and he hands you a gun.

i sell what i no longer want/need via gunbroker. gun transfers to a dealer who in turn sells (transfers) to end user.

Most times, we just meet at a Wal-Mart parking lot. Well lit, lots of security cameras, and most folks there don't look twice at folks looking at a firearm in the back of the vehicle.

+1 for public parking lots. And private sales are not required to keep records. Just make sure to see a state ID so you know they are not an out of stater.

Humph, somebody had a gun to sell and wanted to meet in some parking lot, I'd first wonder what he was up to and then most likely tell him to forget it.

JohnM - I've had a guy ask me why I wanted to meet in a parking lot and I said (truthfully) for 2 reasons;

I don't want someone coming to my house (if they assume I have a large collection which I do they might be tempted to come back)

I live in the sticks and it's easier for them to find a shopping plaza than take a bunch of back roads, etc.

Depends on where you are (not the LAW, which you know, but the way most people where you live think about guns.) I live in a small town in central TX; if i met someone in the parking lot at walmart, (broad daylight, cameras everywhere) and we were calm and discreet, i don't think anyone would notice, or bat an eyelash if they did. If local LEO stopped, they'd prob give us just enough of a hard time to justify stopping to 'fondle' somebody elses' AR-15.

Them legal to buy.

You gun.

Them cash.

Trade.

In all seriousness, find out the laws in your state (mainly age requirements, FFL requirements, and whether any paperwork is needed).

I advise meeting in public, somewhere with a video camera over the parking lot. I try to be discreet about the trade out of the back of a SUV or something.

Meet and talk for with them briefly to figure out of they act shady. See their IDs. Some people want a bill of sale for their own records. Walk away if you feel uncomfortable.

Be alert to any possible con or trap.

I met someone in the parking lot of a strip mall today. Kroger, Walmart, BassPro have all been areas I have met. Bill of sale is not required by law and (like someone said) is only creating more "regulation" than is in existence (No, I did not fill out a bill of sale at my meeting today). I also thinks it sets a bad precedent for more gun laws down the road (most everyone already collects a bill of sale therefor it would just be easier if the government did it...). I follow the law, but do no more than is required by the law. Neither should you.

Last hand gun I purchased was from another THR member. Met at a gas station parking lot out of the way. He pulled up next to me told me to hop in his truck. Looked things over real well. Talked to him about the specific gun. He asked for my State D.L. to verify that I am a Missouri resident. Then proceeded to hand him the cash, shook hands said good-bye and I walked away with a CZ-75B in stainless and he walked away with cash in hand. Both parties happy...

This is the way to do it. ^^ I've bought and sold lots of guns in the parking lots of McDonald's, banks, Academy, Walmart, even the local PD parking lot, right in front. What better place?

As long as a FTF sale is legal in your area, and I agree, find out, all you need to do, at least in Texas, is to not have reason to believe the buyer is a prohibited person, and you're good to go. Ask a few questions about the guns he has, his favorite place to shoot, just enough small talk to be reasonably sure he's not buying a gun to go and hold up the local stop-n-rob, and take his money.

A bill of sale is really useless. How do you know the buyer is who he says he is? If he's a prohibited person and he agrees to sign a BOS, how do you know he doesn't have fake ID? And how does that protect you ten years later anyway? All you have to do is tell any LEO you sold the gun way back when, you don't know who bought the gun because you're not a dealer and federal law doesn't require you to do a 4473. End of story.

By the way, I don't ask for nor give bills of sale. If someone insists that I sign one, the deal's off. I haven't seen a gun yet that I couldn't buy elsewhere maybe for less anyway. As long as the buyer had what appears to be a valid in-state DL or CHL, I do the deal.

I don't sell guns- I accumulate guns.

That being said, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners has a great forum at:

www.cologunmarket.com

This is a good place to post guns for FTF ransactions. You can email through the forum and set up a place to meet.

I have well lit parking lots during the day with all FTF transaction except for two. I use the public place for unknown people. The two that took place in my home were with people I was already friends with.

I don't want strangers in my house knowing where and what I have.