Buying a gun from out of state (step by step)

[Gunsnrovers]

First, let me start with that I am in the PRK. I am not interested in moving and don't care that in your state this can be done with only God as your witness.

I'm fully aware of the sad state of affairs here.

OK, I have secured a nice deal on a FN HP-SA (on our approved list) for a price that won't be beat. Even with my FFL's $80 transfer fee and shipping, my price will be $550. Hard to touch locally for a NIB pistol.

That being said and done, I am wondering about the steps to complete the process.

My understanding of the process is:

1) Pay for said pistol, get serial #, and get senders/FFL contact information.

2) Go to local FFL with above information, pay fee/fine, start DROS paperwork.

3) Local FFL sends shipping FFL their paperwork.

4) Pistol is shipped to local FFL.

5) On receipt, I return to local FFL to begin DROS and start 10 day wait (or would the serial # information allow the FFL to start DROS?)

Just wondering if my information/understanding of the process is correct.

 

[Bacon]

Both FFL's I have dealt with lately said they had to have the gun in hand in order to run the serial# with DOJ. I don't know if this is the law or their own policy.

Call and ask a dealer. They're supposed to know this stuff.

 

[thatguy]

When having a gun shipped from out of state I take an envelope addressed to the seller with a money order for the total amount. I give this to my transfer dealer and he puts his signed FFL in with the MO and he mails it to the seller. You don't want FFL and payment sent separately because they may not be associated with each other at the other end causing delays.

The seller gets payment and FFL, and ships gun to your transer dealer. He calls you and then you go fill out 4473, CA paperwork, etc. Can't start anything until gun is in your FFL's hands.

$80 transfer fee is pretty brutal but I understand it's higher in CA because of a lack of competition and cost of doing business there.

 

[Lennyjoe]

FFL's $80 transfer fee

My FFL dealer does transfers for $15.

Whenever I buy a pistol from out of state I send the postal money order for the purchase and my FFL sends a copy of his license to the dealer or seller.

The seller sends the pistol to the FFL address and the FFL calls me when it arrives. I go to the FFL, show him my CCW permit, fill out paperwork, give him $15 and I'm done.

 

[Bear Gulch]

80 bucks is way high. Shop around any you can do better. Or for what you pay for 3 transfers you can get you own ffl and a prime rib dinner.

 

[thatguy]

Guys, he is in CA, remember? Very few "home dealers" there and costs are high. I have a good friend who lives in CA and he says $75-$80 is as cheap as you can find a transfer. In CA, 99% of FFLs won't even do it at all.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

The days of kitchen table FFL's are DOA here. Many shops simply won't do out of state transfers. Some shops will, but only on pistols they don't sell in the store. It's market driven.

I did find a FFL doing tranfers for $45, but he is just over an hour away. Two hours there and back three times (once to start the process, once to start DROS and check the pistol when is received, and a final time to pick it up) kills the $35 savings. My time is way more then $35.

Otherwise, thanks for the tips. Once I hear back from the seller, I will get a MO and pay my FFL a visit to get things rolling.

 

[one45auto]

Bear Gulch,

If you think that fee is high, get a load of this. A local gun dealer/shooting range not far from my house wants $110 - yes, that's right, one hundred and ten dollars to do a transfer.

Greedy $#%@$!!!