C&R Application

[skidooman603]

OK I searched back a month or so and couldn't find much. I have sent to get my C&R Lic App. I should have done this a year ago before I paid my local gun shop $25 a piece for probably 25 guns that would have qualified. All that aside, how many of you have your C&R lic and how much of a hassle is it? With my love of Mil-Surps and Vintage competition it seems that $30 for a 3 year license is the way to go...?

 

[rklessdriver]

It's not a hassle at all. IMO the biggest hassle was filling out the inital paperwork. Keeping my bound book up is no problem at all. The legal aspect of it is not rocket science - like some make it seem. It can be fustrating sometimes dealing with "less than knowlegable" FFL holders on C&R elgible guns but that about it it. As far as interaction with the ATF... its possible but still rare and so far those C&R holders who have had an inspection, haven't had much to complain about.

For lots of reasons the price is going up on everything - but prices are still within reach for most of us. The supply is dwindling on the former Soviet Republic stockpiles but there are still lots of good collectables availiable currently..... Keep in mind they won't last forever.

If your going to do it - now is not the best time (the best time was maybe late 1980's or early 90's) but it is IMO as good as its going to get as far as for the future of C&R. So IMO get whats availiable now while you can.

I personally have hope that some importer will find a big C&R score like we did after the Iron Curtain fell... The question is : Where's it going to be....

I also see a future trend towards side arms being the "Next Big Thing" in C&R collecting. The current crop of military rifles approaching C&R status (by age) are all full auto.... with no way currently to legally alter the ATF registration database.... I don't see a way (in the current political climate) where those can be made availiable to us.... Which leaves us with side arms and... a few sniper rifles (which are always expensive and comparatively out of reach for the majority of collectors price wise for many reasons).

Anyway just a few observations - welcome to the C&R world.
Will

 

[skidooman603]

Thank You Will. What type of "Bound" book do you keep your records in? Do they make a special one for the purpose?
Thanks Gary

 

[madcratebuilder]

A C&R well get you a dealer account at Midway and Brownells. You can make your own book or buy a regular fire arm log book.

Gun log book

Google "gun log book" and you well get a few hits. You can down load and print your own if you want to be thrifty or buy a twenty dollar log. I bought a log, it well last a life time.

 

[OpelBlitz]

You just need to be thorough and consistent filling out the green forms the BATFE sends you. I just did mine a few weeks ago and sent it in -- just write slowly (or type it) and don't make mistakes.

 

[19-3Ben]

It's incredibly easy. I sent in my application and the license came in the mail literally 10 days to the day from when I sent out the app.

I just write down my purchases in one of those cheap "composition" books you get in the 'school' section of CVS or Walgreens.

My recommendation to you is to make 15-20 photocopies of the license BEFORE you sign it!!!!!

 

[RevDerb]

Not a hassle. Took about a month for mine to process just before Christmas. Made my first purchase of a M-N M38 this week with it. My LGS only charges $5 for transfers but I did about 10 of them last year. So the C&R is paid for.

 

[stchman]

I recently got my C&R in Nov of last year.

It took about 2 months to get it. They used to include a bound book, but now you have to either buy or make your own. There are lots of Excel spreadsheets that are tailored for C&R entries.

My strongest suggestion is to follow the rules 100%. Don't mess with the BATFE or you will be their bitch.

 

[19-3Ben]

My LGS only charges $5 for transfers

The cheapest I can get locally is $20, and the regular rate at LGS's around here is $40-50.

 

[skidooman603]

Yeh thought I was doin ok at $25 a transfer. Crap after about 25 of them in the last year I should have gotten a bakers dozen sale or something