Trading guns via FFL.

[wojownik]

So, a pretty basic question. I want to trade a gun with a guy I don't know. We're a couple of hundred miles apart, so we might do this by using FFLs (I ship to his, he ship to mine). But, I've never traded except for face to face. So, I have no idea how the logistics work in this kind of remote scenario, and it seems a bit risky to me (like, I ship mine to his FFL, but he never ships his, etc.).

How do you guys handle scenarios like this? I get the vibe that the other party is on the level, regular guy, but it not like there's a mechanism where the guns are only released when both arrive at FFLs. Or is there?

 

[MedWheeler]

You could probably contact the FFL he is using and ask under what terms he'd consider holding the gun you ship to him until the other party actually presents his gun for shipping to your dealer. If he agrees, contact the other party and tell him you're doing this, that you will ship first, and he can ship immediately, or wait until he knows your gun has arrived at his dealer's place of business. Include in the package something in writing reminding the dealer of your intentions, and that you may be requesting he send the gun back to you if the deal fails.

I'm sure the members here that have already traded in this fashion will be along here to tell you it usually goes without a hitch, as that's probably the norm for this sort of thing. Shipping through dealers leaves too much of a paper trail for many less-than-scrupulous people to want to mess with.

 

[JONWILL]

I personally wouldn't do it. No way to know if the box sent has the gun you wanted or the condition. Vise Versa.

 

[captain awesome]

I personally wouldn't do it. No way to know if the box sent has the gun you wanted or the condition. Vise Versa.

ridiculous. this is no more an issue than any sale where a used item requires shipping.

 

[AlexanderA]

You're asking the FFL to act as an escrow agent. I doubt that you would find many -- or any -- FFL's that would be willing to do this. They don't have the time, and they don't want to expose themselves to potential liability issues.

 

[JONWILL]

ridiculous. this is no more an issue than any sale where a used item requires shipping.

Sounds like an Armslist deal. Don’t know the person, haven’t seen the Gun in person. Some of the people I have dealt with are less than honest. Why take a chance

 

[the Real Alpo]

I see this, frequently, on this-or-that board.

"If we trade, I send him my gun, but how do I know he'll send me his?"

Good question. When you buy a gun, you send him your money. How do you know he'll send the gun?

Answer - you don't. You trust that he will send you your gun (that you've never seen, so you have no idea it is really in the condition he says it is) when he gets the check.

If you can't trust the seller to actually send you the gun, don't buy online. Or trade online.

Because there is no way to guarantee it working.

You want a guarantee that you will get the gun you want? Go to an actual store, have the gun in your hands, and hand the clerk money. Costs more that way, but you KNOW you'll get the gun.

Working a deal, with someone you don't know - someone you've never even seen - long distance? That requires trust.

 

[BSA1]

So, a pretty basic question. I want to trade a gun with a guy I don't know. We're a couple of hundred miles apart, so we might do this by using FFLs (I ship to his, he ship to mine). But, I've never traded except for face to face.

Remove all doubt. Drive the 200 miles and do the trade face-to-face. Since you are using FFL's I assume he is out-of-state? You can do the transfer of your gun to him in his State but you will need to have his gun shipped to your FFL. The cost of shipping the gun via UPS is a couple of tanks of gas worth alone.

 

[holl]

Just did this and yes it made me nervous, but worked well.
I'm in Nebrasksa and he was in Florida. I was able to call his ffl and explain the situation. We were doing an even trade, pistol for pistol. His ffl had no problem with not releasing my gun to him untill he, the ffl, received the gun to ship to me. We also exchanged photos of drivers licenses and carry permits with our cell phones. This was an Armslist transaction and it went as smooth as possible. I would have no problem doing it again as long as I can contact the other ffl and they are willing to be helpful.

 

[MedWheeler]

captain awesome writes:

this is no more an issue than any sale where a used item requires shipping

Probably even less, since most used-item sales don't require anyone to present ID, fill out paperwork, and submit to a background check to receive payment.

 

[Theohazard]

Remove all doubt. Drive the 200 miles and do the trade face-to-face. Since you are using FFL's I assume he is out-of-state? You can do the transfer of your gun to him in his State but you will need to have his gun shipped to your FFL.

Not necessarily, it depends on the type of firearm. The OP didn’t mention what kind of guns are being traded.

If both parties live in different states, the transfer can be done face-to-face by an FFL in either state if the firearm is a rifle or shotgun (and that firearm must be legal in both the transferee’s home state and in the location where the firearm is being transferred). The transfer for any other type of firearm would have to occur at an FFL in the transferee’s home state.

 

[BSA1]

Yep. You're right. For some reason I am only thinking about handguns this morning. Long gun transaction is much easier.

 

[wojownik]

Thx - left that key info out. Same state, but we're about 350 miles away from eachother. Handgun.

 

[AlexanderA]

There is no gun that I would want badly enough to go through all that -- either driving for most of a day (round trip) or involving FFL's as escrow agents.

We have a large gun show here about every month, where I can do all my buying and trading. Everything is face to face.

 

[bearcreek]

Seems like a lot of hassle to go through unless it's something rare that you really want. If that's the case it seems like it'd be worth it to arrange to meet halfway.

 

[Theohazard]

Using the average price of gas in the US right now ($2.50) and a conservative gas mileage estimate (20 MPG), your trip will cost $43.75 in gas (less if your mileage is better, more if gas prices are higher in your area).

With shipping costs and transfer fees you’re unlikely to pay much less than that per person if the guns are shipped to each person’s FFL, and you each might pay more; possibly quite a bit more depending on the FFL. So unless time is valuable enough to you that the six-hour round trip is a big deal, I’d recommend just meeting in the middle and making the trade the old fashioned way. Unless your state prohibits that, of course.

 

[Walkalong]

I would likely do it with a known participating member of THR, but not a total stranger. I have shipped stuff, not guns, to THR members after they said they would take and and send me a MO, before I received it. Haven't been burned. Life is a chance.

 

[ontarget]

True enough Walkalong. THR seems like the best group of folks on the interwebs. I'm proud to associate myself here.