The FFL dealer can return it directly to you as long a transfer to the buyer is not done. If the transfer to the buyer is done then it would have to be shipped to your FFL dealer and you would have to do the paperwork just like you never owned it.
The receiving FFL has to log in into his records as being received by his business and when he returns it to you he has to log it in the record book as being returned to you, so you may expect to pay a fee for his paperwork. You may want to sort out what the fee would be if you are contemplating that the rifle will be returned.
If you have any doubts about the process call your local BATF office, if you do not like the answer they give ask them to refer you to the appropriate section of BATF regs where it says that it cannot be done that way. They are required to know the ins and outs of a lot of regulations and sometimes will give an answer just off the top of their head.
Being in the same state has nothing to do with the situation you are asking about.
If both buyer and seller are in the same state, and the state does not have a law against it, an FFL transfer is not required by Federal law as long as you have no reason to suspect that the buyer is a criminal.
You may want to read up on the BATF FAQ's, they are very helpful, and written in plain english, not "lawyerese".
drover
I agree with everything you say except the FAQs... many of the answers there are demonstrably wrong... I would also add the returned gun is relogged in the book as a new entry, not simply written in as returned. That is a function of the transfer having been done. The return is considered a new transfer.
