Home Forums Gear Free Classifieds How to do a face to face personal fire arm sale to someone who lives across the state line

I am interested in buying a rifle from a guy that lives across the state line, an hour away. I don't want to send him a check and " hope" he sends the rifle to my dealer. What other options do I consider? Thanks for the feedback.

Make the drive,do a transfer on the rifle at his or your choice of FFL dealer's in the area everyone leaves with a of piece of ease.

I second that.

Why do you need an FFL for a private face to face rifle sale?

In this case the OP and the seller are residents of different states. They are required by law to use a FFL dealer to make a legal transaction.

Not for a long arm. An individual can legally buy a rifle or shotgun FTF in another state and transport it across state lines to his state according to Federal law. State laws may state differently.....but most don't.

Handguns must be shipped to an FFL in the individual's state to be a legal transfer.

ETA: I'm wrong. Not sure when it was changed to include ALL firearms. I remember not too long ago that guys going from Texas to the Tulsa gun show would need to have handguns purchased sent to an FFL in TX, but long guns could be bought and transported back. I guess not any more.

I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification.

This is correct. No FTF firearm sale is legal across state lines, any firearm. Must use FFL.

FTF... No FFL involved... No transfer required.

GF1 and haverluk,

"This is correct. No FTF firearm sale is legal across state lines, any firearm. Must use FFL."

Absolutely NOT TRUE !!

A 'long gun' MAY be transferred without an FFL, but it is dependent on 'contiguous state' and the regulations of the states involved. Better check it out thoroughly first.

Myron

In retrospect, it might just be easier to take it to a local FFL there, and do it that way. Takes all the guesswork out of the deal.

That's always been my understanding as well, a transfer is a transfer. But I've been mostly in one of two bordering states and never questioned it elsewhere.

From the ATF's website:
2. May I lawfully transfer a firearm to a friend who resides in a different State?
Under Federal law, an unlicensed individual is prohibited from transferring a firearm to an individual who does not reside in the State where the transferee resides. Generally, for a person to lawfully transfer a firearm to an unlicensed person who resides out of State, the firearm must be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) within the recipient’s State of residence. He or she may then receive the firearm from the FFL upon completion of an ATF Form 4473 and a NICS background check. More information can be obtained on the ATF website at www.atf.gov and http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html. The GCA provides an exception from this prohibition for temporary loans or rentals of firearms for lawful sporting purposes. Thus, for example, a friend visiting you may borrow a firearm from you to go hunting. Another exception is provided for transfers of firearms to nonresidents to carry out a lawful bequest or acquisition by intestate succession. This exception would authorize the transfer of a firearm to a nonresident who inherits a firearm under the will of a decedent. See 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5).

With rare exception as noted above, must use FFL. Nothing about contiguous states.

CFR LINK

§478.30 Out-of-State disposition of firearms by nonlicensees.
No nonlicensee shall transfer, sell, trade, give, transport, or deliver any firearm to any other nonlicensee, who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe does not reside in (or if the person is a corporation or other business entity, does not maintain a place of business in) the State in which the transferor resides: Provided, That the provisions of this section:

(a) shall not apply to the transfer, transportation, or delivery of a firearm made to carry out a bequest of a firearm to, or any acquisition by intestate succession of a firearm by, a person who is permitted to acquire or possess a firearm under the laws of the State of his residence; and

(b) shall not apply to the loan or rental of a firearm to any person for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes.

[T.D. ATF-313, 56 FR 32508, July 17, 1991; 57 FR 1205, Jan. 10, 1992]


It appears to be unacceptable to sell a firearm across state lines between two "nonlicensees".

Also, IIRC, the contiguous state thing is for a non-licensee purchasing from a licensee in the licensee's state but not the opposite.

When did all of this change ??

When I read the regulations, it was quite different, and it hasn't been that many years ago.

It seems that some of the regulations are not the same from one part of the regs to another and you have to wade through a lot of junk to find the real truth.

Of course with the Obummer administration, I guess anything is possible.

Myron

As long as I can remember a tansaction involving residents of different states needs to be done via FFL.


If I was unsure of the person I was dealing with, to the point I didn't trust them to ship a purchase, I sure as chit wouldn't meet them face to face.
Just my opinion.

Agree 100%

Just either you drive to his state, or he drive to your state, exchange $$, rifle, shotgun, no pistol, have lunch and chew the fat and be on your way, easy as that

FINALLY.................. Someone gets it. I swear, I believe that is some people FART they'd put it on the internet. Yep,we're now a GLOBAL society. Now we can solve everyone's problems but our own. Button your lips and carry on your own business and nevermind mine. I'll handle this end.

Don't know why alot of guys on here make it so hard. Geeeezzzzzzz