Ffl? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

quicksilverpdx · 11-16-2006, 08:19 PM

Dose anyone know what the process is ( wher I can find the application, cost, turnaround time) and dose a avarage joe that buys a gun twice a year really need one? Ive been told that I can get my guns for cheeper from the distributers and something about ammo but if it really cost 500 bones a year that dosn't really save me anything! ANYBODY?

GaryXD · 11-16-2006, 08:36 PM

Not worth the hassle IMO.

quicksilverpdx · 11-16-2006, 08:38 PM

Ya, but whats the process when i do find it worth while?

rodnocker1 · 11-17-2006, 05:20 AM

Here is what you need to do.
1. logon to atf.treas.gov/
2. on the left side of the page click on "Forms"
3. in the middle of that page click on "5300-Firearms and ammunition programs"
4. now scroll down to "ATF F 5310.12 (Form 7) Application for License (FFL)"
5. at top of this page click on "Distribution Center Order Form"
6. enter your personal info in section 1. On the right side of the page scroll down to "F 5310.12 (F7) Application for License", click on the little dot and then click the add box at the top right. This will put it in the first order blank under your personal info. enter "1" as quantity and then submit.

The BATF will send you a package with all of the forms and instructions you need to file for your FFL. Once it is received by them, it will take a couple of months to process it and then they will arrange to make an inspection of your proposed place of business. That is 1 of the questions on the forms- are you intending on starting a business, not just to increase your collection. If you answer no to this question, they will not give you a license. They will come out to inspect both you and your property. If there are restrictions against having a business at this location or a firearms business restriction, they won't give you a license. Once your property passes their inspection, they will go over (very, very quickly) all of the things you must do as an FFL (all of the forms you have to fill out, records you have to keep, etc). They will also emphasize the penalties (fines, imprisonment, etc) that could come from not doing things correctly or doing illegal things. If you are approved, they will send you a license. They would also prefer that you have a "dba" (doing business as) and a state sales tax permit before they come out.

That's the easy part.

The cost is $200.00 for three years (if my memory serves me right) and you are subject to annual inspections of your records and inventory. Any hand gun you sell (or repair if doing gunsmith work) must be be equipped with some type of safety device (i.e. gunlock) even if one wasn't given to you when you received it meaning you have to buy the locks. The list goes on and on.

From the prices I've received, there isn't much of a price difference between retail and dealer unless you are a "stocking dealer". That is someone who keeps a store front and has a large inventory of guns. You can realize a fair savings but the deals you receive as a stocking dealer usually require you to buy a "package" of guns (10-20 guns) costing at least $5,000.00 (bottom end) and going up. The last offer I received from Springfield was on the XD and it was a package of 10 XD's. "Great!" you say, make them all XD45's! Nope, only 2 could be the XD45. You've got to move alot of guns (even guns that aren't selling well) to see a savings. The prices most dealers are charging are pretty good, ranging in the 5%-10% "profit" range. With all you have to go through, $25.00-$50.00 "profit" on a $500.00 gun isn't worth it, especially for a dealer that may have $100,000.00 or more in inventery and supplies. Good firearms dealers work for every cent they get and they have to love what they do.

If you are going to become a gunsmith (like I plan on), you will also need an FFL and have to go by the same rules and regulations.

Like Gary said, it's not worth the hassle for just a couple of guns a year.

any4xx · 11-29-2006, 04:34 AM

I got my FFL last year. As it turns out, there are a FEW good deals from wholesalers, but not many. I intended to make some money at this, but it hasn't happened, and I don't expect it to. Mostly it has been frustrating being everyone's local research guy. Everyone wants you to find them a particular gun. Once you spend hours to track one down at a good price, they balk at having to pay the outrageous overnight shipping charges.

For the most part it's just a PITA unless you have a busy storefront. Then you will have higher prices that the big guys just to stay afloat.

As a best case scenario, I'll let my licence expire. But I'm seriously contemplating just sending it back to ATFE and being done with the whole experience.

rodnocker1 · 11-29-2006, 04:45 AM

It sounds like you have run into the same thing I have. When you are talking about getting an FFL, everyone you know wants you to hurry and get it so you can order them a gun. Once you get it, they have all changed their minds or don't remember.

**hacker15** · 11-29-2006, 06:36 AM

Got mine several years ago (it's a C&R). I like having it - I can buy interstate and have the rifles shipped directly to me or ship them back for any returns. I show it at the gun show and can bypass the NIC check, pay the price, and walk out with my purchase. Surprising what you can get with it. Cost is nominol, renewable every 3 years. Works like a champ for me.

orrminator · 11-29-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodnocker1

It sounds like you have run into the same thing I have. When you are talking about getting an FFL, everyone you know wants you to hurry and get it so you can order them a gun. Once you get it, they have all changed their minds or don't remember.

That's why you require fifty percent down payment before ordering...

aiformula · 11-29-2006, 08:34 AM

Getting a C&R ffl gets you all the same equipment and ammo deals available to most other ffl holders. It also allows you to buy a lot of collectible type firearms w/o having to pay a state to state transfer fee. You will still have to pay transfers on modern weaponry though. Some in state wholesaler/distributors will extend std. ffl pricing to C&R holders but will limit the number of non c&r weapons you can buy from them in a given time period. I am waiting on my C&R packet to arrive and plan to submit just after the first of the year.

nightraider · 11-29-2006, 08:45 AM

An FFL (01) is not, not for personal collection use. If the ATF found out that was what you were using it for, you'd get in trouble. My friends dad was an FFL and they yanked his license for not transfering enough firearms.

The opposite is true for a C&R 03, its only for personal use.

11-16-2006, 08:19 PM	#1
quicksilverpdx XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 451	Ffl? Dose anyone know what the process is ( wher I can find the application, cost, turnaround time) and dose a avarage joe that buys a gun twice a year really need one? Ive been told that I can get my guns for cheeper from the distributers and something about ammo but if it really cost 500 bones a year that dosn't really save me anything! ANYBODY?

11-17-2006, 05:20 AM	#4
rodnocker1 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leona, Texas Posts: 585	Here is what you need to do. 1. logon to atf.treas.gov/ 2. on the left side of the page click on "Forms" 3. in the middle of that page click on "5300-Firearms and ammunition programs" 4. now scroll down to "ATF F 5310.12 (Form 7) Application for License (FFL)" 5. at top of this page click on "Distribution Center Order Form" 6. enter your personal info in section 1. On the right side of the page scroll down to "F 5310.12 (F7) Application for License", click on the little dot and then click the add box at the top right. This will put it in the first order blank under your personal info. enter "1" as quantity and then submit. The BATF will send you a package with all of the forms and instructions you need to file for your FFL. Once it is received by them, it will take a couple of months to process it and then they will arrange to make an inspection of your proposed place of business. That is 1 of the questions on the forms- are you intending on starting a business, not just to increase your collection. If you answer no to this question, they will not give you a license. They will come out to inspect both you and your property. If there are restrictions against having a business at this location or a firearms business restriction, they won't give you a license. Once your property passes their inspection, they will go over (very, very quickly) all of the things you must do as an FFL (all of the forms you have to fill out, records you have to keep, etc). They will also emphasize the penalties (fines, imprisonment, etc) that could come from not doing things correctly or doing illegal things. If you are approved, they will send you a license. They would also prefer that you have a "dba" (doing business as) and a state sales tax permit before they come out. That's the easy part. The cost is $200.00 for three years (if my memory serves me right) and you are subject to annual inspections of your records and inventory. Any hand gun you sell (or repair if doing gunsmith work) must be be equipped with some type of safety device (i.e. gunlock) even if one wasn't given to you when you received it meaning you have to buy the locks. The list goes on and on. From the prices I've received, there isn't much of a price difference between retail and dealer unless you are a "stocking dealer". That is someone who keeps a store front and has a large inventory of guns. You can realize a fair savings but the deals you receive as a stocking dealer usually require you to buy a "package" of guns (10-20 guns) costing at least $5,000.00 (bottom end) and going up. The last offer I received from Springfield was on the XD and it was a package of 10 XD's. "Great!" you say, make them all XD45's! Nope, only 2 could be the XD45. You've got to move alot of guns (even guns that aren't selling well) to see a savings. The prices most dealers are charging are pretty good, ranging in the 5%-10% "profit" range. With all you have to go through, $25.00-$50.00 "profit" on a $500.00 gun isn't worth it, especially for a dealer that may have $100,000.00 or more in inventery and supplies. Good firearms dealers work for every cent they get and they have to love what they do. If you are going to become a gunsmith (like I plan on), you will also need an FFL and have to go by the same rules and regulations. Like Gary said, it's not worth the hassle for just a couple of guns a year. __________________ Rodney

11-29-2006, 04:45 AM	#6
rodnocker1 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Leona, Texas Posts: 585	It sounds like you have run into the same thing I have. When you are talking about getting an FFL, everyone you know wants you to hurry and get it so you can order them a gun. Once you get it, they have all changed their minds or don't remember. __________________ Rodney

11-29-2006, 06:36 AM	#7
hacker15 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 3,472	Got mine several years ago (it's a C&R). I like having it - I can buy interstate and have the rifles shipped directly to me or ship them back for any returns. I show it at the gun show and can bypass the NIC check, pay the price, and walk out with my purchase. Surprising what you can get with it. Cost is nominol, renewable every 3 years. Works like a champ for me. __________________ If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. Mark Twain

11-29-2006, 08:34 AM	#9
aiformula XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sw ohio Posts: 3,087	Getting a C&R ffl gets you all the same equipment and ammo deals available to most other ffl holders. It also allows you to buy a lot of collectible type firearms w/o having to pay a state to state transfer fee. You will still have to pay transfers on modern weaponry though. Some in state wholesaler/distributors will extend std. ffl pricing to C&R holders but will limit the number of non c&r weapons you can buy from them in a given time period. I am waiting on my C&R packet to arrive and plan to submit just after the first of the year. __________________ Tony Obama '08... change we can bereave in. Guns are like orgasms.......you just can't have enough good ones!

11-16-2006, 08:36 PM	#2
GaryXD XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Corvette City Posts: 155	Not worth the hassle IMO.

11-16-2006, 08:38 PM	#3
quicksilverpdx XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 451	Ya, but whats the process when i do find it worth while?

11-29-2006, 04:34 AM	#5
any4xx XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 248	I got my FFL last year. As it turns out, there are a FEW good deals from wholesalers, but not many. I intended to make some money at this, but it hasn't happened, and I don't expect it to. Mostly it has been frustrating being everyone's local research guy. Everyone wants you to find them a particular gun. Once you spend hours to track one down at a good price, they balk at having to pay the outrageous overnight shipping charges. For the most part it's just a PITA unless you have a busy storefront. Then you will have higher prices that the big guys just to stay afloat. As a best case scenario, I'll let my licence expire. But I'm seriously contemplating just sending it back to ATFE and being done with the whole experience.

11-29-2006, 08:45 AM	#10
nightraider XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,483	An FFL (01) is not, not for personal collection use. If the ATF found out that was what you were using it for, you'd get in trouble. My friends dad was an FFL and they yanked his license for not transfering enough firearms. The opposite is true for a C&R 03, its only for personal use.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode