FFL holders

[trapper99]

To all the ffl guys on here. How hard is it and where is the best place to get info on trying to get one???

 

[Rustystud]

Contact your local BATF Compliance Office. They will get you the necessary paper work. You will have to jump through a few hoops. Local zoning and local Law enforcement approval. A background check and a BATF walk through insection. It took me about 90 days to get my FFL. You will need a complete inventory,seperate log book) of your personal firearms so as they can differentiate between customer/business guns and your personal guns. I maintain a log book for repairs and a log book for purchases/transfers.

I went through a renewal last year and the insection lasted about 5 hours. They went through my books wioth a fine tooth comb.

Rustystud

 

[Mudcat]

If I didnt already have an FFL, I dont think right now would be the time to try and get one! I got mine back during the CLinton years and it took me way more than 90 days to get it and my last inspection lasted a day but the BATF was quite impressed with my record keeping, so no issues, just a big waste of time.

John

 

[LarryDScott]

I would suspect that w/this administration a New FFL is going to be hard to come by and the ones who have one, life can be made uncomfortable. Larry in western ky.

 

[trapper99]

I don't care how long it takes, I am going to try to get one. I also am looking to get my concealed, and maybe the license for silencers, I can't remember what missouri needs for that one. I want to get it all before he has enough time to tighten the belt on things.

 

[mackr]

I got my FFL in 1970, back then you even had to keep records of ammunition purchases,sound familar), I gave mine up last year to a former cop in a local city and now an ATF agent with the apparently required BIG head, gave him my books and "let" him go back up the road.
I miss the contact with the people and being able to help a lot of people, but I can tell you I still sleep well without the under thoughts of the 24 hour responsibilty of possibly having your business and possibly your home opened for them,,that's right,they always want to know about your personal firearms)
Mack

 

[trapper99]

That doesn't botherme, I am wanting to do this for me and about 20 people I will be selling to. All I am looking to do is start building a couple guns, sell to my friends and make enough to pay for for any parts supplies I will need and for the cost of the licensing and stuff. Pretty much just to break even.

 

[Mudcat]

You will need more than 20 REGULAR customers to break even! Trust me on that one! I made the mistake of thinking that I could do just that...yeah, right! Its a money LOSING proposition, period. If you do it cause you enjoy it and it makes getting your goodies easier, sorta, then it may be worth it, but if you think you are going to break even "helpin out da buds", think again.

But, you gotta do what you gotta do.

John

 

[trapper99]

What is all needed, is there a website you could link me to. I am just starting. I know it takes more people, but word of mouth gets around fast here and if I trerat them right, I will get a lot of business, and I am trying to get into some gunsmithing. It is going to be something to get me out of the house and maybe if I am lucky make a little money.

 

[thegman]

Trapper, sadly, it is not quite as simple as you may make it out to be. I can certainly offer you advice as I am an 07 manufacturer & 08 importer FFL. In the past I worked as a VP for a type 10 FFL so I have a really good grasp of what you are going to face.

Firstly, you need to go to the ATF website http://www.atf.gov/firearms/index.htm

Then you need to read ALL the info there & decide on which category of FFL you want. 01,regular dealer) or 07,manufacturer)

Be CAREFUL! You said you wanted to build a couple of guns & sell them to start with but you can't do that UNLESS you are licensed as a manufacturer. ATF recently revised the rules on what is & isn't classed as manufacturing & what you intend to do is certainly classed as that.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being an 07 as you can register as an Special Occupational Taxpayer,SOT) & transfer or manufacture NFA weapons tax free. The fee for the SOT is $500 per year. However, the downside to 07 is that you should,or really must) register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls,DDTC) as a manufacturer & this will cost you around $2500 a year, every year. ATF is not enforcing this registration at this moment because it is a State Department regulation but I expect them to under the new administration.

So, to be an 07 Manufacturer FFL, it will cost you $2500 for the DDTC registration, $500 for the SOT & $50 for the FFL or a total of $3050 every year just for the licensing costs. Add in insurance, business licensing, rent, taxes & you have a tidy sum before you start to make a nickle.

For an 01 dealer, you have a lot less costs but you need to be in compliance with all local, State & Federal regs regarding your business. You will need business premises or live in an area that allows home based businesses.

There is much more that I could say but I don't have the time right now. I will say that you need to educate yourself about the Gun Control Act & all other firearms regulations that affect the gun trade in the USA. ATF site is a good place to start. You need a lot more info than you have shown in your posts thus far & I don't mean that in a bad way, everyone has to start somewhere but you need to learn a whole lot in not a lot of time.

 

[trapper99]

I was wanting to build guns for myself, not for sale. I am wanting to get into a little gunsmithing. Rebluing, parkerizing, some stock work, among othe easier operations. Not into the precision aspect of the gunsmithing. But I have found a guy here that has his ffl and will do anything I need for 20 plus shipping and handling. That means he will sell me guns at his cost plus $20 plus whatever shipping. I think I am going to use him atleast for right now. This is just an avenue I was researching. I would like to also get some information on the license required to use silencers. It is something like a class 3 or something. I need to do a lot of reading.

 

[tenring]

Do you have a store from which to transact firearm sales or are you doing this from your home? If the latter you will need to post regular hours and ATF can walk in anytime to inspect your books. Gun sales from a house are a flash point for FFL. When I tried to renew my FFL several years ago, an ATF agent from Atlanta called me. Here are some of her questions: Do you have a business sign posted? Do you have a sales tax license? Is your busines registered with your local and state governments? There were other questions relating to my application as well. Now, they have ways to check your answers, and I sure as ell did not want to retreat to a Federal slammer for a few years, so I told the truth. They denied my renewal application. I submit that you are probably wasting your time to do this unless it will be a full time, open business with all paperwork in order.

 

[trapper99]

I have a shed I would be using. But I need to find what it needs to pass these inspections. I know it has to be secure,locked tight) but don't know exactly. It is in my backyard. Also, if there is anybody in the neighborhood ofme, the guy I was talking to will buy any gun for 20 and shipping over his cost, which is usuall about 45 total. I am picking his brain a little on the ffl to.