General C&R question

[Greasemonkey]

Ok.. now I have held a 03 C&R FFL since the end of '05, those days were a blast, tons of stuff available, cheap(considering), even the political climate wasn't terrible.

So fast forward... it's now 2019.. My current 03 expires Feb 2020..  thus far... Samco global has bitten the dust, Southern Ohio Gun threw in the white towel, there will be yet another election that year, who knows what draconian laws could be written between now and then..  So my question is............

with nothing really being imported, some importers vanishing, an unstable political climate is there any reason short of my 5% discount from Numrich for FFL discount...........also,

As a side note.. I don't do Gun Broker, RIA or other auctions.. I do piddle in a little local auction, but generally.. they pull the 'ol 4473 on me(they usually don't charge me the 2$ back ground, it's more so they have the record), all the other shops in the area do a 4473, one had never seen an 03 FFL... which is fine, what ever, it's your sandbox, I'll play in it. Not once has a person asked for a copy in a private FTF sale for an eligible item, and then some people look at me like I'm on the sh*t when I ask there name and info for logging purposes. And in 14 years I've never been able to get a free cup of coffee from McDonalds with it....... so,

Would there be any reason to spend the 30 bucks and 2 stamps and waiting the requisite 4-6 weeks to renew an 03 FFL for possibly 3 more years of headaches in current times??

[Matchka]

Saw the writing on the wall too - decided not to renew two years ago. The utility of the 03 C&R FFL in California (ugh) is negligible. As a vet and frequent customer at my LGS, I get a good break on my in/out transactions.

[Greasemonkey]

Saw the writing on the wall too - decided not to renew two years ago. The utility of the 03 C&R FFL in California (ugh) is negligible. As a vet and frequent customer at my LGS, I get a good break on my in/out transactions.

It's not just the wall writing.. In Virginia.. we haven't gone the way of 10day baby sitting period, the state laws here thankfully are comparatively laxed....damn  I better go knock on some wood. It's stuff like..... locally, if I spot a this hot saucy little old Mossberg .22 languishing on a shelf that I know is 50+ years old, and I have to do a 4473 to take said little hot number home, then turn back around and log it in as an acquisition, it kind of negates the whole purpose of having the 03... technically, it's become redundant, but, I know legally, the logging in has to be done.

[echo1]

I'm in Kali and had always done good on the street, so I never got or needed an 03, and in Kali, you need additional paper (COE) to make it viable. There is no Cash & Carry for the common folk here. Everything must register.

The retail discount available from many vendors, COULD make a difference at times. I still have no plans for an 03. PAX

[Phosphorus32]

Yeah, if you buy locally and the LGSs require 4473s anyhow, why bother with an FFL-03.

For me I'll renew for a third time, 10 months from now, because I buy C&R qualifying (and antique) firearms from:

1. Online auctions, 51 in 2018, no modern firearms
2. Local gun shops, 14 C&R and 10 modern in 2018, less of a case here, since in my experience only about 1/2 take FFL-03s and none in my metro area accept them None charge transfer fees for firearms sold in their shop and one gives a cash (3%) discount.
3. Retailers, occasionally, 5 in 2018 (all but one were C&R Yugoslavian firearms). I was honestly surprised to total up that many last year. I anticipate 0 to 1 as a likely range of retail purchases this year. I'm not interested in refurb M91/30s past $200, I have enough P-64 pistols, I won't pay Classic Firearms prices for their pimp-shined fake K98k's etc., and there isn't much else.
4. Local gun shows, 2 in 2018, milsurps are mostly over-priced, bubba'd, common ones I don't need...or over-priced I really only buy from one seller. My C&R saves me a $20 transfer fee at the show.
5. Private sellers, 2 C&R in 2018. My C&R saves me a $20-25 transfer fee on those occasions, since all private sales have to go through an FFL in WA.
6. GunBroker, only 1 purchase in 2018 (but about 22 sales)
7. Gunboards, just 1 purchase in 2018 (although the 2 private seller C&R purchases were actually from a Gunboards WTS ad from a guy who is local, so could count this as 3 and private FTF as 0)

I buy most of my modern firearms at local gun shops (10 in 2018), with just one facilitated private seller transfer in 2018.

I include antiques in the C&R discussion because often the online auction houses don't know it's an antique (and may not take my word for it) or sometimes (Mosins) neither the auction house or I know it's an antique until I disassemble it and check the receiver tang.

[Matchka]

Phos, I thought I had it bad!
And, I wouldn't purchase a desk set dummy hand grenade from Classic, much less ANY of that outfit's junk (pimped) stuff.

[Greasemonkey]

Phos, I thought I had it bad!
And, I wouldn't purchase a desk set dummy hand grenade from Classic, much less ANY of that outfit's junk (pimped) stuff.

Yeah.. 'ol P32, one of our resident crack whores...I mean........ gun junkie.....gun whorder. 

I try to help him get through these rough patches where he just melts his plastic trying to get that fix.  He constantly deflects and blames me for some of the issues he has, just like a true addict.

[Phosphorus32]

Hey GM, I thought junkies were supposed to stick together   

The good news is that my C&R saved me much more than it's prorated cost of $10 for 2018 

[Greasemonkey]

We do stick together.... it's called ENABLING     I'm waiting for my shipping notification on my last one, twitching...


This year or renewal... it didn't do a lot for me, as I bought quite a few more "modern" things, aside from the Gewehr 43 and a few Mausers. I bought quite a few rimfires, a lot of .22 trainers. Now, hand guns, these were spilt between C&R and modern, this seemed to be my big ticket and I had a few that are considered "antique/primitive/black power". Just 2 SKS's....both commercial variants for bargain prices... but locally overall, they are extremely over priced.

[Boris Badinov]

The 03 license is less than $50, right? And it's good for three years?

I'd say, "Keep it."

You'll save that much in FFL transfer fees for the first two purchases.

[Phosphorus32]

The 03 license is less than $50, right? And it's good for three years?

I'd say, "Keep it."

You'll save that much in FFL transfer fees for the first two purchases.

$30, 3 years.  You're not wrong, one can easily save that with just two transfers. For me, it's a no-brainer.  However, if you only buy your C&R eligible firearms locally, then it's the $30, plus the burden of the paperwork requirement, with no benefit.

[Greasemonkey]

You really don't have a clue on how much saving on transfer fees, can actually cost you in the long run.  

Boris, I admit it, I am weak,    but that piece of paper is like keys to the kingdom in certain ways. Look at the big picture.... since items that were made...now before 1968...technically are C&R.. my S&W Model 29 is a C&R if you go by the 50 year rule, same with my .30-30.....  it's not just military weapons..........it's the vast amount of old commercial weapons that are or will becoming this way, lever actions, rimfires, shot guns, revolvers, lions, tigers and bears oh my...   

Then with all that...comes another safe........or 2.................................or 3

[Boris Badinov]

You really don't have a clue on how much saving on transfer fees, can actually cost you in the long run.  

I do, though.

That's why I dont have a C&R license. 

[Greasemonkey]

You really don't have a clue on how much saving on transfer fees, can actually cost you in the long run.  

I do, though.

That's why I dont have a C&R license. 

I'm trying.......... to avoid being like P32 or M08... I'm not sure which of one those two has this storage space.....

[Direct Connection]

Hey !! That looks like BBWAG's Garage ! And the lowest numbered M59 ever recorded sits in one of those crates. Something like that  . Living here in California I've always taken the zero on the 03ffl. And I would say for personal reasons but you'll all know im lying. Plus I came into the mix much later then real C&R collectors when you could buy surplus for about an 1/8 of the price they go for now.

[Direct Connection]

Yeah, if you buy locally and the LGSs require 4473s anyhow, why bother with an FFL-03.

For me I'll renew for a third time, 10 months from now, because I buy C&R qualifying (and antique) firearms from:

1. Online auctions, 51 in 2018, no modern firearms
2. Local gun shops, 14 C&R and 10 modern in 2018, less of a case here, since in my experience only about 1/2 take FFL-03s and none in my metro area accept them None charge transfer fees for firearms sold in their shop and one gives a cash (3%) discount.
3. Retailers, occasionally, 5 in 2018 (all but one were C&R Yugoslavian firearms). I was honestly surprised to total up that many last year. I anticipate 0 to 1 as a likely range of retail purchases this year. I'm not interested in refurb M91/30s past $200, I have enough P-64 pistols, I won't pay Classic Firearms prices for their pimp-shined fake K98k's etc., and there isn't much else.
4. Local gun shows, 2 in 2018, milsurps are mostly over-priced, bubba'd, common ones I don't need...or over-priced I really only buy from one seller. My C&R saves me a $20 transfer fee at the show.
5. Private sellers, 2 C&R in 2018. My C&R saves me a $20-25 transfer fee on those occasions, since all private sales have to go through an FFL in WA.
6. GunBroker, only 1 purchase in 2018 (but about 22 sales)
7. Gunboards, just 1 purchase in 2018 (although the 2 private seller C&R purchases were actually from a Gunboards WTS ad from a guy who is local, so could count this as 3 and private FTF as 0)

I buy most of my modern firearms at local gun shops (10 in 2018), with just one facilitated private seller transfer in 2018.

I include antiques in the C&R discussion because often the online auction houses don't know it's an antique (and may not take my word for it) or sometimes (Mosins) neither the auction house or I know it's an antique until I disassemble it and check the receiver tang.

Jumping gee hody doty ! You need to see a Doctor : )  But if Shi* ever goes down Im heading up to Washington : )

[running-man]

Hey correct direction, no muscling in on my great uncle P32 (twice removed)!  He's assured me that I'm already in his will.  When he keels over it's Mosins for everybody! 

[Greasemonkey]

Hey correct direction, no muscling in on my great uncle P32 (twice removed)!  He's assured me that I'm already in his will.  When he keels over it's Mosins for everybody! 

Long as he doesn't ship them... everything he sends me never, ever makes it... There is some place in Montana the pony express stops at and gets............well I have a lot of stuffs in Montana I will never see. 

And RM, I know you are deathly allergic to the wholesome goodness provided by the long gun power of Mosins.. I will take one for the team, and take your share.

[Phosphorus32]

Hey correct direction, no muscling in on my great uncle P32 (twice removed)!  He's assured me that I'm already in his will.  When he keels over it's Mosins for everybody! 

Maybe the pristine Polish M44, or the 1970 Finnish M39 on an antique receiver, maybe you'd prefer an American Remington or New England Westinghouse M91. So many choices but hopefully I still have a few decades to decide on which Mosin goes to RM   ...okay, and my brass crossbolt VN bringback

Hey correct direction, no muscling in on my great uncle P32 (twice removed)!  He's assured me that I'm already in his will.  When he keels over it's Mosins for everybody! 

Long as he doesn't ship them... everything he sends me never, ever makes it... There is some place in Montana the pony express stops at and gets............well I have a lot of stuffs in Montana I will never see. 

And RM, I know you are deathly allergic to the wholesome goodness provided by the long gun power of Mosins.. I will take one for the team, and take your share.

GM gets my Romanian SKS, Franken-FAL and his pick of the rest, if he can make it to the Pony Express Saloon in Montana before my survivors auction them off...in Illinois?

Since JH is closest to the Pony Express Saloon in West Grizzly Bear Pass (unincorporated) Montana he gets the nice Albanian and non-refurbed SKS-45

Blicero gets my Luftwaffe marked 1940 MO K98k bolt mismatch that he steered me toward and I acquired for the price of an RC  plus the mismatched K43 for trade fodder to get a nice K98k or P.08

PS gets an M59 long barrel and my "para", if I still have it

LC gets his pick of the Chinese Type 56s and pick of the 22s, perhaps the US marked M44 Mossberg


Definitely null and void if P32 dies under nefarious circumstances. Legally non-binding in any case, but it's the thought that counts, right.

[Direct Connection]

Geez Im a little short on 22 ammo  Thats allot of freaking artillery Phos ! And I thought I was a King.. Just like one time the UPS guy delivered 1k rds of AK food to my house when Obama got elected. I came walking out of my garage with my chest sticking out and the Driver started laughing at me and said ... Hate to tell you buddy but your not even the King of your neighborhood ...awwwww face palm !! Then fetal position...