Private firearm sales. What do you do?

[JCS]

Curious how others do sales of firearms. Do you take any precautions to protect yourself?

If you were going to sell an AR in today’s political climate how would you do it?

[Jason M]

Everything gets transferred through an FFL. Period.

[O4L]

Within the free state of Oklahoma...

Give me the cash, I give you the gun. Done.

(Subject to my standards of dealing with known buyers.)

[vcdgrips]

I was taught to never sell a gun that works and to only sell one that did not with full disclosure. ( RIP Doug Smith, Maj. USA ret.)

I have sold guns that worked 3 x in my life.

1. to buy a house-FFL
2. to buy an Omega Watch -FFL
3. to send a kid to college -FFL on one gun, sold to guys I worked with-on the other 2 (they both lived in my state.)

Bottom line-I would use an FFL in these days and times, baking in any associated costs re fees, shipping etc.

[blues]

I've only sold to a neighbor on a face to face. In NC he only needed a permit from the local sheriff's office authorizing him to buy a pistol. I kept the original and gave him a copy.

[Moylan]

AR-15 sale in NC--I need to see a current driver's license to verify it's a North Carolina resident over 18. I must not have any reason to believe that the person cannot possess firearms. Apart from that, it's a legal gun, and private sales are legal. Cash-gun-handshake-done. Still, I typically do any such deals through the local gun discussion forum, Carolina Firearms Forum, and I do prefer to do business with people who have history there.

[Doc_Glock]

I have sold to people I know or friends of friends face to face cash.

I have sold through a contact at the local police to cops. Also face to face cash.

I have taken a lot of ads here and sold shipping and transferring via FFL.

As far as measures to protect yourself: if you feel
the need that probably isn’t the right buyer.

[VT1032]

I am now legally required to go through an ffl. Prior to that, I did not, but I did require the buyer to sign this bill of sale (https://images.app.goo.gl/h24heEETbtWqHwbx6), I photographed the firearm and logged all of the bill of sale information and I took a picture of the buyers driver's license. I informed them of these requirements in advance and if they didn't like it or gave me any trouble at the sale, no deal and I walked. I also would vet them to the extent I could (ie. Google/social media searches on any known names, etc).

I had a guy who was being squirrely about the bill of sale and googling his name revealed several news articles about domestic violence and drug sales related arrests under the correct name and city. His faceyspace also had pictures of drug paraphernalia and memes about killing cops. Needless to say that sale did not happen. I disagree with universal background checks on principal, but I was leaning towards requiring them going forward after that, just to help me sleep at night.

[Bergeron]

While I'm not usually much on selling, when I did, I went consignment through a local gun shop, and had no worries about protecting myself.

I have made gifts to friends and family.

For me, buying is another matter. I bought my first used gun as a private cash transaction in the parking lot of a Popeye's Fried Chicken.

[HeavyDuty]

For people I know I don’t worry.

In IL there was a process of checking an unknown buyer’s eligibility which also provided a certificate the seller could keep demonstrating that the check was made. Anyone who tried to get me to bypass the system could bite my rosy bohunk ass.

[jh9]

Everything gets transferred through an FFL. Period.

Yes. FFL all the everything.

Used to be for someone I didn't know, or didn't know well, I'd just want to see a state carry permit and a bill of sale with our DL#s. Now it doesn't matter. Randos, no matter how local, go through an FFL. The gun gets shipped. I don't care if you're an hour away.

This is a transaction. I want your money, not to meet your illiterate, smooth-brained ass in person so you can wow me with your inability to follow even the most basic written instructions. Like "do not point the gun at anything, why yes that includes me" or "a personal check is not a USPS money order, and no since we're already here I will not make an exception" or "no, $650 is not $700; numbers does not work that way" and also "no, for the last time I do. not. take. credit. cards."

[JRB]

Private sales are now illegal in NM (thanks Dems) but prior to that I did some buying and selling privately, but almost exclusively with people known to me - Army buddies, etc.

I only had one 'sketchy' transaction, and that was a 'friend of a friend of a friend' situation. Dude seemed weird in online/text message interaction, so we went to a local FFL known for cheap transfers and did it there.
He knew how to fill out a 4473 without instruction and got a proceed right away, so I didn't worry about it after that.

[Elwin]

This is a transaction. I want your money, not to meet your illiterate, smooth-brained ass in person so you can wow me with your inability to follow even the most basic written instructions. Like "do not point the gun at anything, why yes that includes me" or "a personal check is not a USPS money order, and no since we're already here I will not make an exception" or "no, $650 is not $700; numbers does not work that way" and also "no, for the last time I do. not. take. credit. cards."

I’ve posted things on Armslist but always sold them elsewhere before someone there made a real offer, but even my limited experience was similar. The listing will explicitly say “Cash only, no trades,” and I’ll still get some derpy email like “would you be interested in trading your [quality firearm I was offloading at the time] for my SCCY?” No. I don’t want your POS gun. I want money to go buy the very specific thing I’ve recently decided I want more than the gun I’m selling.

Now that Armslist charges for listing I won’t even bother. I have a family member who keeps generously buying guns I don’t want but aside from that, I’ll sooner eat the consignment fees at my local FFL.

[Duelist]

A person well known to me, I’ll sell or trade face to face. Anyone else, use an FFL. They buyer pays the transfer fee.

[TGS]

I'm now legally obligated to use an FFL, but prior to that I would sell face to face with a bill of sale and "good guy ID" (active/reserve .mil ID, LEO creds, or CCW permit).

I'd still be fine with that today if the law were to change, and still do that for ammo sans ID and bill of sale. Have never felt unsafe on any of the 30+ face to face transactions I've done.

ETA: I've also never had some of the trouble relayed by other members here, such as buyers trying to change the terms of the sale or short change me.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

In TX, I sold or traded with a FFL or once to a person I knew for many years with a LTC. I wouldn't sell to a stranger, even if it meant less money.

[farscott]

My general rule is to sell through a FFL friend of mine in Texas. My local FFL gets rights of first refusal, sees if any locals he knows wants it, and then ships the rejects to my FFL buddy in Texas. My FFL charges me only his shipping costs, and my FFL buddy in Texas charges me basically his cost of business. If I do a private purchase, it is mostly through getting a call from my FFL that "so-and-so" has something we know you like.

In the past, I did local sales, but I no longer want to deal with the hassle. The one exception was I drove halfway across the state to trade a Colt 6920 for a M1 Garand; I did that because the other party is disabled and well known to me.

[FrankB]

Quick Story: I sold a 1952 Colt Detective Special to a person with a C&R license. I was only vaguely familiar with C&R, so I called the local ATF office. The agent assured me it was fine, and said “We really don’t know what you own.” He assured me I had done my due diligence, so I shipped the gun out. I did take the agent’s name, and recorded the date and time of the phone call. I live in Pennsylvania, and face to face long gun sales are permitted between state residents. I’ve never sold a long gun, but would if I knew the person.

ETA I did a local sale of a pistol to a forum member, and we met at an FFL in the middle. Nice guy, and a new gun shop discovered.

[Caballoflaco]

I haven’t sold a gun in a long time and the times I have it was either to a close friend or someone who I knew through the shooting sports. Today I would just eat the consignment or trade in fees and put it at an lgs because like jh9 stated I no longer have the patience to deal with strangers who want to buy guns. My time and sanity are worth more to me than a hundo or two extra I might get from a private sale.

[Whirlwind06]

I follow my state's law, verify that they are an OH resident, and prefer that they have a CHL.
Since most of the trading has been done via online forums, that's not usually a problem.

I've had a few sketchy encounters, the one that sticks in my head was a dude that showed up in a plate carrier and a buddy.

[olstyn]

Seems like it's pretty common practice to require buyers to show an in state driver's license + carry permit as proof of "good guy" status. That seems like a reasonable and non-onerous precaution to take.

[Shades]

VA now requires that all sales - including private sales between individuals - have a background check. So, you either go to a dealer or conduct that sale at a gun show where the VA State Police have a table for doing background checks. Years ago I did a couple of sales to folks who worked where I did, but I no longer have that option. Today, I'd probable go the consignment route and accept the lower return.

[JCS]

Follow up, if you sale and need to ship the firearm how do you collect payment to ensure you get the funds?

[JRB]

Follow up, if you sale and need to ship the firearm how do you collect payment to ensure you get the funds?

I prefer USPS money orders. I'm warming up to Zelle for stuff like this too, but still prefer money orders. No Paypal or Venmo or any of that crap.

Once a sale is agreed and all the pics/etc are done, I'll box up the firearm and have it ready to ship.

Buyer sends me USPS Money Order(s) for the correct total.

Once they arrive, I deposit them and wait 24hrs to ensure they were legit and funds clear.
After 24hrs of no news from my bank, I ship the firearm out and supply tracking info, and I always insist on insuring firearms for their full value and making the point that once I have funds, it's *their* firearm not mine anymore, so if it gets lost in shipping that's *their* problem.

If a buyer doesn't want to cover the cost of insuring the firearm for the full value, I typically won't bother selling to them as that sort of thing tends to indicate they're an asshole, a cheapskate, or both.

[alamo5000]

For me, I rarely if ever sell guns of any type. But in the rare instance that I do all I ask for is to see their Texas CHL. I don't even take an actual copy or a photo. I just want to see if they have it. If they do all of my other questions are answered.

[alamo5000]

Follow up, if you sale and need to ship the firearm how do you collect payment to ensure you get the funds?

On that follow up, I have never shipped a gun and don't plan on starting. All of my transactions are face to face.

[Joe in PNG]

I'll sell face to face only to good friends and family members.

Otherwise, I'll sell via consignment at a proper FFL- there's a few in my home area that take consignments, and were very happy to get them in mid 2020.

Other options aren't worth the trouble to me.

[TGS]

Follow up, if you sale and need to ship the firearm how do you collect payment to ensure you get the funds?

If it's a meatspace transaction, cash only, no exceptions.

The only online sales of guns I've done is through here, with verified/paying members, so I take zelle or PP F&F.

Under no circumstances do I take personal checks, and I prefer to not use money orders or certified checks as those can and do get lost in the mail and I'd rather avoid any drama related to accused impropriety just because some boomer can't get with the times and would rather engage in risky practices instead.

[CleverNickname]

The last three sales I've done were all NFA, so my process is mainly "wait for the form 4 to arrive."

[willie]

Now I would sell only to someone I knew. The only time I sold a pistol on Arms List, I required that the person have a license to carry a handgun, and the reason is that this eliminated selling to a felon or wife beater. I know a couple guys who buy guns to turn them for a profit. I would not sell them a gun now because I don't want legal risks down the road.

[Doc_Glock]

The last three sales I've done were all NFA, so my process is mainly "wait for the form 4 to arrive."

Okay this is where I am befuddled. I have a double stamped PS90 (short barrel and silencer) I put together before I knew better ballistically. I never use it. I have no idea how to get rid of the thing (and the Mags and the ammo...).

Can you do this privately or does a dealer need to be involved?

[CleverNickname]

Okay this is where I am befuddled. I have a double stamped PS90 (short barrel and silencer) I put together before I knew better ballistically. I never use it. I have no idea how to get rid of the thing (and the Mags and the ammo...).
Can you do this privately or does a dealer need to be involved?
If you sell it to another resident of your state, then per federal law it's just one form 4 straight from you to them. State law may be different if it bans private transfers. Such a state law might also treat NFA transfers differently than private title I transfers, because private NFA transfers really aren't "private" since they require ATF approval. It's a form 4 transfer tax each time it transfers when there's a non-SOT on either end of the transfer. If there is a law banning direct NFA transfers between non-dealers then it would be one form 4 transfer to a dealer and then another form 4 transfer to the actual purchaser.

You might also consider just removing the PS90's short barrel, putting on a 16" barrel and returning it to a title I rifle. It legally reverts to title I the instant you do that, but as a CYA move it's probably a good idea (though not legally required) that you send the ATF a letter letting them know that the rifle is no longer NFA. There's no specific form to use, just a send a letter to the NFA branch. Your silencer is probably capable of handling other cartridges besides 5.7x28. If, so keep it and use it on another rifle that's ballistically more to your liking.

[fixer]

If I know the person, and know them well, and the transaction is according to state law, no additional verification needed.

Otherwise I sell to an FFL at a loss if I need a quick sale.

[JRB]

If it's a meatspace transaction, cash only, no exceptions.

The only online sales of guns I've done is through here, with verified/paying members, so I take zelle or PP F&F.

Under no circumstances do I take personal checks, and I prefer to not use money orders or certified checks as those can and do get lost in the mail and I'd rather avoid any drama related to accused impropriety just because some boomer can't get with the times and would rather engage in risky practices instead.

Given the issues with mail these days, even with overnight FedEx envelopes and such, that's a really damn good point.

[Trooper224]

I sell in two ways: to people I know very well (read that to mean for years), or through an FFL.

I have absolutely no heartache over giving a dealer his cut, in order to be as sure as I can be that a weapon isn't being sold to an unsavory hooligan.

Rights and responsibilities. In this case it's about the latter.