Gun inspection
 

I agree with Bob J. the 4473 is a form required by the government and has nothing to do with the inspection and approval of the purchase of a gun. If I am buying a gun I, like Bob, want to really understand what I am getting; including shooting it. I wouldn't buy a car without driving it. Would you? You can't tell if all the functionality works without shooting it. Maybe it patterns two or three feet to the left, that has happened. However, if I think that's necessary I talk with the seller about what ammo I want to shoot in it, they have always agreed. I also don't agree with the "return for any reason, no reason". The potential buyer has taken that gun out of the market for about 10-15 days during one of these transactions. That gun potentially could have sold to another person looking for the same thing, but that other buyer satisfied their need by buying something else. Sometimes those are the only buyers looking for that gun at that time. It could go months before another person may be interested in that particular gun. Only if the gun has been misrepresented in some way would I consider taking it back, not because the buyer wasn't serious or they were fickle.

Guess I've been lucky because I've never had to return or refuse a gun. But now that I think about it, I didn't think about my accepting the gun at the FFL as being the final acceptance. As was mentioned earlier, that's just "paperwork" to me; I assumed I'd be able to take it home, look it over carefully, and still reject it if I didn't feel it was what I thought it would be. You've given me something to think about if I ever buy another. I will say this: Every gun I've purchased has been from someone I was somewhat familiar with through the boards, etc. In a couple instances there has been an issue with the gun and there was discussion about me returning the gun. In those instances the sellers were amenable to that and most accommodating but we've been able to work out the issue with a price adjustment, agreement to repair, etc. I've never bought a gun through one of the listing sites and now I wonder if those sellers would be as accommodating, reasonable, etc.?

Why call it a 3 day inspection if some say its over after you sign the FFL ? I say three days starts after its signed and you have time to check it over at your pace not in some gun store with a bunch of people looking over your shoulder , Im with Bob J

If a seller wants to not consider the 4473 and take the gun back after ownership has been legally transferred then so be it. There is nothing to stop them from doing that. Again, Details of what is allowed and not allowed should be agreed upon so there are no questions if you are concerned about it.

Just consider in the case where a seller is an individual (not an FFL). If the gun is transferred to the buyer on a 4473 and then goes back, the receiving FFL now cannot return that gun back to the seller. It must go through an FFL on the sellers end and then get transferred back to the seller on another 4473. Which will likely end up costing the seller money which will then likely just end up being deducted from the buyers refund along with cost of ahipping both ways (which is also customary).
Whereas if the gun was not transferred to the buyer, it could just be sent directly back by the FFL because ownership was not transferred. The FFL is the legal middle man to facilitate the transfer of ownership.

The three days starts from the day the dealer gets the package . If you can’t look at the said item and ascertain within three days while at your dealers establishment as far as I’m concerned you’re oughtta luck . When you allow a lot of folks to take home etc the next thing you know some of the jerks have taken the gun apart not put it back together correctly and then claim it didn’t work when recieved . Or possibly they take it to their club for a practice round with their chronies and next thing you know they’ve beaten it up and decide they don’t want the dings knicks and scratches they caused while they were “looking at it” . And on the really extreme example you have folks that will buy with no intention of keeping take the gun home take out a part or two they might or might not need and replace with something that’s exceedingly worn broken etc . Waiting until you sign for it and then doing the three days is BS , suppose sad buyer waits a week before he picks the gun up ? No , he’ll no !

This is exactly why I have a C&R license. I rarely buy anything that has to go through an 01 FFL. The rare occasion when I do, I know for certain what I’m buying. A good seller is one who will answer as many questions necessary.

What I’ve said I stand by . You as a seller do not know what type people you are dealing with thru internet sales . It’s better to air on the side of caution . If I’m selling to someone that I know and “trust” I’d allow them to shoot the gun , but not some yahoo I have no history with . As a seller I’ll not take that much risk with the usual internet crowd . How many times has Morphy or Poulin or Rock Island allowed a person to take a gun apart before they won the auction or after they recieved the gun and then allow a return .How many times have the same auction houses allowed possible bidders to take a gun out and shoot it to see if they liked it before they bid or after they recieved and then the buyer wants to return it . Everybody’s got their own agenda but as far as I’m concerned 3 days starting the day your FFL recieved the gun , if you do the paperwork and take it home or shoot it at the dealers we’re done . Sounds like a good many of you want the seller to take all the risk .

I think it is ridiculous that we need permission from the federal government to buy/sell things. Therefore, I also think it is ridiculous to treat the act of obtaining such federal government permission (the NICS check) as tolling the three day inspection period.

I say do the FFL transfer, take it home, inspect it, and return it within three days of picking it up. Otherwise, it’s yours.

-Victor

In IL we have a three day wait period or "jail time" as some may call it. This only takes place after the 4473 is filled out and NICS is called. I have no way of checking a gun out of the FFL until this "wait time" is up. That being the case I have told sellers I dont want the three day inspection to start until I can take the gun home.

This can create a problem. Illinois has, as many of you know, a 3 day wait on hand off of a gun from FFL to purchaser.