I've had a C&R Collectors FFL for about 15 years now. I just got my renewal form in the mail today. The thing is I never have bought much on it. Only 15 guns to date and the last one was 4 years ago.
About the only places still offering C&R discounts are Brownells and Gun Parts Corp. While I probably do buy enough from Brownells over three years to cover the $30 cost, I don't buy near as much from them as I used to. I haven't bought anything from Gun Parts Corp in years.
One of my concerns has always been that it allows BATF to enter my home anytime they want without a warrant. Although I've never heard of a C&R holder being inspected. It could happen.
As I understand it, if I surrender my license I have to send all my records to BATF. Correct?
In the current political environment, I'm thinking I might be better off to just let it expire.
Opinions?

I'm pretty sure turning over your records applies only if you are a dealer. About two years ago I decided not to renew my C&R after having one for about 15 years and I never turned over any records.

I just used my C&R once during the 15 years I had it.

Also, BATF can't just show up for an inspection. They notify you and it's your choice to have the check done at your home or their office. Graf's also gives a C&R discount

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Old paratrooper in NC

50 years old is 1970 mfg. That seems modern to me.

C&Rs main value to me is to be able to buy at out of state gun shows.

Not interested in having the tired discussion of 'is it legal to use C&R in USPS' but I am interested in getting 5 screw revolvers shipped directly to my door and many ffls will ship directly to C&R at lower USPS rates. Always a treat when the postman arrives with a package like that.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I've had my C&R a for a lot longer than 15 years and have never once been inspected. As for turning over your records, the answer is no. I believe that it says so on the renewal application.

I didn’t, (couldn’t,) renew my FFL in 1998 mostly due to all the threatening letters. I “exchanged” it for a C&R one though. This year I noticed it had expired last year. I wasn’t paying attention and I wasn’t sent a renewal but I didn’t care.

The only thing I really used it for was discounts from Brownell’s, Numrich and the occasional 50yr old + I wanted. All those great deals on awesome excellent condition, C&R eligible surplus firearms are long gone.

Jim

When you stop a C&R you can destroy your records, you do not turn them like an FFL does.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

For $30 I'd keep it. Ya never know.

I have one and at only $30 for three years it’s a bargain even if you only use it a few times. I say renew.

I was inspected in late 2008 when it was time for my first renewal.

The inspector called me and we agreed on a convenient time.

I asked a couple of people who had been through it before and they said it wasn't bad at all.

They can only inspect your bound book and the C&R firearms logged therein. They can not require you to open your gun safes or lockers and look at everything you own.

I brought the five or six C&R rifles I had up to the dining room and put them on the table. I also brought my bound book with me for her to inspect.

I had one minor logging error which she allowed me to correct and she initialed the correction.

That was it. I think the whole thing took half an hour.

Haven't heard from them since. I'm up for renewal and sent the paperwork in about a month ago.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I have discovered that a lot of FFLs will not accept a C&R License.

Just turn it in if you fear an inspection or the current political climate. You know once they get ahold of your Library card they can hear every word you say. Your definitely on their radar My friend ,, you know we’re all getting micro chipped whether we like it or not it’s hidden within in the vaccine. You can’t see it but it’s there, just like Bigfoot. Or ,, you could just renew it and roll the dice.

I let mine lapse mostly because I was going to thin the herd and logging all the guns I sold would have been a royal pain. Plus, I now have a local FFL about two blocks from my house in the same neighborhood that is inexpensive. Been quite a while since I have bought a firearm that I could have used a C&R for.

I see that on Gun Broker with the big houses mainly. I've never had any problem buying cash and carry at a gunshow but that's probably due to my honest face.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Kind of off topic, but I have a question. If you are a C&R holder, and wish to purchase a C&R eligible handgun from an FFL dealer, are you still subject to a background check prior to completing the deal?

Just a thought after hearing all the horror stories about backgrounds being delayed for days with the recent surge in firearms purchases.

OP - I would renew it. For just $30.00, it could pay for itself with just one unexpected good deal.

Larry

If the ffl accepts the c&r then no background check is necessary. When I use mine I just hand over a copy of my c&r license and show my drivers license to verify info is correct.

If they do not choose to accept c&r then you do the paperwork as any other private individual. My usual transfer ffl trusts me with a copy of his ffl (marked file/no face to face) and I carry those as well.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I’ve had my C&R for about 10 years or so, been thru several renewals. Haven’t used it at all; my bound book is empty. Just never found what I wanted at the price I could afford. And now that I can better afford it, I’m thinning out the collection as I age. Another renewal is coming up and I been thinking along the same lines: should I or shouldn’t renew. I’ll be following this thread with interest.

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"Your other right........."

If you own any NFA weapons which are classed as C&R, your C&R FFL is your "permit" to transport them across state lines. I will keep renewing my C&R FFL as long as I own my Thompson SMG.

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Bill

I view them as FFLs that won’t be accepting any of my money

I always contact the dealers that state they will not accept a C&R FFL by phone and let them know my displeasure for not accepting an 03 license. I also tell them that I will never do business with them in the future. I keep a list and it is short, so most all dealers on GB and everywhere else do accept the C&R license. What you might find is that over the years of watching GB, the same dealer will come up in a search for guns, so most do accept a C&R. I have had luck with a few of the dealers who decide to accept my license and let me bid but do not change their descriptions online.

Living where the nearest gun shop is 100 miles away, so it near impossible to buy C&R eligible guns with a license. It is also not possible to personally sell C&R firearms across state lines without that 03 license and I have done it more times than I can count. My shopping is done mostly on Proxibid and GB, plus a few other auctioneers and transactions cannot be easier, having them delivered to your door mostly without even requiring a signature. Selling is equally easy. Require buyer to provide an FFL or C&R and ship using FedEx or UPS. The money is in your bank account before you ship. Actually, selling qualified guns is getting more important to me than buying them.

Part of the new administration's proposed gun control agenda is to eliminate online purchases of firearms. I might guess that FFL license holders should be exempt, since without them the entire online industry would die plus there would be no way to ship a firearm anywhere.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

My experience has been that most do, some do not. Those that do not don't get my business for any reason, C&L or not.

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Live long and prosper

I haven’t really bought anything since the heyday of $100 Mauser, Enfields and Mosins but keep it nonetheless for $30 every three years.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

My last C&R purchase was buy the gun to get the grips. Guy had a 4 screw 27 that had been duracoated. It was well done but who cares? On closer inspection it was wearing a cherry pair of N frame plainclothes grips, the kind model 58 or 520 owners will dig deep for.

And then he had this I frame .32 and it had smooth presentation J frames that were a 1/4" proud to grip frame. I had the appropriate grips in inventory so I made a lowball offer on the pair and got them. Not a big deal but I enhanced my collection and made the seller a market on a couple of oddballs that were getting no play and they were delivered to my door.

Here's the .32, don't have photos of 27.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

Isn't that the objective, to have the firearms industry die because there will be no legal way to transfer the firearms!

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Bill