Need the lowdown on a C&R license

[jaykellogg]

Here is what I have heard;

I can legally buy firearms 50 years old (1963). I have also heard some sellers will not accept a C&R and if the ad does not say so I should inquire.

It costs $30 for a 2 year license.

I believe I heard that some online retailers will sell wholesale with a C&R license. Comments?

How much access to my home do I give the Government with a C&R?

Anything else I should know?

 

[pace40]

Here is what I have heard;

I can legally buy firearms 50 years old (1963). I have also heard some sellers will not accept a C&R and if the ad does not say so I should inquire...YEP

It costs $30 for a 2 year license.....3 YEARS LAST I RENEWED

I believe I heard that some online retailers will sell wholesale with a C&R license. Comments?....WOULDN'T SAY WHOLESALE, BUT YOU GET A DEALER DISCOUNT FROM SOME.

How much access to my home do I give the Government with a C&R?....FULL ACCESS SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO INSPECT. YOU ARE NOT A BUSINESS THOUGH SO TYPICALLY THEY DON'T JUST SHOW UP. IN FACT, I'VE ONLY EVER HEARD OF ONE C&R INSPECTION AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF A COMPLAINT FROM A BUYER.

Anything else I should know?

...KEEP YOUR RECORDS CURRENT.

 

[john145]

It is good for 3 years.

 

[bullmack]

As you mentioned some ffl's will not ship to a C&R. Also many believe that a gun has to "be on the list" for it to qualify as a C&R. A gun 50 years old qualifies. The list is for limited production guns like the S&W law enforcement series.

 

[Faulkner]

I've had a C&R for a dozen years and believe its well worth it. I've averaged roughly one firearm per year, so I'm relatively low volume, but you'll save 30 bucks on your first purchase.

 

[Aticus]

Go to the AFTE web site. There is an explanation of the collectors license there which should answer all your questions. Some distributors will sell at dealer to C&R but only non-gun items.

 

[H Richard]

I'm on my second renewal of my C&R, and it has allowed me to buy several items I wouldn't otherwise have been able to get because of carrying over a state line and the dealer wouldn't ship. Midway, Brownells, Graff's, and several other large companies will give you a "dealers" price, but on lots of items it doesn't save you a whole lot.

 

[kennyb]

there are MANY guns on the "lists"aside from the 50 year old ones that you will qualify to buy...such as but not limited to a gun that derives most of its value from being a commenrative...an example is i purchased the S&W M25 comm.that came out in the 70's using my C&R...many folks get the C&R and never read just what it does entitle you to buy...it IS NOT however a license to deal in firearms like an 01 FFL...well worth having...i save a lot with it at brownells etc.

 

[2152hq]

You won't have to pay an FFL to do a transfer for you (on a C&R). That should pay for the license itself the first time you use it from the sound of what the fees are getting to be.
It gets shipped right to your 'licensed premises'.

As pointed out,,keep the book work up to date,,not really hard to do.,,and don't start 'dealing' w/a C&R. BATF really frowns on that.

You are open to 'compliance checks' of your records and actually your inventory on your license.
C&R's have the check made on an appointment basis as they do not have business hours listed on their license (you are not a business).
You also have the option then to have the compliance check of your records done at the BATF's field office rather than your licensed premises.
It's infrequent that they check on C&R's, but they do on occassion. Especially when they have suspicions of dealing going on.

You will run up against 01FFL's(dealer) that won't take your 03FFL(C&R) for a purchase. They just feel it's in some way taking business away from them, though I never figured out how,,you still pay me the price I want for anything I have.
The fact that they can't check the C&R FFL# on the BATF EZ-Chek website really bothers many, so they don't accept them.

Some places allow discounts, some don't.
Many Military Surplus type firearms dealers allow C&R FFL holders the same prices as 01Dealer FFL's. Sometimes they might not get the same shipping prices,,especially true with handgun sales.

I don't really see a downside to them if this is your hobby. That's what the license is for. Makes it easier to acquire and also sell & ship the firearms when you do dispose of one.

As stated,,many firearms other than the 50+ y/o rule are C&R.
Some are individual guns that collectors have requested the status,,some others are a specific mfg'r & model w/o regard to the age or year of manufacture. The Colt SAA Revolver falls into that catagory.

 

[Comrad]

No C&R in NJ, how unusual.

 

[beemerphile]

Some of the benefit of having a C&R is gone with the "clarification" that C&R licensees cannot have handguns shipped to them by USPS. I can ship a handgun cheaper through an FFL using Priority Mail than I can as a C&R using UPS or FedEx Next Day Air or AirSaver.

 

[2152hq]

Lots of C&R's use the USPO for handgun shipments.
The USPO regs don't allow it,,but the people that work there don't really know the difference in most cases.
Show them an FFL of any type and they'll usually believe what you tell them are the rules.

Supposed to be used by 'bonifide dealers and manufacturers' so it says on the 1508 form.
That form is supposed to be made out and given to the clerk with each handgun shipment.
The PostMaster is supposed to keep it on file for 1 year.

Usually they look confused when I hand them the form, and ask me what it is.
Sometimes they hand it back to me after looking it over.
Whatever,,
Sure can't beat the price though,,,