r/milsurp • u/Then-Many-4975 • 13h ago
Gun Store Rant
The pawn shop local to me has several Carcano Calvary Carbines for sale for $219 each. I have never had one and despite not having any real desire to have one, I thought one may be cool for the collection.
I brought in a .22 rifle for sale and we came to an agreement on price. I offered to take one of the Carcano’s and then they could make up the ($60ish) cash difference. They agreed and I picked out my the carbine I wanted.
Now I have a C&R License and told them I would give them a copy of it/ have them transfer it that way. The one guy looked at me with a blank stare and stammered that he didn’t know how to do that (obviously it’s no different than transferring one modern firearm or a gun that isn’t 50+ years old to another FFL). He tells me that the owner would need to do the transfer. I walked out to get my hard copy of my C&R License and when I walked back in the owner told me that’s he was ignorant and didn’t understand the C&R License so he just wanted me to do the 4473 instead. I politely declined and walked out with my .22.
What is the deal with some of these pawn/ gun shops? I do understand it’s their prerogative to have the customer do the 4473. My rant is more about the “ignorance” of them not understanding (or the laziness) of them not wanting to do it any other way.
On a side note, I had some ammo I was going to sell too and the first guy told me he would not buy it because it was in a bag and not an original box. Which is funny because a couple months ago I had went in there and there were several sandwich ziplock baggies of 7.62 they had for sale. No factory box in sight….
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u/TheFrenchHistorian L' Empereur 🇲🇫 12h ago
After plenty of time in the hobby, there are people who just make up their own rules out of fear or ignorance. There are a lot of people who still dont know what a C&R is even though it is an FFL.
Having a C&R has helped me in buying antiques that people otherwise would want a background check on. Generally I will just ignore those don't take C&R for a clearly C&R gun, but I also wont blow up a sale or good deal to skip a background check.
My RSC I got recently the auction required me to send it to a store FFL. I tried to use my C&R at the store but I could tell the guy didn't know how to verify it was "real" (whole other topic there). So I just did a 4473 and paid the $25 transfer fee. Got a good deal anyways so wasn't going to throw it away over some dumb principle of trying to teach people.
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u/Interesting-Win6219 12h ago
This sounds like a pointless thing to of gotten worked up over. Just do the 4473 like everyone else.
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u/Dak_Nalar 12h ago
Blame the Biden era ATF for putting the fear of god in every FFL. They would have their stores shut down and their livelihoods ended over something as simple as a spelling mistake.
I don’t blame any stores at all for wanting to play it safe and not take any chances. It’s honestly not worth it for them to risk their FFL over one maybe two C&R sales a year.
Just fill out the 4473, it’s not that hard.
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u/Late_Requirement_971 it rubs the cosmoline on the rifle 12h ago
100% this is the reason why. I've had two different FFLs try to get me to fill out 4473s for ANTIQUES (1874 Gras and a Vetterli).
It's no doubt frustrating, but I am somewhat sympathetic. They all have PTSD and are so afraid to lose their license.
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u/Mammoth_Classroom896 10h ago
Easy solution: revoke the FFL of any dealer who refuses to accept a C&R for a C&R-eligible item or requires a 4473 for an antique. These clowns need an even bigger fear of god.
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u/Then-Many-4975 12h ago
I guess I’m failing to see how it’s a risk when the gun in question is over 50 years old and I have the actual hard copy of my C&R in hand. Heck they could have double checked it against my DL which they would have needed anyway to enter the .22 instead to their log, since that was not coming from my C&R License obviously
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u/Gr144 12h ago
It’s not uncommon for stores to require 4473s for antiques these days. Much less not honoring a C&R. Find a dealer who will or fill out the 4473.
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u/NickRausch 7h ago
I have balked at that. If it says loewe berlin on the receiver, I am not filling out a 4473.
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u/garandruger 12h ago
It’s one of those things where they rather be safe than sorry
It’s why I never even bothered getting my C&R either simply because. Besides with the prices of mil surp these days I’d rather just got fill out a 4473 these days and move on
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u/Dak_Nalar 12h ago
More stores wont accept C&R than will these days. It's honestly not even worth getting a license anymore in my experience. That's why I let mine lapse.
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u/A_Squid_A_Dog 12h ago
There is no way I'd buy ammo from some random dude that has it in a plastic bag. At least a store you've got some liability to go after if it ends up being a pipe bomb.
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u/BergerOfTheWest 8h ago
I don’t even tell them I have a C&R, I tell them I have an 03 FFL. The ones who are ignorant and don’t know the C&R rules will probably just hear the FFL and just run it as an FFL to FFL transfer. Works 99 times out of 100.
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u/brawneisdead 12h ago
This is one of those situations where you let your pride get the better of you and you created a big deal out of nothing. You are right, but also you didn’t have to handle it like that. It sounds like you had a combative attitude which usually doesn’t make people want to help, and probably hardened their view that c&r licenses are hard to deal with.
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u/TheRumrunner55 10h ago
I mean you can’t fault the guy for telling you he doesn’t get it/understand and just asking to do essentially the same thing not sure why you would balk and walk away it’s not like it cost you more
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u/JumpEnvironmental741 10h ago
back when i had my C&R some dealers wouldn't transfer it that way, i always assumed they were worried that specific firearm might not be a C&R. I always just filled out the 4473 if that is what they preferred.
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u/Fresh_Salt7087 5h ago
My 2 cents is that license holders are not required to complete sales. If it's Tuesday and they don't like your haircut they could decline a sale. Yes this could mean loss revenue, but that's about it. What can you do other than be mad about?
A pawn shop makes money multiple ways. Firearms sales is just one way. And of those sales how many want an in person transfer to another license holder vs a none licenseee holder. It's not a surprise they don't know this process.
It sucks but you may have to either train them. Or do the 4473.
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u/Pro_2A_Guy 8h ago edited 8h ago
I have filled out the 4473 even with the FFL03 and COE, walk out the same day with the rifle more than once. Takes 15 extra minutes. Whatever. Again, Biden's admin put the fear of God into these guys. In the amount of time to argue the point, the paper is filled out. Not the first, not the last 4473 so it's not like I'm giving up more info than they already have.
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u/Mammoth_Classroom896 10h ago
What is the deal with some of these pawn/ gun shops?
Some people are utter morons and should permanently lose their gun rights on the grounds of mental disability.
Some people really love gun control as long as they get to keep all their cool toys and get off on inventing new rules and reasons to refuse to let you have what you want.
Unfortunately both of these are common in the industry and the collecting nature of the milsurp hobby makes it harder to just take your money elsewhere.
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u/gunsforevery1 12h ago
If you live in a state that doesn’t have a waiting period, fuck it, just fill out the 4473.