How to Transfer a Firearm Between FFLs
Moving the firearm is usually the easy part. Keeping both dealers' records clean is where an FFL-to-FFL transfer can go wrong. You may be shipping a customer's online purchase, receiving inventory, or moving firearms to a second location. In every case, you need to verify the license and log both sides of the transaction. Here's the process.
When an FFL-to-FFL transfer happens
Firearms move between licensees more often than many new dealers expect. You may ship a customer's online purchase to their local dealer, receive inventory from a distributor or another shop, return a firearm to a manufacturer for warranty work, or move stock between your own licensed locations.
In each case, the firearm leaves one licensee's records and enters another's. The transfer between two FFLs doesn't by itself require a background check on a person. The buyer's 4473 and NICS check happen when a non-licensee finally takes possession. But every movement still has to be recorded.
Verify the receiving license first
Before you ship, get a copy of the receiving dealer's FFL. Confirm it's current and properly signed. Dealers routinely exchange license copies for this reason. An expired license or wrong entity creates a problem that's much easier to prevent than fix.
Keep the license copy on file
Keep the other dealer's license copy with the transaction records. If the firearm is ever traced, you can show exactly who received it and that they were properly licensed.
Logging the disposition and acquisition
The recordkeeping is what protects you. When a firearm leaves your inventory for another FFL, record the disposition in your A&D Book with the receiving licensee and date. The receiving dealer records the acquisition before the firearm goes any further. Every serial number should be traceable from one book to the next.
- Disposition entry: record who received the firearm, their license information, and the date it left your inventory.
- Acquisition entry for the receiving dealer: record the source, firearm's identifying details, and date it arrived.
- Supporting documents: keep the license copy and shipping or tracking records together.
In a paper book, this is one of the easiest places to miss or transpose an entry. Our guide to electronic bound book rules explains how a digital record can keep both sides of a transfer accurate.
When the customer finally takes possession
When the transfer ends with a non-licensee buyer, the receiving dealer handles the sale like any other counter transaction. The buyer completes Form 4473. The dealer runs the NICS check and logs the disposition to the buyer. The FFL-to-FFL leg simply gets the firearm to the dealer handling that final, checked transfer.
Tie the 4473, NICS, and bound book together and the pickup is captured on one record. See how an online ATF Form 4473 handles that final transfer without paper.
Frequently asked questions
Does a background check happen when a firearm moves between two FFLs?
The transfer between two licensees doesn't by itself require a background check on a person. The 4473 and NICS check happen when a non-licensee finally takes possession, typically when the receiving dealer transfers the firearm to the buyer.
What do I need from the other dealer before shipping?
Get a copy of their current, signed federal firearms license and confirm it's valid before shipping. Keep the copy with your transaction records in case the firearm is traced or your records are inspected.
How do I log an FFL-to-FFL transfer in my bound book?
Record the disposition in your A&D Book with the receiving licensee and the date the firearm left your inventory. The receiving dealer records the acquisition on their end. Every serial number should be traceable from one book to the next.
Can I move firearms between my own licensed locations?
Firearms can move between locations you're licensed for, but every movement still has to be recorded accurately. Your on-hand inventory at each location needs to match its records. Confirm the specifics for your license structure with the ATF.
Who runs the 4473 when a customer buys a firearm shipped from another dealer?
The dealer transferring the firearm to the customer handles the 4473 and NICS check at pickup. The FFL-to-FFL shipment gets the firearm to that dealer for the final, checked transfer.
Keep every transfer traceable without the paperwork
In a no-obligation 15-minute demo, see how e4473 logs dispositions, acquisitions, and customer pickups in one connected record so FFL-to-FFL transfers never fall through the cracks.