How to Transfer a Firearm Between FFLs
FFL-to-FFL transfers are a routine part of running a gun store, whether you are shipping a customer's online purchase to another dealer, receiving inventory, or moving firearms to a second location. The mechanics are straightforward, but the recordkeeping is where dealers get tripped up. This guide walks through how to move a firearm from one licensee to another and log both sides of the transaction so your bound book stays clean.
When an FFL-to-FFL transfer happens
A firearm moves between licensees more often than many new dealers expect. Common situations include shipping a firearm a customer bought online to their local dealer for pickup, receiving inventory from a distributor or another shop, returning a firearm to a manufacturer for warranty work, and moving 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 does not by itself require a background check on a person, because 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 and confirm it is current and properly signed. Dealers routinely exchange license copies for exactly this reason. Shipping to a license that has expired, or to the wrong entity, creates a problem that is far easier to prevent than to fix.
Keep the license copy on file
Retain the copy of the other dealer's license with your transaction records. If a firearm is ever traced, being able to show who you sent it to and that they were properly licensed is exactly what an inspector will want to see.
Logging the disposition and acquisition
The recordkeeping is the part that protects you. When a firearm leaves your inventory to another FFL, record the disposition in your A&D Book, showing the receiving licensee and the date. On the receiving end, that dealer records the acquisition before the firearm goes any further. Every serial number should be traceable from one book to the next.
- Disposition entry: who received the firearm, their license information, and the date it left your inventory.
- Acquisition entry (receiving dealer): the source, the firearm's identifying details, and the date it arrived.
- Supporting documents: the license copy and shipping or tracking records, kept together.
If you are still keeping a paper book, this is one of the easiest places for an entry to be missed or transposed. Our guide to electronic bound book rules explains how a digital record keeps both sides of a transfer accurate.
When the customer finally takes possession
For a transfer that ends with a non-licensee buyer, the receiving dealer completes the sale like any other counter transaction: the buyer fills out Form 4473, the dealer runs the NICS check, and the disposition to the buyer is logged. The FFL-to-FFL leg simply gets the firearm to the dealer who will handle that final, checked transfer.
A system that ties the 4473, NICS, and the bound book together means the pickup is captured in one system. 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 does not 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 is valid before you ship. Keep that copy with your transaction records in case the firearm is ever 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 showing 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 are licensed for, but each movement still has to be recorded accurately so your on-hand inventory at each location matches your 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 who transfers the firearm to the customer handles the 4473 and NICS check at pickup. The FFL-to-FFL shipment simply delivers the firearm to that dealer so the final, checked transfer can take place.
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.