Buying from a private owner...

[FireintheWhole]

When buying a handgun from a private owner in PA, do you have to go through a dealer.

Say I found someone in town that was selling a gun. Is it possible to just buy it from them? If so, do I have to turn in some paper work and register the serial number in my name? Do I just make up a receipt for the purchase?

If going through a dealer I realize I would have to pay whatever the dealer charges ($20-30) and taxes. Are there any other fees?


Thanks, guys.

[knight0334]

All handgun transfers, except from certain family members**, has to go thru a sheriff or FFL for a background check to be made on the purchaser and for the PSP transfer form to be filled out.


** To and from: spouses, parent & child, grandparent & grandchild

You and the seller must go to the sheriff or FFL in person. It doesn't have to be at same time, just the seller needs to go to hand over handgun and fill out his/her section of the PSP form. If the seller goes first, he can leave the firearm with the dealer.

The buyer is generally responsible for the FFL/sheriff fees, unless it is agreed for the seller to pay the fees.

The sheriff/FFL fees should cover time, expense and the cost of the Instant-Check.

[FireintheWhole]

Thanks.

What if the seller ships it to the dealer? How is that handled?

[Karl/PA]

Thanks.

What if the seller ships it to the dealer? How is that handled?

Then you go to the dealer and handle it like a regular purchase. He will do the check and you pay him his fee and take it home.

[Mancolt]

All handgun transfers, except from certain family members**, has to go thru a sheriff or FFL for a background check to be made on the purchaser and for the PSP transfer form to be filled out.


** To and from: spouses, parent & child, grandparent & grandchild

You and the seller must go to the sheriff or FFL in person. It doesn't have to be at same time, just the seller needs to go to hand over handgun and fill out his/her section of the PSP form. If the seller goes first, he can leave the firearm with the dealer.

The buyer is generally responsible for the FFL/sheriff fees, unless it is agreed for the seller to pay the fees.

The sheriff/FFL fees should cover time, expense and the cost of the Instant-Check.

Not trying to hijack, but is there any paperwork required for transferring from the **certain family members** listed above? Just wondering because my mom bought my dad a gun for his birthday a little over 1 year ago and it's still in her name.

[knight0334]

Not trying to hijack, but is there any paperwork required for transferring from the **certain family members** listed above? Just wondering because my mom bought my dad a gun for his birthday a little over 1 year ago and it's still in her name.

No.. none at all is legally required for the exempted family members.

I do advice making mutual receipts though. It could help clear up the question as to why the present possessor and the person in the PSP's "database" dont match in the event of a check by LEO's (it happens).

[FireintheWhole]

Funny this was brought up. It reminds me.....I think my USP is in my dads name. It was my high school graduation present and had to be in his name at the time (if I recall correctly). We have the same name, sans middle initial.