Article #4: How FFL Transfers Work: Buying a Gun Online, Picking It Up Local

Buying a firearm online sounds complicated until you walk through it once. Where does the gun ship? What is Form 4473? Who runs the background check? Can it come to your house? This guide walks you through a normal online purchase from checkout to picking the gun up at a local FFL — the same process we use at Parish Tactical.

WHAT IS AN FFL TRANSFER

An FFL is a Federal Firearms License. A licensed dealer (Type 01 and similar) can receive firearms, run the required paperwork, and transfer them to you in person.

When you buy a firearm from an online dealer in another state, federal law generally requires that gun to ship to a licensed dealer in your state — not to your front door. Your local dealer logs it in, you complete ATF Form 4473, they run a NICS (or state point-of-contact) background check, and only then can they release the firearm to you. That handoff is the FFL transfer.

Soft goods are different. Plate carriers, packs, apparel, optics, and most accessories ship to your address under our shipping policy. Firearms use the FFL process.

STEP 1: PLACE THE ORDER

Shop and check out like any other product. Firearm sales are conditional on a lawful transfer at a licensed dealer. At Parish Tactical we are a Type 01 FFL in Youngsville, Louisiana. We ship firearms nationwide to lawful destinations. Shipping on all firearms is free to the FFL you choose.

Have a receiving dealer in mind before you order when you can. It saves time once payment clears.

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR LOCAL FFL

Pick a dealer close enough that you can show up in person. Before you finalize (or right after):

• Confirm they accept transfers from other FFLs.
• Ask their transfer fee and hours. That fee is paid to them — it is not in our product price.
• Ask how they want the license sent (email, fax, upload).

Then send us the dealer details: business name, street address, phone, and a copy of their FFL (or have them email it to sales@parishtactical.com with your order number). We cannot ship a firearm to a home address when federal law requires a dealer transfer.

Full checklist and dealer instructions live on our FFL Transfers page.

STEP 3: WE VERIFY AND SHIP

Once payment is clear and the receiving FFL is on file, we process and ship to that dealer. Firearm orders often take longer than soft-goods orders because of FFL verification. You get tracking by email when the package ships.

Your dealer logs the firearm into their inventory when it arrives. They usually call or email you when it is ready — you can also call them with the tracking number.

STEP 4: FORM 4473 AND THE BACKGROUND CHECK

You — the actual buyer — go to the dealer with a valid government-issued photo ID. At the counter you complete ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record). The dealer verifies your identity and, unless a narrow federal exception applies, contacts NICS (the National Instant Criminal Background Check System) or your state’s point of contact.

NICS typically returns one of three results:

• Proceed: The dealer may complete the transfer.
• Delayed: The FBI needs more time. Under federal rules (27 CFR 478.102), if there is no denial after three business days, the dealer may transfer at their discretion — some dealers wait for a clear Proceed anyway. Buyers under 21 can face a longer investigatory window when NICS flags a possible juvenile record.
• Denied: The transfer cannot go through.

Bring whatever else your state or dealer requires. Answer every question on the 4473 honestly. False statements on that form are a federal crime.

Someone else cannot pick up the firearm for you. ATF guidance is clear: the licensee may only transfer the firearm to the person named on the 4473 — not a spouse, relative, or friend. Having another person buy a gun for you is a straw purchase and a serious federal felony.

STEP 5: TAKE POSSESSION

After approval — and after any state waiting period that applies where you live — the dealer releases the firearm to you.

Louisiana does not impose a state waiting period after a cleared NICS check. Other states do. Your receiving dealer knows the local rules; ask them before you drive over.

Inspect the gun carefully before you accept the transfer. Wrong model, damage, or missing parts? Stop and contact us at (337) 524-3158 or sales@parishtactical.com before completing the transfer. Once it is transferred to you, sales follow our return policy.

Pick the firearm up promptly. Transfers left unclaimed for 30 days may be returned at your expense.

AGE AND OTHER RULES TO KNOW

Under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922), an FFL generally may not transfer:

• A long gun (rifle or shotgun) to anyone under 18
• A handgun (or other firearm that is not a rifle or shotgun) to anyone under 21

State law can be stricter. Your receiving dealer will not transfer a firearm if the sale or possession would violate state or local law where you live. You are responsible for knowing what is legal in your area.

NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and similar) follow a separate ATF tax-stamp process. That is not a standard Title I transfer.

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO PAY

Soft goods and apparel are separate: free standard shipping on eligible orders over $100. Firearms always ship free to your FFL under our Shipping Policy.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Buying a gun online is not mysterious. You order, you pick a local FFL, we ship there free, you complete Form 4473 and the background check in person, then you take it home. The dealer transfer is the law doing its job — not a gotcha.

Parish Tactical is an online Type 01 FFL in Youngsville, Louisiana. We do not run a public storefront for walk-in browsing. Soft goods ship to you; firearms ship to your chosen licensed dealer. For the full step-by-step and dealer checklist, see How FFL Transfers Work. Questions on an order? (337) 524-3158 · sales@parishtactical.com.

Browse our handguns and gear, pick your local FFL, and check out when you are ready. As always #PrepareWithParish