What an FFL Transfer Is
An FFL transfer is the legally required hand-off of a firearm through a Federal Firearms Licensee. When you buy a gun from an online retailer, an auction site like GunBroker, or an out-of-state seller, the firearm cannot ship to your house. It ships to a licensed dealer near you, who logs it into their records, runs your background check, and completes the paperwork that puts the firearm lawfully in your hands.
Why Federal Law Requires It
The Gun Control Act of 1968 built the dealer network into every interstate firearm movement, ensuring a Form 4473 and background check happen at the receiving end. It's the mechanism that keeps online commerce compatible with the background-check system — every online purchase still ends with an in-person check at a licensed dealer's counter. More detail on the legal framework lives in our Indiana gun laws guide.
How the Process Works
- You buy the firearm from the online retailer, auction, or distant seller.
- The seller requests your receiving dealer's FFL license copy. Dealers exchange these directly — you typically just provide the seller with your dealer's contact info.
- The firearm ships dealer-to-dealer. Your receiving dealer logs it into their Acquisition & Disposition book, as federal law requires.
- You come in for pickup: Form 4473, FBI NICS check, transfer fee — and the firearm is yours. In Indiana there's no waiting period, so a Proceed means same-day pickup.
Our Contact-First Transfer Policy
Important: Hammond Tactical handles transfers on a limited, case-by-case basis — we are a personal-service shop, not a high-volume transfer counter. The rule is simple: contact us before anything ships. We'll confirm whether we can accept your transfer, quote the fee, and give the seller our license information directly. Firearms that arrive without prior arrangement create legal and logistical headaches for everyone — sellers may refuse returns, and we may have to refuse the package.
What Pickup Looks Like
Once your item arrives and is logged in, we contact you to schedule a pickup appointment. Bring your valid Indiana photo ID. You'll inspect the firearm — check it matches the listing before you complete the 4473, because after the transfer the firearm is yours and any dispute is between you and the seller. Then the standard process: 4473, NICS, fee, done. Most pickups take twenty minutes.
Private-Party & Interstate Transfers
Two other cases route through an FFL:
- Interstate private sales: federal law prohibits directly transferring a firearm to a resident of another state — it must move through a dealer in the buyer's state. Illinois friend, Indiana seller? The gun goes through an Illinois FFL (see the Illinois residents' guide).
- In-state private sales with documentation: Indiana doesn't require dealer involvement between residents, but many buyers and sellers want the paper trail. We can run the transfer as a service when arranged in advance.
Tips for Smooth Transfers
- Arrange the transfer before you click "buy." The single most important step.
- Give the seller accurate dealer contact info and your order number.
- Watch the tracking and expect our call — we contact you when it's logged and ready.
- Inspect before you sign. The 4473 finalizes the transfer.
- Know what's legal for you. Your state of residence controls what you may receive; out-of-state buyers are bound by home-state law.
Planning an online purchase? Message us first and we'll tell you same-day whether we can receive it.