Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Hello, I'm looking to get into AKs and buy an AK74 for my collection and have been having some problems finding Russian makes. My first choice would be VEPR followed equally by Arsenal and Saiga. I've looked at some of the custom builders and have looked at K-VAR, Krebs, Waffen Werks and Black Forge with no luck getting anyone at those places to reply to me. I'm currently serving in the war zone, yes there still is one, and have a hard time getting calls out and, maybe not so obviously, getting calls or emails returned. I would like o get this set up so I could purchase the rifle now, or deposit or however it is done, and then finalize the deal when I get home in August. I suppose I could simply pick one up over here from someone who doesn't need theirs anymore, but that does not tend to go over very well.

Anyhow, it would probably be a good idea to get some magazines and ammunition before it is impossible.

So, anyone with some ideas about how to get this done (aside from simply trolling various forums) please share some leads/advice with me. I would deeply appreciate it!!

Thanks in advance!

Your best bet would be to wait until you are stateside in August and then contact someone like Atlantic Firearms to purchase your rifle.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/ak-47-7 ... ifles.html

Thank you for your suggestion, but I am pretty sure someone can step up to help a veteran out.

Atlantic Firearms seems to have some nice stuff, but they don't want to hold it for me, which is pretty weak considering it is a sure sale, but they can do business any way they like. I'll remember their decision and definitely pass my experience with them along to the rest of the boys. (and we do talk about such things... alot!)

Given the current environment the rifles you are looking for are going for a premium and/or sell out quickly. No one is likely to want to hold one for you when they can sell all they have right now. As supply catches up to demand, you should be able to get a better price when you return as well. That's another reason you're going to find it hard to find anyone willing to hold a rifle for you. Let's say you "buy" it now for $1500 and when you return the going rate is only $1000 (could also be more if the ban has any legs left). Unless you have a binding contract and paid with a non-reversable method, the dealer is worried you won't want to pay $1500 anymore and will want the $1000 price. What happens if you purchased it now, paid for it, and then they banned the rifle before it could be transferred to you? The dealer now has a rifle you can't possess, but legally own.

The only way I could see this working is if you found a FFL that you know and trust to "hold" the rifle for you. Basically, order it online, pay for it, ship it to the local FFL and then complete the transfer upon your return. However, if they ban them before you can complete the transfer (assuming a grandfather clause), you won't get the rifle and you won't get your money back either. You really are best waiting until August. The BC laws really make your situation nearly unworkable.

"The only way I could see this working is if you found a FFL that you know and trust to "hold" the rifle for you. Basically, order it online, pay for it, ship it to the local FFL and then complete the transfer upon your return."

I don't see how the above is unreasonable or all that hard to do. Are you saying an FFL is not a dealer? I understand the political environment and the economics associated with it, which is why I am exploring this now.

Someone out there has some knowledge or ideas about how this can be accomplished, so all is done, or nearly done as soon as I get back. Please let me know your ideas.

Thanks for your feedback.

Asked and answered...

Given that the assault weapon ban will be on the Senate floor as an amendment this coming week, sales are just a tad higher then they were after the Sandy Hook shootings, the second Presidential debate, etc.

Inventory isn't flying off the shelves, it's teleporting.

Another sticking point for a dealer would be that since you're in a war zone, what happens if they're holding the weapon for you and god forbid, you never return? They're stuck, much like if they held it for you and they became illegal and non-transferrable.

Gunderwood's scenario is probably the best you can try for under the current political and market conditions.

It's really a late time to come to the party. I do hope you can find a workable solution within the parameters you seek, but I think it's about as likely as Feinstein sponsoring a mandatory gun ownership bill.

Thank you for supporting and defending the Consititution. May the MRE you get always be the one you want.

Just a half-baked idea, but what kind of support does a BX/PX provide if they have an FFL? If a BX/PX can affect the transfer, funds paid, and all that is left is the paperwork, couldn't a armory hold it?

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Interesting idea Gene, I will look into that but seems a bit unlikely, but thanks for helping me brainstorm.

You know I have to say it almost feels as though my post is a big intrusion or something, and maybe I don't really get what the climate is like back there. But if you guys look at your posts they are pretty negative regarding the politics.

Regarding the difficulty of this, I do appreciate the concerns about the monetary, or even the health risk involved, but I am not nearly the fatalist and have every expectation of seeing this through. The tone I get also is how difficult it will be for some poor dealer to help me out with this, what terrible and risky pitfalls there might be!! If you happen to be a dealer, and my wish is too difficult than don't take on the challenge. If you want a for sure sale and to help me out, or know of someone likely to, than please advise.

Thank you!!

The problem you're going to get in asking anyone to buy and hold it for you is that, in the absence of a FFL holder, that is a textbook definition of a straw purchase, because the eventual third-party purchaser is known beforehand.

I'd love to help you out, but I have little desire to become Bride of Bubba in a federal prison.

Another brainstorm - layaway. Iirc, some places can have a 90 day layaway, so maybe the terms could be adjusted (nominal fee?) to accomodate the dealer's overhead?

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UnderwaterMike wrote:The problem you're going to get in asking anyone to buy and hold it for you is that, in the absence of a FFL holder, that is a textbook definition of a straw purchase, because the eventual third-party purchaser is known beforehand.

I'd love to help you out, but I have little desire to become Bride of Bubba in a federal prison.

Just for clarification.

The only person who can legally "hold" the rifle for the buyer/OP is a FFL. A friend, a parent, a sibling, etc. is all considered a straw purchase. In reality, the FFL isn't "holding" it per se, but rather simply waiting to perform the BC until August when the buyer is available. It's a bit a longer than normal, but really no different than the few days or weeks it may take to get the buyer into the FFL to perform the BC under normal circumstances.

Of course, to hold onto the rifle until August will require pre-coordination with the FFL. In theory, the manufacturer/importer could do the same since they are also an FFL, but practically given the market and such that's not likely to happen. Anyone with a financial connection to the firearm sale (rather than merely the transfer) is going to want their money now, not in August.

It's unfortunate and I hope the OP can lawfully find a way to make it work, but the already ridiculous laws regarding FFL transfer and BC make it next to impossible. Yet, they only want to make it harder.

GeneFrenkle wrote:Another brainstorm - layaway. Iirc, some places can have a 90 day layaway, so maybe the terms could be adjusted (nominal fee?) to accomodate the dealer's overhead?

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That's a good idea if available. Of course, the buyer takes all the risk (same with the FFL idea).

I think I am qualified to advise you on this one (I was in Iraq 2008-2009 and did it this way). Use your google fu skills find a dealer who will handle FFL (I used Nuckol's Gun Works in Staunton) get their contact info and develop a tentative plan. 6-8 weeks before leaving theater find the firearm you want, coordinate the purchase and transfer to the FFL you have partnered with. I paid for mine, had it transferred to Nuckol's and it was waiting for me when I got home. We did the paperwork to take it home the first day back.

If somebody is not willing to special order a firearm for you whether it be through a distributor or a manufacturer and you are willing to prepay/start layaway payments before they order it, they obviously don't deserve your or want your money.

Howdy Vandal,
Center Fire Systems has VEPR's and AK's.

http://centerfiresystems.com/firearms_longguns.aspx

Far warning, most of the VEPR's they have are crap stocks. I called them and they explained that the importer told VEPR not to wait on making finished stocks with the idea of getting a last shipment before a gun ban. The new VEPR's are compatible with an AK stock.

Thank you very much gentlemen!

I'll see who can order me one, or transfer to and see what happens! Best!

If it's paid for in full, transferred to a dealer in your state of residence or your base would you be able to fill out a 4473 that was emailed or faxed to you? You could then send it back and then regardless of the laws enacted it would legally be yours when you got back ???? Yes????