Background Check - How Long Does it Take?

[TimMcG74]

Quick question. The other night I called a Massachusetts gun shop and put a deposit on a handgun with a credit card over the phone. I want to go pick it up tonight, but I have limited time, as I have to be somewhere later in the evening. This is my first handgun purchase.

So, my question is: how long can I expect the electronic background check to take?

 

[xtry51]

About 30 seconds on a quick phone call.

 

[TimMcG74]

About 30 seconds on a quick phone call.

Perfect; exactly what I wanted to hear. So, factoring in my shit luck, it should take about 25.3 minutes.

 

[SSShooter]

About 30 seconds on a quick phone call.

What he said, it's usually a pretty quick phone call. But call the shop first. The whole process takes longer because you have paperwork to fill out, and many shops can get busy. I have had to wait over an hour at an FFL before they could even begin the paperwork with me.

 

[Maxpower]

Don't be fooled. The whole process is going to take longer than 30 seconds. I would allow at least 30 minutes. I have limited experience, but that seems to be the average for me. You also need to factor how busy the shop may or may not be. When I purchased a rifle from Dick's the guy told me the whole process would take an hour. He was pretty close.

 

[glide]

The background check takes 30 seconds (usually). Filling out the forms and waiting in line does not.

Plan on 30 minutes realistically.

 

[atmay]

Another vote for allotting at least 30-45min of your day to this.

1)You enter the shop, look at everything on the way to the counter (5-10)
2)Engage the person behind the counter and explain your presence (5)
3)Receive and fill out 4473 (5)
4)Phone call to NICS (5)
5)Stupid MIRCS fingerprint BS (5-10)
6) Receive and finish paying for firearm (5)

 

[TWBARRETT]

Another vote for allotting at least 30-45min of your day to this.

1)You enter the shop, look at everything on the way to the counter (5-10)
2)Engage the person behind the counter and explain your presence (5)
3)Receive and fill out 4473 (5)
4)Phone call to NICS (5)
5)Stupid MIRCS fingerprint BS (5-10)
6) Receive and finish paying for firearm (5)

+1