I'm new to CA and am trying to figure out how to buy a gun from a private seller. The seller lives 250 miles away from me and I've read that a private party transfer has to be done through a FFL. I've also heard there is a 10 day background check. Can I get a background check done in my town, wait 10 days, then make the drive to have it transferred? He's willing to ship and I imagine that would be much easier. How much does that run these days?

The best resource is calguns.net

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I've read that a private party transfer has to be done through a FFL. I've also heard there is a 10 day background check.

Correct. Go to a gun shop, fill out forms and wait ten 24-hour periods to pick it up.

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Can I get a background check done in my town, wait 10 days, then make the drive to have it transferred?

No. It has to be done at the gun shop you are transfering from. During the waiting period it will stay at that gun shop.

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He's willing to ship and I imagine that would be much easier. How much does that run these days?

Depends. If your seller is sending it to your FFL, then it is considered a dealer sale, not a private party transfer. So your FFL can charge whatever he wants. a PPT has to have both parties present at the location. PPT is $35

I'll try to break it down. (I'm tired, so might mistake here and there)
1. Is it a handgun or something else? (others, skip to step 3)
2. If it is a handgun, you need HSC(Handgun Safety Certificate) card. You take a test, and if you pass, it costs $25, and is good for 5 years. To buy handguns, you need this.

Handguns that are sold freom dealer(non-PPT) must be on the roster of approved handguns

3. Fill out 4473 form
4. proof of residency is needed for handguns. Your vehicle registration tends to wrok well. It has to be some sort of bill from last 90 days, a service that is a land line(cable TV, Gas/water/electricty - but no cell phones and bank statements)
5. You need to have a safe, or buy a cable lock within 30days of purchasing the gun. You need a receipt to show that you got the lock in the last 30 days.
6. wait ten 24 hour periods.

Wow. That's a LOT of red tape. I had no idea. Looks like I'd better get started....

Thank you very much for the info.

your right on HC P220 as far as i can tell +1 for calguns.net it not 1/2 as awesome as Sigforum but if does help when you need questions about our funkey state answered.