Why would someone want to obtain an ffl?
Is there money to be made or is this more for personal use reasons or to help out the gun community in general?
What kind of people does an ffl deal with?
Scum buckets or people of good moral character (I think I know the answer but I'd prefer to read it in black and white here for confirmation).
Thanks for any and all replies.
I enjoy the "collecting" aspect of C&R's... however, I can't privately afford to have an expansive collection. As an 01, I've had several different old rifles pass through my hands. It gives me an opportunity to research the rifles, then pass them on to someone who really appreciates them.
You can't obtain an FFL for personal gain- meaning you can't use it only to acquire firearms for your own collection.
There is certainly money to be made. I can make as much money as I want to (within reason), provided that I want to work hard.
It is difficult to be an extremely small-time operation though. "Dealer price" flat out sucks for the little guy. I can forget about trying to sell AK's. I can buy them cheaper
retail than I can get them from a distributor/importer.
People: I deal primarily with collectors. Most collectors are like most of the people here in the OSR- generally good, honest people. I've been through hell and back with a group of Romanian SKS serial-number chasers here lately though.
You'll always get people that try to skirt the law. I get a lot of CA people that think CA law trumps federal law, since CA has peculiar laws governing what is considered a "firearm" due to age. The CA state law is looser with respect to federal law.
The shittiest people to deal with, are the people you know. I have 3 long guns sitting in the safe that were "sure things" for people I know well. Then there's the "friends of friends", bosses, etc. that will waste your time farming up quotes that go no where.
If it's something you want to do, go for it. As a kitchen table/internet FFL, it's easy enough to at least break even if you're not hugely successful.
Being in CA, there might be a whole shitload of opportunity for you though...