Buying firearms and selling parts OK legally?

[thelastdinosaurs.com]

If I purchase a firearm with the intention of selling the parts kit but don’t sell the receiver is that being “in the business of selling firearms” if I hold onto the receiver? If this is a stupid question or not allowed lock or delete.

[Dropsith]

If you're talking about doing this once or twice on occasion for beer money, you are probably safe to do that.

Thinking of it as a for profit business, though, that actually becomes and interesting question. The Receiver IS the firearm, so you would expect to be totally clear to sell non-firearm parts without an FFL. The ATF doesn't just use the word "selling" though, their guidance is around "dealing in Firearms" (I don't recall the text of the actual law):
"As a general rule, you will need a license if you repetitively buy and sell firearms with the principal motive of making a profit." - https://www.atf.gov/file/100871/download

So they say "buying and selling" but you would only be buying. So would you or wouldn't you be "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms? The text of the actual law is what is important, not the text of their guidance. I'd expect you could make a reasonable argument that you are buying guns to enhance your personal collection and choosing to sell the parts that came with them. If you are running this as a business, though, it would be hard to make that argument since you wouldn't be amassing a personal collection, but rather building a large inventory for your company. They'd likely say you need a license for that. The folks at the ATF are the best resources for your question and could give you a concrete answer for either scenario, unlike my pseudo-legal philosophizing =)

If you did actually start doing this as a business, you would likely end up talking to them about it anyways as you would eventually throw up a red flag at the ATF if you are repeatedly buying many guns quickly (dealers are required to file a report each time an individual purchases 2 or more handguns in a 5 day period, for example)

[LotsaTiques]

If I purchase a firearm with the intention of selling the parts kit but don’t sell the receiver is that being “in the business of selling firearms” if I hold onto the receiver? If this is a stupid question or not allowed lock or delete.

Go for it....perfectly legal. Just don't sell the receiver without transferring it to an FFL. As per federal law, you don't have to use an FFL at your end but must be used at the buyer's end. You can ship it too (out of state), but only to an FFL.

David

[sniperdoc]

It might be cheaper to buy parts kits in bulk and resell them vs buying functioning firearms and breaking them down for parts.
I can understand if you bought a gun, rebuilt it for a different purpose, and sold the parts you replaced parts to offset your cost (ie, you found a great buy on a:
1) lightweight Remington 700 with a wood stock, and you rebarrel it with a 308 heavy barrel, put a synthetic stock on it, replace the trigger guard with a steel one, install a detachable magazine system, and replace the trigger with an adjustable one.
2) a police turn in Glock which you complete rebuild, including a threaded barrel, night sights, and extended controls
3) a Mossberg 500 with wood furniture and a 28" barrel with a complete set of choke tubes, and convert it to an 18", synthetic furniture, ""tactical" shotgun.

In any of the above scenarios, you'd have a couple of hundred dollars worth of parts left over from the projects, which makes explaining the expenses to your better half!

[Gaujo]

Receiver is the firearm. If you don't sell the firearm, you're not in the business of selling firearms

[rentprop1]

If I purchase a firearm with the intention of selling the parts kit but don’t sell the receiver is that being “in the business of selling firearms” if I hold onto the receiver? If this is a stupid question or not allowed lock or delete.

yeah but explain the method to your madness, how are you gonna make this work, the only way is, old police property lock up or nearly inoperable estate guns, I'm an FFL, I can't see how you're going to buy firearms.....per say, cheap enough to " break " them up up and sell them for parts......really curious

[thelastdinosaurs.com]

That’s what I thought, probably not worth the potential risks.

[rentprop1]

That’s what I thought, probably not worth the potential risks.

there is not really a potential risk, just no profit ...it doesn't make sense unless you want a bunch of receivers/frames ?? its a loose/loose