Just wanted to report on my experience with HPD. Got my C&R collector's license a couple months ago and just got around to buying a CZ-82 9x18 Makarov from J&G Sales in Arizona. When it arrived at my residence yesterday I called up HPD and asked them what they needed from me to register it (yes you must register C&R guns with HPD and follow all State laws). This is my first handgun and it was great to not have to deal with the 2 week waiting period or driving back and forth between HPD and the gun store with all the forms and approvals, etc. I brought my hunters education card but they didn't even ask for it, which was also interesting. Then again it's a good idea for someone who hasn't handled firearms before to take a class that shows the basics about safety and responsibility, and the DLNR guys drop a lot of good information plus you can get a hunting license.

Here's what HPD needs.

The gun itself.
The receipt or packing slip that shows who you bought it from
A copy of your C&R License from ATF. Of course you sign the copies but NEVER sign the original since most dealers require you mail them a copy with an original signature.
HPD Shotgun/Rifle permit to acquire. Even if it's a C&R handgun this is all HPD requires.
Firearms Curios or Relics List booklet, ATF publication 5300.11. Make a photocopy of the page that shows your gun is on the C&R approved list.
Identification. They wanted my passport number again but I didn't have it. No worries. Driver's license was enough.
Doctor's Address and Phone number.

While all these are necessary documents, the officers were very happy that I brought the tan-colored ATF C&R List booklet with me and highlighted the page where my CZ-82 was listed. When I passed them the booklet two of the officers started clapping, which was really odd and caught me completely off guard. Apparently that's a key part of the equation that most people seem to forget, and they told me to let everyone know that they MUST BRING THE BOOKLET to prove the gun is a collectable. Otherwise you have to go home and get it because I'm pretty sure they don't have a copy.

Fill out 5 or 6 more forms while you are there, but if there's no line it only takes about 20 minutes and sure beats waiting two weeks, driving back and forth, and paying for FFL transfers.

Thanks for posting your experience! I haven't had the slightest idea what was required for C&R.


How much do those booklets cost? it sounds like a really stupidly small thing that creates such a huge hassle on both parties involved. If it's simply disposeable referencing material, and not a document that needs to be submitted, why the heck wouldn't the authorizing body have a copy? Or even look it up online? Do they cost $5000 or something? Is the information not available online on the ATF site? Do they not have computers? Do they seriously send people home because they didn't physically bring reference-only material?

Someone please correct me because I must be missing something here. It just seems like such a simple fix for a huge hassle.

The booklet comes with the C&R package from the ATF. It's online as well so you could print out the page where your gun is listed and that will satisfy them.

http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/curios-relics/

They probably have one kicking around and just don't want to go digging for it, plus there are a lot of weird guns on the list which might not be readily identifiable. I think the idea is to keep people flowing through the office as quickly as possible because it does get pretty backed up sometimes, especially like today when this guy behind me was just coming back from Alaska with several cases of awesome guns to register. We were all drooling, even the cops.

Oh yes and after all the trouble and expense I went through to get the neutered 9 round magazines the guys at the window just pushed them back and didn't even look at them.