How we handle the hard parts

1. How these policies work

By placing an order or starting a transfer with Nexus Firearms of America, you agree to these policies. For every firearm or NFA sale we ask you to sign a short acknowledgment of the holding policy in section 7, so nobody is surprised later.

Virginia law governs. If anything here conflicts with federal or Virginia law, the law wins. These policies are written in plain language and are not legal advice.

2. Appointments and visits

• Consultations are free. Please give us at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule so we can offer the time to someone else. The confirmation email from Google Calendar has a link to do it.
• We work by appointment only. Walk-ins are not possible, because a visit usually involves paperwork and a firearm that has to be handled correctly.
• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to any transfer. If it does not show your current Virginia address, bring a second document that does, such as a vehicle registration or a recent utility bill.
• If you plan to bring a firearm to the shop, call ahead. Bring it unloaded and in a case or a locked container.
• Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

3. Orders, payment, and cancellations

• Quotes. We quote a price for your specific item before you commit. Prices follow current supplier costs and can change until you pay.
• Payment. Payment is due when you place a special order, before we order from the supplier, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
• Cancelling before we order. If we have not yet placed your order with the supplier, you can cancel for a full refund.
• Cancelling after we order. The supplier's terms apply, and any supplier restocking fee is passed through to you. We tell you what those terms are before you pay.
• Once the item is here. Please talk to us before cancelling. The terms for an item already in our possession are agreed in writing at the time of the order.
• Refunds go back to the original payment method.
• We may decline or cancel any sale if something does not look right, including when we suspect the buyer is acquiring the item for someone else.

4. Transfers of firearms you bought elsewhere

You can have a firearm shipped to us from another dealer or a private seller and we will complete the transfer to you.

• Before it ships. Book the transfer and tell us what is coming: the item, the seller, and the tracking number once you have it. We send a copy of our license directly to your seller. We do not sign for a firearm we have not been told to expect.
• Fees. A standard transfer is $35 and an NFA transfer is $50. Both are half price for active military and first responders. The fee covers our work receiving the item, logging it, and running the check, so it is charged when we begin the transfer at your appointment and is not refunded if the check is denied.
• Pickup. Please pick up within 30 days of the firearm arriving. If you cannot, contact us before the 30 days end. After that we may return it to the sender at your expense. If the sender cannot take it back, we follow ATF guidance and Virginia law on unclaimed property.
• Out-of-state residents. A firearm that requires an FFL must go to a licensed dealer in the buyer's state of residence. We cannot complete that transfer for you in Virginia.
• If the check is denied or delayed. Property that you bought elsewhere and had shipped to us is your property. We never sell it, keep it, or forfeit it. We hold it for 30 days at no charge so you can arrange its return. Then we ship it back to the sender, or to another licensed dealer you name who can lawfully receive it, at your expense.

5. Standard firearms: delayed or denied background checks

This section covers handguns, rifles, and shotguns under the federal Gun Control Act. Virginia is a point-of-contact state, so the Virginia State Police run your check through the FBI's NICS system when we submit your Form 4473. A check comes back approved, delayed, or denied.

Approved

We complete the transfer the same day.

Delayed

A delay means the State Police need more time to reach a final answer. We do not release the firearm while a check is delayed.

Federal and Virginia law each let a dealer complete a sale if no answer has come back after a set number of business days. Nexus does not use that option. We wait for a final answer, because a firearm released on that default and later denied can be ordered back by ATF, and we will not put you or ourselves in that position.

The item is held under section 7. Most delays resolve within days and never reach the end of the first free 30 days.

Denied

If the check is denied, we cannot release the firearm, and we cannot transfer it to anyone who is acquiring it for you or on your behalf. We are told only that the result was a denial. We are not told why, and we cannot see your record. The reason goes to you.

If you do not believe you are prohibited from buying or having a firearm, these are your options, taken from the Virginia State Police's published guidance:

1. Call or email the State Police Firearms Transaction Center at (804) 674-2292 or firearms@vsp.virginia.gov. Discuss the determination and give them any information that bears on it. They may compare fingerprints, and they can issue a Unique Firearms Identification Number (UFIN) that speeds future approvals.
2. Get your Virginia criminal history record and ask for a correction if it is wrong. Request it with Form SP-167 from the Virginia State Police. Under Va. Code § 9.1-132, this must be started within 30 days of the denial.
3. Consider a civil action under Va. Code § 9.1-135, which must also be started within 30 days of the denial. This is a legal step, so speak with a Virginia attorney first.
4. Challenge the record with the FBI. You can write to the NICS Operations Center or submit an appeal electronically through the FBI's NICS denial and challenge page. The FBI generally aims to respond to a formal challenge within about 60 days, though a case can stay unresolved longer.
5. Records from another state have to be corrected through that state's own authority.
6. A felony conviction with restored rights. If your rights have been restored under both Virginia and federal law, you may still be eligible. See the State Police page on your rights if denied.

The first 30 days of a hold are free so you have time to start a challenge inside Virginia's 30-day window. Tell us in writing how it turns out.

If the denial is overturned, we complete a new Form 4473 and run a new check before we release the firearm. If it is upheld, the sale is cancelled and section 7 governs the refund.

6. NFA items: delayed or denied Form 4 applications

For suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and other NFA items, the background check is part of ATF's review of your Form 4. ATF sends your fingerprints to the FBI and the FBI runs the check. Because that check is done up front, a separate NICS check is not normally run when you pick the item up. You still complete a Form 4473 and show your ID.

The normal wait for approval is not a hold, and no fee accrues during it. A hold starts only when something goes wrong, as described below.

What each result means

• Approved. ATF issues the stamped form and you come in to take possession.
• Delayed or open. The FBI check has not reached a final answer. ATF does not decide until it does.
• Disapproved. ATF has denied the application, most often because the FBI check came back denied. ATF mails you a letter explaining your options. For a denial, the letter includes your NICS Transaction Number (NTN). Keep it. You will need it.

The tax stamp

Since January 1, 2026, the federal transfer tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and AOWs is $0, so most applicants have no tax payment to refund. If your application is for a machine gun or destructive device, the $200 tax still applies, and if it is disapproved, ATF's NFA Division arranges a refund of the tax you paid, sent to you directly, not through us. Follow the deadlines in ATF's letter.

What to do

1. Read the ATF letter and save it, along with your NTN. It tells you which process applies to you.
2. If your application was denied, file a Firearm Related Challenge with the FBI NICS Section. It gives you the reason for the denial and lets you challenge it. Providing fingerprints is not required for a challenge but is recommended.
3. If your check is delayed or open, ask the FBI to open a Voluntary Appeal File. It requires fingerprints, and once approved it gives you a Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN) that helps future checks resolve faster. Plan for months, not days. Reported timelines run from about 2 to 12 months.
4. Fix the record at its source. If the problem is an incorrect or incomplete arrest or court record, get it corrected by the agency or court that created it, then ask the FBI to update its file.
5. Tell us the outcome in writing. If the denial is overturned, ATF will tell you whether the original application can be reprocessed or whether a new Form 4 is needed. A new application means new fingerprints, and a new tax payment if the item is a machine gun or destructive device. We file it with you.
6. If the denial is upheld, we cannot transfer the item to you or to anyone acting for you. The sale is cancelled and section 7 governs the refund.

If a trust or company is the buyer, ATF requires background checks on its responsible persons. A problem with any one of them can delay or stop the approval, and the same steps apply.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible, speak with a Virginia attorney who handles federal firearms law before you apply. We can explain the process. We cannot tell you whether you qualify.

7. Holding, storage, and the fee schedule

This section applies to a firearm or NFA item that Nexus sold to you when the background check is delayed or denied, or when an NFA application is delayed or disapproved.

When a hold starts

A hold starts on the day we receive a delayed, denied, or disapproved result for your transaction. We call that the Hold Start Date. We confirm it to you in writing.

How we store the item

• The item stays in locked storage at our licensed premises. It is not shown, lent, or handled by anyone but our staff.
• It remains in our records as our inventory. For an NFA item, it stays registered to Nexus until ATF approves a transfer to you.
• We cannot release it, and we will not transfer it to a third party who is acquiring it for you. Only a new, lawful transaction can move it out of our hands.
• You cannot keep the item at another location while you resolve the issue.

Fee schedule

The first 30 days of a hold are free. After that, each additional month adds a 10 percent holding and restocking fee. After the tenth month of fees, the item is forfeited.

A month is a 30-day period counted from the Hold Start Date, so the full schedule runs 330 days across 11 months. The fee is 10 percent of the Item Price each month, adds up month over month, does not compound, and never exceeds 100 percent. The Item Price is the price of the firearm or NFA item alone on your order. It does not include sales tax, shipping, our transfer fee, or any ATF transfer tax due.

Holding and restocking fee schedule

Period	Fees owed so far	Example on a $1,000 item
Month 1 (days 1 to 30)	0%	$0
Month 2 (days 31 to 60)	10%	$100
Month 3 (days 61 to 90)	20%	$200
Month 4 (days 91 to 120)	30%	$300
Month 5 (days 121 to 150)	40%	$400
Month 6 (days 151 to 180)	50%	$500
Month 7 (days 181 to 210)	60%	$600
Month 8 (days 211 to 240)	70%	$700
Month 9 (days 241 to 270)	80%	$800
Month 10 (days 271 to 300)	90%	$900
Month 11 (days 301 to 330)	100%	$1,000
After day 330	Item forfeited to Nexus Firearms of America

The $1,000 figure is only an example to show the math. Your actual Item Price is on your order.

How a hold ends

• You resolve the issue and complete the purchase. We run a new check, or ATF approves a transfer, and you complete a new Form 4473. Any fees accrued at that point are due before we release the item.
• You cancel, or the denial is upheld. We refund what you paid for the item, minus the fees accrued through the day of cancellation, to your original payment method. Your ATF tax refund, if any, comes from ATF. Our transfer fee is not refunded.
• The schedule runs out. If the hold reaches the end of month 11 without a completed purchase or a cancellation, accrued fees equal the full Item Price. The item is forfeited to Nexus Firearms of America, no refund is due, and you have no further claim to it. We may keep it, resell it, or return it to the supplier.

Notice before forfeiture

We send written notice by email and by mail to the addresses on your order: when the hold begins, when fees start on day 31, and a final notice at the start of month 11, at least 30 days before forfeiture. Keep your contact details current with us. A notice sent to the address on file counts as delivered.

Property you own

Forfeiture never applies to a firearm you bought elsewhere and had shipped to us for transfer. Section 4 covers that situation.

8. Returns, exchanges, and warranty

• Firearms and NFA items are final sale once transferred to you. A suppressor whose Form 4 has been approved is registered to you and cannot be returned.
• Defects. The manufacturer's warranty covers a defective item. We help you start the claim and coordinate shipping. Firearms have to travel through licensed dealers, so please do not ship one yourself.
• Accessories, apparel, and other non-regulated items. Return terms follow the supplier's policy, and we tell you what they are before you buy.
• Gunsmithing and builds. Bench work is billed at the quoted rate, and a full build is a flat quote agreed in writing before work starts. Time already spent is billable. The initial consultation is always free.
• Right fit. If a setup is not right for you, tell us. We will do everything we can to get you properly fitted.

9. Safety, storage, and eligibility

• Federal law requires us to provide a secure storage or safety device with every handgun we transfer. We do.
• Store your firearms securely and out of reach of children and anyone who is not legally allowed to have them. Virginia has a specific law about leaving a loaded firearm where a child can reach it. Ask us if you want to talk through storage options.
• You must meet the minimum age and residency rules for the item under federal and Virginia law. As of 2026, Virginia requires a purchaser to be at least 21 to buy a handgun or an item Virginia defines as an assault firearm, with narrow exceptions for military, law enforcement, and certain training programs.
• Virginia's rules on which firearms and magazines may be sold changed substantially in 2026, and we confirm current eligibility and product availability with you before any sale rather than assume last year's rules still apply. If you are shopping for a specific rifle, pistol, or magazine, ask us whether it is currently sellable in Virginia before you make the trip.
• Every answer on Form 4473 must be truthful. A false statement is a federal crime. You must be the actual buyer. We do not transfer a firearm to a person who is buying it for someone else.
• We may refuse any transaction for any lawful reason, including a concern about the buyer's condition or a suspected straw purchase.
• Personal range. When it helps a decision, John may offer a comparison at his personal, unlicensed backyard range. It is a courtesy. It is not a company facility, and it is not licensed or bonded.

10. Privacy and records

• What we collect. The contact details you give us, the information on your Form 4473 and any NFA paperwork, ID details we are required to record, and the results of your background checks.
• Records the law requires. We keep Forms 4473 and our acquisition and disposition records for as long as federal law requires, which is currently 20 years for Forms 4473. We must make them available to ATF. We cannot delete a record we are legally required to keep.
• Who sees your information. ATF, the Virginia State Police, and the FBI receive what the law requires. Our suppliers and payment processors receive only what they need to complete your order. We do not sell or rent your personal information.
• This website. It has no advertising trackers and no analytics cookies. It loads fonts from Google Fonts, and the booking calendar on the contact page is provided by Google Calendar, so Google receives your IP address when those load. The contact form and the launch-list form open a message in your own email app. Nothing reaches us until you press send.
• Payment cards. This website does not take payments and does not store card numbers.
• Your requests. Email us to review or correct the contact information we hold for you.

11. Using this website

• Content here is general information and is not legal advice. Laws change and differ by state.
• Prices and services are subject to change. Nothing on this site is an offer to sell a firearm to anyone who cannot lawfully receive it.
• Links to other sites, including the Virginia State Police and the FBI, are provided for your convenience. We do not control them.
• The content of this site belongs to Nexus Analytica, LLC.
• If any part of this site is hard for you to use, email us and we will help you another way.

12. Changes to these policies and how to reach us

We may update these policies. The version in effect on the day you place an order applies to that order. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated.

Questions about anything here are welcome, before or after you buy.