NICS Background Check

Disclaimer: This article provides educational information only and is not legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel for specific situations.

Why it matters: Every time you buy a gun from a dealer, you're running this FBI gauntlet—and understanding how it works can save you time, frustration, and potential legal headaches down the road.

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the FBI's way of checking whether you're legally allowed to buy firearms. When you walk into any gun store and want to buy a gun, the dealer calls NICS to make sure you're not a prohibited person.

Been doing this dance since 1998. Most checks take a few minutes, some take three business days if they need to dig deeper. And no—despite what your paranoid uncle says—NICS isn't tracking what guns you buy. It's just a database of people who can't have them.

The legal reality: Federal law requires NICS checks for every purchase from a licensed dealer, period. Records of approved checks must be destroyed within 24 hours—that's not optional, that's the law.

Here's what happens when you decide you need that new rifle. You fill out Form 4473, the dealer contacts NICS with your info, and they search three main databases:

• Criminal records from the Interstate Identification Index
• National Crime Information Center data
• NICS Index of prohibited persons

They're looking for anything that disqualifies you—felonies, domestic violence convictions, restraining orders, mental health adjudications, dishonorable discharges, immigration issues. The usual suspects that make you a prohibited person under federal law.

What this means for you: You'll get one of three responses, and each one changes what happens next.

"Proceed" means you're good to go—no disqualifying records found. This is what happens most of the time if you're a law-abiding citizen.

"Denied" means something in your background prohibits you from buying firearms. Sale stops right there.

"Delayed" is the frustrating middle ground. They found something that needs more research. NICS gets three business days to figure it out.

Between the lines: That three-day rule everyone talks about? After three business days, the dealer can proceed with the sale at their discretion—but they don't have to. Some dealers won't touch a delayed check even after the waiting period. Their shop, their rules.

State Variations Matter

Some states run their own background check systems instead of using NICS directly. These "point of contact" states might have additional state-level prohibitions beyond federal requirements.

From your perspective, the process looks the same. Fill out the form, wait for the check, get your answer. But the databases they're searching might be different.

The legal reality: Private sales between individuals aren't subject to federal NICS requirements—but many states have their own laws requiring background checks for private sales. Know your state's rules.

Getting Through Faster

Bring proper ID—government-issued photo identification. Provide your Social Security number on the 4473 even though it's technically optional. Why? Because the system uses name-based matching, and if you share a name with a prohibited person, that SSN helps sort out the confusion.

I've seen guys delayed for hours because they have the same name as some felon in another state. Don't be that guy if you can avoid it.

What this means for you: If you get denied and think it's wrong, you can appeal through the NICS Appeals process. Takes months, requires fingerprints and documentation, but it works if you're actually eligible.

Common Myths That Need Killing

People think NICS is a gun registry tracking their purchases. Wrong. It tracks prohibited persons, not firearms, and approved records get destroyed within 24 hours.

Others think one background check covers them forever. Also wrong. Every purchase from a dealer requires a separate check, with limited exceptions for valid carry permits in certain states.

The bottom line: NICS isn't going away, and fighting it won't help you buy guns faster. Understand the system, come prepared with proper documentation, and be patient when delays happen—they usually resolve in your favor.

What's next: If you're planning multiple purchases or dealing with frequent delays, consider getting issues resolved through the appeals process. Clean record today prevents headaches tomorrow.

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Last Updated: 2026-01-15

See Also

• Federal Prohibited Persons
• ATF Form 4473 Requirements
• FFL Transfers Required

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Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

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Join the Discussion

Have you ever had a delay or hiccup with your NICS check at a gun shop, and how did the dealer handle it?

Barrett M82 / M107

The Barrett M82 (standardized by the U.S. military as the M107) is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle developed by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing and produced in the United States.

Also called the Light Fifty (due to its chambering of the .50 BMG 12.7×99mm NATO cartridge), the weapon is classified in three variants: the original M82A1 (and M82A3) models, the bullpup M82A2 model, and the Barrett M107A1, with an attached muzzle brake designed to accept a suppressor and made out of titanium instead of steel.

Despite being designated as an anti-materiel rifle, the M82 can also be deployed in an anti-personnel role.

Overview

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing was founded by Ronnie Barrett for the sole purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning machine guns. The weapon was first sold to the Swedish Army in 1989.

An early production Barrett M82. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense (Public Domain)

In 1990, the United States armed forces purchased the M82A1 during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq. About 125 rifles were initially bought by the United States Marine Corps, and orders from the Army and Air Force soon followed.

The M82A1 is known by the U.S. military as the SASR — "Special Applications Scoped Rifle", and it was and still is used as an anti-materiel rifle and explosive ordnance disposal tool.

In 2006, Barrett completed development of the XM500, which has a bullpup configuration similar to the M82A2. Barrett M82 rifles were bought by various military and police forces from at least 30 countries, including Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

Specifications

Specification	Detail
Type	Anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin	United States
Designer	Ronnie Barrett
Designed	1980
Manufacturer	Barrett Firearms Manufacturing
Produced	1982–present
In service	1989–present
Mass	29.7 lb (13.5 kg) to 32.7 lb (14.8 kg)
Length	48 in (120 cm) to 57 in (140 cm)
Barrel length	20 in (51 cm) to 29 in (74 cm)
Cartridge	.50 BMG, .416 Barrett
Action	Recoil-operated, rotating bolt
Muzzle velocity	2,799 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective range	1,969 yd (1,800 m)
Maximum range	4,000 m (4,400 yd)
Feed system	5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Iron sights or various optics on MIL-STD-1913 rail

Use by the Provisional IRA

The Provisional IRA smuggled a number of M82s into Ireland from the United States in the 1980s, apparently made and sold by a gunsmith and former Barrett Firearms employee in Texas. One of the M82s was shipped from Chicago to Dublin in pieces, where it was re-assembled.

The IRA equipped two sniper teams with the Light Fifties, later reinforced with a couple of M90s bought in the United States from an arms dealer in 1995. The IRA snipers killed five soldiers and a constable with .50 rifles from 1992 to 1997. The snipers usually fired on their targets from a distance of less than 300 metres (980 ft), despite the 1,800 m (5,900 ft) effective range of the weapons.

Use by Mexican Drug Cartels

In 2021, Barrett and nine other U.S. gun manufacturers were named in a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeking $10 billion in damages. The Mexican government claimed that the Barrett M82 is one of the weapons of choice for drug cartels.

According to Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, an expert interviewed by Reuters, the M82 has disrupted the balance of power between criminals and poorly-equipped police forces.

Variants

M82 Series

• M82: Original 12.7×99mm Barrett M82 semi-automatic rifle
• M82A1: Improved variant including redesigned muzzle brake
• M82A1A: Optimized for use with the Raufoss Mk 211 .50 caliber round
• M82A1M: Improved variant including lengthened accessory rail, rear grip and monopod socket
• M82A2: Bullpup configured variant made to compensate for recoil by being shoulder-mounted
• M82A3: New production rifles built to M82A1M specifications, featuring lengthened accessory rail

M107 Series

A U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper fires an M82A3. Photo: Spc. Lester Colley, U.S. Army (Public Domain)

The XM107 was originally intended to be a bolt-action sniper rifle, and the Barrett M95 was originally selected by the U.S. Army in a competition between such weapons. However, under the trials, the decision was made that the U.S. Army did not, in fact, require such a weapon.

In summer 2002, the M82 finally emerged from its Army trial phase and was officially adopted as the Long Range Sniper Rifle, Caliber .50, M107. The M107 uses a Leupold 4.5–14×50 Mark 4 scope.

Various changes were made to the original M82A1 to create the M107, with new features such as a lengthened accessory rail, rear grip, and monopod socket.

Technical Description

A Barrett M82 being fired. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense (Public Domain)

The M82 is a short-recoil semi-automatic firearm. When the gun is fired, the barrel initially recoils for a short distance (about 1 inch or 25 mm), while being securely locked by the rotating bolt.

After the short travel, the lower part of the accelerator arm, held by the receiver upper part, is already hinged in the bolt carrier and the middle portion strikes it back to the barrel by a rod placed in the bolt carrier, transferring part of the recoil energy of the barrel to the bolt to achieve reliable cycling and unlock it from the barrel.

The receiver is made from two parts (upper and lower), stamped from sheet steel and connected by cross-pins. The heavy barrel is fluted to improve heat dissipation and save weight, and fitted with a large and effective reactive muzzle brake.

M82A1 rifles are fitted with scope mount and folding backup iron sights, should the glass scope break. The U.S. military M82 rifles are often equipped with Leupold Mark 4 telescopic sights. Every M82 rifle is equipped with a folding carrying handle and a folding bipod.

Combat History

A Ukrainian Border Guard with a Barrett M82 during the Russo-Ukrainian War. Photo: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (CC BY 4.0)

The Barrett M82 has seen extensive combat use in numerous conflicts:

• The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
• Soviet–Afghan War
• Gulf War (Desert Shield/Desert Storm)
• Kosovo War
• War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
• Iraq War (2003–2011)
• Mexican Drug War
• War in Iraq (2013–2017)
• Second Libyan Civil War
• Russo-Ukrainian War

Users

A U.S. Air Force sniper using an M82 in Afghanistan. Photo: U.S. Air Force (Public Domain)

The Barrett M82 is used by military and law enforcement agencies in over 60 countries worldwide, including:

NATO Members: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Turkey, and others.

Other Nations: Australia, Israel, India, South Korea, Ukraine, Georgia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and many more.

Non-State Users: The rifle has also been acquired by various non-state actors including the Afghan Mujahideen (supplied by CIA), Al Qaeda, and other groups.

Awards and Recognition

On February 26, 2016, the U.S. state of Tennessee named the Barrett Model M82 as its official state rifle, recognizing the weapon's significance to American firearms manufacturing and its Tennessee origins.

The M107 was voted one of 2005's top 10 military inventions by the U.S. Army.

Future Replacement

The U.S. Army and Marine Corps plan to field the Mk22 MRAD rifle to replace the M107. The Mk22 is a bolt-action multi-caliber rifle that is powerful enough to replace the M107 when chambered in .338 Norma Magnum.

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Read the original article in The Handbook | By The Boise Gun Club

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Join the Discussion

If you've got experience with .50 BMG rifles, what's kept you shooting them—the capability, the experience itself, or something else entirely?