topic Re: Credit card to purchase firearm in Credit Cards

Credit card to purchase firearm

red259 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 23:43:11 GMT

Anyone have experience using credit cards for firearm or ammo purchases? Are there any lenders that may have a issues with this over others. In terms of the firearm if I did purchase one online it would be shipped to an FFL vendor as required by state law if that makes a difference to card companies?

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Epic_Milk — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:04:00 GMT

In the past it's been blocked by some processing companies. Authorize.net comes to mind, but gun stores just simply don't use the ones that don't want their business. Citi has some rules about not being allowed to use their cards to buy standard capacity mags. There's always a lot of talk, but nothing's come from it. Some credit cards banned stuff that is already illegal (selling to people that fail background check, etc.).

I've used credit cards for all of my firearms and ammo since they're high value items. The lenders don't care, they get their transaction fee and the chance at interest.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

M_Smart007 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:20:13 GMT

I have used many different CC"s for Guns and Ammo, over the years ... so far ..never had a problem.

Last one was with Discover in the cash back match period so basically 2%

I think I have used in the past at a online dealer to ship to a local FFL.

possibly through Gunbroker.com

Seems FNBO, did not like the NRA card.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

SarahJo — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:46:36 GMT

Our Ducks Unlimited card is used regularly for arms and munitions (FNBO, but we were grandfathered into the CB for "sporting goods," no problems however), other cards of ours have been used for these items over the years as well. Your firearm purchase, if required by the state that you reside, will be shipped to and accepted by a licensed vendor.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 01:43:03 GMT

Never had an issue although heard Citi is kinda weird about it, but doubt they would block it.. Used PNC and Duck unlimited along with AOD all recently for firearms transactions

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 01:54:29 GMT

I used Chase without a problem.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

ocheosa — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 02:11:19 GMT

I've purchased firearms online from budsgunshop.com and never had a problem. ...used mainly Discover, JFCU and Barclay's. Also Citi years ago. 95% of ammo ordered from Cabela's.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

JustJay119 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 02:51:28 GMT

I have used one to buy a shotgun and ammo at a local gun store. No issues

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

NoMoreE46 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 03:29:49 GMT

Issuers should only ''see" where you used their card along with the amount charged. They won't get the breakdown of the specific items in the purchase. While it might be obvious what a certain merchant say like gunbrokers.com generally sells, one might be better to purchase specific items such a firearms from a more generalized merchant like Cabelas if one is worried about purchase tracking/profiling by the issuer.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

dlister70 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 03:27:04 GMT

@SarahJo wrote:
Our Ducks Unlimited card is used regularly for arms and munitions (FNBO, but we were grandfathered into the CB for "sporting goods," no problems however),

Wow, I did not realize that the Ducks Unlimited card is no longer 5% on sporting goods/gas and simply a 1.5% cashback card now. I had the NRA Visa and it converted to a standard unbranded FNBO card that still has the 5% sports/gas combo, so I've still been using that for firearm purchases. At least they let you keep the categories when they nerfed the Ducks Unlimited.

I've also used other cards for these purchases and never had a problem, online or in person. However, in terms of rewards, some gun stores are categorized as sporting goods (so I get 5%) and some are another generic retail code (so I get 1%). That's not the only factor in deciding where to purchase, but if it's an expensive purchase, the 5% is nice to get.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

ChargedUp — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 03:28:29 GMT

Elan, Chase and BBVA seem to care less from my own experience...

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Remedios — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 03:50:28 GMT

Chase won't care, don't know about the others.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

coreysw12 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 09:56:41 GMT

It never even crossed my mind that my credit card issuer would care what I was buying with it. I'm sure I've bought firearms and ammo using all my cards at varying times - chase, citi, cap1. Mostly Citi I think.

If any issuers "say" they won't allow firearm-related purchases, odds are that it's just political-posturing / virtue-signalling, and they don't really care that much and certainly aren't going to waste time or resources enforcing it.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 10:07:35 GMT

Has anyone used Amex for firearm purchases? I was planning to do so and will, unless somebody knows that they don't like it, in which case I'll use a different card.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

coreysw12 — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:28:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Has anyone used Amex for firearm purchases? I was planning to do so and will, unless somebody knows that they don't like it, in which case I'll use a different card.

I've never heard of any card issuer, ever, taking AA against a cardholder for using their card to make a legal firearm purchase. I'm not saying it's never happened, just that I've never heard of it happening to anybody.

The more common issue is with credit card processors, who often refuse to do business with firearms-related companies. But that only affects who the retailer can use as their card processor, it has no affect on you the consumer.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

CramEiko — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:26:53 GMT

@coreysw12 wrote:
It never even crossed my mind that my credit card issuer would care what I was buying with it. I'm sure I've bought firearms and ammo using all my cards at varying times - chase, citi, cap1. Mostly Citi I think.

If any issuers "say" they won't allow firearm-related purchases, odds are that it's just political-posturing / virtue-signalling, and they don't really care that much and certainly aren't going to waste time or resources enforcing it.

+1 Agreed.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:44:23 GMT

Yes alot of it is political specifically CIti taking a stance, but lets not bring politics into this discussion please. thank you

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

K-in-Boston — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:52:44 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
Issuers should only ''see" where you used their card along with the amount charged. They won't get the breakdown of the specific items in the purchase.
<snip>

Level III transactional data is somewhat common these days (i.e. it's how Amex knows you purchased a $500 Visa gift card and a bag of Doritos at Safeway 10 days in a row to get your SUB or grocery multiplier on rewards) particularly with online purchases where the merchant is using an eCommerce merchant processor. That said, restrictions are usually on the merchant end rather than on the consumer end.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 14:03:18 GMT

Fair enough. When I buy my next gun I'll try Amex. I'll report back on how it goes.

Re: Credit card to purchase firearm

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 14:54:10 GMT

I recently used a NFCU card to purchase a weapon and had no issues at all.