CMP no longer shipping to FFL03/COE holders

[Wolkenflieger]

CMP is about as obscure as FFL and C&R...

If that were true I'd know what it meant. We could probably prove this with a word frequency analysis on this forum. There's no way "CMP" is as popular a term as FFL or even the more obscure "C&R".

Everyone who cosiders buying or buys a gun has to learn "FFL" quickly. They could go years never needing to know what CMP means like I did.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Not trying to be rude, are you new to firearms?

I started shooting around mid '24, and was reading up a year or so before that. Never knew what CMP was, as I tend to want to know these initialisms when I run across them.

A marksmanship program isn't going to come up as often as FFL, DROS, or C&R, and I have my FFL03/COE so I know about C&R.

Everything related to CCW is quite common too.

 

[Colt Collector]

If CMP were common I'd have heard of it by now. I've been reading gun forums for years now.

I've been into firearms actively for about 3 years now and have never heard of CMP either. I'm not an FFL03 or COE holder but I'm interested in what the benefits of being one are. So I'm glad you asked.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Would you snarkily ask the same about the terms AR, AK, ammo, RMR, or any other very common term to those experienced in the firearms world? It's about as prevalent and used as those.

No it's not as common as AR, AK, CZ, CZC, CGW, RMR, FFL, DROS, C&R, RMSc, DPP (new one for me), etc. If it were prevalent as you say I'd have run across it before now.

That's a partial list of initialisms.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is not something every shooter would encounter or need to know compared to actual common terms.

DYKWIM?

 

[Wolkenflieger]

I've been into firearms actively for about 3 years now and have never heard of CMP either. I'm not an FFL03 or COE holder but I'm interested in what the benefits of being one are. So I'm glad you asked.

Thanks Colt.

I started shooting around mid-2024 and was reading about guns for about a year before that. Never came across "CMP" as if it were something I needed to know.

A Marksmanship Program isn't something a newer shooter would need to know about as a matter of course when researching first purchases and specific brands, broaching PPT purchases, or researching ammo or CCW. Some terms have to be learned quickly such as FFL, DROS, PPT, and CCW.

Recently I had to look up DPP to find out which footprint that was, since I've only used K, RMR, and RMSc.

I probably would have explained a less-common initialism in a post.

 

[Colt Collector]

Thanks Colt.

I started shooting around mid-2024 and was reading about guns for about a year before that. Never came across "CMP" as if it were something I needed to know.

A Marksmanship Program isn't something a newer shooter would need to know about as a matter of course when researching first purchases and specific brands, broaching PPT purchases, or researching ammo or CCW. Some terms have to be learned quickly such as FFL, DROS, PPT, and CCW.

Recently I had to look up DPP to find out which footprint that was, since I've only used K, RMR, and RMSc.

I probably would have explained a less-common initialism in a post.

I think there are a lot of readers on these forums that are just looking to learn more but don't really participate in the dialog so any questions we have help everyone out. I was an intermediate math teacher for 34 years so I know if there was one person with a question it probably helped out 2 or 3 others.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

I think there are a lot of readers on these forums that are just looking to learn more but don't really participate in the dialog so any questions we have help everyone out. I was an intermediate math teacher for 34 years so I know if there was one person with a question it probably helped out 2 or 3 others.

Absolutely, which is why over-explaining/reviewing a little is better than omitting a term some wouldn't know. As someone who enjoys learning and teaching, it's good not to assume what people know when it comes to actually obscure terminology.

I certainly didn't grow up with the Internet so we relied on writers to establish more obscure definitions in the old days. Even in debate it's good to establish terminology so debaters don't talk past each other or assume a definition that is not agreed-upon. Often, these are common terms. I'm sure lawyers understand this very well too.

Man, I struggled with math in school but it sounds like you were a diligent instructor, and your diligence is evident in your writing.

Funnily enough, my career (3D Modeler) is basically geometry lol. At least geometry is visual, with some intuitive math.

 

[joefrank64k]

For those who didn’t know what CMP meant, don’t feel bad, haha!!

I’ve been shooting for over 50 years and didn’t know what the DCM was (precursor to the CMP) until my dad got his M1 Garand through that program. DCM was the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

DCM was dissolved in the late 90’s and the CMP was created in its place.

I didn’t know what the CMP was until I wanted to get my own Garand and started looking into it.

I got one or two (haha!) then attended their OUTSTANDING Advanced Maintenance Course where I built an M1 Garand to take home.

I’ve since picked up two of their surplus 1911’s.

Anyway…CMP, 123, ABC. It’s all good under the 2A tree, haha!!

 

[Wolkenflieger]

For those who didn’t know what CMP meant, don’t feel bad, haha!!

I’ve been shooting for over 50 years and didn’t know what the DCM was (precursor to the CMP) until my dad got his M1 Garand through that program. DCM was the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

DCM was dissolved in the late 90’s and the CMP was created in its place.

I didn’t know what the CMP was until I wanted to get my own Garand and started looking into it.

I got one or two (haha!) then attended their OUTSTANDING Advanced Maintenance Course where I built an M1 Garand to take home.

I’ve since picked up two of their surplus 1911’s.

Anyway…CMP, 123, ABC. It’s all good under the 2A tree, haha!!

Exactly!! Thanks for that.

I see the OP and others writing Cmp[sic] instead of CMP (all caps) as it should be. Apparently, we're all still learning.

"Sic is a Latin adverb meaning "thus" or "so," inserted in brackets—[sic]—within quoted text to indicate that a misspelled, inaccurate, or strange word/phrase appears exactly as it did in the original source. It signals that the quoting author is aware of the error and did not create it."

 

[Spork]

I've been into firearms actively for about 3 years now and have never heard of CMP either. I'm not an FFL03 or COE holder but I'm interested in what the benefits of being one are. So I'm glad you asked.

I don't think anyone answered the FFL-03/COE part for you but it basically allows you to buy ammo online as the COE tells vendors the state has vetted you, and thus you can find some sweet ammo deals online, excise tax free (some out of state vendors don't report to California and thus don't collect sales tax but it's supposed to be on you to claim that).

The FFL-03 is a federal collectors license that lets you buy curios and relics(guns older than a certain age I believe it's 50 years old) without the 10 day wait in California. It also used to exempt you from the 1 in 30 limit and I think will do the same for the 3 in 30 that cali is trying to put in place.

The process is pretty simple, there's a paperwork guide on the CAguna subreddit and it costs about 140ish between the app fee and livescan depending on how cheap you can find the livescan. Definitely worth it for the ammo benefits alone but everything else is just a cherry on top.

 

[Nardo1895]

Back on the original topic, I wonder what changed. It must have been CA presuring CMP spmehow.

 

[Nardo1895]

Opps, hit send too soon.

DOJ has always processed the mail-in reporting of long guns shipped to CA C&R holders via CMP.

 

[Striker62]

The CMP just like many of us common folk have a difficult time understanding / following the constantly changing laws of every state. Given the complexity and ambiguity of the laws, especially here in CA, it is understandable. It took a couple of years for CMP to catch up, but the law is clear that C&R rifles and handguns cannot be shipped directly to an individual. Even those with a C&R / FFL03

Anyone wishing to participate on the CMP forum or have questions, I may be able to assist.
CMP Forum Moderator / Admin and collector

 

[FunGun]

For those that think CMP and C&R are obscure terms it is apparent that you do not collect old guns especially milsurps. Until California started requiring the FFL03/COE to buy ammo most people couldn't tell you what a FFL03 was as they only knew it as a C&R as the license literally says Collector of Curios and Relics on it. If you are into M1 Garands the CMP was the place to buy them in the early 2000's as the U.S. Military was receiving a lot of lend/lease returns from other countries.

 

[Striker62]

For those interested: A brief history of the CMP

A-Brief-History-of-the-CMP.pdf | Powered by Box

app.box.com

 

[SteamedHams]

I did Google. Inconclusive. As a rule, I tend not to use uncommon initialisms as it's easy to make a complete post that doesn't leave out critical info.

Is something wrong with your google? The first hit for me:

 

[Wolkenflieger]

For those that think CMP and C&R are obscure terms it is apparent that you do not collect old guns especially milsurps. Until California started requiring the FFL03/COE to buy ammo most people couldn't tell you what a FFL03 was as they only knew it as a C&R as the license literally says Collector of Curios and Relics on it. If you are into M1 Garands the CMP was the place to buy them in the early 2000's as the U.S. Military was receiving a lot of lend/lease returns from other countries.

I have my FFL03/COE primarily for ammo delivery direct to my door sans excise tax, and 1-in-30 or 3-in-30 exemption. Never bought a relic or curio.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

Is something wrong with your google? The first hit for me:

View attachment 183012

It works. Not sure what went wrong the first time. Usually my Google-Fu is pretty good.

CMP is a whole new world. Interesting site.

 

[Dvrjon]

Some minor clarifications:

I don't think anyone answered the FFL-03/COE part for you but it basically allows you to buy ammo online as the COE tells vendors the state has vetted you, and thus you can find some sweet ammo deals online, excise tax free (some out of state vendors don't report to California and thus don't collect sales tax but it's supposed to be on you to claim that).

State “vetting” is not the issue. State law prohibits the non-Face-to-Face sale of ammunition. But provides an exemption for Internet sales to holders of a current FFL-03 license and a Certificate of Eligibility. Vendors don’t care about vetting; they care about not being sued by the state for illegal sales into the state.

The FFL-03 is a federal collectors license that lets you buy curios and relics(guns older than a certain age I believe it's 50 years old) without the 10 day wait in California.

Curios and Relics also include named, precision firearms used for competition. Please See: https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/op.pdf

It also used to exempt you from the 1 in 30 limit and I think will do the same for the 3 in 30 that cali is trying to put in place.

The 3-in-30 restriction is already in place.

The process is pretty simple, there's a paperwork guide on the CAguna subreddit and it costs about 140ish between the app fee and livescan depending on how cheap you can find the livescan. Definitely worth it for the ammo benefits alone but everything else is just a cherry on top.

COE Costs:
DOJ Fee: $71
Livescan Fee: $25 - $50
Good for one year; Renewal for $22 without a need for further Livescan

FFL-03 Fee:
Federal Fee: $30
No Livescan/fingerprints required.
Good for 3 years; Renewal for $30.

 

[Gawernator]

If CMP were common I'd have heard of it by now. I've been reading gun forums for years now.

You don't speak boomer like I do bro