How 'should' FTF firearm transfers take place?  If I'm on the buying end I do not want stolen equipment and if I'm on the selling side I don't want a gun registered to me used in a crime.

Say for instance if I was buying something FTF.  Should I get the serial # before hand and have the numbers run?  Can you meet at a FFL and just pay the standards $15-$30 transfer fee?  Are other methods adviseable?

buy from people you trust, most states have no registration but if the gun is used in a crime they can usually track them from yellow form.  get his id name/#

Best to just have a FFL transfer the gun if seller/buyer is a stranger. Otherwise maybe write down his ID info, (gun serial # if buying) and ask a LEO friend to run a check. If someone's got something to hide he'll lose interest. Got to play it safe.