As I wanted one for a long time, and went back and forth on the decision to purchase, I finally bought a S&W Victory .22 last week. Great pistol, great fun! I hadn't purchased a firearm for a while, and as I went through the procedure to purchase, I was surprised to see that everything was done on computer there, including me filling out the 4473 form (on a little notebook type computer screen gadget).
The store folks told me that this computer business as I was experiencing had just been put in place at their store for just a couple of weeks since, so they were new to the "new procedure" themselves. There were 3 guys helping me to buy the pistol, and were asking each other questions to make sure they were getting it right (good guys, all). When I finally got the computer form filled out, and they verified my driver's license info to proceed, they put in the call through the computer for my NICS check. I waited a while, and then they told me I was delayed. I said, "ok, I'll check with you next week," and left. Three days later, I got a call from the store in the evening, and they said come on in and get your pistol, you're clear to proceed. I went in the next day to get the pistol, and there was a bunch more paper work they had to go over, and for me to sign and date (again, those guys were great to work with), and after I paid for the pistol, I walked out the door with my new Victory! Quite the experience, and seemed like a bit of a "Victory" to secure the gun. BTW, I purchased the pistol from the local "Sportsman's Warehouse." They cut me a deal I couldn't refuse.
What a difference from just a couple of years ago! Fill out the form, they'd make a phone call, and you'd get a proceed or delay in just a couple of minutes. I've been delayed before, and I've had the proceed at the counter and out the door right away, and always filling out the form with a pen.
I was told A LONG TIME ago, that an FFL person had to save the 4473 forms for 20 years, and then they could get chucked. If everything goes now as what I've gone through to buy a new firearm through a franchise type store, that computer/internet 4473 will certainly be saved (IMO) "forever."