I've been in Durham for 9 years now. You still need to get a pistol permit from Sherrif's office to buy a pistol. You can get two at a time. But only 5 per year. I can't afford to buy 5 guns a year anyway but I thought that was stringent. I just got my conceal carry permit and it did not take them the entire 90 days. They called me a little after two months and said I could come get it. I think it was a little more than 60 days.
Also, the retired officer that taught my ccw class said even though durham county says you have to register the gun, you don't really have to. Reason is, the place you bought it already keeps a record of it.