This is my third time purchasing a firearm and the second time I have been delayed. Its there any rhyme or reason for this. Sort of a let down when you are excited about your purchase. Any info would be much appreciated.
There's absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. NICS is so fouled up it often frustrates folks. The most important key is to be patient when delayed. I've been delayed one day, proceeded the next, waited the full period another. It can be as simple as a system backlog, which shouldn't happen. But I'd like to point out some important things that come up resulting in delays.
System backlog
Similar name in the system with an item
Actual name in the system with an item that needs elevated for clearance
Any employment requiring a security clearance
Military service (especially combat veterans, they're on the DHS potential terrorist list)
Not putting your SSN on the Form 4473 (yes, that actually can result in a delay)
If it happens more than once in a 30 day period and it's never happened before I'd suggest you pull your credit report pronto and contact the FBI to find out why as there very well could be something amiss. You read that correctly, pull your credit report. It can be a quick indicator to identity theft.
Remember, the NICS information is "supposed" to be deleted every 24 hours. If it truly were, and we all know it isn't, they would not be able to call back within those 3 days to give a proceed.