Thanks for the advice, guys, legal and otherwise. I got into this wonderful hobby a few years ago after inheriting a few guns from an uncle who passed away, and then going out hunting for the first time at the age of 32. Preparing for that hunt was the first time I had fired a gun.
So I'm a newbie in all things, though I do try to educate myself about all relevant laws. In this case, I didn't even think about the straw purchases. I'll talk to my friend to see what he suggests. He also gets a discount of about the same percentage from Bushnell, Weaver, RCBS, Blackhawk (probably won't have him buy me a suppressor, though!
, Hoppes, etc. All are owned by the parent company of his company.