The Feds only have a say on the restoration of rights if it is a federal crime tried in a federal court, if it is then as you say you are boned as the avenues to restore rights are simply no longer supported. If you lost your rights because of a charge brought against you in a state court that state has the ability (although not all do) to restore your rights.
During a NICI check the FBI uses a database of state information that the state in question can modify. The FBI itself can only consider what the state supplied if it's a state charge.
I had a state felony charge that in the state that gave it to me resulted in a lifetime ban on firearms possession. The only way around it was a pardon, which I got. If the governor would not have granted it the only other option I would have had was a presidential pardon.
My experience was that they want to grant pardons to those that deserve them. In my state they only grant a couple a year and it takes 3 years plus to get one but I know several folks who have been pardoned.
The pardon allows you to truthfully answer that you have never been convicted of a felony crime, because that's what a pardon is, it makes it as if it never happened as far as your rights and record are concerned.
And for the record I have both an Oregon CHL and Washington CPL and a dozen NFA items
This can't be true! Cause that one guy said so! I find it funny how people are so misinformed about this issue,it's great seeing stories like your to show others the truth. My issue was in Alaska,I was given a SIS which after 3 yrs my issue was set a side so I was good to go,but even if you can't get it set a side,after 10 yrs if you stay out of trouble it is set a side and you can buy guns,get a cwp. You are 100% correct about if it was a federal charge.