How to Buy a Gun Online
How to buy a gun online starts here: buying a firearm online is legal, common and far simpler than most people expect. The firearm does not arrive at your door. It travels from us to a licensed dealer near you, and you complete the same paperwork and background check there that you would complete if you had walked into that shop and bought it off the shelf. Here is the whole process, start to finish.
The seven steps
- Confirm you are eligibleYou must be at least 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns under federal law, and some states set higher ages or extra conditions. You must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law. If you are unsure, the dealer who runs your background check is the right person to ask before you spend money.
- Check the rules where you liveMagazine capacity limits, feature restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, roster requirements, permit-to-purchase requirements and waiting periods vary by state, county and sometimes city. Read our state restrictions page and confirm the specific model is legal at your address before ordering.
- Choose the firearm and add it to your cartEvery listing shows calibre, capacity, barrel length, finish, sights, what is in the box and whether the item is new or used. Compare like for like, and if a detail matters to you and is not listed, ask us and we will confirm it against the actual stock.
- Pay at checkoutShipping is calculated before you confirm. Your card is charged when the order is accepted. The dealer transfer fee is not part of that total, because it is paid directly to your dealer when you collect.
- Tell us your dealerChoose any FFL holder who accepts transfers. If you already have one, give us their name, address and phone number. If you do not, we will help you find one nearby. We contact the dealer and obtain a signed copy of their licence, which we verify against the ATF database.
- We ship, you get trackingOnce the licence is verified, the firearm ships to the dealer, not to you. Tracking is emailed to you the moment the label is created. Handguns ship by an air method where required, long guns generally travel by ground.
- Collect in personThe dealer calls you when the package lands. Bring valid government-issued photo ID showing your current address, plus any permit your state requires. You complete ATF Form 4473, the dealer runs the NICS background check, you pay the dealer their transfer fee, and the firearm is yours.
What is an FFL and why is one involved
An FFL is a Federal Firearms Licence, and the holder is a dealer authorised by the ATF to transfer firearms. Federal law does not allow a retailer to ship a firearm directly to an unlicensed buyer across state lines. The dealer on your end is the person who verifies your identity, records the transfer and runs your background check. Think of them as the final counter in a store that happens to be a thousand miles long.
Most gun shops, many pawn shops, some sporting goods stores and a fair number of home-based dealers accept transfers. Fees typically run from twenty to fifty dollars per firearm, though busy urban shops sometimes charge more and some dealers charge per transfer rather than per gun. Call ahead and ask two things: do you accept transfers from an online retailer, and what is your fee.
How to Buy a Gun Online: Timeline
| Stage | Typical time | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| Order review and payment verification | Same day to 1 business day | Billing address mismatch, high-value order review |
| Dealer licence verification | 1 to 3 business days | Dealer slow to return the signed copy, expired licence on file |
| Transit to the dealer | 2 to 5 business days | Carrier delays, weather, remote destinations |
| Dealer logs the firearm into their book | Same day to 3 days | Small shops with limited counter hours |
| Background check at pickup | Minutes, occasionally up to 3 days | Delayed NICS response, state waiting period |
What to bring when you collect
- A valid government-issued photo ID with your current address. If your licence shows an old address, most dealers will need a supporting document and some states will not allow the transfer at all.
- Any state or local permit, purchase card, firearms owner identification or handgun licence your jurisdiction requires.
- Your order number, which makes matching your package much faster at a busy counter.
- Payment for the dealer transfer fee and any state-collected fees, in whatever form that dealer accepts.
Common questions
Can the gun be shipped to my house?
Not for an interstate sale to an unlicensed buyer. Firearms ship to a licensed dealer. Ammunition, magazines, optics and most accessories ship straight to your address where local law permits.
What if I fail or am delayed on the background check?
A delay simply means the check needs more time. A denial means the dealer cannot transfer the firearm, and neither we nor the dealer are told the reason. You have the right to appeal through the FBI, and we will refund the purchase price under our returns policy, less shipping already incurred.
Can I buy it as a gift?
You may buy a firearm as a genuine gift for someone who can lawfully own one, and the recipient completes the transfer paperwork themselves. What you may never do is buy on behalf of someone who cannot pass a check, or buy with money supplied by another person. That is a straw purchase and it is a federal felony.
Do I need to tell you my dealer at checkout?
It helps, but it is not required. You can add the dealer afterwards by replying to your order confirmation. Nothing ships until a verified licence is on file.
What if my dealer refuses the package?
Contact us straight away. We will arrange redirection to another dealer, though the carrier may charge a redirection fee and it will add a few days.
Frequently asked question: is it hard to learn how to buy a gun online? Once you have done it, learning how to buy a gun online feels a lot like any other online purchase, since we handle the parts that are unique to firearms. The main difference is the extra stop at a licensed dealer, where the paperwork and background check happen in person before you take the firearm home.
Ready when you are
Now that you know how to buy a gun online, browse the catalogue, or let us help you pick a dealer near you first.
Shop all productsAsk a questionThis guide to how to buy a gun online is general guidance and not legal advice. Firearm law varies by state, county and city. Always confirm the rules that apply at your address before ordering.
How to Buy a Gun Online: A Quick Recap
If you take away one thing from this guide on how to buy a gun online, it is this: choose the firearm, choose your FFL dealer, and let the paperwork happen in the right order. That is really how to buy a gun online in every state that allows it, even though the exact wait time and fees differ from one dealer to the next.
The most common mistake people make when learning how to buy a gun online
The most common mistake is picking a firearm before finding an FFL dealer. If you sort out the dealer first, the rest of how to buy a gun online moves much faster, because you already know the transfer fee and the expected pickup window before you check out.
Is it actually legal to buy a gun online?
Yes, in every state, provided the firearm ships to a licensed FFL dealer near the buyer and the required background check is completed there. That legal requirement is the single most important part of how to buy a gun online correctly, and skipping it is not an option regardless of the seller.
How long does the process of buying a gun online take?
Most orders following how to buy a gun online steps arrive at the FFL dealer within a few business days of shipping, and the background check at pickup usually takes minutes, though delays happen occasionally depending on the state system. Knowing how to buy a gun online well ahead of when you need it avoids any pressure around timing.
What payment methods work when you buy a gun online?
Most retailers that explain how to buy a gun online accept major cards, and some, including us, offer financing or layaway for larger purchases. Whichever payment method you choose, the FFL transfer step at pickup stays exactly the same.
