Buying a Pistol Online: How FFL Shipping Works

Buying a handgun online is legal in the United States, but it does not mean the gun comes to your door. Federal law requires handguns sold across state lines to go to a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) in the buyer's state of residence. You pay online, we ship to the dealer you choose, and you finish the purchase in person. This guide walks through each step and the state rules that most often cause delays.

Step 1: Check that you can legally buy

Before you order, make sure you meet federal and state requirements:

Age: federal law requires buyers to be 21 to buy a handgun from a dealer and 18 for rifles and shotguns. Some states, such as Colorado, require 21 for all firearms, and Virginia raised the age for handguns and certain semi-automatic long guns to 21 in July 2026.
Prohibited persons: federal law bars people with felony convictions, certain domestic violence convictions or restraining orders, unlawful drug users and several other groups.
Residency: you must buy a handgun in your state of residence. Military members may use the state of their permanent duty station.
State permits: some states require a permit or license before you buy a handgun, such as a Firearm Owner's ID card in Illinois, a Handgun Qualification License in Maryland, a Permit to Purchase in New Jersey or a license in New York and Massachusetts. Many states, including North Carolina since 2023 and Nebraska since 2023, have repealed purchase permits.
Approved lists: California, Massachusetts and Maryland keep rosters of handguns approved for sale. A pistol that is not on the list cannot be transferred there by a dealer.

Step 2: Pick a local FFL dealer

Choose a gun shop, pawn shop or home-based dealer near you that accepts transfers. Call ahead and ask:

Do you accept transfers from online retailers?
What is your transfer fee? Fees vary widely by area.
What are your receiving hours, and how will you contact me when it arrives?
Do you need a copy of your license sent before shipment? We handle that step with the dealer.

At checkout you select the dealer. We confirm the dealer's license before shipping.

Step 3: Order and pay

Place the order online and pay by card. The firearm ships to the dealer, not to you. Ammunition, magazines and most parts ship directly to your address where state and local law allow, and some states require those items to go through a dealer as well.

Step 4: Complete Form 4473 and the background check

When the firearm arrives, the dealer contacts you. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing your current address; if your ID shows an old address, bring a government document such as a vehicle registration or tax bill with the current one. At the counter you:

Fill out ATF Form 4473 truthfully and completely.
Wait while the dealer runs a background check through the FBI's NICS system or the state point of contact.
Pay the transfer fee and any state fees.

Most checks come back in minutes. A "delayed" response means the check needs more review; under federal law the dealer may transfer after three business days if no denial arrives, but some states set longer periods and some dealers choose to wait. In some states a valid carry license can substitute for the NICS check.

Step 5: Waiting periods and pickup

Some states make you wait after the check starts before you can take the gun home. Colorado requires three days. California, Hawaii, Illinois, Washington and several other states have their own waiting periods, which vary by firearm type. Most of the states covered on our city pages, including Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, Idaho and Nebraska, have no state waiting period.

Carrying and transporting your new pistol

Buying a handgun and carrying one are separate questions. Many states now allow permitless concealed carry for adults who can legally own a handgun, but the age, locations and details vary, and some states, such as North Carolina and Colorado, still require a permit for concealed carry. Our city pages summarize carry rules for each covered state. When transporting a firearm across state lines, keep it unloaded and locked away from the passenger compartment, and learn the laws of every state on your route.

Returns and problems

Once a firearm has been transferred to you, it becomes a used firearm and returns are limited. If a new firearm arrives damaged or defective, contact us before completing the transfer if possible. Most manufacturers handle warranty service directly.

What about the TEC-9?

We do not sell TEC-9 pistols because none have been made since Intratec closed around 2001. Used TEC-9s are sold privately and through dealers, and they are banned by name in several states. See TEC-9 legal status by state, TEC-9 history and currently made alternatives.

Ammunition and magazines online

Federal law requires buyers to be 21 for handgun ammunition from a dealer and 18 for rifle and shotgun ammunition.
California and New York require background checks or in-person dealer handling for ammunition, and some other states and cities restrict shipping.
Magazine capacity limits apply in more than a dozen states; check yours before ordering.

Checklist

Confirm age, eligibility and any state permit.
Confirm the model is legal in your state and, where required, on the approved roster.
Pick a dealer and confirm the transfer fee.
Order and choose that dealer at checkout.
Bring ID, complete Form 4473, pass the check and observe any waiting period.

Ready to look? Browse the catalog.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.