Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in New Hanover County. Wilmington's port, Cape Fear riverfront and beach towns make it a coastal city first, with waterfowl marshes and pocosin swamps close by. Film studios, the port and UNC Wilmington drive the local economy, and many residents keep a compact pistol for boat and truck carry.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where North Carolina law allows.
North Carolina repealed its pistol purchase permit in 2023, so a handgun bought from a licensed dealer now goes through the same federal NICS background check as a rifle or shotgun, with no state waiting period. Federal rules set the dealer minimum age at 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns. Bring a valid government photo ID with your current address; the dealer completes ATF Form 4473 and runs the check. There is no state registration of firearms, and a concealed handgun permit is not needed to buy.
Dealers in these communities all work for Wilmington-area buyers:
Open carry is generally lawful in North Carolina for adults who may possess a firearm, but carrying a concealed handgun still requires a concealed handgun permit from the New Hanover County Sheriff. Applicants must be at least 21, finish an approved firearms safety course and pass a background check. A bill to allow permitless concealed carry (Senate Bill 50) was vetoed in 2025, and as of September 2026 the House had not completed an override vote, so check its status before relying on it. Schools, posted property and many government buildings remain off limits.
The Wildlife Resources Commission splits deer seasons into Eastern, Central, Northwestern and Western regions. In the Eastern region the gun season has traditionally run from mid-October to January 1; in the Central region it opens in mid-November and also runs to January 1, with archery and muzzleloader segments before each. Rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns are legal during gun season, though some local laws limit rifle use. Confirm the 2026-27 dates, bag limits and the region for New Hanover County in the WRC regulations digest before you hunt.
New Hanover County is small and mostly developed, so Wilmington hunters head north to Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County, which also hosts a WRC-partner public shooting range near Rocky Point.
Salt air is hard on blued steel, so Wilmington customers often ask about stainless or coated finishes and good cleaning supplies. The Holly Shelter Shooting Range on Shaw Highway is the nearest public range.
These public ranges are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most require a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a daily fee, and some close seasonally, so check the agency page before you go.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (NC WRC, Georgia DNR, Virginia DWR, Indiana DNR, Missouri MDC, Kentucky KDFWR, Louisiana LDWF, Mississippi MDWFP, Colorado CPW, Utah DWR, Idaho IDFG, Nebraska Game and Parks), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wilmington or anywhere in New Hanover County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. The pistol purchase permit was repealed in 2023. You complete Form 4473 and a federal background check at the dealer.
Not as of September 2026. Concealed carry still requires a permit from your county sheriff unless the veto of Senate Bill 50 is overridden, so check the current status.
The Wildlife Resources Commission runs or partners on ranges such as Holly Shelter near Rocky Point, the John Lentz Hunter Education Complex near Ellerbe and the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center near Holly Springs.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with New Hanover County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.