Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in New Hanover County. Wilmington is a port city on the Cape Fear River with beaches on one side and pine flatwoods on the other. Coastal shooters here pick corrosion-resistant finishes for salt air.
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 dropped its pistol purchase permit in 2023, so buying a handgun or long gun from a dealer now means ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS check at the counter, with no state waiting period. Federal dealer ages apply: 21 for handguns, 18 for rifles and shotguns. Online orders ship to the North Carolina FFL you pick.
Dealers in these communities all work for Wilmington-area buyers:
Concealed carry in North Carolina still requires a concealed handgun permit from the sheriff of your home county, here the New Hanover County Sheriff, after an approved safety course; you must be 21. Open carry is generally legal where not posted. A permitless carry bill passed the legislature in 2025 but its veto override was not complete at our last check, so confirm the current rule with the sheriff.
North Carolina splits deer seasons into Eastern, Central, Northwestern and Western zones with different gun-season dates; in the Central zone the 2026-27 gun season runs November 14 to January 1. Rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders are legal in gun season, with some county limits on rifles. Check the NCWRC regulations digest.
Eastern-zone deer seasons open early; game lands in neighboring counties hold deer and waterfowl.
Waterfowl hunters work the Cape Fear marshes, and local clubs host pistol and rifle matches.
These public ranges are run by or with state wildlife agencies and are good places to zero rifles and practice drills between matches. Hours, fees and rules vary; check each range page before you go.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists, 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, Leland, Carolina 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No. It was repealed in 2023. A dealer sale uses the federal background check.
The New Hanover County Sheriff, after an approved safety course. You must be 21.
Yes. Most clubs welcome carry pistols in Production or Carry Optics style divisions. Check the match rules.
Yes, if it is plugged to three shells and you use non-toxic shot, with the right licenses and stamps.
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.