How to buy a gun online and pick it up at your FFL
Competition shooters buy a lot of gear, and the specific pistol, rifle or shotgun that fits a division is often not on the shelf at the local counter. Ordering online solves that, and it is fully legal when done through a licensed dealer. This guide covers the process from order to pickup and explains what ships to your door and what does not.
The rule behind it
Under federal law a firearm sold across state lines, or by an online seller to a private buyer, must go to a holder of a Federal Firearms License in the buyer's state. That dealer, the FFL, receives the gun, runs the background check and completes the transfer. It is the same check you would pass buying off the shelf.
Step by step
- Pick the gun. Search the catalog by make, model or division. Our competition pistol guide and rifle and shotgun setup guide help you choose.
- Choose an FFL. Call a local shop and ask whether it accepts transfers from online sellers and what it charges, commonly $25 to $50 per gun.
- Order. Enter the dealer at checkout. We confirm price and availability, then ship.
- Pick up. Bring current photo ID with your address, complete ATF Form 4473 and wait for the background check, usually minutes.
What ships to your door
Magazines, optics, mounts, holsters, belts, pouches, shell caddies, cleaning gear, most parts and ammunition ship directly to you where your state allows. Some states restrict magazine capacity or require ammunition to go through a dealer; the checkout applies those rules where we know them.
Age limits
Federal law sets 21 for handguns and 18 for rifles and shotguns at a dealer. Some states set higher ages. Junior shooters can compete under adult supervision at most matches, using a parent's firearm.
State rules
Most states add nothing beyond the federal check. Others require a permit to purchase, a waiting period, registration, or limit certain rifles and magazines. Your dealer applies your state's rules and will only transfer what is legal there. Our city pages summarize the rules in the states we cover.
Buying for a match deadline
Leave time. Shipping usually takes a few business days, background checks are sometimes delayed, and some states add a wait. Order well before a major match, and zero and function-test the gun at a public range before match day.
Straw purchases
Buying a gun for another person who is the real buyer is a federal crime, even between friends at a club. If a teammate wants the gun, they should buy it themselves.
Denied or delayed checks
If the check is denied, the dealer cannot release the gun and we will arrange a return under our return policy. A delayed check usually resolves within a few days; the dealer will call you.
What we do not sell
We sell match-legal equipment only. We do not sell bump stocks, binary or forced-reset triggers, or any device that makes a firearm fire faster than one shot per trigger pull. They are not allowed in practical shooting divisions and several are restricted by law.
Ready to start? Read the 3-gun starter guide.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
