Buying a gun online in North Carolina
Buying a gun online in North Carolina is legal and simple once you know the steps. You pay online, the gun ships to a licensed dealer near you, and you pick it up there after the same paperwork you would do for a gun on the dealer's own shelf. Since the pistol purchase permit was repealed in 2023, there is no sheriff's permit to get first. This page walks through the process from the order to the pickup.
Step 1: Choose a dealer near you
Every firearm we sell ships to a federally licensed dealer (an FFL), never to a home address. Most gun shops, many pawn shops and some sporting goods stores accept transfers. Call the dealer before you order and ask three things: do they accept transfers from online sellers, what is their transfer fee, and what are their hours for pickups. Transfer fees are set by each dealer and often run from about $25 to $75 per gun. At checkout you enter the dealer's name and address, and we get a copy of the dealer's license before the gun ships.
Step 2: Place your order
Add the gun to your cart, enter your own name and address for billing, and add your dealer at checkout. Price and stock are confirmed when you order. Shipping is free on orders over $999 and a flat $29.99 below that. Our shipping page explains how long a firearm usually takes to reach the dealer.
Step 3: The dealer receives the gun
The gun ships by an insured carrier to the dealer, who logs it into their records when it arrives. The dealer or we will let you know when it is ready. Bring the order number when you go in.
Step 4: Paperwork and background check
- ID: a valid government photo ID showing your North Carolina address.
- Form 4473: the federal transaction record you fill out at the counter. Answer every question truthfully.
- NICS check: the dealer runs the FBI background check. Most come back as proceed within minutes.
- Ages: 21 for a handgun, 18 for a rifle or shotgun.
North Carolina has no state waiting period, so once the check clears you can take the gun home. A delayed check is handled under federal rules, and the dealer will explain the timing. Some dealers accept certain carry permits in place of a NICS check under ATF rules; ask your dealer whether that applies to you.
What ships to your door
Ammunition, magazines, optics, holsters and most parts are not firearms under federal law and ship straight to you. North Carolina has no state limit on magazine capacity and no state permit for buying ammunition. Ammunition goes by ground service and an adult may need to sign for it. Frames and receivers are firearms and go to a dealer like a complete gun.
Buying for a hunt or for carry
If you are buying a deer rifle, order a few weeks before your zone opens so there is time to mount a scope and zero it; gun season opens October 17, 2026 in the east and as late as November 28 in the west, as set out in the deer and bear season guide. If you are buying a carry pistol, you can take the concealed handgun course with it; see the permit guide. Shotguns for spring turkey or the duck blind are covered in the turkey and waterfowl guide.
Choosing between models
Buying online gives you more choice than any single counter, but you cannot handle the gun first. Measure what you can: barrel length, overall length and weight for a rifle you will carry up a mountain; grip size and height for a pistol you will carry every day; chamber length and stock fit for a shotgun. If you can, hold a similar model at your dealer or rent one at a range before you order. Read the specifications on each product page and compare two or three options side by side. A gun that fits you will be shot more, and shot better, than a gun picked from a photo alone.
Military buyers
North Carolina is home to Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and Seymour Johnson. Active-duty members stationed here are treated as residents of North Carolina for buying a firearm under federal rules. Your orders and military ID establish that. If you live on post, follow your installation's rules on registering and storing personal firearms; a dealer off post will handle the transfer itself.
Returns and problems
Inspect the gun at the dealer before you sign the paperwork. If something is wrong, do not accept the transfer; contact us and we will arrange the fix with the dealer. Our returns page has the details.
Common questions
Can a friend or relative pick up my gun?
No. The buyer on the order must be the person who fills out Form 4473 and takes the gun. Buying a gun for someone else who could not pass the check is a federal crime.
Can I buy a rifle if I live in another state?
Yes, if the sale is legal in both states: a rifle or shotgun can be shipped to a dealer in your own state. Handguns must always go to a dealer in the buyer's home state.
Do I still need a pistol purchase permit?
No. North Carolina repealed it on March 29, 2023. If a sheriff's website still mentions one, it is out of date. See our North Carolina gun law overview for the rest of the rules, and browse the catalog when you are ready.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of October 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
