How to Buy a Gun Online: The FFL Transfer, Step by Step
Buying a firearm online feels unfamiliar the first time, mostly because one step happens somewhere else: the transfer. Once you have done it once, it is no harder than ordering a set of tires and having a shop fit them. This guide walks through the whole process so nothing surprises you at the counter.
The rule that shapes everything
Under federal law a firearm sold by a dealer has to be transferred to the buyer by a Federal Firearms Licensee, usually shortened to FFL. An online store cannot mail a pistol or rifle to your front door. It ships to a licensed dealer near you, and that dealer hands it over after the paperwork and the background check. Ammunition, magazines, optics, triggers and most parts are different: they can normally ship to your home, subject to your state and local law.
Step 1: Find your dealer before you order
Most local gun shops handle transfers, and so do many pawn shops and some home-based licensees. Call two or three and ask three questions: what they charge per transfer, whether they charge more for handguns, and how they want to receive the seller's paperwork. Fees vary a lot, so a five minute call can save real money. Ask them for the email address they use for license copies.
Step 2: Place the order
Add the firearm to your cart and check out with your own name and details, because the person who buys the firearm must be the person who picks it up. Buying a gun for someone who cannot legally own one is a federal crime known as a straw purchase. A genuine gift to a person who may legally own a firearm is a different matter, but when in doubt ask your dealer.
Step 3: Connect the dealer and the seller
After you order, your dealer sends a copy of their license to the seller, quoting your order number. The seller verifies the license and ships the firearm to the dealer's licensed address. You will get tracking like any other parcel, but the box goes to the shop, not to you.
Step 4: The counter
When the firearm arrives, the dealer logs it into their books and calls you. Bring a valid government photo ID showing your current address. You fill in ATF Form 4473, the dealer runs the background check, and if it comes back approved you pay the transfer fee and leave with your firearm. Inspect it before you sign: once it is transferred to you, a return becomes more complicated.
What can slow things down
- A delayed check. Some checks do not return an instant answer. Your dealer will tell you what happens next under federal and state rules.
- State rules. Waiting periods, permits to purchase, feature restrictions and magazine limits all depend on where you live. Your dealer knows the local rules better than any website.
- An address mismatch. If your ID does not show your current address, ask the dealer in advance which supporting documents they accept.
The short version
Pick a dealer, order in your own name, have the dealer send their license, then complete the form and the check in person. That is the whole process. Everything that is not a firearm, from ammunition to triggers, usually just arrives at your door.