Buying a lever-action rifle or revolver online, by state

Every rifle and revolver in our catalog ships to a federally licensed firearms dealer, an FFL, that you choose near your home. The dealer receives the gun, checks your identification, has you complete ATF Form 4473 and runs the background check before handing it over. That process is the same in every state. What changes from state to state is what comes before it: permits, waiting periods, age limits and lists of approved handguns. This guide covers the federal baseline and the most common state additions as of September 2026. Laws change; confirm with your dealer or your state's official site before you order.

The federal baseline

• Rifles and shotguns: 18 or older to buy from a dealer.
• Handguns, including every revolver: 21 or older to buy from a dealer.
• Residence: a handgun can be transferred only to a resident of the dealer's state. A rifle can be transferred to a resident of another state if the sale is legal in both states, but most buyers simply use a dealer at home.
• Background check: the dealer runs it through the FBI's NICS system or, in some states, through a state agency that acts as the point of contact.
• Antique and replica black powder guns: federal law treats some muzzleloading replicas differently. Each listing shows whether the item ships to a dealer.

How an order works

• Find a dealer near you who accepts transfers from online stores and ask their fee; many charge between $20 and $75 per firearm.
• Place the order and name the dealer at checkout. We confirm price and availability before you pay.
• The firearm ships to the dealer. They contact you when it arrives.
• Bring a current government photo ID showing your address, plus any permit your state requires. Complete Form 4473 and the background check, then take the gun home.

Ammunition, holsters, cartridge belts, scope mounts and cleaning gear ship to your door where state and local law allow.

States that add little or nothing

Most of the West, the Plains and the South add nothing to the federal process: no purchase permit, no registration and no waiting period. That includes Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, the Dakotas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and many others. Our city pages set out each covered state's buying, carry and hunting rules, with the nearest public shooting ranges.

Common state additions

Purchase permits and licenses

Several states require a permit or license before you buy, often only for handguns. Nebraska requires a handgun purchase certificate from the sheriff or police chief, or a Nebraska concealed handgun permit. States in the Northeast and Midwest such as New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut and others require a state license or card for some or all firearms. Allow weeks for these.

Waiting periods

Colorado requires three days after the background check begins, and several other states have their own periods for some or all firearms. A seven-day waiting period passed in New Mexico in 2024 has been challenged in federal court; ask your dealer whether it is enforced.

Age 21 for all firearms

Some states raise the minimum age for buying a rifle to 21, including Colorado, so a lever-action rifle there transfers at 21 like a revolver. Court rulings have changed some of these rules, so confirm the current age with your dealer.

Handgun rosters

California, Massachusetts and a few other states allow dealers to sell only handguns on an approved list, with exemptions that differ by state; California, for example, exempts single-action revolvers that meet its size and capacity rules. If an item cannot ship to your address, we tell you before you pay.

Taxes and fees

Some states charge their own background check fee or excise tax. Colorado, for example, applies a state excise tax to firearm and ammunition sales.

Straight-wall states and lever guns

Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and parts of Michigan limit rifle deer hunting to straight-wall cartridges, and each sets its own caliber and case-length rules. The .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .45 Colt and .45-70, all common lever-action chamberings, are straight-wall cartridges, which is one reason pistol-caliber lever guns sell well there, though some states also cap caliber or case length and that can rule a cartridge out. The .30-30 is a bottleneck cartridge and does not qualify. Read the current hunting regulations before you choose. Our cartridge guide compares the options.

Carrying a single action

Carry laws are set by each state. A majority now allow concealed carry without a permit from 21, and some from 18; the rest require a license from the sheriff, a court or the state police. An optional license still helps with travel and, in some states, with skipping the dealer check. Holstered open carry of a revolver is legal in many states, but cities may restrict it. The city pages name the office that issues licenses. For handling, read our single-action safety guide.

Transporting rifles and revolvers

Federal law protects travelers carrying a firearm unloaded and locked away from the passenger compartment through states where they could not otherwise possess it, as long as possession is legal at both ends of the trip. Many states are more relaxed than that. Check the rules for each state you drive through, and keep ammunition separate where required.

Cowboy action and club ranges

If you buy for cowboy action shooting, the starter guide summarizes the SASS equipment rules. Clubs and state wildlife agency ranges set their own hours, fees and rules for firearm types, so call before you go.

Questions about a specific order or state? Use the contact page, or browse the full catalog.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.