Lever rifles and single actions, nothing else.Rifles to 18 · revolvers to 21 · shipped to the licensed dealer you name
Lever Action Gun ShopLever rifles and single-action revolversOrder online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Missoula County. Missoula sits where five valleys meet on the Clark Fork River, home to the University of Montana and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's headquarters. The Rattlesnake and Bitterroot ranges rise behind town.
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 Montana law allows.
Montana has no purchase permit, no registration and no state waiting period. A dealer sale runs on ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS check at the counter. Federal ages apply: 18 for a lever-action rifle and 21 for a revolver. Bring a current photo ID showing your address. Cartridge belts, holsters and ammunition can ship to your door, which saves a long drive in the open country between towns.
Dealers in these communities all work for Missoula-area buyers:
Since 2021 Montana has allowed anyone who may legally possess a firearm to carry concealed without a permit, inside and outside city limits, and open carry is legal. The Missoula County Sheriff still issues a concealed weapon permit, which helps when you travel to states that honor it. Federal buildings, some government offices and posted private property remain off limits, so check the rules where you are going.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks runs the general deer and elk rifle season from October 24 through November 29, 2026, after archery in September and October, with a muzzleloader heritage season in December. Hunting districts set antler rules, B-license quotas and closures. A .30-30, .45-70 or .444 Marlin lever gun is legal for deer and black bear, and plenty of hunters carry one in timber. Check the FWP regulations for your district.
Missoula is surrounded by the Lolo National Forest, with elk, mule deer, whitetail and black bear in the region 2 hunting districts. Timber shots are close, which suits a lever gun.
Thick timber in the Lolo and Bitterroot country keeps most shots inside 150 yards, which is why so many local hunters still carry a lever-action. The Deep Creek range west of town is FWP ground run by a shooting club.
The public ranges on the city pages are run or listed by a state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest, chosen by distance from each city. Fees, hours and allowed firearms are set by the agency or the club that manages the range.
Source: State wildlife agency and national forest range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Lolo, Frenchtown, Bonner, Missoula or anywhere in Missoula County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. Montana has no purchase permit. The dealer runs the federal NICS check, and handguns transfer at 21 under federal law.
The general deer and elk rifle season runs October 24 through November 29, 2026. District rules vary, so read the FWP regulations before the opener.
In timber at modest ranges it is a common choice with a heavy bullet loaded for modern rifles. Past about 200 yards a flatter cartridge is easier to shoot well.
A .30-30 is the classic choice inside 200 yards; a .45-70 for larger game. Check the state's rules on legal cartridges before you hunt.
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 Missoula County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.