Can I buy a handgun in another state?
You can pay for one, but you can’t receive it there. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(3), a licensed dealer generally can’t sell or deliver a firearm to someone who doesn’t live in the dealer’s state. The exception covers rifles and shotguns only. So a handgun bought in Ohio by an Indiana resident has to be shipped to a licensed dealer in Indiana, and you pick it up there.
How to buy a handgun out of state, step by step
- Find the gun and agree on the price with the out-of-state seller.
- Pick a licensed dealer in your home state to receive it, and confirm their fee.
- The seller ships to your dealer. A licensed seller needs a copy of your dealer’s license first (27 CFR 478.94).
- Pick it up at your local dealer with ID, Form 4473 and a NICS check.
If you live in Indiana, Condition Red Tactical in Greenfield can receive it. Transfers are $35 for the first firearm and $25 for each additional item in the same transfer. See our FFL transfers page.
What about buying from a private seller in another state?
Federal law bars an unlicensed person from transferring a firearm to someone they know or have reason to believe lives in another state (18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5)), and bars you from bringing home a firearm you acquired outside your state (922(a)(3)), with narrow exceptions. So a private sale across state lines still goes through a dealer in the buyer’s state. The seller ships to your dealer, or takes the gun to a dealer who ships it.
Rifles and shotguns: the over-the-counter exception
Long guns follow a different rule. A dealer may sell a rifle or shotgun in person to a resident of another state if the sale complies with the laws of both the dealer’s state and the buyer’s state. Some dealers still prefer to ship long guns to a home-state dealer, and some states have extra rules, so check before you drive somewhere to buy.
| Type | Buy from a dealer in another state and take it home? |
|---|---|
| Handgun | No. Must ship to a dealer in your home state. |
| Rifle or shotgun | Possibly, if legal in both states and the dealer agrees. |
| Private sale across state lines | No. Goes through a dealer in the buyer’s state. |
Visitors buying a handgun in Indiana
The same rule works in reverse. If you live in another state and find a handgun at an Indiana shop, the dealer can’t hand it to you. It has to be shipped to a dealer in your home state, and your home state’s laws on that handgun apply. More on visiting Indiana in Indiana gun laws for non-residents.
What if I have two homes?
ATF regulations say a person with homes in more than one state is a resident of the state where they’re living at the time of the purchase, as long as they intend to make a home there (27 CFR 478.11). Your ID, or supplemental government documents, need to show that address.
Military members
Active-duty service members may use the state of their permanent duty station as their state of residence. ATF guidance says to document that with official orders or similar paperwork. That means a service member stationed in another state can generally buy a handgun there even if their driver’s license is from home.
What about inheriting a gun from out of state?
Federal law has an exception for acquiring a firearm through a lawful bequest or intestate succession. State law in either state can still matter, so ask a dealer or an attorney before moving the gun.
Can I just drive it home if I pay in person?
No. Paying at an out-of-state counter doesn’t change the rule. The dealer has to ship the handgun to a dealer in your home state, and you complete the transfer there. Expect to pay for shipping plus your local dealer’s transfer fee. The upside is that your home-state dealer will run the paperwork under the rules you already live with, and you won’t have to carry a newly bought handgun across state lines.
Age still applies
A licensed dealer can’t transfer a handgun to anyone under 21. That includes your local dealer at pickup, no matter where you bought it.
Laws and agency guidance change. This guide is general education, not legal advice. If you’re unsure about your situation, ask the shop before you buy or talk to an attorney.
Common Questions
Can I buy a handgun while on vacation and bring it home?
Not directly. A handgun bought in another state has to be shipped to a licensed dealer in your home state, where you complete the transfer.
Can I buy a rifle in another state?
Federal law allows a dealer to sell a rifle or shotgun over the counter to a nonresident if the sale complies with the laws of both states. Some dealers still choose to ship instead.
I'm stationed in Indiana but my license is from another state. Can I buy a handgun here?
ATF guidance lets active-duty members use their permanent duty station state as their residence, supported by official orders.
What does it cost to receive an out-of-state handgun at CRT?
$35 for the first firearm and $25 for each additional item in the same transfer.
Sources
- 18 U.S.C. 922: Unlawful acts
- ATF: How may an unlicensed person receive a firearm purchased from an out-of-state source?
- ATF: Firearms Questions and Answers (interstate shipping and transfers)
- 27 CFR 478.11: Meaning of terms (business day, state of residence)
- ATF: What address does an active-duty service member use on Form 4473?
- 27 CFR 478.94: Sales or deliveries between licensees
- ATF: Minimum Age for Gun Sales and Transfers
- ATF: Most Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and court rulings change; check current law or talk with an attorney about your situation.