Frequently asked questions

You pay for the firearm here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Iowa at checkout, and we ship the gun to that dealer. You pick it up there after completing ATF Form 4473 and the background check.

Iowa buyers purchase a handgun or long gun from a licensed dealer by showing photo identification, completing ATF Form 4473 and passing a background check. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says a permit to acquire or permit to carry is no longer required to buy a handgun in certain cases (law change effective July 1, 2021), though a sheriff-issued permit can still be used for the purchase. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns, and Iowa Code 724.15 says a person under 21 cannot be issued a permit to acquire a pistol or revolver. Rules change, so confirm with your county sheriff, the Iowa Department of Public Safety or the dealer.

Your dealer does at pickup, through the FBI’s NICS system or the state’s own system where the state runs its own check. Most checks come back in minutes.

Usually one visit. You fill out Form 4473 at the counter, the dealer runs the check, and you walk out with the gun if it clears and no state waiting period applies. If the check is delayed, the dealer holds the firearm until it is resolved.

A valid government photo ID with your current address, any permit or ID card your state requires, and the transfer fee. If your driver’s license still shows an old address, bring a supporting document the dealer accepts.

Each dealer sets their own transfer fee, commonly $20–$75. Call the dealer before ordering to confirm they accept shipped transfers and ask their fee.

Iowa Code 724.5 says the availability of a permit does not prohibit lawful unlicensed carry, open or concealed, so many adults can carry without a permit, subject to the limits in Iowa Code chapter 724. Check the statute or the sheriff for age limits, places and situations that stay restricted. Residents can still apply for a nonprofessional permit to carry through the your County Sheriff. Under Iowa Code 724.7 the permit runs five years, and first-time applicants must show firearm safety training under section 724.9. It is useful when you travel to states that honor it. Carrying a firearm on school grounds is a felony under Iowa Code 724.4B, with listed exceptions, and Iowa Code 724.4A doubles the maximum fine for a firearm offense within 1,000 feet of a school or in a public park. See our Iowa gun law overview.

No. Federal law requires firearms to go to a licensed dealer. Ammunition, magazines and accessories can ship to your home where state law allows.

21 or older for handguns and handgun ammunition, 18 or older for rifles, shotguns and their ammunition, under federal rules for licensed dealers. Some states set a higher age for certain purchases.

A flat $29.99 per order, and free on orders over $999.

Yes. Firearms go to your dealer, so the address that matters is theirs. Ammunition and gear ship to the door anywhere the carrier delivers and the law allows; a few remote addresses are served by a pickup point instead, and we will contact you if yours is one.

Most orders ship within 1–3 business days of payment (and, for firearms, once we have the dealer license). Ammunition travels by ground only, so it takes longer than the rest of your order.

Credit and debit cards on our secure checkout page.

Yes — price and availability are checked again when you place the order. If anything changed, you see it before you pay.

Some items ship from partner distributors instead of our main warehouse. Those usually ship within 1–3 weeks, and we email you if yours will take longer. If we can’t ship an item within 30 days, you get a full refund.

Yes. Used firearms are marked with their condition (like new, very good, good and so on) on the listing.

No. NFA items need ATF Form 4 approval, which we don’t handle, so they aren’t listed.

Before it’s transferred to you, yes — contact us and tell your dealer not to transfer it. Once transferred, firearms can’t be returned for refund, but manufacturer warranties apply. See the returns policy for details.

Use the contact form. We usually reply within one business day.