Buying a discounted pistol online: the rules by state
A sale price does not change how a pistol reaches you. Every handgun sold online ships to a federally licensed dealer, and you pick it up there under federal law plus whatever your state adds. This guide walks through the process and then groups the states by what they require, so you know before you order whether the deal in your cart can actually be delivered to you. It is general information as of September 2026, not legal advice; confirm with your state police or attorney general. We are an independent store and are not affiliated with Polymer80 or Glock.
What federal law requires everywhere
- Age 21 for a handgun from a dealer, 18 for a rifle or shotgun.
- Pickup in your state of residence with government photo ID showing your current address.
- ATF Form 4473 and an FBI NICS background check at the dealer, or a state-run check in states that act as the point of contact.
- No shipping of handguns to a residence; only to a licensed dealer.
The process
- Find a dealer and ask the fee. Transfer fees usually run $20 to $75. A cheap pistol with an expensive transfer is not cheap.
- Order and name the dealer. Price and stock are confirmed live before you pay.
- We verify the license and ship. We check the dealer's license and send the pistol with tracking.
- Pick up. Form 4473, the check, any state paperwork or wait, then the pistol is yours.
States with nothing extra
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming add no permit, wait or registration. Virginia is the same with a one-handgun-per-30-days limit. Nevada and Pennsylvania use a state check instead of the FBI; nothing changes for you.
States with a waiting period
California 10 days; Colorado 3 days; Florida 3 days for handguns, not counting weekends and holidays; Hawaii 14 days; Illinois 72 hours; Maine 72 hours; Maryland 7 days for handguns; New Mexico 7 days; Rhode Island 7 days; Vermont 72 hours; Washington 10 days. Minnesota's purchase permit takes up to 7 days to issue. Plan on two visits to the dealer.
States with permits or licenses before purchase
Illinois: FOID card. Massachusetts: LTC or FID. New Jersey: Firearms Purchaser ID card and a per-handgun purchase permit. New York: pistol license with the handgun added. Connecticut: pistol permit or eligibility certificate. Maryland: Handgun Qualification License. Hawaii: permit to acquire. Minnesota: permit to purchase or permit to carry. Iowa: permit to acquire or permit to carry. Michigan: dealers run the check directly, but private handgun sales need a purchase license. North Carolina and Nebraska dropped their handgun purchase permits in 2023. Order after the permit is in hand; dealers may charge storage on a pistol that waits too long.
Age 21 for everything
California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and Washington set 21 for all firearm purchases, and several other states restrict some rifles under 21. For a pistol the answer is 21 everywhere.
Rosters and banned features
California and Massachusetts allow dealers to transfer only handguns on their approved lists. Most new pistols, including the Polymer80 line, are not listed, so we cannot sell them to buyers in those states. Threaded barrels, certain slide features and some magazine-well designs are restricted in California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New York, and Delaware, Illinois and Washington have added their own pistol restrictions since 2023. If the catalog will not let you add a pistol for your address, one of these rules applies.
Magazine limits
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia cap capacity, mostly at 10 rounds (Colorado, Illinois handguns and Vermont handguns at 15, Delaware at 17). We ship only compliant magazines to those addresses. A bundle with 17-round magazines is not a deal if you live in one of them; the deals guide explains how to price bundles.
Sales tax and receipts
Most states require online sellers to collect sales tax at checkout, so the total you see before paying includes it where it applies; a few states also add a small firearms or background-check fee at the dealer. Keep the receipt with the pistol's serial number. It is the proof of purchase for any warranty claim and the document an insurer or a buyer will ask for later, and it is what the dealer uses to match the incoming package to your order.
Carry is separate
Buying and carrying are different questions. Most states now allow permitless concealed carry from 21; others issue permits through the sheriff, a court or the state police. Every one of our city pages summarizes the rule for that state and names the office.
Delays, denials and returns
A NICS delay gives the FBI three business days; many dealers wait for a proceed anyway. Denials can be appealed with the FBI, and mistaken denials are corrected. If a transfer cannot be completed, the dealer sends the pistol back and we refund the price less shipping, as set out on the shipping page.
Parts and accessories
Slides, barrels, sights, triggers and holsters are not firearms and ship to your door in every state. Compliant magazines ship to every state; oversize ones only where legal. See the budget upgrades guide for what to add to the order and the PFC9 vs Glock 19 comparison if you are still choosing. Browse pistols or everything Polymer80.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
