Purchasing a firearm online is simple, secure, and fully compliant with federal law. However, by federal regulations, we cannot ship firearms directly to an individual's home. All firearm orders must be shipped to a licensed Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealer. Follow our step-by-step framework below to complete your transaction cleanly.
1. Before You Complete Your Purchase
- Verify Local Laws: Always confirm your specific state, county, and municipal laws regarding magazine capacities or firearm restrictions before placing an order.
- Age Restrictions: You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase a handgun, pistol, revolver, frame, stripped lower receiver, or stockless shotgun.
- Residency Requirements: You must be a legal, verified resident of the state where your chosen FFL dealer operates to complete the physical background check transfer.
- Straw Purchases are Illegal: Buying a firearm on behalf of someone else who cannot legally pass a background check is a federal felony. The billing name on your payment card must match the customer file.
🛠️ The 3-Step Online Purchasing Process
Step 1: Choose Your Receiving FFL Dealer
An FFL dealer is your local gun shop, pawnshop, or licensed independent transfer agent who will securely receive the shipment, process your state's paperwork, and hand over the firearm. Contact them ahead of time, let them know you are ordering an item from Stagecoach Shootin' Irons, and verify what their internal local FFL transfer fee is.
Step 2: Add to Cart & Select FFL Shipping Address
Browse our online catalog, add your items to the shopping cart, and begin checkout. During the checkout process, the Coreware system will ask you to select your local destination FFL. If you cannot find your target dealer listed in our directory selection tool, choose the option labeled "CANNOT LOCATE MY FFL DEALER" and proceed. You can call us right after with their contact details.
Step 3: Tracking & Local Over-the-Counter Pickup
Once your payment processes, Stagecoach Shootin' Irons will ship the package straight to your chosen FFL and email you a tracking number. Monitor the shipment, and allow your local dealer 24 hours to check the item into their physical store logbooks before walking into their shop for pickup.
2. The Background Check & State Waiting Periods
When you pick up your item at your local transfer dealer, you will complete the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473.
- Illinois Residents: Your background tracking check is initiated directly through the Illinois State Police Firearm Transfer Inquiry Program (FTIP). Per state law, a strict **72-hour statutory waiting period** begins the exact moment your electronic FTIP application is submitted.
- Out-of-State Residents: Your local dealer will process your background clearance check using the National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) or your specific state's background terminal system.
- Finalization: Bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing your current physical residential address (and an active FOID card if transferring within Illinois). Once background clearance returns approved and waiting timelines clear, you can take your firearm home!
3. Order Processing & Shipping Timelines
Standard online checkout fulfillment orders are packaged and transferred out to commercial shipping carriers within 3 to 10+ business days. Individual tracking coordinates will fire to your email address automatically the moment labels log into the delivery network.