How to Buy a Gun Online in Indiana
You can order a firearm from this shop and have it shipped to a licensed dealer in Indiana that you choose. The dealer completes the transfer paperwork and the federal background check when you pick it up. This page explains how that works, what the Indiana rules say, and where to start.
How ordering online and shipping to a local dealer works
Choose a firearm in the catalog and place your order. At checkout you pick a licensed dealer near you. Firearms are shipped to that dealer, not to your home. The dealer receives the package, logs it in, and holds it until you come in.
At the dealer you show photo ID and fill out ATF Form 4473. The dealer runs a federal NICS background check. Once the check comes back as proceed, you complete the transfer and take the firearm home. Indiana has no state waiting period, so the transfer can finish the same day the check clears.
Ammunition, optics and most parts ship to your door. Ordering works the same way from any part of the state: pick the dealer closest to you at checkout.
What the Indiana state rules say
Buying. Indiana has no permit to purchase, no firearm registration and no state waiting period. Federal law sets the dealer minimum at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. An Indiana License to Carry a Handgun does not replace the NICS check at the counter.
Private sales between Indiana residents need no state background check. It is a crime to sell or give a firearm to someone you know cannot legally have one.
Carrying. Since July 1, 2022 Indiana has had a permitless carry option. An adult who meets the proper person standard in state law may carry a handgun without a license, openly or concealed. The Indiana State Police still issue the License to Carry a Handgun. The five-year and the lifetime license have been fee exempt since 2020 and 2021.
To apply, use the Indiana State Police portal, get fingerprinted, and finish processing with your local sheriff or city police. Check the Indiana State Police Firearms Licensing Unit for current deadlines. School property, secure areas of commercial airports and federal buildings stay off-limits, and private property owners may bar firearms. The permit office is the Indiana State Police Firearms Licensing Unit.
Hunting. The Department of Natural Resources runs one statewide deer season structure. For 2026-27 the youth season is September 26 and 27, 2026, archery runs October 1, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the firearms season runs November 14 to 29, 2026, and the muzzleloader season runs December 5 to 20, 2026. Legal firearms include centerfire rifles with a bullet diameter of at least .219 inch, legal handguns, 10 to 28 gauge and .410 shotguns firing slugs, and muzzleloaders. Hunter orange is required.
Regional topics for Indiana buyers
The state rules above apply across Indiana. These regional topics cover the questions buyers ask most often:
- Public shooting ranges. The Department of Natural Resources runs public rifle, pistol and shotgun ranges on fish and wildlife areas, state forests and reservoir properties. Rules and fees differ by property. Ranges close for weather and renovation, so call the property before you drive.
- Deer rifles. Centerfire rifles in calibers such as .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270, .308, .30-06, .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster are used on Indiana farm and woodlot ground. Full metal jacket bullets are not legal for deer, and you may carry no more than 10 of each cartridge type.
- Waterfowl. A 12- or 20-gauge pump or semi-auto plugged to three shells, loaded with non-toxic shot. Indiana's North, Central and South waterfowl zones open on different dates, so check which zone covers your area.
- Feral hogs. Indiana has no established feral hog population and no hog season. Scattered feral swine are handled as a nuisance animal. Ask a Department of Natural Resources district wildlife biologist what is allowed before you plan a hunt.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy a gun in my area?
No. Indiana has no permit to purchase and no firearm registration. You pass a NICS background check and complete ATF Form 4473 at the licensed dealer who receives your order.
Is there a waiting period in Indiana?
No. Indiana has no state waiting period, so once the dealer's NICS check comes back as proceed you can take the firearm home the same day.
Who issues carry licenses in my county?
The Indiana State Police issue every License to Carry a Handgun. You apply online through the state police portal, get fingerprinted, then finish processing with your county sheriff or city police department. Check the Indiana State Police for current deadlines.
How does a gun I order get to my area?
Every firearm ships to a licensed dealer near you that you choose at checkout. The dealer runs the background check and hands the gun over. Ammunition, optics and most parts ship to your door.
Can I carry without a license in Indiana?
Indiana has had a permitless carry option since July 1, 2022 for adults who meet the proper person standard in state law. The license is still worth having for travel, and school property and other posted places remain off-limits either way.
Laws change; confirm current rules with the state agencies named above.
Official sources
Rules and forms come from these agencies. Check them for the current version before you order; last reviewed October 2026.
- Indiana State Police
- Indiana DNR Fish and Wildlife
- ATF, Firearms (federal)
- FBI NICS background checks (federal)
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
