You can buy just about anything online nowadays. From clothing and toys to electronics and prescription drugs, there is almost no end to the things that you can purchase on the internet.
But is buying a gun online a possibility? That might be a question that you’re asking yourself right now if you’re in the market for one.
And you’ll be happy to know that you can, in fact, buy a firearm if you would like. It’s entirely possible to go through the process of purchasing a gun without ever setting foot in a gun store.
You will, however, need to learn how to buy a gun online for it to be a good idea. The last thing that you want to do is take the wrong steps when buying a new gun online and pay the price for it later.
Here are some gun buying tips that you can put to good use when you buy a firearm on the internet.
Start by Finding the Right Gun Retailer
If you think that you might want to go through with the process of buying a gun online, you aren’t going to want to buy it from just any retailer. If you do, you could very well end up with a counterfeit gun or a gun that isn’t registered properly. And this could leave you in a world of trouble.
Instead, you’ll want to search for a reputable gun retailer that can provide you with a great firearm from the start. They should have a history of setting people up with some of the best guns in the business at some of the best prices around.
Buying a gun online is going to turn into a headache if you don’t have the right gun retailer on your side. It’s why you should do your homework on different gun retailers so that you’re able to find the best one of the bunch.
Figure Out Which Gun You Want to Buy
Once you know which gun retailer you want to buy a firearm from, you’ll need to decide which gun you actually want to get your hands on. There will be more than a few options available to you when you’re buying a gun online.
You should consider how you plan on using a gun as you move forward when you’re trying to decide which type of gun you want. The gun that you purchase should be able to meet your needs, regardless of whether you’re planning to use it for protection or use it to go hunting.
Not all gun retailers are going to have the same types of guns for sale. So you might have to backtrack and pick a new gun retailer if you don’t see anything that you like in stock through a particular retailer.
Whatever you do, don’t feel like you have to settle for a gun that you don’t like. You should only buy a firearm that’s going to fit your needs when you’re in the market for one.
Consider Taking a Trip to a Gun Store to See a Firearm in Person
Part of the appeal of buying a gun online is obviously that you don’t have to worry about taking a trip to a gun store in person. But if you’re not 100% sure which type of gun you want, you may want to bite the bullet and take a trip to a store anyway.
By doing this, you’ll put yourself in a position where you can see lots of gun options in person. It’ll make it so much easier for you to narrow down your firearm options.
It’ll also give you a chance to ask any questions that you might have about different firearms to gun experts. It would be well worth taking a trip to a gun store if you can swing it even if you don’t end up buying a gun from the store that you visit.
Try to Get the Best Deal on a Firearm When Buying a Gun Online
Another reason why people like the idea of buying a gun online so much is that it’s going to give you an opportunity to save some money on a gun in most cases. You’ll be free to shop around for guns that will fit into your price range.
You should try to compare the gun costs from one reputable retailer to the next if you can. It’s a simple way to cut your gun buying costs in a hurry.
As we alluded to earlier, you do not want to buy a gun online from some no-name retailer that doesn’t have a good reputation just to save a buck. You could run into issues if you take this approach to buying a gun online.
But at the same time, you shouldn’t be shy about shopping around for the best deals that you can find on firearms online. You might be surprised to see what you could save when purchasing a gun through one retailer versus another one.
Arrange to Have a Gun Delivered to a Federal Firearms Licensee
One of the things that you should keep in mind when buying a gun online is that you’re not actually going to be allowed to have the gun delivered directly to your home. A law called the Gun Control Act of 1968 prevents this.
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this law to stop people from being able to have guns delivered to their homes. Rather than doing this, they need to have any guns that they order online to be shipped to a Federal Firearms Licensee.
A Federal Firearms Licensee is someone who can accept a gun on behalf of a person who has purchased it and help to transfer ownership of a gun to that person. Most gun dealers are Federal Firearms Licensees, so you’ll need to find one in your area who can assist you.
Go Through the FFL Transfer Process
Once a gun that you purchased online has been sent to a Federal Firearms Licensee, you will need to go through the FFL transfer process in your specific state. Each state has slightly different guidelines for the FFL transfer process.
But generally speaking, you’re going to need to pass some background checks prior to receiving the gun that you bought. You’ll need to make sure that you provide a Federal Firearms Licensee with whatever they might need to help you get your hands on a gun.
This part of the gun buying process can drag out a little bit in some states. It can be frustrating if you’re trying to secure a gun ASAP. But you’ll need to go through it in order to gain legal possession of a gun.
Bring Your New Gun Back Home With You
After the FFL transfer process is over and done with, you can officially take possession of a gun that you bought online and bring it back home with you. You should find a safe place to put your gun, preferably in some kind of gun safe.
You should also think long and hard about where you’re going to keep your gun locked up when you aren’t using it. You might want to keep it in your bedroom or in another place where you’ll be able to access it at a moment’s notice if necessary.
Consider Purchasing Other Gun Parts and Accessories Online
As you’ve seen here, buying a gun online isn’t all that hard to do, provided you know how to do it. And it’s also not hard to purchase other gun parts and accessories for a firearm that you recently welcomed into your home.
You can obtain the right AR15 complete upper without a problem. There are also tons of other parts and accessories that you might want to consider buying online.
Gun sales have certainly come a long way over time. It has made it more convenient than ever before for people to buy the guns, gun parts, and gun accessories that they want.
Buying a Gun Online Is an Excellent Option to Have
Buying a gun online might not be the best idea for everyone. There are still some people who would prefer to shop for a gun in a store. You can do it if you would like.
But it’s nice to know that you can go through with purchasing a gun online if you would like. It’s an amazing option for gun enthusiasts to have these days.
If you haven’t ever tried buying a gun online, you should give it a try today. You’ll be shocked to see how simple the process is from beginning to end.
Get more gun buying tips by searching through the other articles posted on our blog.