Buying a gun online in Minnesota and hunting rifles for Minnesota game
Short answer: You can buy a hunting rifle online and have it sent to a licensed dealer. You then fill in Form 4473 and pass a NICS check. Minnesota has extra steps for pistols and for "semiautomatic military-style assault weapons". The state statutes below do not mention rifles in general. Laws change, so confirm with your dealer.
How buying a gun online works
- You order online. The seller ships to a licensed dealer (FFL), not to your home.
- At the dealer you show ID and fill in Form 4473.
- The dealer contacts NICS before the transfer. If NICS says "Proceed", the transfer can go ahead. If there is no answer, the dealer must wait three business days from the NICS contact (27 CFR 478.102).
- A NICS check covers one transaction and is valid for up to 30 calendar days (27 CFR 478.102).
Federal age rules for dealer sales
| Gun type | Minimum age at a dealer |
|---|---|
| Rifle or shotgun | 18 |
| Handgun | 21 |
Source: 27 CFR 478.99. The same section says a dealer generally cannot sell a firearm to a person who lives in another state, but this does not apply to rifles and shotguns. For an interstate rifle sale, 27 CFR 478.96(c) says the buyer must meet the dealer in person, the dealer must follow 478.102, and the sale must follow the law of both states.
Minnesota rules for pistols and assault weapons
| Topic | What the statute says (as of the cited page) |
|---|---|
| Transferee permit (Minn. Stat. 624.7131) | Applies to a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon. Any person may apply. Permits are valid statewide and expire after one year. |
| Transfer report and waiting period (Minn. Stat. 624.7132) | Applies to pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons. The text says no delivery until 30 days after the transfer agreement reaches the police chief or sheriff. The chief or sheriff may waive all or part of this period in writing. If no disqualification notice arrives within 30 business days, the transfer may proceed. |
These statutes were amended in 2023 and 2024, so read the current text. If you are unsure whether a gun is covered, check current rules with the state attorney general, state police or your dealer before you buy.
Hunting basics from the Minnesota DNR
- Big game species listed by the DNR: bear, deer and elk.
- Buy licenses online or at a license agent. Check the DNR page for the license each species needs.
- Check the DNR regulations page and the hunting regulations booklet before you go.
- Deer: a person may buy no more than one firearms, one muzzleloader and one archery deer license in a calendar year.
- The firearms safety certificate becomes valid at age 12. Minnesota recognizes certificates from other states. See the DNR safety page for who needs one.
Choosing a rifle for Minnesota big game
The DNR legal big game ammunition page lists these rifle rules:
- The cartridge is at least .220 caliber with centerfire ignition.
- It is loaded only with single projectile ammunition.
- The projectile has a soft point or is an expanding bullet type.
So rimfire and small varmint cartridges under .220 are not legal for big game. Most common deer cartridges are above that line, but check the cartridge and bullet you plan to use.
2026 change: shotgun zone repealed
The DNR says the Legislature repealed the shotgun zone, effective for the 2026 firearms deer season. Counties in the former zone can pass an ordinance to stay shotgun-only. Check the DNR page for what is legal where you hunt.
Counties listed by the DNR as shotgun-only: Brown, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Houston, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Nobles, Pope, Rock, Watonwan. Partly shotgun-only: Clay and Wilkin. The DNR says to check with the county where you hunt, because this may change.
FAQ
Can I have a rifle shipped to my house?
Normally no. Ship it to a licensed dealer. The dealer completes Form 4473 and the NICS check before you take it home.
Can I use any rifle for deer in Minnesota?
Check the DNR rules first. For big game rifles the cartridge must be at least .220 caliber, centerfire, with a single soft-point or expanding bullet. Some counties are shotgun-only, so check the county list.
Is there a waiting period?
For pistols and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, Minnesota statute 624.7132 sets a 30-day delivery wait that can be waived in writing. For other guns, check current rules with the state attorney general, state police or your dealer. The federal NICS rule is in the list above.
Official links
- MN DNR legal big game ammunition: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/ammo/legal.html
- MN DNR deer hunting: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/index.html
- MN DNR shotgun-only counties: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/shotguns.html
- MN DNR hunting and regulations: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/index.html
- MN DNR firearms safety: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/firearms/index.html
- Minn. Stat. 624.7131: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.7131
- Minn. Stat. 624.7132: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/624.7132
- 27 CFR 478.102: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/478.102
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
