Buying a Gun Online in New Hampshire and Hunting Rifles for NH Game

Short answer: You can order a rifle online and have it shipped to a licensed gun dealer (FFL) in New Hampshire. You finish the paperwork and background check at that dealer, then take the gun home. For hunting rules, check New Hampshire Fish and Game before you buy.

How buying a gun online works

The gun is never mailed to your door. The steps are simple:

You pick the rifle online and pay.
The shop ships it to a licensed dealer you choose in your state.
At the dealer you show ID and fill out ATF Form 4473.
The dealer contacts NICS, the federal background check, before the transfer.
If the check clears, you take the gun home.

Under federal rules, a dealer must contact NICS before completing the transfer and must check your ID (27 CFR 478.102). If NICS has not answered, the dealer generally must wait three business days before the transfer can go ahead without a reply (27 CFR 478.102). Some checks, such as those with records that need review, can take longer.

Federal age rules

Item bought from a dealer	Minimum age
Rifle or shotgun (and its ammunition)	18
Handgun and other firearms (and handgun ammunition)	21

This comes from 27 CFR 478.99(b). Dealers cannot sell to someone they know or have reason to believe is under these ages.

Buying from out of state

A dealer may sell a rifle or shotgun to a person from another state only if the sale follows the legal rules of both states (27 CFR 478.96(c)). In practice, the easy path is to ship to a dealer in the state where you live. Handguns are stricter. In general, a dealer cannot sell a handgun to someone who lives in a different state (27 CFR 478.99(a)).

New Hampshire handgun sale rules

These are summaries of New Hampshire statutes as published on the state website. Laws change, so read the current text.

Topic	What the New Hampshire law says
Handgun sales to nonresidents	RSA 159:8-a (amended 2025): no one may sell a pistol or revolver to a nonresident unless that person is allowed to buy one under their home state's law, or the director of State Police issues a permit for good cause.
Handgun sales to minors	RSA 159:12: it is a misdemeanor to sell, give or lend a pistol or revolver to a minor. The law lists exceptions, such as a parent or guardian giving one to a child or ward, supervised safety training with parent or guardian permission, a licensed hunter with a minor who is lawfully hunting, and supervised lawful shooting events.
Private handgun sales	RSA 159:14: the chapter's licensing rules do not stop a person who is not in the business of selling pistols or revolvers from selling one to a licensed person or to someone they personally know.

This page does not cover every state rule. Check current rules with the state attorney general, state police or your dealer.

Hunting in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Fish and Game sets all hunting rules: licenses, hunter education, species, seasons, bag limits, and which firearms are legal for each hunt. Rules change every year, so this page gives no season dates, license rules or legal cartridge rules. Check them with Fish and Game.

Before you buy a rifle for hunting, do three things:

Read the current New Hampshire Hunting Digest on the Fish and Game website.
Check what a hunter must carry (license, hunter education proof) for the animal you want.
Check which firearm types and calibers are legal for that hunt and season.

Picking a hunting rifle

Match the rifle to the game and to the rules, not the other way around. Think about the size of the animal, how far you will shoot, how heavy the rifle is to carry, and recoil you can handle well. A rifle you shoot accurately beats a bigger one you flinch with. Confirm the legal cartridge rules for your hunt first, then choose. Ask us or your dealer if you want help comparing models in stock.

FAQ

Can I have a rifle shipped to my house?

No. A rifle bought from a shop like ours goes to a licensed dealer. You complete Form 4473 and the NICS check there.

How old do I need to be to buy?

Federal rules set 18 for a rifle or shotgun from a dealer and 21 for a handgun. Check current state rules with your dealer or the attorney general.

Is there a waiting period in New Hampshire?

The federal rule says a dealer must wait three business days if NICS gives no answer. Check with your dealer or the state attorney general for any state rule on top of that.