How to Buy a Gun Online in Texas
Texas Gun Shops ships rifles, shotguns, handguns and ammunition to customers across Texas. You place your order here, and every firearm is sent to a licensed dealer you choose in the state. This page explains how that process works, what the Texas rules say about buying and carrying a handgun, which areas this page covers, and where to find answers to common questions.
How ordering online and shipping to a local dealer works
Buying a firearm online in Texas is a two-part sale. The first part is your order here. The second part happens in person at a licensed dealer in Texas that you pick at checkout.
- Place your order and choose a licensed dealer in Texas that you can visit.
- We ship the firearm to that dealer. It is not sent to your home.
- When you pick it up, you show photo identification and complete ATF Form 4473.
- The dealer runs a federal background check through NICS. Once the check comes back as a proceed, you take the firearm home.
Ammunition, optics and most parts ship directly to your door. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns, so check your age before you order a handgun.
What the Texas state rules say
Texas asks for no permit to purchase, no firearm registration and no state waiting period. At a licensed dealer, a current Texas License to Carry can stand in for the NICS check at most dealers. Private sales between Texas residents need no state background check, but selling a firearm to someone you know is barred from owning one is a crime.
Since September 1, 2021, the Firearm Carry Act has let adults 21 and older who may lawfully own a firearm carry a handgun without a license, either concealed or in a belt or shoulder holster. A conviction in the past five years for assault, deadly conduct, terroristic threat or certain disorderly conduct offenses can bar a person from doing so.
A License to Carry is still issued statewide. The permit office is the Texas Department of Public Safety, Handgun Licensing, not a county office. The license costs $40, lasts five years, and requires four to six hours of classroom instruction plus a range qualification with a certified instructor. Laws change; confirm current rules with the state agencies named above.
Areas covered on this page
The local information below focuses on these areas:
- Houston and Harris County
- The Gulf Coast
- East Texas
- The national forests north and east of the Houston metro area
Shooters around Houston typically use municipal, club and commercial ranges. Target practice is not allowed on state public hunting land.
Hunting near Houston
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sets deer seasons county by county. Harris County sits in the North Zone. Archery runs October 3 to November 6, 2026, the general season runs November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and the muzzleloader and special late seasons run January 4 to 17, 2027. The bag is four deer, no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless. Any legal firearm is allowed except rimfire ammunition, which may not be used on deer. Check the antler rule for your own county before you hunt.
For feral hogs, Texas has not required a hunting license on private property with the landowner's authorization since September 1, 2019. A license is still needed on public land. For ducks, you need a hunting license, the Texas migratory game bird endorsement, HIP certification and a federal duck stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy a gun in Houston?
No. Texas has no permit to purchase and no firearm registration. You complete Form 4473 and pass a NICS background check at the licensed dealer near Houston that receives your order.
Is there a waiting period in Texas?
No. Texas sets no waiting period, so once the dealer's background check comes back as a proceed you can take the firearm home the same day.
Who issues carry licenses in Harris County?
The Texas Department of Public Safety issues every License to Carry in the state, so the Harris County sheriff is not involved. You apply online, get fingerprinted, and finish four to six hours of classroom instruction plus a range qualification.
How does a firearm I order reach Houston?
We ship every firearm to a licensed dealer near Houston that you pick 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 a handgun without a license near Houston?
Yes, if you are 21 or older and not barred from owning a firearm. Carry it concealed or in a belt or shoulder holster, and stay out of the places that state law or a posted sign closes to handguns.
Browse the catalog
When you are ready to choose a firearm, Browse the catalog to see what is available for shipping to a licensed dealer in Texas.
Official sources
Rules and forms come from these agencies. Check them for the current version before you order; last reviewed October 2026.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- 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.
