Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Wake County. Raleigh is the state capital and one corner of the Research Triangle, with Falls Lake north of town and Jordan Lake to the west. Orders ship to FFL dealers across Wake County.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where North Carolina law allows.
North Carolina repealed its pistol purchase permit in 2023, so sheriffs no longer issue a permit to buy a handgun. A handgun or long gun from a dealer now goes through ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS background check. There is no state waiting period. Federal age limits apply at a dealer: 21 for handguns, 18 for rifles and shotguns. Online orders ship to the North Carolina FFL you select, who handles the check and the transfer.
Dealers in these communities all work for Raleigh-area buyers:
North Carolina still requires a concealed handgun permit to carry concealed. The permit is issued by the sheriff of the county where you live, here the Wake County Sheriff, and needs an approved firearms safety course and a minimum age of 21. Open carry is generally legal without a permit where not posted. A bill to allow permitless concealed carry (Senate Bill 50) was vetoed in 2025; the Senate overrode the veto but the House had not held its override vote as of the last check, so confirm the current status.
North Carolina splits deer seasons into Eastern, Central, Northwestern and Western zones. In the Central season, which covers much of the Piedmont, the 2026-27 gun season runs from November 14, 2026 to January 1, 2027, with archery opening September 12. Rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders are legal in gun season, though a few counties have local limits on rifles. Wear hunter orange and check the NCWRC regulations digest for your county.
Wake County falls in North Carolina's Central deer season, and the game lands around Jordan and Falls lakes hold the public hunting. Check NCWRC for game land permits and weapon rules.
Jordan Lake and Falls Lake game lands take most of the local deer pressure, and with the suburbs spreading, a good share of buyers here are first-time owners.
The ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most want a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a daily fee, and some close seasonally, so read the agency page before you drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Cary, Garner, Wake Forest, Raleigh or anywhere in Wake County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. The pistol purchase permit was repealed in 2023. A dealer sale now uses the federal background check at the counter.
The Wake County Sheriff's Office. You need an approved safety course and must be at least 21.
As of the last check, no. Senate Bill 50 would allow it, but the House had not completed its veto override. Check with the Wake County Sheriff for the current rule.
Rarely. States that allow handgun hunting set cartridge or energy minimums that 9mm does not meet, which rules out a G34 or G17L. The 10mm G40 with its 6.02-inch barrel is the one long slide that meets some state minimums, and you still have to read your own rules first.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with Wake County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.