Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Northern Kentucky or the eastern mountains, Kentuckians can order from JCM Armory and pick up at a dealer close to home. JCM Armory is a licensed firearms dealer (FFL) based in Joppa, Maryland. We ship to local FFLs in 49 states (not California).
How buying a gun online works in Kentucky
- Pick your firearm and your dealer. Add the gun to your cart and choose a licensed Kentucky dealer at checkout. Kentucky gun shops and outfitters across the state accept transfers; call first to confirm their fee.
- Your order ships to the dealer. After we have a copy of your dealer’s license, the gun ships straight to their shop. We never ship a firearm to a residence.
- NICS check and pickup. Show ID and complete ATF Form 4473; your Kentucky dealer runs the FBI NICS check. Once you’re approved, inspect the firearm and take it home.
What to know about firearm transfers in Kentucky
Kentucky dealers contact the FBI’s NICS directly for every background check, since the state doesn’t act as a point of contact. The federal minimum ages for dealer sales apply: 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns.
Kentucky has no permit-to-purchase or registration, and state law (KRS 65.870) bars cities and counties from regulating firearm sales, transfers and ownership. Since June 27, 2019, adults 21 and older who may lawfully possess a firearm can carry concealed without a license (KRS 237.109); the CCDW license is still available.
Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. According to TBI’s dealer guidance, ATF has determined that soldiers whose permanent duty station is Fort Campbell, on the Kentucky–Tennessee line, may buy in either state. Service members stationed at Fort Knox are Kentucky residents for federal firearm purposes and can buy from a Kentucky dealer with their orders.
Every buyer is responsible for following federal, state and local law, and laws change. Your Kentucky dealer can answer questions about your specific purchase. Nothing here is legal advice. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Shipping and fees
- Firearms priced at $300 or more ship free.
- Ammunition ships free once the ammo in your cart totals $750 or more.
- Orders below those thresholds ship for one flat $15 rate; guns and ammo go out in separate boxes.
- Primers and smokeless powder add a $40 hazmat charge per order, required by the carriers.
- Your Kentucky dealer charges their own transfer fee at pickup.
What Kentucky customers shop for
- Deer rifles and scopes
- Turkey and waterfowl shotguns
- Handguns and holsters
- AR rifles
- Rifle ammo and handgun ammo
- Reloading supplies
Kentucky seasons and elk draw rules come from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). Check its current hunting guide before you hunt.
Rifle choices for Kentucky deer and elk
Most Kentucky deer are taken at modest distances in timber and field edges, where a classic bolt-action in .243, .270, .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor works well. Hunters lucky enough to draw a Kentucky elk tag often step up to a heavier bullet and a longer-range scope for the open reclaimed mine country in the east. Whatever you choose, sight it in with the exact load you’ll hunt with.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy a gun in Kentucky?
No permit is needed. A Kentucky buyer at a dealer fills out ATF Form 4473 and the dealer gets an FBI NICS response, usually within minutes, though some checks are delayed for review.
Can Fort Campbell soldiers buy in Kentucky?
Yes. ATF has determined that soldiers whose permanent duty station is Fort Campbell may buy in Kentucky or Tennessee, if they pass the background check. Bring your orders.
Can a gun be shipped to my house in Kentucky?
No. Firearms ship only to a licensed FFL dealer, where you complete the paperwork and background check before pickup.
What does shipping cost?
Guns $300 and up ship free. Ammo ships free when the ammo in your cart reaches $750. Everything else is a flat $15. Primers and powder carry a $40 hazmat charge per order.
Do you ship to every state?
We ship firearms to local FFL dealers in 49 states. We do not ship to California.