Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City, Sioux City, Waterloo or Ames: Iowa buyers can order from JCM Armory’s online catalog and pick up at a local dealer. 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 Iowa
- Pick your firearm and your dealer. Add the gun to your cart and choose a licensed Iowa dealer at checkout. Iowa dealers in most counties accept transfers; ask about their fee and hours.
- Off to your dealer. We keep your FFL’s license on file and ship the firearm to their address. Home delivery of firearms isn’t an option.
- Paperwork and pickup. At the counter you’ll show ID and fill out ATF Form 4473, and your Iowa dealer runs the background check. When it comes back approved, the gun is yours.
What to know about firearm transfers in Iowa
Under federal rules, a licensed dealer can’t sell a handgun to anyone under 21 or a long gun to anyone under 18. Iowa dealers run checks through the FBI’s NICS, because the state doesn’t act as its own point of contact.
No permit to acquire since 2021. Iowa no longer requires a permit to acquire a handgun, effective July 1, 2021 (House File 756). A buyer without an Iowa permit goes through the federal NICS check at the dealer. An Iowa permit is still available and can be used in place of the NICS check under ATF rules.
Gun laws differ by state and city and can change. You are responsible for following all federal, state and local laws, and your Iowa dealer can help with specifics. This overview isn’t legal advice. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Shipping and fees
- Guns at $300 or above: shipping is on us.
- Ammunition: we cover shipping when your ammo adds up to $750 or more.
- Below those amounts, it’s a single $15 flat rate, and firearms travel separately from ammo.
- Powder or primers in your order add a $40 hazmat surcharge, set by the carriers.
- Your Iowa dealer may charge a transfer fee; ask them before you order.
Pheasant season prep
Iowa pheasant hunters walk a lot of standing corn edges and CRP grass. A 12- or 20-gauge with a modified choke works for most flushes, and shot sizes around #5 or #6 are common. Blaze orange is required for many Iowa hunts, so check the DNR rules before opening day.
Popular categories for Iowa hunters and shooters
- Shotguns and slugs for Iowa’s shotgun deer seasons
- Pheasant guns
- Handguns and holsters
- Rifles in deer-legal straight-wall calibers
- Optics
- Ammunition
Iowa’s deer seasons have specific rules on legal firearms. Check the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ current hunting regulations before you buy a deer gun.
Slug guns and straight-wall rifles
Iowa deer hunters have traditionally used shotguns with slugs, and rules on rifles have changed in recent years. Before you buy, confirm which firearms and cartridges are legal for the season you hunt. A rifled-barrel shotgun with sabot slugs and a low-power scope is still a proven setup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a permit to acquire in Iowa?
No. Since July 1, 2021, Iowa doesn’t require one. You can buy from a dealer after a federal NICS check, or use a valid Iowa permit.
Can a gun be shipped to my house in Iowa?
No. Federal law requires a dealer transfer, so we ship to the FFL you select and you collect it there.
Is shipping free?
On firearms priced $300 or more, yes. Ammo ships free once you have $750 of ammunition in the cart. Other orders pay a flat $15, and powder or primers add a $40 hazmat fee.
Do you ship to every state?
We ship firearms to local FFL dealers in 49 states. We do not ship to California.