How buying a gun in St. Louis works
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 Missouri law allows.
Missouri has no purchase permit, registration or waiting period. A dealer sale uses ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS background check. Federal age rules apply at a dealer: 21 for handguns and 18 for rifles and shotguns. Online orders ship to the Missouri FFL you select, who runs the check and transfers the firearm. Bring a current government photo ID that shows your address.
Dealers in these communities all work for St. Louis-area buyers:
- Clayton
- Florissant
- Kirkwood
- Chesterfield
- St. Charles
- Webster Groves
- Maryland Heights
- Arnold
Carrying a gun in St. Louis (independent city) County
Missouri has allowed permitless concealed carry since 2017 for adults 19 and older (18 for members and veterans of the armed forces) who can legally own a firearm. The optional concealed carry permit is issued by the sheriff of the county where you live, or in the City of St. Louis by the city sheriff. Some cities limit open carry, and posted private property remains off limits.
Hunting near St. Louis
Missouri's main firearms deer hunt is the November portion, which runs from November 14 to 24, 2026, with later antlerless and alternative methods portions. Centerfire rifles and pistols with expanding bullets, shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders of .40 caliber or larger and air-powered rifles are legal. Deer taken on opening weekend in some counties must go to a CWD sampling station. Check the current MDC regulations for your county.
Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County and Jay Henges Shooting Range in the Meramec valley are the MDC facilities closest to St. Louis.
Missouri's permitless carry and no purchase permit make the paperwork simple, and Jay Henges range in the Meramec valley is where a lot of new triggers get their first hundred rounds.
Public shooting ranges near St. Louis
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most ask for a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a small daily fee, and some close for the season, so check the agency page before you go to test a new trigger.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.