Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Mecklenburg County. Charlotte is North Carolina's largest city, a banking center on the Catawba with Lake Norman to the north and a fast-growing ring of suburbs. Pistols ship to a dealer in Mecklenburg or the counties around it.
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North Carolina repealed its pistol purchase permit in 2023, so sheriffs no longer issue a permit to buy a handgun.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 Charlotte-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 Mecklenburg 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.
Mecklenburg County falls in the Central deer season; the NCWRC-listed Foothills Public Shooting Complex near Cherryville and Flintlock Valley in the Uwharrie are the nearest public ranges.
North Carolina repealed its pistol purchase permit in 2023, so a Glock now goes through the same federal check as any other firearm; Charlotte hunters drive to the Uwharrie and the Catawba game lands.
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 take a new pistol out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Matthews, Huntersville, Cornelius, Charlotte or anywhere in Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg 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 Mecklenburg County Sheriff for the current rule.
The public ranges on this page are run by state wildlife agencies, and most metro areas have indoor ranges that rent lanes by the hour. Bring the pistol cased and unloaded and run a box of ammunition to confirm function.
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 Mecklenburg County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.