⚖️ A note on the law: Virginia’s assault firearm and magazine ban is currently blocked by a statewide court injunction, expected to stay in place until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on similar bans (a decision is expected around June 2027). In the meantime, we accept and transfer these items normally. One uncertainty: the grandfather date (July 1, 2026) hasn’t changed, so a firearm bought now may not be grandfathered if the ban is ultimately upheld — though we expect the injunction to hold. This isn’t legal advice.
Firearm Transfers
How to ship a firearm to Outdoor Arms and complete your transfer
Send the form first. Please fill out our Incoming Transfer Request form before your firearm ships. It lets us confirm the firearm is legal to transfer, match your package when it arrives, and reach you the same day. It isn’t required, but it makes pickup smoother.
Ship from a licensed FFL only. Every shipment must come from a licensed dealer, gunsmith, or manufacturer — not from a private individual. Shipments from individuals will be refused or returned at the sender’s expense.
Virginia residents only. We serve Northern Virginia — sorry, we can’t transfer to DC or Maryland residents.
→ The Transfer Process
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1Find the firearm you want to purchase Online retailers, auction sites, or a private seller in another state (private sellers must ship through an FFL on their end).
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2Submit your Incoming Transfer Request✅ SUBMIT YOUR INCOMING TRANSFER REQUESTBefore your firearm ships, fill out our Incoming Transfer Request form so we can confirm it’s legal to transfer in Virginia and track it. It only takes a minute and makes pickup smoother.📋 WHY WE ASKSending the form before your firearm ships lets us confirm it’s legal to transfer in Virginia, match the package to you when it lands, and get your seller our FFL info. It isn’t a hard requirement — but without it, matching your package and scheduling pickup can take longer.
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3Seller ships the firearm to Outdoor Arms The intake form above captures the dealer, firearm details, and your order number so we can match the package to you. Shipments must come from a licensed FFL — not a private individual. Effective July 1, 2026 this is required for all transfers.
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4We receive and log the firearm Once your firearm arrives, it is inspected, logged into our bound book (the acquisition record every FFL is required to keep), and secured in our vault.
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5We notify you You’ll be contacted via the information previously provided once your firearm has arrived.💡 We do our best to notify everyone right away, but a message can occasionally slip through. If your tracking shows the firearm has been delivered to us, go ahead and book your pickup — don’t wait on us.
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6Schedule your pickup appointment Book your appointment online through Calendly — it’s the fastest way to lock in a time that works for both of us and makes sure we’re ready when you arrive.
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7Come in to complete your transfer You’ll fill out ATF Form 4473, we’ll run your NICS background check, and once approved you take your firearm home.
Sometimes NICS background checks (the FBI system every transfer runs through) are delayed. This can resolve within minutes or take several days. We will keep you notified if your check takes longer than anticipated — the firearm cannot be released until we receive a “Proceed” result or the federally required delay period expires.
✓ What to Bring When Picking Up
Valid government-issued photo ID with your name, address, and date of birth — no exceptions.
Accepted: Virginia Driver’s License, Virginia State ID, Military ID (with secondary residency document).
You will be required to complete and sign ATF Form 4473 at time of transfer. This is a federal requirement — it cannot be completed in advance or skipped.
- Your ID address must match the address on your 4473 — out-of-state IDs require a secondary document proving Virginia residency
- Transfer fees are due at pickup — see our Services & Price List for current rates
- Please pick up within 14 days of notification of arrival. A storage fee of $5 per week applies to items held 15 days or longer if no contact or arrangements have been made with us
Schedule Your Transfer Appointment By appointment only — walk-ins are not accepted. Book online below.
📅 Book on Calendly! What If I’m Denied?
An initial denial is sometimes a simple records mix-up. You may need to work with your local or state law enforcement to resolve the discrepancy with NICS. We’ll hold the firearm while you work through the appeal process.
If you are determined to be a prohibited person under federal law (see our Firearm Eligibility page), we cannot transfer the firearm to you or to anyone else on your behalf. The firearm will be returned to the seller. You will be responsible for all return shipping costs plus a 20% restocking fee.
📎 Our Credentials — Download Certificates
You can verify our Federal Firearms License and Special Occupational Tax status by downloading our certificates below.