Firearm Transfers
How to ship a firearm to Outdoor Arms and complete your transfer
Record transfer volume — please pick up promptly. If your firearm has arrived, book your pickup as soon as your schedule allows. Vault space is limited and prompt pickups keep the queue moving for everyone.
Prior Authorization Required: Starting July 1, 2026, Outdoor Arms will no longer accept firearm transfers without prior coordination. The reason: we need to confirm the firearm is legal for us to receive and legal for you to own under Virginia’s new laws. The first weeks of July will be a learning period as dealers and customers alike get familiar with the new “assault firearm” definitions and other restrictions — pre-screening every transfer protects both sides from an expensive mistake. Firearms sent without prior authorization will be refused or returned at the sender’s expense.
Assault Firearm Cutoff — July 1, 2026: HB217/SB749 (Virginia’s assault weapons ban) was signed into law on May 14, 2026 and takes effect July 1, 2026. To avoid stranded inventory, we are no longer accepting incoming transfers of any firearm meeting the bill’s “assault firearm” definition that wouldn’t be picked up before July 1. Not sure if a specific firearm is covered? Try our interactive legality check. If you have a covered firearm on order, contact us immediately. See our Virginia Gun Legislation page for the bill’s status and definitions.
FFL-Only Senders — July 1, 2026: Starting July 1, every shipment must come from a licensed FFL (dealer, gunsmith, or manufacturer). We will no longer accept shipments from private individuals. Two reasons:
- Missing information. Private shipments often arrive without the sender, buyer, or firearm details we need to log the gun and notify you. FFLs include this as routine practice.
- Legal risk. Private senders are less likely to know Virginia’s new rules, so there’s a real chance the firearm isn’t legal to transfer here — a bad spot for us, the buyer, and the seller.
Firearms shipped from individuals will be refused or returned at the sender’s expense.
→ 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 (starting July 1, private sellers must ship through an FFL on their end).
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2Submit your Incoming Transfer Request✅ NOW (through June 30, 2026)Outdoor Arms is open and actively accepting transfers. Go ahead and select us as your FFL at checkout, then submit our Incoming Transfer Request form. It lets us track your shipment, notify you the moment it arrives, and — if your dealer needs it — email them a copy of our FFL automatically. (Have your order/tracking number handy if you have it.)⚠ STARTING JULY 1, 2026Prior authorization will be required before any firearm is shipped to us. We’ll confirm the firearm is legal to transfer in Virginia, add you to our authorized transfer list, and then provide FFL info for your seller. Firearms sent without prior authorization will be returned at sender’s expense.
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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.