Buying a gun online in Mississippi and hunting rifles for Mississippi game
Short answer: You cannot get a gun shipped to your door. An online gun order goes to a licensed dealer (FFL) near you. You fill out ATF Form 4473, the dealer runs a NICS background check, and then you take the gun home. For deer in Mississippi, the state wildlife agency says there are no caliber or magazine capacity limits on firearms in the regular gun season. Special rules apply in primitive weapon season and on some public land.
How buying a gun online works
- You pick a gun online and pay. The seller ships it to a licensed dealer in your state, not to you.
- You go to the dealer in person with ID and fill out Form 4473.
- The dealer must contact NICS and check your ID before the transfer. If NICS says "Proceed," the sale can go ahead. If NICS gives no answer, the dealer must wait three business days before a transfer is allowed (federal rule, 27 CFR 478.102).
- Federal law does not let a dealer sell a handgun to anyone under 21. For rifles and shotguns the dealer minimum is 18 (27 CFR 478.99).
| Step | Who does it | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ship the gun | Seller to your dealer | Dealer-to-dealer transfer in your state |
| Form 4473 and ID check | You and the dealer | 27 CFR 478.102 |
| NICS check | Dealer | Transfer waits for "Proceed" or the three-business-day period |
| Minimum age at a dealer | Dealer | 18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns |
A rifle or shotgun can also be sold across state lines only when the buyer meets the dealer in person and the sale is legal in both states (27 CFR 478.96). Online orders to a dealer in your own state are the simple path.
Mississippi state rules for buying
This page does not list a state waiting period, permit or magazine rule. Check current rules with the state attorney general, state police or your dealer before you buy.
Hunting basics in Mississippi
These points come from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP).
- Hunter education: Anyone born on or after January 1, 1972 must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a Mississippi hunting license.
- License: Residents aged 16 through 64 need a hunting license, except on land titled in their own name. Non-residents need a license unless they are under 16. If you hold a driver's license from another state, you must buy a non-resident license.
- Landowner permission: You need it to hunt on someone else's land.
- Shooting hours: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for resident game.
- Roads: It is unlawful to hunt while carrying a firearm that is not unloaded on a public road, highway, levee or railroad, or in their right-of-way.
- Bait: It is illegal to hunt any wild animal or bird with the aid of bait.
- Protected species: MDWFP lists black bear among its protected species. Do not hunt it.
Choosing a hunting rifle for Mississippi deer
MDWFP says there are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms for hunting. That means the choice is about you and the game, not a state caliber rule. Pick a rifle you can shoot well and use ammunition made for deer.
| Season | Legal weapons (MDWFP) |
|---|---|
| Gun season | Any firearm. No caliber or magazine capacity limit. Primitive weapons and archery gear are also allowed. |
| Primitive weapon season | Archery equipment and primitive firearms only |
For deer, "primitive firearms" means muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber, single-shot breech-loading metallic cartridge rifles of .35 caliber or larger with an exposed hammer (and replicas), or muzzleloading shotguns with a single ball or slug. Muzzleloaders must use black powder or a substitute with caps, #209 primers or flintlock.
Night rules are stricter. MDWFP says that from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, legal weapons are only handguns or rifles using no larger than .22 standard rimfire cartridges (no .22 magnum) and shotguns with shot no larger than No. 6. Public land can have its own seasons and rules, so check the area you plan to hunt. Season dates and bag limits change each year, so read the current MDWFP pages before you go.
FAQ
Can I order a rifle online in Mississippi?
Yes, if it ships to a licensed dealer in your state. You complete Form 4473 and pass the NICS check there. Dealers set their own transfer fees and policies.
Is there a caliber limit for deer in Mississippi?
MDWFP says there are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive weapon season has its own list of legal weapons, so check which season you are hunting.
Do I need hunter education?
If you were born on or after January 1, 1972, yes. You must finish an approved course before you can buy a hunting license.
Official links
- MDWFP general hunting rules: https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/general-hunting-rules-regulations
- MDWFP hunting license requirements: https://www.mdwfp.com/licenses-permits/hunting-license-requirements
- 27 CFR 478.99: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-478.99
- 27 CFR 478.102: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-478.102
- 27 CFR 478.96: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-478.96
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
