Buying a Gun Online in Rhode Island and Hunting Rifles for Rhode Island Game

Short answer: You can order a rifle or shotgun online and have it shipped to a licensed dealer. You finish the paperwork at the dealer. Rhode Island law adds a 7-day wait on rifle and shotgun sales and says the buyer must be 21 or older. Also, the state deer-hunting law lists only a shotgun, a muzzle-loading rifle, a long bow or a crossbow. A centerfire rifle is not on that list.

How buying a gun online works

You pick the gun online. The seller ships it to a licensed dealer (FFL) near you, not to your house.
At the dealer you fill out ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs your background check.
Federal rule: a dealer may not sell a rifle or shotgun to anyone they know is under 18. For other firearms (such as handguns) the federal age is 21 (27 CFR 478.99).
Federal rule: a dealer may not transfer a gun to you if buying or having it would break the law of your state (27 CFR 478.99).

Rhode Island rules, as shown in the state statutes

Topic	What the law says	Source
Waiting period, rifles and shotguns	No one may deliver a rifle or shotgun to a buyer until 7 days have passed, counted from noon of the day after the application.	R.I. Gen. Laws 11-47-35.2
Age, rifles and shotguns	The buyer must be 21 or older.	R.I. Gen. Laws 11-47-35.2
Out-of-state buyers	The law has special handling for buyers who live out of state. Ask your dealer how it applies to you before you order.	R.I. Gen. Laws 11-47-35.2
Magazines	A large capacity feeding device is one that holds, or can readily be extended to hold, more than 10 rounds for a semi-automatic firearm. The law bans making, selling, buying or holding one, with exceptions such as federally licensed dealers and law enforcement. The chapter took effect June 20, 2022.	R.I. Gen. Laws 11-47.1-2 and 11-47.1-3
Deer hunting arms	Only a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, long bow or crossbow and arrow may be used in deer hunting.	R.I. Gen. Laws 20-15-1

Laws change. Check current rules with the Rhode Island Attorney General, the state police or your dealer. Your dealer will know how these rules apply to your exact purchase.

Hunting basics in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Fish and Wildlife, runs hunting and publishes the yearly Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guide. Before you buy a license or plan a hunt, read the current DEM guide for the license you need, the hunter education rules, the season dates, bag limits and the game species.

Choosing a rifle for Rhode Island game

This is the key point: under state law a centerfire rifle is not on the list of arms allowed for deer. So a bolt-action deer rifle is the wrong buy for deer hunting in Rhode Island. What is on the list:

A shotgun (check DEM for slug and shot rules).
A muzzle-loading rifle (check DEM for the caliber and ammunition rules).
A long bow or crossbow.

For other game, such as small game or varmints, the rules differ by species and season. Read the DEM guide for what arms are legal before you buy.

FAQ

Can I have a rifle shipped to my house in Rhode Island?

No. Have it shipped to a licensed dealer. You complete Form 4473 and the background check there, and the state's 7-day wait for rifles and shotguns applies.

How old do I need to be?

Federal rules set 18 for a rifle or shotgun from a dealer. Rhode Island's rifle and shotgun sale law says the buyer must be 21 or older, so plan on 21 and confirm with your dealer.

Can I hunt deer in Rhode Island with a centerfire rifle?

Not under the state deer-hunting law (R.I. Gen. Laws 20-15-1). It lists a shotgun, muzzle-loading rifle, long bow or crossbow. Check the current DEM guide before you hunt.