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Missouri guns and range gear
Missouri Gun Buying Basics: Dealer Transfers, MDC Gun Rules and Range Gear
A gun bought from an online seller ships to a federally licensed dealer (FFL) you choose, not to your house. At the dealer you complete ATF Form 4473, the dealer runs the federal background check and charges a transfer fee, and then you take the gun home. This page does not summarize Missouri purchase law; it covers the MDC hunting rules on legal guns, the chain stores we checked and range gear.
Photo: HeyRocker (CC BY 2.0)
Online gun orders: the federal dealer path in four steps
Only the gun goes through the dealer under these federal steps; a Missouri dealer can explain anything state law adds.
1. Choose an FFL at checkout
Enter a licensed dealer close to home as the shipping destination.
2. The gun ships to that dealer
It arrives at the dealer’s licensed premises and the shop calls you.
3. Fill in Form 4473
Bring photo ID, complete the form at the counter and wait for the background check.
4. Pay the transfer fee
Every dealer sets its own fee for a shipped-in gun, so ask before ordering.
Federal transfer steps per ATF. Missouri purchase rules are not summarized here; ask the dealer.
Missouri hunting rules that touch a new gun
From MDC’s booklets and the Wildlife Code: which firearms are legal for deer, elk and bear, the alternative methods portion, hunter orange, nontoxic shot, shooting on MDC areas and hunter education.
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deer, elk and bear firearms | Centerfire rifles and handguns with expanding bullets (lead or copper), shotguns with slugs (incl. .410), air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from an external source, muzzleloaders and cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (incl. handguns), bows, crossbows, atlatls (not bear), air bows. | Wildlife Code |
| Not legal for deer, elk, bear | Self-loading firearms holding more than 11 rounds (concealable firearms excepted, not for taking game), buckshot/multiple projectiles, full metal jacket, fully automatic, electronic calls. | Wildlife Code |
| Alternative methods portion | Muzzleloaders/cap-and-ball .40+, centerfire handguns, air-powered guns .40+, bows, crossbows, atlatls. | MDC booklet |
| Hunter orange | Hunter-orange hat AND shirt, vest or coat, visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not count. Blaze pink is not mentioned. | MDC booklet |
| Nontoxic shot | Required for waterfowl and coots statewide; for doves on 26 areas and all shotgun hunting on 46 MDC areas. | MDC |
| Shooting from roads | No taking wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow or crossbow. | 3 CSR 10-7.405 |
| Stands on MDC areas | Portable stands Sept. 1-Jan. 31 only, labeled, no nails or screw-in steps; blinds removed daily; no mineral blocks or salt on MDC areas. | MDC |
| Target shooting on MDC areas | On MDC areas with a range, only at the designated range; no alcohol on ranges or their parking lots; groups over 10 need a special use permit. | MDC area rule |
| Hunter education | Required to buy firearms permits or act as a mentor for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, unless 15 or younger hunting with a certified/exempt adult, using an Apprentice Hunter Authorization (16+), a landowner using resident landowner permits on own land, or developmentally disabled (3 CSR 10-5.205). Other states' courses accepted. | MDC |
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026 hunting and trapping summary, the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest and the Wildlife Code of Missouri (3 CSR 10), checked October 29, 2026. This is not a summary of Missouri firearm purchase law.
Missouri sporting goods chains, listed by town
24 stores in 18 towns: Academy Sports + Outdoors 12, Bass Pro Shops 7, Dunham's Sports 4 and Cabela's 1. Several chains share Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and Poplar Bluff.
| Town | Street | County | Chain | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belton | 510 E Markey Pkwy | Cass | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Branson | 1 Bass Pro Dr | Taney | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| Cape Girardeau | 270 Shirley Drive | Cape Girardeau | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Columbia | 2651 Trimble Road | Boone | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Columbia | 3101 Bass Pro Dr | Boone | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| Hannibal | 521 Huck Finn Shop. Ctr. | Marion | Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | source |
| Hazelwood | 5555 St Louis Mills Boulevard | St. Louis | Cabela's | Firearm-order notice | source |
| Independence | 18001 Bass Pro Dr | Jackson | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| Jefferson City | 739 Stoneridge Parkway | Cole | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Jefferson City | 3600 Country Club Drive | Cole | Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | source |
| Joplin | 1717 South Range Line Road | Jasper | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Joplin | 101 Range Line Rd. Bldg D | Jasper | Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | source |
| Kansas City | 9130 Northwest Skyview Avenue | Platte | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Liberty | 269 S Stewart Rd | Clay | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Manchester | 14260 Manchester Rd | St. Louis | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Poplar Bluff | 3095 Oak Grove Road | Butler | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Poplar Bluff | 763 N Westwood Blvd | Butler | Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | source |
| Rolla | 1575 West Side Drive | Phelps | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Springfield | 610 West El Camino Alto Drive | Greene | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Springfield | 1 Bass Pro Dr | Greene | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| Springfield | 2011 S Campbell Avenue | Greene | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| St. Charles | 1365 South 5th St | St. Charles | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
| St. Peters | 5214 I-70 North Outer Rd | St. Charles | Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms + Ammo dept. | source |
| Sunset Hills | 3600 South Lindbergh Blvd | St. Louis | Bass Pro Shops | Firearm-order notice | source |
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s rows from the stores.basspro.com and stores.cabelas.com store pages; Academy Sports + Outdoors rows from academy.com store pages; Dunham’s Sports rows from the store list on dunhamssports.com. Retrieved October 29, 2026. Scheels (refused automated reads), Rural King, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Walmart and local gun shops are not in this list; local gun shops are on the county pages.
Department links and Missouri store towns by chain
Plain links to the national departments of Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and Academy, with no affiliate codes; Dunham’s shows its Missouri towns. Store staff can explain what they may sell you.
| Retailer | Departments or note | Missouri stores |
|---|---|---|
| Bass Pro Shops | Firearms Ammunition Accessories | Branson, Columbia, Independence, Springfield, Springfield, St. Charles and Sunset Hills |
| Cabela's | Firearms Ammunition Accessories | Hazelwood |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Firearms Ammunition Accessories | Belton, Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Liberty, Manchester, Poplar Bluff, Rolla, Springfield and St. Peters |
| Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin and Poplar Bluff |
Department links from each retailer site (list checked Oct 9, 2026). Store towns from the Missouri store rows (October 29, 2026).
Which guns and bows each Missouri season allows
Season by season, MDC’s rules on guns and bows, so a new purchase fits the Missouri hunt it is meant for.
| Season or topic | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Deer/elk/bear firearms ("any legal method") | Centerfire rifles and handguns with expanding bullets (lead or copper), shotguns with slugs (incl. .410), air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from an external source, muzzleloaders and cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (incl. handguns), bows, crossbows, atlatls (not bear), air bows. | Self-loading firearms holding more than 11 rounds (concealable firearms excepted, not for taking game), buckshot/multiple projectiles, full metal jacket, fully automatic, electronic calls. |
| Alternative methods portion | Muzzleloaders/cap-and-ball .40+, centerfire handguns, air-powered guns .40+, bows, crossbows, atlatls. | Rifles loaded other than by the muzzle; shotguns. |
| Archery deer and fall turkey | Longbows, recurve and compound bows (any draw weight), crossbows, atlatls; releases, lighted sights, scopes. | Firearms (except concealable), chemical/explosive arrows, poisons, slingshots for deer/turkey. |
| Turkey firearms (spring and fall) | Shotguns (incl. .410) with shot no larger than No. 4; also bows, crossbows, atlatls in spring. | Rifles, handguns, single-projectile firearms, shotguns holding more than 3 shells (fall), larger shot, electronic calls, live decoys, bait, dogs. |
| Migratory birds and waterfowl | Shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; nontoxic shot for waterfowl and coots; electronically switched mechanical calls for waterfowl. | Rifles, pistols, recorded/amplified calls (except crows and the light goose order), sink boxes, live decoys, bait, motor vehicles/aircraft. |
| Light goose Conservation Order | Unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, nontoxic shot. | Rifles and pistols. |
| General small game | Pistols, revolvers, rifles (single projectile), air/spring guns (not for game birds except crows), shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells (not required for deer/bear/elk), bows, crossbows, atlatls, slingshots (not bear/deer/elk/turkey). | Fully automatic firearms; poisons, drugs, explosives. |
| Frogs | .22 rimfire rifle or pistol, pellet gun, bow, crossbow, atlatl, hand, hand net; lights allowed. | Centerfire firearms. |
From MDC booklets and the Wildlife Code (p. 13, p. 20, p. 20, p. 22, p. 30, p. 14, p. 17, 3 CSR 10), checked October 29, 2026. Read the full booklet before hunting.
Where to take a new gun in Missouri
More Missouri pages for new gun owners
- Missouri shooting ranges200 listed
- Indoor ranges23 listed
- Missouri shooting events73 still to come
- Trap, skeet and clays43 listed
Missouri gun buying questions
What may I use in the alternative methods portion?
Muzzleloaders/cap-and-ball .40+, centerfire handguns, air-powered guns .40+, bows, crossbows, atlatls.
Which rifles are legal for Missouri deer?
Centerfire rifles and handguns with expanding bullets (lead or copper), shotguns with slugs (incl. .410), air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from an external source, muzzleloaders and cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (incl. handguns), bows, crossbows, atlatls (not bear), air bows.
Can I target shoot on a conservation area?
Only at the designated range on MDC areas that have one; the rest of the area is closed to target shooting.
What hunter orange does Missouri require?
Hunter-orange hat AND shirt, vest or coat, visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not count. Blaze pink is not mentioned.
Which chains are in the Missouri store table?
Academy Sports + Outdoors (12), Bass Pro Shops (7), Dunham's Sports (4) and Cabela's (1). Dunham’s does not say which stores sell firearms.
Does this page explain Missouri purchase law?
No. It covers the federal dealer step and MDC hunting rules; a Missouri dealer can explain state purchase requirements.
Which guns are legal for turkey?
Shotguns (incl. .410) with shot no larger than No. 4; also bows, crossbows, atlatls in spring.
Which bows are legal for archery deer and turkey?
Longbows, recurve and compound bows (any draw weight), crossbows, atlatls; releases, lighted sights, scopes.
Will a gun bought online be shipped to my Missouri address?
No. Under the federal process the gun ships to a licensed dealer, where you fill in Form 4473 and the dealer runs the background check before you take it.
Do the Amazon links sell ammunition?
No. Amazon does not sell guns or ammunition; the buttons lead to protection, targets, bags and archery gear, and purchases may earn this site a commission.
What does a Missouri dealer charge to transfer a gun?
There is no set price; dealers set their own transfer fees, so call before you order.
From the Missouri gun counter to the range bench
Other photos on this page: fredsharples (CC BY 2.0); Chris Yarzab (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0).