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Buying Guns, Ammo and Range Gear in Pennsylvania
A gun ordered online ships to a federally licensed dealer near you. At pickup you fill out ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs the Pennsylvania Instant Check System through the State Police. Below: the steps, national retailers, Pennsylvania store towns and range gear.
Photo: formatc1 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Buying a gun online in Pennsylvania, step by step
Ammunition and accessories follow each seller’s own shipping rules; only firearms must pass through a dealer.
1. Order and choose a dealer
Buy on the retailer’s site and pick a licensed dealer (FFL) near you at checkout.
2. Shipping goes to the FFL
A firearm bought online goes to the dealer’s licensed premises, never to a Pennsylvania front porch. Expect a call from the shop once it lands.
3. Form 4473 and PICS
You complete ATF Form 4473 and the dealer runs the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, which the State Police launched in 1998. Most checks finish in a few minutes.
4. Fees at the counter
The State Police charge $2.00 per PICS check plus a $3.00 surcharge for each taxable firearm from a dealer. Dealers may add their own transfer fee.
PICS fees and process from the Pennsylvania State Police, Firearms Information page, checked Oct 12, 2026; dealer shipping per the federal transfer process (ATF).
PICS fees and denials, as the State Police publish them
What the check costs, who keeps which fee, and what happens when a sale is denied.
- The fee for a PICS check for a firearm purchase or transfer is $2.00, per transaction regardless of how many firearms are purchased or transferred at that time (18 Pa.C.S. 6111(b)(3)). It is the only fee required for the check on a private sale or transfer.
- A $3.00 surcharge is added for each firearm subject to tax bought from a licensed dealer (18 Pa.C.S. 6111.2(a)). Example from PSP: three firearms in one dealer transaction = $2.00 PICS fee + $9.00 surcharges = $11.00 to PSP.
- Some licensed dealers may charge their own fees associated with a PICS check; that money does not go to PSP.
- A buyer denied in error can file the PICS challenge form within 30 days of the denial; PSP answers in writing within five business days of a valid challenge and gives a final decision within 60 days.
- The License to Carry a Firearm costs $19.00 in total, payable to the county sheriff.
As published by the Pennsylvania State Police, checked Oct 12, 2026. Not legal advice; ask the dealer or PSP about your own case.
Online and national sellers
No affiliate tags on these retailer links.
| Retailer | Departments | Pennsylvania stores |
|---|---|---|
| Sportsman's Warehouse | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Altoona, Camp Hill, Chambersburg, Erie, Pittsburgh, Warminster and Washington |
| Palmetto State Armory | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Bass Pro Shops | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Harrisburg |
| Cabela's | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Hamburg |
| Brownells | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| MidwayUSA | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Guns.com | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| OpticsPlanet | Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Primary Arms | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Altoona, Harrisburg and York |
| Bud's Gun Shop | Long guns and pistols Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Lucky Gunner | Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
| Target Sports USA | Ammunition Accessories | Online orders |
Department links from each retailer site (list checked Oct 9, 2026). Pennsylvania store towns only where the chain’s own locator rows are in our services list (October 12, 2026).
Big-box gun counters by Pennsylvania town
12 stores in 10 towns: Sportsman's Warehouse 7, Bass Pro Shops 1, Cabela's 1 and Academy Sports + Outdoors 3.
| Town | County | Store | Address | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | Blair County | Sportsman's Warehouse Altoona | 141 Sierra Drive | locator |
| Altoona | Blair County | Academy Sports + Outdoors Altoona | 415 Orchard Avenue Suite 7 | locator |
| Camp Hill | Cumberland County | Sportsman's Warehouse Camp Hill | 3500 Capital City Mall Drive | locator |
| Chambersburg | Franklin County | Sportsman's Warehouse Chambersburg | 3285 Black Gap Rd. | locator |
| Erie | Erie County | Sportsman's Warehouse Erie | 2075 Interchange Rd | locator |
| Hamburg | Berks County | Cabela's Hamburg | 100 Cabela Drive | locator |
| Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Bass Pro Shops Harrisburg | 3501 Paxton St | locator |
| Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Academy Sports + Outdoors Harrisburg | 5125 Jonestown Road | locator |
| Pittsburgh | Allegheny County | Sportsman's Warehouse Pittsburgh | 120 Quinn Drive | locator |
| Warminster | Bucks County | Sportsman's Warehouse Warminster | 970 West Street Road | locator |
| Washington | Washington County | Sportsman's Warehouse Washington | 60 Old Mill Boulevard | locator |
| York | York County | Academy Sports + Outdoors York | 2801 East Market Street Suite 24 | locator |
From the Sportsman’s Warehouse, Bass Pro, Cabela’s and Academy store locators in our Pennsylvania services list, checked October 12, 2026. Local gun shops and archery shops are on each county page.
Range kit on Amazon
Ear and eye protection that every club and game lands range expects, plus bench gear for sight-in day.
Amazon links are affiliate links; a purchase may earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Amazon does not sell guns or ammunition.
Electronic earmuffs
Ear protection is the first rule posted at Game Commission ranges and club gates alike.
Sight-in targets
State Game Lands ranges supply nothing, so bring your own paper and frames.
Front rest and rear bag
Useful on Game Commission benches, which are bare concrete or wood.
For trap, skeet and sporting clays
For archery practice
Pennsylvania gun buying, asked and answered
Will an online gun purchase come to my door in Pennsylvania?
No. It ships to a licensed dealer, who has you fill out Form 4473 and runs the PICS check before handing it over.
What does the PICS check cost?
$2.00 per transaction, plus $3.00 for each taxable firearm bought from a dealer; three guns in one sale come to $11.00 for the State Police. Dealers may add their own fee.
What if PICS denies me?
The dealer tells you about your right to challenge. File the PICS challenge form within 30 days; the State Police reply within five business days and decide within 60 days.
Does ammo have to go through an FFL?
Not under the federal transfer rule for firearms; most online sellers ship ammo to the buyer, often with an adult signature. Check each seller’s policy.
Which big-box chains sell guns in Pennsylvania stores?
Sportsman's Warehouse (Altoona, Camp Hill, Chambersburg, Erie, Pittsburgh, Warminster and Washington), Bass Pro Shops (Harrisburg), Cabela's (Hamburg) and Academy Sports + Outdoors (Altoona, Harrisburg and York), per their locators.
Can I buy ammunition on Amazon?
No. Amazon sells no guns or ammunition, only range gear such as earmuffs, glasses, targets and bags.
What does a License to Carry cost?
$19.00 in total, paid to the county sheriff, per the State Police.
Where do new gun owners in Pennsylvania practice?
The Pennsylvania ranges guide lists 616 ranges, 36 of them Game Commission ranges open with a $31.97 permit or a hunting license.
Does this page earn money from its links?
Only the Amazon links can; the retailer and store links carry no commission.
Then head to the range
Other photos on this page: simonov (CC BY-SA 2.0); Chris Yarzab (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (CC BY 2.0).