Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Bernalillo County. Albuquerque dominates New Mexico's firearm market, spanning from the volcanic West Mesa to the Sandia foothills. Customers include Kirtland personnel, Sandia engineers seeking handguns, and East Mountain ranchers who keep rifles in their vehicles. Orders ship to FFL dealers across the metro area.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where New Mexico law allows.
New Mexico does not require a purchase permit or firearm registration. All sales, including most private transactions, must go through a federal NICS background check conducted by a licensed dealer. State law imposes a seven-calendar-day waiting period before the firearm can be transferred. Exemptions apply to New Mexico concealed handgun license holders, FFL licensees, and immediate family transfers. At pickup, buyers must present photo ID and complete ATF Form 4473. The minimum age is 18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns.
Dealers in these communities all work for Albuquerque-area buyers:
Open carry of handguns is legal in New Mexico for eligible adults. A loaded firearm may be kept in a personal vehicle without a license. Concealed carry of a loaded handgun while on foot requires a concealed handgun license issued by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, not the county. Applicants must be 21, state residents, and complete a 15-hour approved course. The license fee is $100, valid for four years. Restrictions apply in schools, courthouses, liquor establishments, and tribal lands.
Hunting in New Mexico is managed by the Department of Wildlife, which oversees Game Management Units and hunt codes. The annual big-game draw determines most deer, elk, and pronghorn licenses, with the 2026-27 draw closing on March 18, 2026. Rifle seasons for deer and elk typically run from October to December, with specific dates listed by hunt code in the 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information booklet. Legal big-game firearms include centerfire rifles .22 caliber or larger with expanding bullets; full metal jacket and tracer rounds are prohibited.
The city covers GMU 8 north of I-40 and GMU 14 to the south. Nearby public hunting lands include the Sandia and Manzano districts of the Cibola National Forest, with most tags issued through the draw system.
Shooting Range Park on the West Mesa is a popular spot for local shooters, while elk hunters use Albuquerque as a base for trips into the Jemez and Gila regions.
The public ranges on the city pages are run or listed by the state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest, chosen by distance from each city. Licenses, passes and hours are the agency's; some public ranges restrict rapid fire or large-format pistols, so read the rules.
Source: State wildlife agency and public-land range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Albuquerque or anywhere in Bernalillo County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. New Mexico does not require a purchase permit. Buyers must pass a NICS check and complete Form 4473 at the licensed dealer near Albuquerque who receives the shipment.
Yes, for most transactions. State law mandates a seven-calendar-day wait between sale and firearm transfer. New Mexico concealed handgun license holders are exempt. A federal court injunction currently applies only to the specific plaintiffs in the case, so dealers continue to enforce the waiting period for others.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety handles all concealed handgun license issuance statewide; the county sheriff does not. Applicants must be 21, state residents, and complete a 15-hour approved training course.
Yes, as a pistol without a stock, wherever the pistol is legal; some cities and states restrict pistol features, which the city page notes. A light and a red dot are the useful additions.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Concealed Carry Unit or a local attorney about your own situation.