This page covers what you need to legally buy a firearm in Texas, how the FFL transfer process works through CS Firearms in Houston, and what timelines to expect when ordering online from us. We get this question a lot — partly because Texas has some of the simplest firearm purchase laws in the country, and partly because the online side adds one extra step.
Buying a firearm in Texas — the short version
Texas does not require a separate state permit to buy a long gun or a handgun. You don’t need a Texas License to Carry (LTC) to make the purchase itself — that license is for carrying a loaded handgun in public. To buy from us, you just need to be:
- 21 or older for a handgun, suppressor, or any NFA item
- 18 or older for a rifle or shotgun
- A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Not a prohibited person under federal law (no felonies, no domestic-violence misdemeanors, no involuntary commitments, etc. — full list under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g))
- Able to pass a NICS background check at the receiving FFL
Texas does not impose a magazine capacity limit, an “assault weapon” ban, or a waiting period on most firearms. Suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBS), and machine guns are all legal to own in Texas with the appropriate ATF tax stamp.
How the transfer works when you order from CS Firearms
We ship from Houston. We are a federally licensed dealer (FFL 5-74-201-01-3C-28193). Because we don’t run a physical retail counter, every firearm purchase is shipped to a local FFL near you for the actual transfer and background check.
- You order through the website. At checkout, give us the email and contact info for your local FFL — or pick from the list we’ve worked with before.
- Your local FFL emails us a copy of their license. If they’re already in our system, we already have it. If not, this typically takes 24–48 business hours.
- We ship the firearm to your FFL. Usually UPS or FedEx, signature required. Most domestic shipments take 3–5 business days.
- You go to the receiving FFL with photo ID. They run the NICS background check, you fill out the ATF Form 4473, and (assuming you pass) you walk out with the firearm.
What the receiving FFL will charge
The transfer fee is set by the receiving dealer, not by us. In the Houston / Greater Texas market, transfer fees are typically $25 to $40 per firearm, with some shops adding a small NICS fee on top. Suppressors and other NFA items usually cost more (often $50–$100) because the dealer has to handle the Form 4 paperwork. Call your local FFL and ask up front — every shop is different.
NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, SBS, machine guns)
Most of the Class 3 inventory we list — suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns — requires a $200 ATF tax stamp and an approved Form 4 transfer. Wait times for Form 4 approval have ranged from 30 days to 12+ months depending on ATF backlog and whether you file as an individual or through a gun trust. We ship the item from our FFL/SOT directly to your local NFA-licensed dealer; they hold it during the wait, then transfer it to you on approval.
You can file the Form 4 yourself, but most buyers use a gun trust attorney for $99–$200. Trust ownership lets multiple people use the item legally and simplifies estate transfer.
What we don’t ship
- California, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, Illinois — many items we list (Polymer80 frames, threaded barrels, >10-round mags, certain rifles) are restricted by state law. We don’t try to navigate those. Check your state’s roster before ordering.
- To non-FFLs — we cannot legally ship a firearm to a residential address, even within Texas. The receiving FFL transfer is mandatory for every firearm sale.
Questions before you order?
If you’re unsure whether your state allows a specific item, or whether your situation qualifies you to receive a firearm transfer, email us at [email protected] or call (713) 444-0189. We’d rather take the question up front than have you eat the return-shipping cost.