Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Bernalillo County. Albuquerque spans the Rio Grande, with the West Mesa volcanoes to the west and the Sandia Mountains to the east. Orders ship to FFL dealers in this metro area, home to Kirtland AFB personnel, Sandia Labs engineers, and East Mountain ranchers.
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 permit to purchase or gun registration. All sales, including most private transactions, require a federal NICS background check through a licensed dealer. State law mandates a seven-calendar-day waiting period before the firearm can be transferred, though concealed handgun license holders, FFL dealers, and immediate family transfers are exempt. Buyers must present photo ID and complete ATF Form 4473 at pickup. Rifles and shotguns can be sold to those 18 and older, while handguns require the buyer to be at least 21.
Dealers in these communities all work for Albuquerque-area buyers:
Open carry of a handgun is legal in New Mexico for adults who may possess a firearm. A loaded firearm may be kept in your vehicle without a license. Carrying a concealed handgun on foot requires a concealed handgun license issued by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, not the county. Applicants must be 21, reside in New Mexico, and complete an approved course of at least 15 hours. The license costs $100 and is valid for four years. Additional restrictions apply in schools, preschools, courthouses, licensed liquor establishments, and on tribal land.
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife organizes hunts by Game Management Unit and hunt code. Most deer, elk, and pronghorn licenses are allocated through the annual big-game draw; the 2026-27 draw closed on March 18, 2026. Rifle deer and elk hunts typically occur between October and December, with specific dates listed in the 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information booklet. Legal firearms for big game include centerfire rifles of .22 caliber or larger with expanding bullets; full metal jacket and tracer ammunition are prohibited.
The city lies in GMU 8 north of I-40 and GMU 14 to the south. The Sandia and Manzano ranger districts of the Cibola National Forest are the closest public lands for big game, with most tags allocated through the draw.
Shooters visit the city's Shooting Range Park on the West Mesa, while elk hunters use the metro as a base for trips to the Jemez and Gila regions.
The public ranges listed on the city pages are run or listed by state wildlife agencies, state forests or the U.S. Forest Service. Many ask for a hunting license, a range pass or a small fee, and hours change with the season, so check the agency page before you drive.
Source: State wildlife agency, state forest and U.S. Forest Service 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 permit to purchase. You must pass a NICS background check and complete Form 4473 at the licensed dealer near Albuquerque who receives your order.
Yes, for most buyers. State law imposes a seven-calendar-day waiting period between the sale and transfer of a firearm. Concealed handgun license holders are exempt. A federal court has blocked the law only for the two plaintiffs in the lawsuit, so dealers still enforce it for others.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety issues all concealed handgun licenses in the state; the county sheriff does not. Applicants must be 21, reside in New Mexico, and complete an approved course of at least 15 hours.
Yes, where you may lawfully own one. A few cities add storage or transport rules; check the city page and your local ordinances.
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.