How to Sell a Gun: Your Options, the Law, and Getting a Fair Price

Selling a firearm is legal and straightforward when you do it right. Whether you're thinning a collection, upgrading, or just need cash, you have five main options — each with different payouts, speed, and paperwork.

Your Five Options for Selling a Gun

1. Sell to a Local Gun Store

Most licensed dealers buy used firearms outright. It's the fastest lawful sale: walk in with the gun (transported legally and unloaded), show ID, accept the offer, done. The dealer logs the firearm into their licensed inventory, which fully documents the transfer.

Expect an offer below private-sale value — the shop resells at market price and needs margin. Cash-flow-wise it's immediate, and there's zero legal risk about who ends up with the gun.

2. Sell or Pawn at a Licensed Pawn Shop

Pawn shops with an ATF Type 02 license — roughly 5,900 of them operate in the US — can buy firearms outright or make a pawn loan against them. Pawning gets you cash while keeping the option to redeem your gun; note that redeeming a pawned firearm requires completing Form 4473 and a background check, just like a purchase.

Use our city pages to find licensed gun-buying pawn shops near you — every listing holds an active pawnbroker FFL.

3. Consign Through a Gun Store

The shop displays and sells your firearm for a percentage (commonly 10-25%). You net more than a cash offer, but you wait until it sells. Best for higher-value or collectible pieces where the retail price gap justifies the wait.

4. Sell on an Online Marketplace

Auction and listing sites reach national buyers and usually bring the highest price. The sale still runs through the FFL system: you ship to a licensed dealer near the buyer, who completes the transfer paperwork and background check. Factor in listing fees, shipping, and your time.

5. Private Sale

Selling face-to-face to another individual in your own state is legal under federal law if the buyer isn't prohibited and your state allows it — but more than 20 states now require private sales to go through an FFL for a background check. Check our state gun laws guide before selling privately, and never sell across state lines without routing through a dealer.

How to Get a Fair Price

• Research sold prices, not asking prices. Completed online auctions show what your make/model/condition actually brings.
• Get multiple offers. Call two or three licensed buyers — offers on the same gun routinely vary 20-40%.
• Be honest about condition. Bore condition, finish wear, and box & papers move the price meaningfully.
• Match the venue to the gun. Common field-grade guns sell fine to a dealer; collectible or high-value pieces deserve consignment or auction.

The Legal Side, Briefly

• Selling to any FFL (store or pawn shop): always legal, fully documented, no background check on you.
• Private in-state sale: legal federally, but state law may require an FFL-brokered transfer, a permit, or registration.
• Interstate sale: must go through an FFL in the buyer's state. No exceptions for online buyers.
• Never sell to someone you suspect is prohibited — that's a federal felony regardless of your state's private-sale rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pawn shops buy guns?

Yes — pawn shops holding an ATF Type 02 pawnbroker license can legally buy, pawn, and sell firearms. There are roughly 5,900 licensed firearms pawnbrokers in the US. Our directory lists the licensed gun-buying pawn shops in each city.

Do I need a background check to sell my gun?

The buyer is the one checked, not you. Selling to any licensed dealer or pawnbroker requires no background check on you as the seller. For private sales, over 20 states require the transfer to go through an FFL so the buyer gets a background check — check your state law.

How much will a gun store or pawn shop pay for my gun?

Expect offers meaningfully below private-sale market value — dealers resell at market price and need margin. Condition, demand, and local inventory drive the number. Getting quotes from two or three licensed buyers is the single best way to avoid a lowball.

Can I sell a gun to someone in another state?

Not directly. Federal law requires interstate transfers to go through an FFL in the buyer's state. Ship the firearm to a licensed dealer near the buyer, who completes the paperwork and background check.

Is it better to sell or consign my gun?

Selling outright pays immediately but less. Consignment through a gun store typically nets more after the shop's cut (often 10-25%), but you wait until it sells. For valuable or collectible firearms, consignment or online auction usually beats a cash offer.