Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Kanawha County. Charleston is the state capital, built along the Kanawha River where the Elk River joins it. State government, hospitals and the chemical plants of the Kanawha Valley employ much of the 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 West Virginia law allows.
West Virginia has no permit to purchase, no gun registration and no state waiting period. At pickup from a licensed dealer you show a valid photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473 and pass the federal NICS background check. Federal law sets the dealer minimum age at 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns. Ammunition, optics and most parts ship straight to your door in West Virginia.
Dealers in these communities all work for Charleston-area buyers:
Since May 2016, West Virginians 21 and older who can legally possess a firearm may carry concealed without a license. The state concealed handgun license, issued by the Kanawha County Sheriff, is still available and is honored by more states; adults 18 to 20 can apply for a provisional license. The license requires a qualifying firearms training course. Schools, courthouses and posted private property remain off limits.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources sets the deer seasons. For 2026 the buck firearms season opens Monday, Nov. 23 and closes Sunday, Dec. 6. Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties remain closed to firearms deer hunting. Antlerless and muzzleloader seasons vary by county; check the WVDNR hunting regulations for Kanawha County.
Kanawha County's steep hardwood ridges hold deer and turkey, and Kanawha State Forest, just south of the city, has public hunting and a WVDNR range.
The Kanawha State Forest range is minutes from downtown.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources runs 29 free public shooting ranges on wildlife management areas and state forests across the state. Check the WVDNR range page for hours and rules.
Source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources public shooting range list, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Charleston or anywhere in Kanawha County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. West Virginia has no permit to purchase. You show ID, complete Form 4473 and pass a NICS background check at the dealer who receives your order.
No. Once the background check clears, your West Virginia dealer can release the firearm the same day.
Yes, if you are 21 or older and can legally possess a firearm. A concealed handgun license from the Kanawha County Sheriff is optional and helps when you travel.
We ship every firearm to a licensed dealer near Charleston that you choose at checkout. The dealer runs the background check; ammunition and gear ship to your door.
Transfer fees are set by each dealer, commonly $25 to $50 per firearm. Ask the dealer near Charleston before you order.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources runs free public ranges on wildlife management areas and state forests; most West Virginians live within a short drive of one. Check the WVDNR range page for hours.
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 West Virginia gun law overview and check with Kanawha County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.