---
title: "Which firearm sales or deliveries are prohibited under federal regulation? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR sources."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/firearms-law/prohibited-firearm-sales-and-deliveries
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# Which firearm sales or deliveries are prohibited under federal regulation? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR sources.

Under 27 CFR 478.99 (current through April 19, 2024), licensees may not sell or deliver firearms to residents of other states unless the long-gun rules of § 478.96(c) are met or the firearm is loaned temporarily for lawful sporting purposes. No one under 18 may receive firearms or ammunition, and no one under 21 may receive handguns or handgun ammunition. Sales are barred to felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users, the dishonorably discharged, domestic-violence misdemeanants, certain aliens, and those intending furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking offense. Licensed dealers may not willfully transfer armor piercing ammunition.

## Details / How it works

- **Interstate restriction:** A licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector may not sell or deliver any firearm to a non-licensee who does not reside in (or maintain a place of business in) the State where the licensee's premises are located, subject to two carve-outs.
- **Age limits:** Firearms or ammunition cannot be sold or delivered to anyone under 18, and handguns (and their ammunition) cannot be sold or delivered to anyone under 21.
- **Prohibited categories:** No person may sell or dispose of any firearm or ammunition to someone they know or have reasonable cause to believe is a convicted felon (crime punishable over one year), a fugitive from justice, an unlawful user of or addict to controlled substances, adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution at age 16 or older, illegally or unlawfully present or a covered nonimmigrant alien, dishonorably discharged, a renounced citizen, subject to a qualifying intimate-partner protective order, convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or intending furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, drug trafficking offense, or transfer to a prohibited person.
- **Armor piercing ammunition:** Licensed dealers may not willfully transfer armor piercing ammunition.
- **Straw purchases and high-risk shipments:** Knowingly purchasing or conspiring to purchase a firearm for a prohibited person, and shipping or transporting firearms whose use or possession would constitute a felony for the recipient, are unlawful.
- **Transferee certification tie-in:** Under § 478.124, transferees must certify on Form 4473 that they are not prohibited and do not intend sale or disposition to prohibited persons or in furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking offense.

## Numbers & thresholds

Key numeric rules set by the regulation:

| Rule | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Minimum age — firearms, ammunition generally | 18 years |
| Minimum age — handguns and handgun ammunition | 21 years |
| Felony-level conviction bar | Crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding 1 year |
| Mental adjudication/commitment bar | At 16 years of age or older |
| Dealer armor-piercing inventory exception | Received prior to August 28, 1986 |

Each figure above is drawn directly from 27 CFR 478.99 as currently amended through April 19, 2024.

## Exceptions & edge cases

- **Long guns to out-of-state residents:** The interstate ban does not apply to rifle or shotgun sales (curio or relic, for licensed collectors) fully meeting the requirements of § 478.96(c).
- **Temporary sporting loans:** Loans or rentals for temporary lawful sporting purposes (§ 478.97) fall outside the interstate prohibition.
- **Armor piercing ammunition manufacturing/importing:** Permitted solely for U.S. or State departments and agencies, exportation, or Director-authorized testing or experimentation under § 478.149.
- **Nonimmigrant-visa alien exceptions:** Exceptions cover admissions for lawful hunting or sporting (or a valid hunting license), accredited foreign-government officials and missions, State Department-designated distinguished visitors acting in official capacity, and friendly foreign law-enforcement officers on official business.
- **Pre-1986 dealer inventory:** Armor piercing ammunition held before August 28, 1986 may be transferred to U.S., State, or local agencies if recorded under § 478.125(c); violations expose the dealer to license revocation.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 27 CFR 478.99 — Certain prohibited sales or deliveries · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-478.99 · as of 2026-08-26
- [2] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 27 CFR 478.124 — Firearms transaction record · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-478.124 · as of 2026-08-26