Buying a Rifle or Shotgun in Illinois

Buying a rifle or shotgun in Illinois follows much of the same process as buying a handgun, but with some differences in age requirements and additional restrictions under the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA). This guide covers what you need to know.^[1]

Short-barreled rifles and shotguns have their own rules, covered in Are SBRs and Short-Barreled Shotguns Legal in Illinois.

Who Can Buy a Rifle or Shotgun

Illinois residents purchasing a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer generally must meet the following requirements. Qualifying nonresidents may purchase under the exceptions in 430 ILCS 65/3a.

• Hold a valid FOID card
• Be at least 18 years of age. Applicants under 21 must have no nontraffic misdemeanor conviction or delinquency adjudication and must either have written consent and an affidavit from a parent or legal guardian eligible for a FOID card, or qualify as an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces or the Illinois National Guard and submit proof annually
• Present a valid government-issued identification document containing your name, residence address, date of birth, and photograph

Unlike handguns, federal law allows licensed dealers to sell rifles and shotguns to buyers who are 18 or older. An 18-to-20-year-old Illinois resident with a valid FOID card may purchase a rifle or shotgun from an FFL if the buyer and firearm meet all other applicable legal requirements.^[2]

The Purchase Process

At a Licensed Dealer

1. Select your firearm and present your valid FOID card or Illinois concealed carry license and qualifying photo ID to the dealer
2. Complete ATF Form 4473, the federal firearms transaction record
3. FTIP background check. The dealer submits your information to the Illinois State Police Firearms Transfer Inquiry Program for approval^[3]
4. 72-hour waiting period generally requires 72 hours from when you and the seller reach an agreement to purchase the rifle or shotgun before delivery, unless an exception in 720 ILCS 5/24-3(g) applies^[4]
5. Pick up your firearm after any applicable waiting period has elapsed and the dealer has received background-check approval

Through a Private Sale

Except for exempt transfers such as bona fide gifts to specified family members, private transfers of rifles and shotguns outside gun shows require either processing through an FFL or direct FOID verification and a background check through the ISP system. Private transfers at gun shows require an ISP background check under Section 3.1. The seller must retain a transfer record for at least 10 years. For a transfer under 430 ILCS 65/3(a-10), the recipient must provide a transfer record to an FFL within 10 days, and the FFL must retain it for 20 years from receipt. The 72-hour waiting period generally applies to private sales as well, subject to the exceptions in 720 ILCS 5/24-3(g).^[5]

PICA Restrictions on Rifles and Shotguns

The Protect Illinois Communities Act (Public Act 102-1116) bans the sale of certain semiautomatic rifles and shotguns. Before purchasing, confirm that the firearm you want is not on the banned list.^[6]

Banned Rifle Features

Subject to the exclusions in 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(2), a semiautomatic rifle that can accept, or may be readily modified to accept, a detachable magazine and has any one of the following features is classified as an assault weapon under PICA.

• Pistol grip, or any feature capable of functioning as a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand
• Thumbhole stock
• Folding, telescoping, thumbhole, or detachable stock, or a stock otherwise foldable or adjustable to reduce the weapon's length, size, or other dimension or enhance its concealability
• Grenade launcher
• Shroud attached to or partially or completely encircling the barrel that allows the non-trigger hand to hold the firearm without being burned, excluding a slide that encloses the barrel
• Flash suppressor

Banned Shotgun Features

PICA classifies any shotgun with a revolving cylinder as an assault weapon. Subject to the statutory exclusions, it also covers a semiautomatic shotgun with a pistol grip or thumbhole stock, a protruding grip for the non-trigger hand, a folding stock, a grenade launcher, a fixed magazine holding more than 5 rounds, or the capacity to accept a detachable magazine.

Magazine Limits

Illinois generally prohibits buying rifle magazines that hold, or can be readily restored or converted to hold, more than 10 rounds, subject to statutory exclusions and exceptions. Dealers generally cannot sell rifles with magazines exceeding this capacity unless the magazine is excluded from the statutory definition or an exception applies.^[7]

Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns

Illinois law prohibits possession of rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches, shotguns with barrels shorter than 18 inches, or any weapon made from a rifle or shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. A violation generally is a Class 3 felony with an ordinary prison term of 2 to 5 years. Violations at specified locations under 720 ILCS 5/24-1(c)(1) are Class 2 felonies with a prison term of 3 to 7 years. An exemption in 720 ILCS 5/24-2(c)(7) covers a person possessing a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches who has a federal Curios and Relics license. It also covers an active member of a bona fide, nationally recognized military re-enacting group if the modification is required for accurate historical portrayal, the person holds a valid current membership credential, and the modified weapon is at least 26 inches long. Short-barreled shotguns have no such carve-out.^[8]

After You Buy

• Transport: Under 720 ILCS 5/24-1, transport without a CCL qualifies for an exception if the weapon is broken down in a non-functioning state, is not immediately accessible, or is unloaded and enclosed in a case or other qualifying container by a person with a valid FOID card. Ammunition should be stored separately during transport.
• Storage: Comply with the Safe Gun Storage Act (430 ILCS 64) when you know or reasonably should know that a minor without the required lawful permission, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm.
• Hunting: Hunting a species protected by the Wildlife Code during an open season requires a valid Illinois hunting license unless an exemption applies, and many hunters also need state stamps or, for nonresident deer and turkey hunting, a permit.