Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in New London County. Groton calls itself the Submarine Capital of the World, home to General Dynamics Electric Boat, Naval Submarine Base New London and the Submarine Force Museum. Firearms bought here ship to a Connecticut dealer, and active-duty buyers should ask the dealer which credentials apply to them.
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 Connecticut law allows.
Connecticut requires a state credential before any dealer transfer. A handgun needs a State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers or a Handgun Eligibility Certificate, both available at 21. A long gun needs a Long Gun Eligibility Certificate (age 18), a handgun certificate or a pistol permit, and semi-automatic centerfire rifles that accept more than five rounds cannot go to anyone under 21. Certificates cost $35 and run five years. The dealer gets a DESPP authorization number after the background check, there is no fixed waiting period, and you may buy no more than three handguns in 30 days. The dealer will only transfer items legal in Connecticut.
Dealers in these communities all work for Groton-area buyers:
Carrying a handgun in Connecticut takes a two-step permit. First you apply for a temporary state permit with the local authority where you live: the police chief, or in towns without a police department the first selectman or the resident state trooper acting for the town. With that in hand you have 60 days to visit a DESPP Special Licensing and Firearms Unit office for the five-year State Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers. Each step costs $70, plus fingerprint and FBI check fees, and you need a handgun course with live fire, at least the NRA Basic Pistol level. Open carry has been barred since October 2023.
Connecticut's 2026 private-land shotgun and rifle deer season runs November 18 to December 8, and the state land no-lottery shotgun season uses the same dates. On private land you may use a 12, 16 or 20 gauge shotgun with single projectiles, a rifle of 6mm (.243) or larger, or a revolver of .357 or larger, with rifles and revolvers only on parcels of 10 acres or more. State land allows shotguns and muzzleloaders only. Muzzleloader season (.45 caliber or larger) opens December 9. Archery runs September 15 to December 31, into January in Zones 11 and 12. Sunday deer hunting is private land only.
Groton sits in Zone 12. Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in Stonington is the local waterfowl draw, and Pachaug State Forest to the north covers deer and turkey.
Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in neighboring Stonington is one of the best-known coastal marsh hunting areas in the state.
Connecticut has only a handful of shooting ranges on state land, listed by CT DEEP. Two are run for DEEP by cooperative clubs that set their own fees, and handgun shooters must show a valid Connecticut pistol permit.
Source: CT DEEP Public Shooting Opportunities page, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Ledyard, Stonington, Mystic, Groton or anywhere in New London County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
Yes. You pay online and the firearm ships to a Connecticut licensed dealer you choose. The dealer checks your pistol permit or eligibility certificate, runs the background check through DESPP for an authorization number, and confirms the item is legal in Connecticut before release.
Connecticut counties have no government, so the temporary state permit comes from the police chief of your town, or the first selectman or resident state trooper in towns without a police department. DESPP then issues the five-year state permit.
No. The catalog is a national distributor list. Rifles, pistols and shotguns that meet Connecticut's assault weapon definition and magazines that hold more than 10 rounds cannot be transferred here, so the Connecticut dealer will only hand over items that are legal in the state.
Yes. Buyers must be 18 or older and show a pistol permit, a handgun or long gun eligibility certificate, or a DESPP ammunition certificate with photo ID. The same rule applies to buying magazines.
Only on private land of at least 10 acres with the landowner's written permission, during the private-land shotgun and rifle season, using a rifle of 6mm (.243) or larger. Rifles are not allowed for deer on state land, where shotguns and muzzleloaders are the rule.
A firearms hunting license, the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp, a federal duck stamp if you are 16 or older, non-toxic shot and a shotgun plugged to three shells. Check the current DEEP migratory bird guide for zones and season dates.
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 Connecticut gun law overview and check with the police chief (or first selectman) of your town in New London County or a local attorney about your own situation.