Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Ingham County. The capital sits where three counties meet, Ingham, Eaton and Clinton, so which county clerk takes your CPL application depends on which side of the line you live. The buying mix is typical mid-Michigan: carry pistols in town, deer rifles in the townships.
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. At the counter you fill out Form 4473 and the dealer runs the background check; for a pistol they also complete Michigan's Pistol Sales Record. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door.
Dealers in these communities all work for Lansing-area buyers:
A Michigan CPL is issued through your county clerk, so Lansing-area residents apply in person with the Ingham, Eaton or Clinton County Clerk. You need an 8-hour pistol safety course from a certified instructor (at least 5 hours of classroom and 3 hours on a range), the RI-012 application, photo ID and the $100 fee, plus $15 where the county takes fingerprints. You must be 21. See our Michigan CPL guide for the whole process.
Lansing is in Zone 3, the southern Lower Peninsula. Much of southern Michigan used to be in the limited firearms deer zone, where rifles had to fire straight-wall cartridges. That zone was eliminated for 2026: from September 12, 2026 any legal firearm, including bottleneck rifles like the .308, .270 and 6.5 Creedmoor, can be used. Regular firearm season is November 15–30, with a December firearm season Dec. 4–6, 2026. Semi-automatics used for deer may hold no more than six rounds combined.
The DNR's Rose Lake Shooting Range, north-east of East Lansing, is one of the state's staffed public ranges and the easy place to sight in before the season.
Source: Michigan DNR shooting range list, September 2026. Hours, fees and membership rules vary; call before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in East Lansing, Okemos, Holt, Lansing or anywhere in Ingham County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the federal background check.
Not when you buy from a licensed dealer. The dealer runs the NICS check and completes Michigan's Pistol Sales Record (form RI-060); keep your copy with the pistol for the first 30 days. A License to Purchase from local police is needed for private sales instead.
In person with the Ingham, Eaton or Clinton County Clerk. Bring your RI-012 application, your certificate from an 8-hour pistol safety course (at least 5 hours of classroom and 3 on the range), photo ID and the $100 fee; counties that take fingerprints charge $15 more. You must be 21.
Lansing is in Zone 3, the southern Lower Peninsula. Much of southern Michigan used to be in the limited firearms deer zone, where rifles had to fire straight-wall cartridges. That zone was eliminated for 2026: from September 12, 2026 any legal firearm, including bottleneck rifles like the .308, .270 and 6.5 Creedmoor, can be used. Regular firearm season is November 15–30, with a December firearm season Dec. 4–6, 2026. Semi-automatics used for deer may hold no more than six rounds combined.
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.
Yes, if you hunt thick cover or small woodlots. A .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster is short, light and hits hard inside 150 yards. Since 2026 it is no longer required anywhere in Michigan, so buy it because it fits how you hunt, not because the law forces it.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our Michigan gun law overview and ask a Michigan attorney about your own situation.