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Browse our inventory of handguns from top brands like Diamondback Firearms, Glock, Mossberg, Great Lakes, and Ruger / Sturm, Ruger & Co.. Chesapeake Gunslingers offers a wide selection of reliable, well-built handguns for concealed carriers, home defenders, sport shooters, and first-time buyers looking for a dependable sidearm. From compact carry pistols to full-size duty guns and classic wheelguns, we carry options to match every shooter’s preference and purpose. Explore our semi auto handguns, then stock up on handgun ammunition and handgun magazines to keep your pistol fed. Round out your kit with revolvers, derringers, single shot handguns, gun parts, and scopes sights and optics from our full lineup.
Shop handguns online by comparing models, checking current availability, and reviewing specifications such as caliber, capacity, barrel length, and sight configuration. Choosing the right pistol comes down to matching the platform to your hand size, primary use case, and carry or range preferences.
Use these pointers to guide your selection:
Buy handguns online or visit the gun shop in Fallston, Maryland to handle frames, check trigger reach, and compare slide profiles before committing to a platform. Chesapeake Gunslingers serves customers in the nearby cities of Bel Air, Whitemarsh, Forest Hill, Joppa, and Abingdon, carrying defensive carry pistols, range guns, hunting wheelguns, and compact concealment platforms.
Federal law requires handgun buyers to be at least 21 years old when purchasing from a licensed dealer, and Maryland additionally requires a Handgun Qualification License (HQL) issued by the Maryland State Police before purchasing, renting, or receiving a handgun. Buyers must complete ATF Form 4473, submit a Maryland State Police application, and observe the state’s 7-day waiting period before the transfer can be finalized. Handguns purchased in Maryland are also subject to the state’s regulated firearms list and registration requirements.
Maryland concealed carry requires a separate Wear and Carry Permit issued by the Maryland State Police, with documented good and substantial reason no longer required following recent court decisions. Maryland also limits handgun magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Store handguns in a secure container with ammunition kept separate when not in use, and contact the shop with questions about availability, transfers from out-of-state dealers, or current inventory.
A pistol is broadly any handgun, but the term most often refers to semi-automatic designs that feed from a detachable magazine. A revolver uses a rotating cylinder to hold cartridges and indexes a fresh round into battery with each trigger pull or hammer cock.
9mm Luger has become the dominant concealed carry caliber due to its balance of capacity, manageable recoil, and proven defensive performance with modern hollow point loads. Other common choices include .380 ACP for deep concealment and .45 ACP for shooters who prefer larger projectiles.
A properly fitted handgun lets you reach the trigger with the pad of your index finger while maintaining a high, centered grip with the web of your hand against the beavertail. Trying multiple frames and grip module sizes at a shop helps identify the best fit.
A striker-fired pistol uses a spring-loaded firing pin (the striker) that is partially or fully cocked by the slide cycling, eliminating the external hammer found on traditional designs. This typically produces a consistent trigger pull from the first shot to the last.
Maryland requires a Handgun Qualification License (HQL) issued by the Maryland State Police before purchasing, renting, or receiving a handgun. Buyers must complete a state-approved firearms safety training course, submit fingerprints, and pass a background check to obtain the HQL.
Single action triggers only release the hammer or striker and require manual cocking before the first shot, producing a light, short pull. Double action triggers both cock and release the hammer in one longer, heavier pull, with many designs offering both modes (DA/SA) across consecutive shots.
Carry handguns benefit from a thorough cleaning after every range session and a basic wipe-down every few weeks during regular carry, since lint, sweat, and pocket debris can accumulate inside the action. Periodic function checks with carry ammunition help confirm reliability.
Federal law requires all handgun purchases to be transferred through a licensed dealer (FFL) in the buyer’s state of residence, so online purchases must ship to a Maryland FFL for the background check and final transfer. Maryland’s HQL requirement and 7-day waiting period also apply before the buyer can take possession.
