Can I Build an AR-15 in Wyoming?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Yes, you can legally build an AR-15 in Wyoming. The state has no restrictions on assembling rifles from parts or 80% receivers for personal use.
What This Means for You
Wyoming follows federal law without additional state restrictions on home builds. You can manufacture rifles for personal use without registration or permits. The key requirement is that you're building for yourself, not for sale without proper licensing.
The Detail
Wyoming is one of the most gun-friendly states and places no state-level restrictions on building AR-15 rifles from parts or completing 80% receivers. You can purchase all components including barrels, uppers, lowers, and completion jigs without any state permits or registration requirements. Federal law allows you to manufacture firearms for personal use without a Federal Firearms License as long as you're not in the business of manufacturing for sale.
When building from an 80% lower receiver, you're completing the manufacturing process yourself. This means drilling the fire control pocket and trigger pin holes to create a functional lower receiver. Once completed, this becomes a firearm under federal law, but Wyoming requires no state registration or documentation of the build process.
The rifle you build must comply with federal regulations, meaning it should have at least a 16-inch barrel or be registered as a Short Barreled Rifle under the National Firearms Act. Standard AR-15 configurations with 16-inch or longer barrels fall under no special restrictions in Wyoming. You cannot legally transfer or sell a home-built firearm without ensuring compliance with federal transfer requirements.
If you later decide to sell your home-built rifle, federal law requires the buyer to pass a background check through a licensed dealer. However, private party transfers in Wyoming generally don't require background checks for rifles, though you should verify current federal requirements as these can change.
Build Impact
Wyoming's permissive laws make it straightforward to source parts and complete builds without navigating state-specific restrictions. You can focus on the technical aspects of your build rather than worrying about compliance issues that plague builders in more restrictive states.