What Are the Assault Weapon Laws in Montana?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Montana has no state-level assault weapon laws or restrictions. The state follows federal regulations only and does not ban any firearms based on cosmetic features or magazine capacity.
What This Means for You
Montana takes a hands-off approach to firearms regulation, which means you won't face state-level restrictions when building rifles with features that might be prohibited in other states. This gives builders significant freedom to configure their firearms according to federal law without worrying about additional state compliance issues. However, you still need to follow all federal regulations including NFA requirements.
The Detail
Montana operates under a preemption model where state law generally prohibits local governments from enacting their own firearms restrictions. The state constitution includes strong protections for firearms rights, and Montana lawmakers have consistently rejected assault weapon legislation. You can legally own and build rifles with adjustable stocks, pistol grips, flash hiders, and standard capacity magazines without any state-imposed restrictions.
The absence of state assault weapon laws means Montana builders only need to navigate federal requirements. This includes compliance with the National Firearms Act for short-barreled rifles, suppressors, and other NFA items. You still cannot manufacture machine guns for civilian ownership under federal law, and any firearms transfers must comply with federal background check requirements.
Montana has actually passed legislation that attempts to exempt certain Montana-made firearms from federal regulation, though the practical enforceability of these laws remains questionable given federal supremacy. The state generally supports gun rights through legislation and has minimal firearms regulations beyond what federal law requires.
For builders, this regulatory environment means you can focus on federal compliance without layering additional state requirements on top. Montana does not require registration of assault weapons because it does not define or restrict them. The state also does not limit magazine capacity or require special permits for building modern sporting rifles.
Build Impact
You can build AR-15s and similar platforms with standard features like collapsible stocks, flash hiders, and standard capacity magazines without state-level concerns. Focus your compliance efforts on federal requirements like overall length minimums and NFA regulations rather than worrying about feature restrictions.