NFA Items | Maine Concealed Carry

NFA Items in Maine

Maine is generally permissive toward NFA-regulated items, with no state-level bans on most categories beyond what federal law requires. The key state statutes governing NFA items are found in Title 17-A, Chapter 43 (Weapons) of the Maine Revised Statutes.

Machine Guns

Maine regulates machine guns under Title 17-A, §1051–§1052.

• Definition: A "machine gun" is defined as "a weapon of any description, by whatever name known, loaded or unloaded, which is capable of discharging a number of projectiles in rapid succession by one manual or mechanical action on the trigger or firing mechanism" (§1051(2)).
• General prohibition: Possession of a machine gun "without authority" is a Class D crime (§1051(1), (3)).
• NFA exemption: Machine guns "manufactured, acquired, transferred or possessed in accordance with the National Firearms Act, as amended, shall be exempt from this chapter" (§1052). This means civilians who hold a valid federal NFA tax stamp and registration may lawfully possess machine guns in Maine.
• Law enforcement/military exemption: Law enforcement officers (Maine and other states), members of the Armed Forces, Maine National Guard, and Maine State Guard may possess machine guns in the discharge of official duties when authorized by their appointing authority (§1052).

Practical effect: Pre-May 1986 registered machine guns (transferable under federal law) are legal to possess in Maine with proper ATF registration and tax stamp.

Suppressors (Silencers)

Suppressors are legal in Maine for both general possession and hunting use.

• No state permit required for hunting: Maine formerly required a permit from the Warden Service to hunt with a suppressor. That requirement has been removed. Per the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: "a person no longer needs a permit from Warden Service to hunt with a suppressor device."
• Federal tax stamp still required: Anyone possessing "a firearm fitted or contrived with any device for deadening the sound of the explosion" must obtain the appropriate tax stamp from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) (Maine IFW hunting regulations).
• Maine has no additional state-level registration or permitting requirements beyond the federal NFA process.

Short-Barreled Rifles (SBRs)

Maine does not impose a state-level prohibition on short-barreled rifles beyond federal requirements.

• Federal definition (18 U.S.C. § 921(8)): A rifle with one or more barrels less than 16 inches in length, or any weapon made from a rifle with an overall length of less than 26 inches.
• SBRs are legal to possess in Maine with proper ATF Form 4 registration and $200 federal tax stamp.

Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBSs)

Maine does not impose a state-level prohibition on short-barreled shotguns beyond federal requirements.

• Federal definition (18 U.S.C. § 921(6)): A shotgun with one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length of less than 26 inches.
• SBSs are legal to possess in Maine with proper ATF registration and $200 federal tax stamp.

Destructive Devices

No Maine state statute in the available sources prohibits destructive devices that are lawfully registered under the NFA.

• Federal definition (18 U.S.C. § 921(4)): Includes bombs, grenades, rockets (propellant charge over 4 oz), mines, and similar devices, as well as any weapon with a bore diameter exceeding one-half inch (with exceptions for sporting shotguns).
• Possession requires ATF registration and $200 federal tax stamp.

Any Other Weapons (AOWs)

Maine does not separately regulate AOWs at the state level.

• AOWs are a federal NFA catch-all category covering items like pen guns, cane guns, and smooth-bore pistols.
• Federal tax stamp for AOWs is $5 for transfers (compared to $200 for other NFA items); manufacturing tax is $200.

Hunting Restrictions on NFA Items

While NFA items are broadly legal to possess in Maine, specific hunting regulations apply (Maine IFW):

• Automatic firearms may not be used for hunting. Maine law prohibits hunting with "any automatic firearm (a firearm that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back)."
• Semi-automatic magazine limits for hunting: Auto-loading firearms used for hunting are limited to a magazine capacity of 5 cartridges (plus 1 in the chamber for 6 total), unless permanently altered. Exception: .22 caliber rimfire or smaller, and auto-loading pistols with barrels under 8 inches.
• Migratory bird hunting: Shotguns limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber combined).
• Suppressors are permitted for hunting with a valid federal tax stamp (no state permit needed).

Key Statutes

Summary

Maine permits civilian possession of all major NFA item categories — machine guns, suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, destructive devices, and AOWs — provided the owner complies with federal NFA registration and tax stamp requirements. The only state-level criminal statute specifically addressing NFA items is the machine gun law (§1051–§1052), which expressly exempts NFA-registered items. Suppressors may be used for hunting without a state permit. Automatic firearms, while legal to possess, may not be used for hunting under Maine IFW regulations.