Missouri NFA Items

State Law: Lawful If Federally Registered

Missouri permits the possession, manufacture, transfer, and use of National Firearms Act (NFA) items provided they are federally registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.020.2 specifically exempts items "manufactured, possessed, transported, repaired or sold in accordance with applicable federal law" from the general state prohibition on machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, and silencers.

A Missouri resident may legally:

• Own a federally registered machine gun (subject to the 1986 federal sunset on new machine guns; transferable pre-86 guns only).
• Own a federally registered short-barreled rifle.
• Own a federally registered short-barreled shotgun.
• Own a federally registered silencer (suppressor).
• Own a federally registered destructive device (with proper registration; rare for private individuals).
• Use these items at lawful shooting ranges and on private property.
• Take these items on hunting trips in seasons and species where they are lawful under Missouri Department of Conservation rules.

A non-registered NFA item is both a federal felony under 26 U.S.C. Section 5871 and a Missouri felony under Section 571.020.

Federal NFA Process

The federal NFA process is the gatekeeper. The Missouri buyer must:

1. Find an NFA item available for sale (from an FFL or in a private intrastate transfer through a Class III dealer).
2. Submit ATF Form 4 (for transfer to an individual) or Form 1 (for manufacture by an individual).
3. Pay the federal tax stamp: $200 for most NFA items, $5 for "any other weapon" (AOW).
4. Provide fingerprints, passport-style photographs, and a CLEO (chief law enforcement officer) notification.
5. Wait for ATF approval. Current wait times for individual Form 4s are 6 to 12 months; for trust-owned items, often less due to electronic filing.

The CLEO notification requirement was modified by ATF rule 41F (effective July 2016). Trusts and corporations are no longer exempt from fingerprint and photo requirements. The CLEO is notified but does not have to consent.

Once the tax stamp arrives, the Missouri owner takes possession. The item must remain registered in the owner's name or in the name of the trust or corporation that holds title.

NFA Trusts

A common Missouri practice is to title NFA items in a trust ("NFA trust" or "gun trust"). The advantages include:

• Multiple authorized users (each named in the trust and fingerprinted).
• Estate planning continuity (the trust outlives the original purchaser).
• No probate for trust-owned items.
• Some sharing of access among trustees and beneficiaries.

The trust must be drafted to comply with Missouri trust law and federal NFA requirements. Many Missouri attorneys offer NFA trust drafting services for $300 to $750.

The 41F rule means each trustee must submit fingerprints and photos with each NFA application. This has eliminated the prior "use a trust to avoid fingerprints" practice.

Machine Guns

Machine guns lawfully transferable to civilians are limited to those manufactured before May 19, 1986 (the federal sunset under the Firearms Owners Protection Act). The supply is fixed; prices have risen substantially.

A transferable pre-86 machine gun in Missouri:

• Must be federally registered.
• May be possessed and used at the owner's discretion in lawful settings.
• May be transferred to another lawful Missouri resident through a Class III dealer with ATF approval.
• May not be transported across state lines without prior ATF approval (Form 5320.20).

Post-86 machine guns (manufactured after May 19, 1986) can be possessed only by federally licensed dealers and certain government entities, not by ordinary civilians.

Suppressors (Silencers)

Suppressors are the most common NFA item in Missouri civilian ownership. The process and tax stamp ($200) are identical to other NFA items. Wait times for suppressor approval have been the focus of ATF reform efforts; as of May 2026, individual suppressor approvals typically take 4 to 10 months.

A Missouri owner may:

• Use the suppressor at any lawful shooting range.
• Use the suppressor for hunting in seasons and species where firearms are permitted (Missouri Department of Conservation permits suppressor use; consult MDC for specifics).
• Transport the suppressor in any vehicle without restriction (under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.6).
• Lawfully sell the suppressor to another lawful Missouri resident through a Class III dealer with ATF approval.

The suppressor itself is the "firearm" under federal law; the host firearm need not be transferred when the suppressor changes hands.

Short-Barreled Rifles and Shotguns

A short-barreled rifle (SBR) is a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches, an overall length under 26 inches, or both. A short-barreled shotgun (SBS) is similar for shotguns (barrel under 18 inches).

Conversion of a standard rifle to an SBR can be accomplished by ATF Form 1 (manufacture by an individual). The owner submits the form, pays the $200 tax stamp, and waits for approval before making the modification. Making the modification before approval is a federal felony.

A growing number of Missouri owners use ATF Form 1 to convert AR-15-style rifles to SBR configurations. The advantages are practical (shorter overall length, easier maneuvering). The cost (tax stamp plus paperwork plus dealer fees, if any) is typically $200 to $400.

Destructive Devices

Destructive devices include grenades, mines, certain large-caliber weapons (over .50 caliber generally), and other items the ATF classifies as such. Private ownership is rare in Missouri but lawful with federal registration.

Federal Forms Reference

What Missouri Does Not Restrict

Missouri does not impose state-level restrictions beyond the federal NFA framework:

• No state registration of any firearm or NFA item.
• No state restriction on magazine capacity.
• No state ban on "assault weapons" or specific firearm models.
• No state ban on transferable machine guns (subject to federal limits).
• No state ban on suppressors beyond the federal NFA framework.

A Missouri resident's NFA item portfolio is limited only by federal rules and personal finances.

Practical Issues

• Storage. NFA items should be stored securely, both for theft prevention and to demonstrate responsible compliance. The federal requirements are minimal but a safe is best practice.
• Travel. Intrastate travel is unrestricted under Section 571.030.6. Interstate travel requires ATF Form 5320.20 approval before the trip.
• Inheritance. NFA items can pass to heirs through ATF Form 5 (tax-exempt transfer). The trust structure simplifies this substantially.
• Sale. Sale to another Missouri resident requires ATF Form 4 (transfer with new tax stamp) and a Class III dealer broker.

Statutory Authorities

Where to Look Next

• The ATF NFA Branch publishes guidance, forms, and processing-time data at atf.gov.
• The ATF eForms portal: eforms.atf.gov.
• The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action publishes NFA reform tracking at nraila.org.
• Missouri Class III dealers can be found through the ATF FFL eZ Check at fflezcheck.atf.gov.

This section reflects Missouri law as of May 2026. Federal NFA processing times and ATF rulings change; consult the ATF for current status.