Under Oregon law, it is a crime to knowingly possess a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or firearms silencer unless the item is...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
NFA Items
Last verified:2026-03-13
This page covers one part of our Oregon concealed carry guide.
Browse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.
Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Firearms, and Silencers
ORS 166.272 — Unlawful Possession of Machine Guns, Certain Short-Barreled Firearms and Firearms Silencers
Under Oregon law, it is a crime to knowingly possess a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or firearms silencer unless the item is properly registered under federal law (i.e., the National Firearms Act).
Crime Classification: Unlawful possession of a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or firearms silencer is a Class B felony (punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000 fine per ORS 161.605(2) and 161.625(1)(c)).
Law Enforcement Protection: A peace officer may not arrest or charge a person for violating ORS 166.272(1) if the person has in their immediate possession documentation showing the NFA item is registered as required under federal law.
Affirmative Defense: It is an affirmative defense to a charge under ORS 166.272(1) that the machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or firearms silencer was registered as required under federal law.
Definitions (per Oregon Legislature publications)
Machine gun: A gun that allows two or more shots to be fired by a single pressure on the trigger.
Short-barreled rifle: A rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches in length.
Short-barreled shotgun: A shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches in length.
Firearms silencer/suppressor: Not separately defined in the provided statutes but regulated alongside machine guns and short-barreled firearms.
Rapid Fire Activators — ORS 166.352
Oregon enacted the "Community Safety Firearms Act" (2025 c.594), which prohibits rapid fire activators:
Unlawful transport, manufacture, or transfer of a rapid fire activator is a Class B felony.
Unlawful possession of a rapid fire activator is a Class A misdemeanor.
Defined Rapid Fire Activators Include:
Bump stocks — devices using recoil energy to facilitate repeated trigger activation
Forced reset triggers — devices that mechanically force the trigger to reset into firing position after each round
Binary trigger systems — devices allowing the firearm to fire both when the trigger is pulled and when released
Burst trigger systems — devices allowing two or more rounds with a single trigger pull by altering trigger reset
Hellfire triggers — devices that disengage the trigger return spring
Trigger cranks — devices that repeatedly activate the trigger through circular motion
Switches/auto sears — devices that prevent the trigger bar from limiting the weapon to one round per trigger pull
Exceptions to ORS 166.352:
Peace officers or law enforcement employees possessing a rapid fire activator with agency authorization
Persons who have a machine gun lawfully registered under federal law, where the rapid fire activator is necessary for the proper function of that registered machine gun
Destructive Devices — ORS 166.382 & 166.384
Possession of a destructive device is prohibited with limited exceptions (ORS 166.382).
Unlawful manufacture of a destructive device is separately prohibited (ORS 166.384).
Large-Capacity Magazines — ORS 166.355
Oregon prohibits the manufacture, importation, possession, use, purchase, sale, or transfer of large-capacity magazines, defined as:
A fixed or detachable magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, helical feeding device, or similar device with an overall capacity exceeding 10 rounds of ammunition.
Exceptions include:
Devices permanently altered to accept no more than 10 rounds
Attached tubular devices designed for .22 caliber rimfire ammunition only
Tubular ammunition feeding devices in lever-action firearms
Armor-Piercing Ammunition — ORS 166.350
It is unlawful to make, sell, buy, or possess handgun ammunition with Teflon-coated (or similar) projectiles intended to penetrate soft body armor with intent to use in commission of a felony, or to carry such ammunition while committing a felony.
Crime Classification: Class A misdemeanor.
Enhanced Penalties for NFA Items Used in Felonies — ORS 161.610
If a defendant uses or threatens use of a firearm during commission of a felony:
Standard minimum: 5 years imprisonment
If the firearm is a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun, or is equipped with a firearms silencer: Minimum 10 years imprisonment (first offense)
Second offense with NFA item: Minimum 20 years imprisonment
Third or subsequent offense: Minimum 30 years imprisonment
Federal NFA Registration Requirement
Oregon law permits possession of machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers/suppressors only when properly registered under the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. Chapter 53). Owners should maintain registration documentation on their person when in possession of NFA items.
Recent Developments
2025 c.594 (Community Safety Firearms Act): Enacted ORS 166.352 prohibiting rapid fire activators including bump stocks, binary triggers, forced reset triggers, and similar devices.
Federal NFA Tax Elimination: The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by President Trump eliminated the $200 NFA excise tax. However, NFA registration requirements remain in effect.
NFA Constitutional Challenge (August 2025): The NRA and other organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act of 1934. This case is pending and could affect NFA item regulation nationwide.