Wyoming imposes minimal state-level restrictions on the types of firearms, magazines, accessories, and ammunition a civilian may possess. There is no...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Wyoming imposes minimal state-level restrictions on the types of firearms, magazines, accessories, and ammunition a civilian may possess. There is no assault-weapon ban, no magazine-capacity limit, no waiting period, no registration, and no permit-to-purchase. State preemption (Wyo. Stat. Sec. 6-8-401 to 404) prevents local jurisdictions from adopting stricter rules. Federal law (Gun Control Act, NFA, prohibited-person framework, age restrictions) sets the practical ceiling on what civilians may lawfully own.
Wyoming has very few outright prohibitions. The principal ones:
Bringing any firearm, explosive, or deadly weapon into a state prison, county jail, or juvenile facility is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years.
The concealed-carry statute applies to "deadly weapons" including knives. Constitutional carry and the CFP exemption apply to knives as well as firearms. Wyoming does not specifically ban switchblades, balisongs, or automatic knives at the state level.
Wyoming follows the federal prohibited-person framework at 18 U.S.C. 922(g) and adds Wyoming felony-conviction status as an additional bar. A person prohibited under either framework may not possess any firearm in Wyoming.
A civilian may possess only a pre-1986 transferable machine gun under federal NFA registration. Post-1986 machine guns are unavailable to civilians.
The GCA defines "firearm" and sets the framework for FFL transfers, NICS, transport, and transfer rules. Wyoming follows the federal floor.
Federal prohibition on firearms within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school, with exemptions for state-permit holders and certain other categories. See PROHIBITED_PLACES.
NFA items (suppressors, SBR, SBS, AOW, DD, machine guns) require federal registration and a tax stamp. Wyoming permits all federally-registered NFA items. See NFA_ITEMS.
Civilian sale of armor-piercing handgun ammunition is restricted. Possession is generally lawful; manufacture and sale are restricted.
The 2018 ATF rule banning bump stocks as machine guns was vacated by the Supreme Court in Cargill v. Garland (2024). Bump stocks are not currently federally prohibited as machine guns. Verify the current ATF guidance for any post-Cargill rulemaking.
ATF requires that unfinished frames and receivers commercially sold and processed by a licensee be marked and serialized. The Final Rule was upheld in part and challenged in part; the federal floor as of 2026 treats commercially-sold "80%" lowers and frames as firearms requiring serialization. Wyoming has no state-level ghost gun statute.
Wyoming enacted a Firearms Freedom Act asserting that firearms manufactured in Wyoming, retained in Wyoming, and marked "Made in Wyoming" are not subject to federal regulation. Federal courts have not honored similar state-level acts; the Ninth Circuit in Montana Shooting Sports Ass'n v. Holder (2013) rejected the Montana parallel. Wyoming residents should rely on federal compliance.
No Wyoming statute restricts magazine capacity. Standard-capacity magazines (10, 15, 17, 20, 30, drum-fed) are all lawful in Wyoming. Preemption prevents local restriction.
Wyoming has no state-level restriction on civilian possession of body armor. Federal 18 U.S.C. 931 prohibits a violent felon from possessing body armor unless certified employment requires it. Body armor sold in interstate commerce must meet federal labeling rules.
Wyoming's restriction framework is largely the federal floor with minimal state-level overlay. The federal prohibited-person rules, age rules, NFA rules, and Gun-Free School Zone rules apply in Wyoming as everywhere else. Beyond that, civilian firearm ownership, transfer, transport, and accessory choice is unrestricted at the state level.
Current as of May 2026.
This page covers one part of our Wyoming concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Wyoming guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.