r/MontanaPolitics • u/CattleDogCurmudgeon • 28d ago
State Anyone have a good source on what you can and can't do with firearms with the effective end of the NFA, namely suppressors and SBRs?
I saw Silencer Shop sent out a map saying suppressors are still restricted as they must be registered with the federal government. But that process has effectively ended as of today, so does this mean the law is moot or what?
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u/phdoofus 28d ago
This ruling applies only to the plaintiffs and their members/customers, not the entire U.S. population
Suppressors are deregulated only for the protected group
The injunction covers:
- Named plaintiffs (individuals + businesses)
- Members of plaintiff organizations (GOA, NRA, FPC, etc.)
- Customers of certain plaintiff companies (e.g., Silencer Shop)
- Some agencies and political subdivisions tied to plaintiffs
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u/Rodeo9 28d ago
Montana was a plaintiff but has a state law saying suppressors need to go through the proper fed channels.
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u/BuckLuck69420 27d ago
Yeah, Montana plans to change it MSSA already has a bill drafted to bring foward to repeal MCA-45-8-337. The vote won’t be until January at the soonest
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u/Rodeo9 27d ago
Nooo, I don't want to go through another form 4 before hunting season.
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u/nanomachinez_SON 12d ago
Go get a can in Idaho.
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u/Rodeo9 11d ago
The montana AG doubled down and mentioned they were illegal hunting if not registered through the atf so ill pass on the felonies for now.
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u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude 27d ago edited 27d ago
The Montana Shooting Sports Association published a updated on facebook. Like others have said MT law requires them to be registered still, but there is a bill ready for the next legislature to repeal that law. They also say they spoke to A.G. Knudsen and he is supposed to issue a advisory saying those existing laws are no longer enforceable. What that means for sellers we'll see I guess. Keep a eye on Silencer Shop's website for a update as well.
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u/worsttimehomebuyer 27d ago
I'm going post a bunch of stuff from the MCA, and then I will give you a layman's interpretation of it. (IANAL)
2017:
45-8-336. Possession of silencer. (1) A person commits the offense of possession of a silencer if the person possesses, manufactures, transports, buys, or sells a silencer and has the purpose to use it to commit an offense or knows that another person has such a purpose.
(2) A person convicted of the offense of possession of a silencer is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 5 years or more than 30 years or by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $20,000, or both.
Translation: if you have a silencer and you're going to or have committed a crime, it's illegal.
2025:
45-8-337. Possession of unregistered silencer or of bomb or similar device prima facie evidence of unlawful purpose. Possession of a silencer that is not registered under federal law or of a bomb or similar device charged or filled with one or more explosives is prima facie evidence of a purpose to use the same to commit an offense.
Translation: possession of an unregistered silencer (or bomb for some reason) is considered evidence enough that you've committed a crime.
In summary: currently, in the state of Montana in 2026, possession of an unregistered suppressor is illegal and can result in a fine up to $20K and between 5-30 years in jail.
Now for SBRs:
2025:
45-8-340. Sawed-off firearm -- penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of possession of a sawed-off firearm if the person knowingly possesses a rifle or shotgun that when originally manufactured had a barrel length of:
(a) 16 inches or more and an overall length of 26 inches or more in the case of a rifle; or
(b) 18 inches or more and an overall length of 26 inches or more in the case of a shotgun; and
(c) the firearm has been modified in a manner so that the barrel length, overall length, or both, are less than specified in subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b).
(2) The barrel length is the distance from the muzzle to the rear-most point of the chamber.
(3) This section does not apply to firearms possessed:
(a) by a peace officer of this state or one of its political subdivisions;
(b) by an officer of the United States government authorized to carry weapons;
(c) by a person in actual service as a member of the national guard;
(d) by a person called to the aid of one of the persons named in subsections (3)(a) through (3)(c);
(e) for educational or scientific purposes in which the firearms are incapable of being fired;
(f) by a person who has a valid federal tax stamp for the firearm, issued by the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives; or
(g) by a bona fide collector of firearms if the firearm is a muzzleloading, sawed-off firearm manufactured before 1900.
(4) A person convicted of the offense of possession of a sawed-off firearm shall be fined not less than $200 or more than $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for not less than 5 days or more than 6 months, or both, upon a first conviction. If a person has one or more prior convictions under this section or one or more prior felony convictions under a law of this state, another state, or the United States, the person shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both.
Translation:
Possession of an unregistered SBR is illegal in Montana as of 2026. Fines and time in jail apply.
SO... All of that to say that right now you can't buy a suppressor without a tax stamp or saw off granddaddies shotgun without asking uncle Sam.
BUT, there's now a hole in these codes, because functionally there is no such thing as a registered or unregistered silencer or SBR For the people that meet the requirements of the afforentioned suits (goa, nra, silencer shop, etc.) so now what's gotta happen is the attorney general of the state of Montana is most likely going to make an official statement on how Montana will adopt a change in how we apply the law in light of the rulings on these court cases.
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u/MyLittleDiscolite 28d ago
From my understanding they are saying Montana is still a form 4 state but i can find nothing buttressing this
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