State SBR law

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Wyoming? (2026)

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Oct 28, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We found no short-barreled rifle provision in Title 6 (Crimes and Offenses) of the 2026 Wyoming Statutes. That means we found no state SBR offense and no state rule that ties an SBR to federal registration. Wyoming does have a Firearms Freedom Act, but it is not an SBR law. Federal rules still apply, and this page covers both.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes Wyoming statutes and federal guidance as of the date above. Local rules and your own circumstances can matter. Check with your dealer or a Wyoming attorney if you're unsure.

The short answer

No SBR offense found. We read Title 6 of the 2026 Wyoming Statutes and found no SBR or short-barreled shotgun provision. Confirm with an attorney.
No state registration tie found. Nothing we read makes SBR legality depend on NFA registration.
Penalty: no SBR-specific offense found, so no SBR-specific penalty.
The Firearms Freedom Act is not an SBR rule. W.S. 6-8-402 to 6-8-406 covers firearms made and kept in Wyoming. It doesn't create or repeal an SBR offense.
Federal law still applies. See "Federal process in 2026" below.

The statute

We found no SBR provision in the sections we read. The closest Wyoming law is the Firearms Freedom Act, in Title 6 of the Wyoming Statutes. It shows what Wyoming does cover. Section 6-8-402(b) says:

"This act shall apply to firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition that are manufactured in Wyoming."

Section 6-8-404(a) is the core of the act:

"A personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Wyoming and that remains exclusively within the borders of Wyoming is not subject to federal law, federal taxation or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of the United States congress to regulate interstate commerce."
"It is declared by the Wyoming legislature that those items have not traveled in interstate commerce."

That is a state declaration about items made and kept in Wyoming. It is not an SBR offense and it doesn't mention short-barreled rifles.

How Wyoming defines an SBR

The Wyoming statutes we read have no SBR definition. Federal law (26 U.S.C. 5845) draws the lines: a rifle with a barrel under 16 inches, or a weapon made from a rifle with an overall length under 26 inches.

The Firearms Freedom Act has its own general definition in 6-8-403(a)(iii). A firearm there:

"means any weapon which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive."

The same definition excludes fully automatic weapons. It says nothing about barrel length.

Penalty

No SBR-specific offense found, so there is no SBR-specific Wyoming penalty to report. The Firearms Freedom Act sections we read don't set a penalty for an SBR.

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Not in anything we read. Wyoming has no SBR offense we could find, so there is no state exemption that depends on NFA registration. Section 6-8-404(a) does mention federal "registration," but only as part of the declaration quoted above for items made and kept in Wyoming.

What that declaration means for an SBR is untested, and we found no official guidance on it: Not yet verified. Per our suppressor guide, a state declaration that an item isn't subject to federal law doesn't bind federal prosecutors or federal courts. Don't treat the act as a reason to skip federal requirements.

ATF's October 9, 2026 open letter says it stopped enforcing Form 1 and Form 4 approval and registration for SBRs, SBSs, suppressors and AOWs. Voluntary forms are still processed. Wyoming's Attorney General, Keith Kautz, joined an August 13, 2026 letter to the government's counsel from attorneys general in the plaintiff states of Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF. The letter asked ATF to say:

"what steps it is taking to immediately stop the enforcement in the Plaintiff states of the challenged NFA provisions."

That letter isn't an opinion on SBRs under Wyoming law. Our Wyoming suppressor guide covers the litigation and the suppressor side.

Hunting

SBR-specific hunting rules: Not yet verified. Per our suppressor guide, Wyoming Game and Fish regulations allow suppressors to be used during the legal taking of any game animal, while using one in certain poaching offenses is a separate high misdemeanor.

Other laws that interact

Firearms Freedom Act (W.S. 6-8-402 to 6-8-406). It applies to firearms, accessories and ammunition manufactured in Wyoming. Per our suppressor guide, 6-8-405 bars state public servants and in-state dealers from enforcing federal law on those items. How any of this applies to an SBR: Not yet verified.
Fully automatic weapons. The act's definition of a firearm leaves them out.
Minors, concealed carry, CLEO certification, assault weapon definitions and shotgun rules: Not yet verified. We didn't find provisions on these in the sections we read for this page.
Local rules. Discharge restrictions, lease rules and federal land rules can apply no matter what the state code says.

Braced pistols

The state statutes cited here don't mention pistol braces. For the federal side, see our pistol brace guide.

Federal process in 2026

The making and transfer tax on SBRs has been $0 since January 1, 2026.
ATF stopped Form 1 and Form 4 enforcement on October 9. Voluntary forms are still processed. See NFA wait times.
Dealers use a Form 4473 and NICS check. ATF won't enforce 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(4) "Until final rules are issued."
"For now," interstate transport still needs an approved Form 20 (18 U.S.C. 922(a)(4)).
A dealer can't sell where state law forbids it (18 U.S.C. 922(b)(2)).

ATF says there is no automatic grandfathering if enforcement resumes. Full detail is on our SBR rules 2026 page, and you can compare states with the state NFA checker.

Checked against the official statute text on October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Wyoming?

We found no short-barreled rifle or shotgun provision in Title 6 of the 2026 Wyoming Statutes, so we found no state SBR offense. Federal rules still apply. Confirm with an attorney.

Does Wyoming require NFA registration for an SBR?

We found no Wyoming statute that ties an SBR to NFA registration. The Firearms Freedom Act declares certain Wyoming-made items not subject to federal registration, but how that applies to an SBR is not yet verified.

Does the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act make SBRs legal under federal law?

No. Section 6-8-404 is a state declaration about items made and kept in Wyoming. Per our suppressor guide, it doesn't bind federal prosecutors or courts. It also doesn't mention short-barreled rifles.

What is the penalty for an SBR in Wyoming?

We found no SBR-specific offense in Title 6, so there is no SBR-specific state penalty to report. Federal law is separate.

Do I need a Form 20 to bring an SBR into or out of Wyoming?

According to ATF's fact sheet, "For now," transporting an SBR across state lines still requires an approved Form 20.

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Wyoming? (2026)

The short answer

The statute

How Wyoming defines an SBR

Penalty

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Hunting

Other laws that interact

Braced pistols

Federal process in 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

Are short-barreled rifles legal in Wyoming? (2026)

The short answer

The statute

How Wyoming defines an SBR

Penalty

Is legality tied to federal registration?

Hunting

Other laws that interact

Braced pistols

Federal process in 2026

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Keep exploring

The Gun Release Report