Disclaimer: To get started, we want to share a small disclaimer. We are dedicated and proud supporters of everything 2nd amendment, but we are not lawyers. So, before you take what you read here and run with it, you will want to double-check all of your local or state gun laws. Make sure you are up to date on any special regulations that may apply to you and your situation. Gun laws are always changing and always do your part to stay up to date with the newest and current laws.
This information is provided as a service to the public. It is NOT intended to be taken as legal advice and should never be considered as such. Make sure to do your own research as you and you alone are responsible for your own actions.
This is a developing list of information we intend to update regularly to stay accurate and current. If you see a discrepancy or a mistake with your home state’s laws that we’ve covered, feel free to let us know so we can correct it. Thank you and stay safe!
What is an 80% Lower?
An 80% lower receiver is an unfinished and unserialized blank which requires some machining work from the end user to turn it into a 100% lower receiver, otherwise, what is legally considered as a firearm. 80 lowers are missing the trigger pocket and a three holes that need to be milled and drilled out to be completed. Unless states have passed their own laws barring the possession or sales of 80% products; pending the ATF's updated decision from the most recent proposed rule 2021R-05 80% lowers are completely legal, not considered firearms and thus can be shipped straight to your front door. No FFL required. To explore the 80 percent lowers we have to offer, check out our multiple collections.
Are 80 Lowers Legal In Pennsylvania?
As of this guide’s initial publish date, 80% lower receivers and frames are not considered as firearms by the ATF and are legal to ship directly to buyers residing in the state of Pennsylvania.
Do I Need to Serialize My 80 Lower in Pennsylvania?
If you build out your own firearms starting with 80 lowers in Pennsylvania you do not need to serialize the lower receiver or frame as there are currently no laws requiring citizens to do so. Should you wish to serialize your lower receiver you certainly can if necessary through our engraving services for 80 lowers.
Key Gun Laws in Pennsylvania
Other than laws regarding 80 lowers, these are the key gun laws you should be aware of if you reside or are traveling through Pennsylvania.
Firearm Possession and Purchase Requirements
To purchase a long gun in Pennsylvania buyers must be at least 18 years old. To purchase a handgun in Pennsylvania buyers must be at least 21 years old. No extra permits are needed to purchase handguns or long guns in Pennsylvania nor is extra registration necessary. Pennsylvania’s minimum age for possession of firearms is 18 years old but whether they are using a long gun or handgun, the normal exemption applies when minor are in the direct supervision or presence of their parents, guardian or when attending a hunter’s or firearms safety course, using the gun for target practice or recreational shooting at an established range, involved in an organized competition, hunting or trapping with a valid license, traveling to and from these events, or at their own residence with permission and supervision of a parents or a legal guardian.
All firearm purchases and transfers require a background check including private party transfers (Dealer Record of Sale also known as 4473 form or “DROS”). While federal law requires federal firearm license holders (“FFL’s”:) to initiate background checks on buyers prior to the sale of a firearm, federal law also allows states to serve as their own “point of contact” and conduct their own background checks via state, federal records or databases, as well as the option to use the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. Pennsylvania is a point of contact for the NICS and as a result, dealers must conduct their background checks by going through the Pennsylvania State Police. There is also no waiting period for gun purchases in Pennsylvania.
Open and Concealed Carrying
Pennsylvania is a “shall-issue” state for ccw’s and it really shows as the state has one of the highest population rates of being licensed at 10.93%. CCW’s in Pennsylvania are offered to residents in the form of a “LCF” or License to Carry Firearms. Open carrying is legal without a license for anyone who can legally own/possess a firearm and is at least 18 years old and it can even be done within vehicles. Some locations may be off limits such as courthouses or schools.
However, due to the ambiguity of openly carrying and concealed carrying, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court recognizes that there is an uncertainty for which is which sometimes and that a visible firearm could still be considered as ‘concealed’ depending on the situation. LCF applicants must be at least 21 years old and there is no training requirement. Non-resident receive the same benefit of having the same requirements. For more details on their concealed carrying policies see Pennsylvania’s reciprocity map here.
NFA Restrictions
“Machine guns,”or full automatic weapons and other NFA related weapons or items can all be legally possessed in the state of Pennsylvania as it’s a very NFA-item friendly state. No “assault weapon” bans here.
Magazine Capacity Restrictions
There are no magazine capacity restrictions in Pennsylvania. Enjoy those drums and belt-fed box magazines! We carry plenty of standard capacity magazines like the 30-round Advanced Warfighter L5 mag. Our favorite color is the translucent smoke one.
Mandatory Storage Requirements
There are no mandatory storage requirements for firearms in Pennsylvania, however, you should still exercise caution and can be tried for negligently leaving your guns accessible to children. If you need some good ideas or best practices for storing your guns and gear here are some great storage options.
Self-Defense
Pennsylvania is a castle doctrine state and has a stand your ground law in place which means that any person has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his ground and use force, including deadly force if he/she believes it is immediately necessary to do so to protect themselves against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse by force or threat.
Ammunition Purchase
The only type of ammunition that is prohibited in Pennsylvania is ammo that has bullets coated in teflon or “armor piercing rounds.” Other than that Pennsylvania does not require a license for the purchase, possession or sale of ammo. Online ammo purchases require buyers to be at least 21 years old.
Start Your Next 80 Lower Build with 80% Arms!
Pennsylvania residents are completely free to build their own firearms from 80 lowers and frames without any required serialization or FFL transactions. It's the perfect state to take advantage of your constitutional Second Amendment right and freedom to keep and bear arms. That includes 80% Arms! Grab ourpatented lower jig and some buddies to enjoy that freedom together and let us know if you need any advice with your build at any point in the process. Friends, live free.
FAQs
From now on, law enforcement will treat 80 percent receivers as firearms. If a person who isn't allowed to own firearms is found with an 80 percent receiver, they can be criminally charged. The new rule goes into effect immediately, but the Attorney General is leaving implementation to the Pennsylvania State Police.
Are 80% lowers legal in Pennsylvania? ›
An 80% lower kit is just as legal and just as much an unfinished firearms part as it always has been.
Do you have to serialize an 80 lower Pennsylvania? ›
Do I need to serialize my 80% lower? No, unless you live in California or you're building a Title II firearm, like a short-barreled rifle.
Are ghost guns illegal in PA? ›
A ghost gun — sometimes referred to as an 80% receiver — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Can I build my own gun in PA? ›
That 2013 law prohibits people from 3-D printing guns or parts, unless you have a federal license to manufacture firearms. In January 2021, the law was amended to also regulate unfinished frames or receivers and the specialized tools used to turn them into functioning weapons.
Can anyone buy a p80? ›
Polymer 80 guns are legal in California as long as they are registered with the DOJ and have a unique serial number. This law went into effect in 2018, so those who owned these guns before 2018 were required to get serial numbers before January 1st, 2019.
What is an 80% handgun? ›
An 80% lower is an un-serialized receiver blank, an unfinished firearm that is not operable and cannot be made to operate without additional fabrication. An un-finished 80% lower cannot accept a trigger, hammer, or safety, so it can't be made to fire a live round.
How many 80 percent lowers Can I own? ›
Yes, it is completely legal under federal law to buy an 80% lower for personal use under the GCA of 1968. This means (in most states) you can buy and complete an 80% lower as long as you keep it for your own use, do not sell it or transfer ownership of once you have begun to mill out the fire control group.
Do I have to serialize my 80 lower 2022? ›
In July 2016, California passed AB 857 . This legislation requires all completed firearms to have a serial number applied by Jan 1, 2019. As stated in the paragraph above, an 80% lower receiver is not a firearm, so a serial number is only required once the 80% lower receiver is completed.
Can I serialize a ghost gun? ›
California and Connecticut have enacted laws that couple serialization requirements with registration requirements: individuals who manufacture or assemble ghost guns must request a unique serial number from state law enforcement agencies and engrave that serial number on the firearm.
(18 U.S.C § 922(t).) However, nothing in the GCA prohibits individuals from making guns for their own personal use. A non-licensed person may make a firearm, provided it is not for sale and the maker is not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms (such as a convicted felon). (18 U.S.C., Chapter 44; § 922 (d).)
What is considered a ghost gun? ›
Ghost guns are unregulated firearms that anyone — including minors and prohibited purchasers — can buy and build without a background check. Ghost guns are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home.
Can the ATF make laws? ›
The ATF's Authority
This rulemaking authority gives federal agencies the power to create regulations surrounding how laws are interpreted and enforced, and these regulations have the full force of law.
Is silencers legal in PA? ›
Are Silencers Legal in Pennsylvania? You bet they are! Most states allow silencer ownership and use in hunting. In Pennsylvania, you can use your silencer for target shooting, home defense, hunting, or any other legal use.
Can a convicted felon own a gun after 10 years in PA? ›
Pennsylvania state law also prohibits anyone who has been convicted of certain crimes from purchasing or possessing a firearm.
Can you serialize your own gun? ›
While still not technically a firearm, California requires all owners to serialize their lower receiver before cutting and drilling. According to California Bill A.B. 857, if you do not serialize your lower, the firearm is subject to immediate destruction by the U.S. Government.
Are 80% lowers traceable? ›
An AR-15 and any other firearm built using an 80% lower or 80% frame requires no serialization or paperwork under federal law. Therefore, it is typically impossible to determine the firearm's origin or history. Some states (like California) require 80% lowers to be serialized before they're completed.
Can felons buy p80? ›
We have a strict policy against selling 80% lower receivers to persons known to us to be convicted felons or otherwise prohibited persons.
Can I carry a Polymer80? ›
As it stands right now, yes, Polymer80 products are absolutely legal under federal law. This extends to all 80% gun products, and not just the Polymer80 brand.
What is a ghost Glock? ›
LOS ANGELES -- A handgun that looks and fires just like a Glock 9mm has no serial number, is completely untraceable and 100 percent legal. It's known as a "ghost gun," and we bought one online with no background check or waiting period.
If you buy a completed lower receiver you will need to go through the proper procedures with local, state, and federal law. With an 80% lower that you finish yourself, you will not need to go through a background check to purchase.
Can you build an AR pistol with an 80 lower? ›
In addition, you can easily construct your own AR-15 pistol using an 80 percent complete lower receiver, a lower receiver parts kit, and an upper receiver assembly which can all be purchased from American Made Tactical.
Can I use someone else's CNC machine to finish an 80% lower? ›
If you run a machine shop or CNC (even if you're not a licensed FFL) and you loan out any equipment to anyone trying to complete an 80 lower receiver, you're now bound by the Gun Control Act's requirements. That means you need an FFL. If you don't have one, you're in trouble.
Can ATF ban 80 lowers? ›
That is not because on the federal level, 80% lowers are illegal to felons, rather it is illegal for convicted felons to own firearms in the first place. In states like California, New York, and Washington state, it is illegal for those who have been convicted to own firearms as well as 80% lowers.
Can a stripped lower be shipped to my house? ›
How Do You Transfer a Stripped Lower Receiver? In order to legally transfer a stripped AR-15 lower receiver, you will need to have the receiver shipped to a licensed FFL just like you would any other firearm that you're buying out of state.
What is the new ATF rule? ›
On April 11, 2022, the Attorney General signed ATF final rule, Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms, amending ATF's regulations by removing and replacing the regulatory definitions of “firearm frame or receiver” and “frame or receiver” using examples and diagrams to clearly convey what is a ...
How much does it cost to serialize a gun? ›
The initial fee for submitting an application for a unique serial number is $35. This fee will cover the $20 cost for the firearms eligibility check conducted by the Department and the request for one unique serial number for one firearm through CFARS.
Can ghost guns evade metal detectors? ›
Ghost guns—dangerous, homemade untraceable firearms—are increasingly being used to circumvent both federal and state gun laws and kill innocent people. Ghost guns, which include firearms assembled from kits or made with 3D printers, are untraceable by law enforcement and often undetectable by metal detectors.
What is an assault style weapon? ›
Drawing from federal and state law definitions, the term assault weapon refers primarily to semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns that are able to accept detachable magazines and possess one or more other features. Some jurisdictions define revolving cylinder shotguns as assault weapons.
How many guns are in the United States? ›
US gun owners possess 393.3 million weapons, according to a 2018 report by the Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based organization, which is higher than the country's population now of about 330 million.
Is it legal to make a gun using a 3D printer? In most cases, yes. Federal law permits the unlicensed manufacture of firearms, including those made using a 3D printer, as long as they include metal components.
Can I own a tank? ›
Yes, civilians can legally own tanks. There are hundreds to thousands of used tanks available for purchase online. However, it is often a complex process, especially when buying from overseas dealers. The dealer often ships the tank to the nearest seaport to the buyer.
Can a felon own a 3D printed gun? ›
There are no background checks for 3D printed guns
Under the Gun Control Act, it is technically illegal for multiple categories of people to own guns, including felons, domestic abusers and drug users.
Who owns Polymer80? ›
Polymer80, Inc. is an American manufacturer of parts kits containing firearm parts including unfinished receivers (so-called "80 percent receivers") used for making privately made firearms. The company was founded in 2013 by David Borges and Loran Kelley, Sr. and is headquartered in Dayton, Nevada.
What is a polymer pistol? ›
Polymer frame pistols are slim and lightweight, even with double-stack magazines, and remarkably resistant to corrosion and harsh environmental conditions. Plus, they tend to have nifty modular designs (yes, aesthetics matter) and are generally more affordable than their metal rivals (cost also matters).
Can the ATF take your guns? ›
ATF has the authority to seize and forfeit firearms, ammunition, explosives, alcohol, tobacco and other assets used in criminal activity under the Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture authority.
Is ATF banning pistol braces? ›
Yes, the short answer shouldering a pistol brace without a tax stamp is legal by federal standards.
Is an AR 15 an NFA firearm? ›
The NFA only applies to fully automatic rifles (e.g. machine guns) and other types of firearms – not semi-automatic assault rifles. That could easily change with legislation.
Can I target shoot on my property in PA? ›
Target shooting shall only be lawful when it is done: (i) Upon property owned by the shooter or by a guest of the property owner. (ii) Within 200 yards of the camp or other headquarters where the person shooting is quartered or is an invited guest or visitor.
Do I have to carry my tax stamp with my suppressor? ›
Short answer: No. Long answer: The attorney general, or his designee, meaning an ATF agent, can require the owner of a NFA item (suppressor, short barreled rifle, short barreled shotgun, machinegun) to show proof of registration, i.e. the tax stamp.
It can take several months or up to a year for this process to complete and for you to obtain your PA silencer tax stamp so be patient. The Form 4 along with these additional documents must be sent to the ATF: $200 Check to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
