NV · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in Nevada

What Nevada adds on top of federal law: short-barreled shotguns, 14-inch "firearms," feature rules, magazine limits, permits and waiting periods.

Decorative editorial illustration for the state shotgun law referenceVerify the current state and federal rules with official sources
Federal update — Oct 9, 2026

ATF says it is no longer enforcing federal NFA approval or registration for short-barreled shotguns. That does not change state law: where a state only allows SBSs that are registered under the NFA, you still need that registration to be legal under state law. What changed.

Short-barreled shotgunsLegal with NFA registration

Possessing a short-barreled shotgun is a category D felony, but the law excepts a shotgun registered to the person with the federal government (and federal licensees).[1]

NRS 202.275(3)(b)
14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Unclear — see notes

ATF treats these as non-NFA 'firearms' (per its 2017 letter quoted by American Rifleman), but NRS 202.275 does not define 'shotgun' and its exception requires federal registration, which a non-NFA firearm can't have, so its application to 14-inch 'firearms' isn't spelled out. No state agency guidance was found.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

Nevada is not among the states Giffords lists as banning or regulating assault weapons, so no state feature rules for shotguns were found.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

Nevada is not among the 15 states (plus DC) Giffords lists as limiting magazine capacity.[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

Nevada is not among the states Giffords lists as requiring a license or permit to buy long guns; a federal background check applies at dealers.[4]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

Nevada is not among the 13 states Giffords lists as having a firearm waiting period.[5]

Where a state has no official guidance on a point, the summary says what the statute text appears to say, and marks it unclear when it can't be read either way.

Also know

Statute text read from Justia's reproduction of the 2025 NRS, not the official NV Legislature site.

Not legal advice

This is a plain-English summary. Cities and counties can add rules, and laws change. Confirm with Nevada's official sources or a licensed attorney before you buy, build or travel.

Federal rules that apply everywhere

  • Under the National Firearms Act, a 'shotgun' is a weapon designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder that uses a fixed shotgun shell to fire shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore with each pull of the trigger. source
  • The Gun Control Act uses nearly the same definition: a shotgun is designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder and fires shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore for each pull of the trigger. source
  • Federal law defines a short-barreled shotgun as a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. source
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the law that cut the NFA tax, is Public Law 119-21 and was approved on July 4, 2025. source

Shotguns to consider

Use the 3-step quiz — it flags Nevada's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

  1. Nevada — Short-barreled shotguns (secondary source)
  2. Nevada — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)
  3. Nevada — Magazine limits (secondary source)
  4. Nevada — Permit to buy (secondary source)
  5. Nevada — Waiting period (secondary source)

Last checked October 18, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.

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