Is it legal to own an RPG?

The short answer is that it's legally easier to get explosive ordnance than to get machine guns, because the registry for Destructive Devices was never closed. The practical problem is finding any explosive ordnance for sale. And of course, the wisdom (and sanity!) of keeping stuff like this around.

Why not make some non-explosive practice rockets for the RPG?
Maybe something that would carry a chalk dust payload or something?
If you owned one, maybe you could rent it out and get the cost of shooting it yourself paid for.

Why not make some non-explosive practice rockets for the RPG?

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You could do that, but you'd have to keep the propellant charge to 4 ounces or less. Otherwise, the rocket would be a Destructive Device. Maybe someone more familiar with rockets can tell us what a 4 oz. charge can do.

I will admit that all I know about rockets was learned through somewhat questionable practices as a teenager. But I would think that 4 ounces of propellant should be enough if you could keep the weight of the rocket low.
The RPG is the best to try this with I think - they are kind of simple and mostly like a big single shot muzzleloading gun that shoots rockets.

If you could build a replica without too much trouble and shoot it without each shot costing $200+, I would be up for one of the damn things. Going through the NFA process would be a PITA, but I have a clean background... so Why not? Sounds like great fun!
They could even get some news footage of me shooting it... It would give them something else to demonize for awhile...

AlexanderA said:

The short answer is that it's legally easier to get explosive ordnance than to get machine guns, because the registry for Destructive Devices was never closed. The practical problem is finding any explosive ordnance for sale. And of course, the wisdom (and sanity!) of keeping stuff like this around.

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My question is how can they be imported? Since unlike foreign MGs, foreign DD importation weren't cut off by the GCA.

Is it possible to get a fireworks license to make professional fireworks and shoot some fireworks shells out of the RPG?

The real RPG rocket launchers have been available demilled as prescribed by BATF in the past. One could weld up, or repair, and re-register as a form one, manufactured weapon. It's the grenades that will break you, as even dummies are hard to find, and each one you made would require a $200 tax in addition to the cost of buying materials and labor. Buy a replica and hang it on the wall. It will cost you less, and be just about as practical.

What holster for an RPG?! Dang, if you have a negligent discharge with that bad boy, you're gonna have a very bad day! Forget the RPG and get a cannon.

Geno

No boom, no fun!

Hunting with an Rpg pre cooked game

If I was to go through the hassle of paying a 200 Tax for each Destructive Device, it would have to be for those Depleted Uranium RPG Rounds from the tv show Vice 2013!

Although sadly it would still be a waste of money because I couldnt even test fire one do to the radioactive fallout left behind that will kill people decades later! :banghead:

BigBoyToyz said:

Although sadly it would still be a waste of money because I couldnt even test fire one do to the radioactive fallout left behind that will kill people decades later! :banghead:

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Errr...

Not to nitpick, but...

(Yeah, I know...that's a prelude to nitpicking! )

With a half-life of nearly 4.5 BILLION years, U-238 is, for all practical purposes, a stable isotope. It's a low level Alpha emitter, too...

Which means you really don't have anything to worry about, fallout-wise.

Just sayin'...

A RPG is a dream purchase but finding someplace to fire it and the cost is way too much.

RetiredUSNChief said:

Which means you really don't have anything to worry about, fallout-wise.

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I dont care about any other country since I dont live there but perhaps these articles will explain what I mean.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/depleted-uranium-far-worse-than-9-11/2374
https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/06-5
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environme...pleted-uranium-clean-up-contamination-spreads

BigBoyToyz said:

I dont care about any other country since I dont live there but perhaps these articles will explain what I mean.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/depleted-uranium-far-worse-than-9-11/2374
https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/06-5
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environme...pleted-uranium-clean-up-contamination-spreads

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From one of those links:

"Imagine a far worse scenario. Terrorists acquire a million pounds of the deadly dust and scatter it in populated areas throughout the U.S. Hundreds of children report symptoms. Many acquire cancer and leukemia, suffering an early and painful death. Huge increases in severe birth defects are reported. Oncologists are overwhelmed. Soccer fields, sand lots and parks, traditional play areas for kids, are no longer safe. People lose their most basic freedom, the ability to go outside and safely breathe. Sounds worse than 9/11? Welcome to Iraq and Afghanistan."

"10 Years After Invasion, US Depleted Uranium Continues to Devastate Iraq"

"However, it can contaminate the environment, and has been linked to health problems in civilian populations. Iraqi doctors have reported increases in cancers, and an alleged rise in birth defects is under investigation by the World Health Organisation and the Iraqi Ministry of Health."

Let's just say this is a wee bit overstated.

"Deadly dust" and "devastate" is deliberately emotive wording and is quite overhyping both the chemical toxicity and the radiological concerns with U-238. I would treat Uranium exposure like I would any other toxic metal exposure. Including the Lead exposure we're all exposed to as people who own/shoot firearms. Basic cleanliness and whatnot.

And "alleged rise" is the key phrase in the statement about increased birth defects and cancers. If they're seeing a statistically noticable increase in cancers and such, then it's very likely not due to this for a variety of reasons.


Not saying that people should ignore Uranium exposure hazards...just put them into proper perspective. Certainly it's nowhere near the hazard level of nuclear fallout.

The health issues related to uranium are primarily related to its chemical toxicity, not it's weak alpha emissions. Inhalation/ingestion of uranium dust is certainly a radiological concern, but not nearly as concerning as radium, radon, iodine-131, cobalt-60 or any of the short lived isotopes used in medicine or industry. A speck of radium salt large enough to see is more of a radiological health risk than a kilogram of uranium oxide (yellow cake). For purposes unrelated to firearms, I keep tens of grams of uranium oxides and metal in my home and it is perfectly safe (and legal for everyone under a general NRC license). It would NOT be safe to keep ANY visible amount of the other materials mentioned except as a specially prepared sealed source. As far as cobalt-60, any significant quantity would be stored in a container shielded with -- you guessed it -- uranium. As far as the chemical toxicity of uranium, it's in the same ballpark as many of the heavy metals such as lead. Anyone who has been outside, especially in a part of the world where radon inside homes is a concern, has inhaled lots of dust containing mixed uranium oxides.

Heaven forbid you have C-60, my friend. That's a heck of a penetrating gamma emitter!

Yeah the typical banana is more radioactive than depleted Uranium. Now if you vaporize the outside oxide layer and breathe in (or otherwise ingest) the heavy metal, it will make you sick. Duh.

This thread reminds me of Emilio Estavez in Maximum Overdrive firing a M72A1 LAW from the hip at semi-trucks possessed by alien intelligence.

I believe they used Estes model rockets. I wonder if a LAW tube (legal since reloads were never manufactured) could be rigged to fire model rockets?

In 2005, when I was young, dumb and ......, I had the opportunity to shoot an RPG at a cow for $200.00. I decided that pulling the trigger on Vietnam era, military reject, explosives thousands of miles from the closest western hospital was probably not a wise idea. I don't think I would do it now either.

Yes, it is legal under Federal laws to own a RPG.
RPG launcher = Destructive Device ($200 tax stamp)
Each HE or HEAT warhead/round = Destructive Device ($200 tax stamp)

Is an RPG, when one does not own nor possess ammunition a "destructive device"? It's a launcher, not the actual device causing the destruction. Would one need the federal paperwork to own a WWII explosives detonator, while not having any explosives nor caps to go with it? Is the RPG launcher not something along the same lines, harmless without the actual moving part i.e. the rocket? OR is it viewed the same as a tank with a working cannon, and even though you might not own a 75mm shell for your cannon on your M4 Sherman, you still need to have the paperwork for the cannon if it could fire such a shell?

LD

My understanding is that, since rockets were made and thus available black market, the RPG and the traditional U.S. bazooka are controlled items.

Since the LAW tubes are disposable (no extra military rockets made for reloads, shoot once and throw away), the LAW tubes are treated as inert curios or collector's items (usable as ornaments but not as weapons).

DU isn't much of a hazard, but it would probably require a State or NRC radioactive materials license if it was in the form of a RPG round. Your chances of getting a license would be pretty slim if it included firing the round.