Is it legal to own an RPG?

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Nowhere Man

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I keep hearing the talking heads say it's illegal to own machine guns and RPGs. I know they are half wrong. Is it legal to own an RPG?

Dave
 
The press says we can't own machine guns. Yes we can. We can own cannons. We can own tanks. We can own fighter jets.

With the proper paperwork, is there any law that says we can't own an RPG?


Dave
 
It can't be totally illegal or they would not have been able to do the Myth Buster's episode about the scene from the movie "Red".

Jim
 
Depends on State laws. Federally, machine guns are registered under the National Firearms Act of '34, and to be legally transferable for civilian ownership it needs to have been registered before the registry closed in 1986. $200 tax and a Form 4 to register.

For an RPG, it'd be an Explosive Destructive Device... assuming it was legally imported, again, $200 and a Form 4.

Let's say you could get somebody to sell you an Abrams, roll-away, just as a thought experiment. The coaxial 7.62 and the commander's hatch gun would be illegal MG's and have to be scrapped, the main gun at greater than 1/2" bore and no sporting purpose is a Large Bore Destructive Device ($200 and a Form 4), and each shell is an Explosive DD (which means $200 and a Form 4 EACH). And, oh by the way, you ALSO have to make sure it's kosher under all State and Local laws too...

IANAL and I'm not even a meber of the NFA-owner club, but I've been following the subject ever since college, and hopefully this'll help you out a little.
 
Depends on your state, some have there own ban on nfa items others you only got jump through all the right fed hoops. Are there any transferable rpg's? I mean live rockets not just the tubes. If so i imagine the price'd be sky high for a cheap military weapon. Just because somthing's technicaly legal dosn't mean it isn't legislated into practical non-existence or at least non-existent at a fair market price rather than locked supply prices.
 
Oh man, you guys are getting way more specific/technical than I wanted to go with my hypothetical question. :( To be expected, I guess.



Dave
 
It would not be worth the "Red tape" and or responsibility of owning one.... fun to shoot taking out a tree stump, yes...Not own. IMO.
(But Law State to state would be the answer to that.)
 
There ARE registered RPG rocket launcher in civilan hands. Many were "built" or "re-watted" after being made into a dewat or demilled. The paper work and approval is filed first, then the entity (manufacturer or individual) fabricates the weapon. DOWNSIDE? Each individual rocket fired from an RPG launcher, which are pretty much non-existent as original, explosive warhead, would also be subject to a $200 tax for each one (same as a hand grenade), and classified as a destructive device (DD), and require the same approval by BATF. Once you fired it, the cost of the rocket and the extra $200 tax is gone up in smoke. Lots of people have registered 40mm grenade lauchers, like M79's or M203's, but most just shoot practice rounds, flares, smoke, or tear gas grenades that do NOT require the $200 tax as those projectiles are not classified as destructive device/explosive warheads. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vCww3j2-w..................................
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How did explosive projectiles make their way to private ownership and are the same routes no longer available?
 
If you know HOW to make HE rounds for an RPG, and file the correct app's for licenses and permits, you can register your own (destructive device -grenade). Contact BATF.
 
An M79 can also be fired with a 12ga reducer...rounds of skeet could be great fun!
 
This is very interesting.

Where I live, I can own a Glock 18C, but not RPG. I am not sure how to manage RPGs in civilian use. Not against it, but not sure how to manage it.

Registering each rocket would be a pain. There should be some way to cover that in one paperwork. May be a commercial less lethal projectiles should be made available to handle that. Not sure. Just discussing ideas.

This entire AWB should be scraped. It is just another reason for illegal weapons.
 
The storage requirments and licenses needed to own high explosive rounds are way beyond people who don't work with HE for a living. The $200 NFA tax is the lowest obstacle.
 
The requirement to have a magazine (storage area) for a DD is no different than those required for black powder storage for gun stores that sell black powder.
 
Before you turned that big baby around, you could fire an RPG about 5 times.
Click to expand...
That's why I'd also have a buddy with a rifle and a sidearm ready for you as I turn that beastie around. Regardless, I'd still majorly trump you on cool factor alone. :neener:
 
About two years ago one of the dealers with a good online presence (wish I could remember who) had an RPG with launcher for sale. Maybe someone on this site will recall the details of the listing as it was somewhat unusual. The description said that it originated from Lebanon if I recall correctly. I believe the asking price was $13k. My question at the time was how a live DD was legally imported into the US.
 
Diamondback6 said:
Depends on State laws. Federally, machine guns are registered under the National Firearms Act of '34, and to be legally transferable for civilian ownership it needs to have been registered before the registry closed in 1986. $200 tax and a Form 4 to register.

For an RPG, it'd be an Explosive Destructive Device... assuming it was legally imported, again, $200 and a Form 4.

Let's say you could get somebody to sell you an Abrams, roll-away, just as a thought experiment. The coaxial 7.62 and the commander's hatch gun would be illegal MG's and have to be scrapped, the main gun at greater than 1/2" bore and no sporting purpose is a Large Bore Destructive Device ($200 and a Form 4), and each shell is an Explosive DD (which means $200 and a Form 4 EACH). And, oh by the way, you ALSO have to make sure it's kosher under all State and Local laws too...

IANAL and I'm not even a meber of the NFA-owner club, but I've been following the subject ever since college, and hopefully this'll help you out a little.
Click to expand...
Actually there are tank shells that are non-explosive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M829#M829A3

A depleted uranium penetrator, but there may be issues with owning the uranium, even if it is depleted.............
 
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