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Airgun law · United States
Are Airguns Legal in Minnesota?
Yes, but heavily regulated.
Legal in principle, but the compliance burden is high, often with firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people want.
Tier 2: Major Restrictions
Significant state-level compliance steps required before any sale.
MN
The picture at a glance
Each measure below scores how restrictive Minnesota is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).
ClassificationNot a firearm
Age ruleVariable
PossessionCarry restricted
Transfer / saleNotification or permit
TransportCased advised
PreemptionLocal rules govern
Before you buy or sell
- Carrying a BB gun in public is a gross misdemeanor.
- Air pistols over .18" diameter may need a pistol transfer permit.
The rules in detail
Classification
Not a firearm
Not a firearm under the criminal code, but the game-and-fish code defines 'firearm' to include guns firing by compressed air (Minn. Stat. §97A.015 subd. 19); 'BB guns' (≤ .18" shot) are also covered by the public-carry statute (§624.7181).
Age rule
Variable
Felony to furnish an airgun to a minor under 18 within a municipality without parental consent.
Possession
Carry restricted
Lawful for adults; carrying a BB gun or rifle in public is a gross misdemeanor (MN Stat. § 624.7181).
Transfer / sale
Notification or permit
Air pistols > .18" diameter may require pistol transfer permit.
Transport
Cased advised
Cased and unloaded strongly recommended in public.
Preemption
Local rules govern
No explicit airgun preemption.
Hunting with an airgun
No explicit big-game allowance found in reviewed booklet
Deer
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed (big game requires centerfire ignition or a muzzleloader, Minn. Stat. §97B.031 subd. 1)
Turkey
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed (firearms limited to 10-gauge-or-smaller shotguns with No. 4 or finer shot; archery; crossbows)
Small game
Unresolved / not addressed
Unresolved
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
Unresolved
Other big game
Not allowed / prohibited
Not allowed (same centerfire/muzzleloader requirement for all big game, §97B.031 subd. 1)
Local rules that still apply
Minneapolis / St. Paul
Local ordinances and discharge restrictions apply in addition to state rules.
Keep exploring
Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.Find a place to shootAirgun-friendly ranges, flagged where confirmed.Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.
This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.