Airgun law · United States

Are Airguns Legal in Minnesota?

Yes, but heavily regulated.

Legal in principle, yet the compliance burden is high — often firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people actually want.

Tier 2 — Major Restrictions

Significant state-level compliance steps required before any sale.

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 state law, but treated as a 'BB gun' under specific statutes.

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

No explicit allowance found

Turkey

Unresolved / not addressed

Unresolved

Small game

Unresolved / not addressed

Unresolved

Predators

Unresolved / not addressed

Unresolved

Other big game

Unresolved / not addressed

Unresolved

Notes

Minnesota big-game equipment sections did not surface an explicit airgun allowance.

Local rules that still apply

Minneapolis / St. Paul

Local ordinances and discharge restrictions apply in addition to state rules.

Federal baseline

Federal statusAir guns are NOT firearms under federal law. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3) defines 'firearm' as a weapon expelling a projectile 'by the action of an explosive.' Air guns use compressed air, CO₂, springs, or gas pistons — outside this definition.

ShippingUSPS explicitly permits airgun shipments under Pub. 52 § 431.7. Pistols and >400 fps require Adult Signature. UPS and FedEx are inconsistent due to internal policy confusion. USPS is the most reliable carrier.

Firearm-frame airgunsAn airgun built on the frame or receiver of an actual firearm (e.g., AR-15 lower) IS a federal firearm regardless of propulsion method, under 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3)(B). The marketplace MUST screen for these at listing.

See the full US picture

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, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.