This piece discusses the ammunition and firearms laws in the state of Nevada. To do so, the piece starts with coverage of the ammunition laws with the objective of detailing the legal requirements and processes to have ammunition shipped to a residential address in NV. Then the piece dives into the firearms laws, first covering the process for buying firearms, and then the ins and outs of the carriage of firearms in the state. To wrap up, the piece concludes with some resources and information that we think you would find useful if you are interested in buying, owning, and carrying ammo and firearms in Nevada.
We do not intend this piece as legal advice. Instead, we hope that the information here is useful to you in making your own, informed decisions.
Nevada, like most states, has preemption. This means that the state legislature has declared that smaller political units such as counties, cities, and towns cannot make or enforce gun laws that are stricter than those at the state level. Preemption makes life a bit simpler for gun owners, as it means that once you understand the laws of the state, that understanding can be applied to the state as a whole.
Generally, Nevada is among the most permissive states in the country in terms of its ammunition and firearms laws. There is a current legal debate in the state over the enforcement of a requirement for background checks of some private sales of firearms, but, aside from that, the state generally follows federal laws and does not impose very many additional restrictions at the state level.
Ammo Laws/Buying Ammo in Nevada
First, we will cover the ammo laws of the state.
While Nevada is generally permissive with its ammunition laws, it does have a ban on armor-piercing handgun ammunition, which echoes federal law on the matter. Aside from that ban, Nevada does not impose additional ammo restrictions aside from those already in place at the federal level.
To meet federal requirements to purchase ammunition in Nevada, buyers have to meet two requirements. The first concerns itself with age: buyers of ammo have to be eighteen years of age or older to purchase long gun ammo for rifles or shotguns, and at least twenty-one to buy ammunition for handguns.
Secondly, buyers cannot be prohibited persons. The ATF defines prohibited persons as people who have been convicted of domestic violence or a felony, people who have been found mentally unfit in court, and people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility for inpatient treatment.
Assuming that the buyer meets both of those sets of requirements, Nevada’s state government is fine with having ammunition shipped to a residential address. Keep in mind that carriers do sometimes impose their own rules, such as asking for an adult with valid identification to be present to sign for a package containing ammunition.
Because Nevada’s only ammunition ban merely echoes federal laws prohibiting polymer-coated handgun bullets, Nevada’s ammo laws are among the most permissive in the country, and it is a simple process for legal buyers to have ammo shipped to a residence in the state.
Gun Laws/Buying Guns in Nevada
Next, we will do the same analysis for Nevada’s gun laws.
Nevada’s firearms laws are nearly as permissive as its ammunition laws. The state does not have a magazine ban of any kind, nor does it have an assault weapons ban that either bans weapons by name or by a list of features. Nevada, similarly, does not have an issue with its residents owning NFA items such as machine guns, suppressors, and short-barreled rifles/shotguns, but, of course, federal laws and regulations apply in the state.
The state of Nevada does not have a permitting process to own or purchase firearms in the state, and there are no mandatory waiting periods to purchase firearms. Thus, buying a gun from a dealer in Nevada follows the federal process.
Potential firearm buyers in the state should bring both a valid form of identification and a form of payment to the gun store. Once there, the FFL will ask the buyer to fill out ATF’s Form 4473 to complete a background check and to make a record of the purchase. As soon as the background check and payment are both approved, the buyer can leave with their firearm that same day.
Buying from a private seller in the state is more complicated, however. On paper, the state has a law that mandates that gun dealers run background checks for sales of firearms between private parties in the state. The state’s Attorney General, however, has opined that such a law is effectively impossible to enforce within the state. As it stands now, however, folks looking to comply exactly with the letter of the law should have an FFL complete a background check through the state of Nevada on private firearms sales. This will likely either be repealed or at least clarified legally, in the coming years.
Nevada is fairly permissive when it comes to the carriage of firearms. Open carry is legal, with some restrictions, such as not being able to openly carry while on a public roadway. No permit is required for open carriage of a firearm in Nevada.
Nevada does require a permit to carry a firearm concealed, and it is a shall-issue state. The process for getting the Nevada CCW is handled by the local sheriff’s office. Nevada’s permit is somewhat widely recognized by other states.
The vast majority of states have a list of places where it is generally forbidden to carry a firearm and Nevada is no exception. In the states, firearms are prohibited in:
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Airports
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K-12 public schools unless given permission
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Places with metal detectors and posted signage
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Police stations
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Correctional Facilities
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State-owned buildings
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Courthouses
Nevada’s list of prohibited places is fairly short, and not out of character with other permissive states.
Overall, Nevada’s gun laws are fairly permissive. The need for a concealed carry permit does make the state a little less permissive than the most permissive states, and the controversy around the private sale of firearms leaves a lot to be desired in terms of clarity on procedures and enforcement. With those two caveats in mind, it is generally fairly simple to be a law-abiding gun owner in Nevada.
Sales Tax on Guns/Ammo in Nevada
The general sales tax in Nevada is 6.85%, and, in some cases, localities add their own sales taxes to bring the total tax rate up to an effective 8.375%.
Like most states, Nevada does not impose special, separate taxes on the purchase of firearms and ammunition.
More Resources:
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The ATF maintains a list of every FFL in the country, including in Nevada. This list is kept up to date and can be used to find local gun stores, which are usually Type One or Type Two FFLs.
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Wheretoshoot.org is a great tool for finding ranges that are convenient for you. Use the mileage, zip code, and city filters to find ranges where you want to shoot, anywhere in the country. Users can also upload additional ranges, and the information is frequently checked for accuracy.
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There are a number of well-rated gun stores in the state.
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The Nevada Shooters forum is fairly active, and has good information on local events: it’s a good place to keep up on the evolving legalities of the private party background check rule.