Airguns, Antiques & Other

Learn what Massachusetts law says about airguns and antique firearms.

Airguns / BB guns

Airguns, such as bb guns and pellet guns, are subject to the following restrictions:

• You must be at least 18 years old to purchase airguns
• A person under 18 can only receive an airgun from a parent, guardian, or instructor.
• No one can discharge an airgun in the following locations:
  • streets
  • alleys
  • public ways
  • railroads
• Anyone under 18 cannot possess airguns in public places or discharge airguns anywhere unless they are accompanied by an adult or have a valid permit granting them the right of possession.

Antique / Replica firearms

Antique firearms are not considered firearms by Massachusetts law and therefore do not require a license to purchase or possess.

To be considered an "antique firearm", the firearm needs to have been manufactured on or before 1899, such as muzzle loading firearms, or be a replica of such firearm and must meet the following criteria:

• It cannot be designed or redesigned to use conventional fixed ammunition, such as rimfire or centerfire ammo, unless the ammunition is no longer manufactured in the U.S. and is not readily available
• It cannot use a firearm frame or receiver
• It must not have been converted into a muzzle loading firearm from a modern firearm
• It cannot be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition