NH · checked October 18, 2026

Shotgun laws in New Hampshire

What New Hampshire adds on top of federal law: short-barreled shotguns, 14-inch "firearms," feature rules, magazine limits, permits and waiting periods.

Decorative editorial illustration for the state shotgun law referenceVerify the current state and federal rules with official sources
Federal update — Oct 9, 2026

ATF says it is no longer enforcing federal NFA approval or registration for short-barreled shotguns. That does not change state law: where a state only allows SBSs that are registered under the NFA, you still need that registration to be legal under state law. What changed.

Short-barreled shotgunsLegal with NFA registration

No New Hampshire statute restricting short-barreled shotguns appears in ATF's compilation of NH firearm laws, so federal NFA registration rules govern.[1]

14" 'firearms' (Shockwave / TAC-14)Legal

No New Hampshire law restricting short shotguns or similar firearms was found; NH's 'pistol' definition (RSA 159:1) covers any firearm with a barrel under 16 inches, so a 14-inch 'firearm' may be treated as a pistol under state law.[1]

Semi-auto / feature rulesNo state feature ban

New Hampshire is not among the states Giffords lists as banning or regulating assault weapons, so no state feature rules for shotguns were found.[2]

Magazine limitsNo limit for shotguns

New Hampshire is not among the 15 states (plus DC) Giffords lists as limiting magazine capacity.[3]

Permit to buyNo state permit

New Hampshire is not among the states Giffords lists as requiring a license or permit to buy long guns; a federal background check applies at dealers.[4]

Waiting periodNo waiting period

New Hampshire is not among the 13 states Giffords lists as having a firearm waiting period.[5]

Where a state has no official guidance on a point, the summary says what the statute text appears to say, and marks it unclear when it can't be read either way.

Also know

ATF's NH compilation is current through 2020 session law and contains only selected sections.

Not legal advice

This is a plain-English summary. Cities and counties can add rules, and laws change. Confirm with New Hampshire's official sources or a licensed attorney before you buy, build or travel.

Federal rules that apply everywhere

  • Under the National Firearms Act, a 'shotgun' is a weapon designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder that uses a fixed shotgun shell to fire shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore with each pull of the trigger. source
  • The Gun Control Act uses nearly the same definition: a shotgun is designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder and fires shot or a single projectile through a smooth bore for each pull of the trigger. source
  • Federal law defines a short-barreled shotgun as a shotgun with a barrel under 18 inches, or any weapon made from a shotgun with an overall length under 26 inches. source
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the law that cut the NFA tax, is Public Law 119-21 and was approved on July 4, 2025. source

Shotguns to consider

Use the 3-step quiz — it flags New Hampshire's rules on your matches — or compare every model.

Sources

  1. New Hampshire — Short-barreled shotguns
  2. New Hampshire — Semi-auto / feature rules (secondary source)
  3. New Hampshire — Magazine limits (secondary source)
  4. New Hampshire — Permit to buy (secondary source)
  5. New Hampshire — Waiting period (secondary source)

Last checked October 18, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.

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