North Dakota 80 Percent Lower Laws

Legal Disclaimer: The information in this blog is not legal advice. We are not lawyers. While we endeavor to keep all our blogs updated with the most accurate information, gun laws change quickly and frequently. Legal changes can often be difficult to uncover, unpack, and publish in real-time. Therefore, while we try our best to provide timely information, be aware that what you’re reading below may change (or already has changed).

Do not rely solely on the information provided by us or on this website to ensure compliance with your purchase decisions. To ensure that you, the buyer, are acting in accordance with all federal, state laws and local ordinances, please do your own research and consult an attorney if necessary.

To see where some or none of our products can be shipped to, please see our full list of sensitive states here. 

What is an 80% Lower?

An 80% lower receiver is an unfinished and unserialized blank which requires some machining work from the end user to turn it into a 100% lower receiver, otherwise, what is legally considered as a firearm. 80 lowers are missing the trigger pocket and three holes that need to be milled and drilled out to be completed. Unless states have passed their own laws barring the possession or sales of 80% products; pending the ATF's updated decision from the most recent proposed rule 2021R-05 80% lowers are completely legal, not considered firearms and thus can be shipped straight to your front door. No FFL required. To explore the 80 percent lowers we have to offer, check out our multiple collections.

Are 80 Lowers Legal In North Dakota?

As of this guide’s initial publish date, 80% lower receivers and frames are not considered as firearms by the ATF and are legal to ship directly to buyers residing in the state of North Dakota.

Do I Need to Serialize My 80 Lower in North Dakota?

If you build out your own firearms starting with 80 lowers in North Dakota you do not need to serialize the lower receiver or frame as there are currently no laws requiring citizens to do so. Should you wish to serialize your lower receiver you certainly can if necessary through our 80 lower engraving services.

Key Gun Laws in North Dakota

Other than laws regarding 80 lowers, these are the key gun laws you should be aware of if you reside or are traveling through North Dakota.

Firearm Possession and Purchase Requirements

North Dakota is among the most gun friendly states in the US. Per Federal laws, the age requirement to purchase a long gun is 18 years old. The age requirement to purchase a handgun is 21 years old. While there is no minimum age to possess rifles or shotguns in North Dakota, minors under the age of 18 may not be in possession of a handgun unless they are in the direct supervision or presence of their parents, guardian or when attending a hunter’s or firearms safety course, using the gun for target practice or recreational shooting at an established range, involved in an organized competition, hunting or trapping with a valid license, travelling to and from these events, or at their own residence with permission and supervision of a parents or a legal guardian. Even though these minimum age requirements exist for minors, North Dakota does not criminalize or penalize the sale or transfer of long guns to minors either. No extra permits or licenses are required in order to purchase a handgun or long gun in North Dakota.

All firearm purchases and transfers require a background check not including private party transfers (Dealer Record of Sale also known as 4473 form or “DROS”). While federal law requires federal firearm license holders (“FFL’s”:) to initiate background checks on buyers prior to the sale of a firearm, federal law also allows states to serve as their own “point of contact” and conduct their own background checks via state, federal records or databases, as well as the option to use the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. North Dakota is not a point of contact for the NICS and as a result, dealers must conduct their background checks by going through the FBI’s NICS. Per the Brady Act, any ccw license holder would be exempt from needing a background check when buying a gun at an FFL dealer.

Open and Concealed Carrying

North Dakota is a ”shall-issue” state when it comes to concealed carry weapon permits which are offered in the form of “CWL’s” or a Concealed Weapon License. Open carry is legal without any license or permit necessary for residents with a CWL. It is also allowed for non-residents with a valid CCW from their home state as long as the state’s permit is honored and reciprocated by North Dakota. All open carriers must be at least 18 years old. North Dakota will consider any person a resident so long as they have been in the state for at least 30 days.

North Dakota issues two different types of CWLs: Class 1 and Class 2. Both types of CWLs require a state approved training course but the Class 1 has additional testing requirements which allows permit holders to have more reciprocity in states across the country to concealed carry. For more details on concealed carrying in North Dakota, check out their reciprocity map.

NFA Restrictions

While there are no NFA weapons or related items restrictions in North Dakota, automatic weapons do have to be registered with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and residents’ local county sheriff. As for any “assault weapons” bans, North Dakota does not have any.

Magazine Capacity Restrictions

There are no magazine capacity restrictions in North Dakota. Enjoy those drums and belt-fed box magazines! We carry plenty of standard capacity magazines like the Lancer Advanced Warfighter L5 mag which is a 30 rounder too. Our favorite color is the translucent smoke one.

Mandatory Storage Requirements

North Dakota recently did update their safe storage mandates concerning firearms. Please refer to Giffords’ explanation of when and where a gun needs to be “secured” in North Dakota.If you need some good ideas or best practices for storing your guns and gear here are 5 ways to safely store firearms at home.

Self-Defense

North Dakota is a castle doctrine state and has a new stand-your-ground law which just went into effect this August 1st, 2021 which means that as long as residents are justified, there is no duty to retreat before responding with lethal force for the sake of self-defense both in and out of the home place.

Ammunition Purchase

All types of ammunition are virtually unrestricted in North Dakota as the state does not require a license for the sale, purchase or possession of ammunition and does not require ammunition sellers to maintain sales records. Online sales of ammo can even be shipped straight to your front door in North Dakota.

Start Your Next 80 Lower Build with 80% Arms!

North Dakota residents are completely free to build their own firearms from 80 lowers and frames without any required serialization or FFL transactions. It's the perfect state to take advantage of your constitutional Second Amendment right and freedom to keep and bear arms. That includes 80% Arms! Grab our  patented lower jig and some buddies to enjoy that freedom together and let us know if you need any advice with your build at any point in the process. Friends, live free.