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State Legality MatrixUnfinished Frames & Ghost GunsWashington

Are Ghost Guns and 80% Lowers Legal in Washington?

Statute-cited, last verified 2026-08-18

Status
Restricted
Effective
2023-03-10
Verified
2026-08-18

Restricted

Restricted. An unfinished frame must be serialized by a federal licensee; unlicensed manufacture and possession of an untraceable completed firearm are prohibited. Effective 2023-03-10.

Controlling law: RCW 9.41.326-.328

Contested entry

Litigation Status and Details

Washington allows a federal licensee to mark a frame or receiver but bars ordinary possession, transport, receipt, sale, purchase, and unlicensed manufacture of an unserialized unfinished part. It also restricts digital manufacturing code when distributed or possessed with intent to produce an unfinished frame using a 3D printer or CNC mill.

Federal law

Federal baseline

Federal law does not prohibit making a firearm for personal use, but prohibited-person, detectable-firearm, and unlicensed manufacturing-for-sale rules still apply. On August 17, 2026, Defense Distributed v. Blanche held 27 C.F.R. §§ 478.11 and 478.12(c) unconstitutional, but the judgment did not vacate those regulations and its declaratory and injunctive relief is party-scoped. Buyers outside the protected parties remain subject to the 2022 federal frame-or-receiver rule while litigation continues; state serialization, transfer, possession, and manufacturing laws apply independently.

Federal baseline verified 2026-08-18. Scope: Unfinished firearm frames and receivers, including products marketed as 80% lowers or pistol-frame blanks, plus firearms privately made without a serial number. Serialized stripped receivers transferred as firearms are outside this class's unfinished/unserialized restrictions.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Are ghost guns and 80% lowers legal in Washington?

Restricted. An unfinished frame must be serialized by a federal licensee; unlicensed manufacture and possession of an untraceable completed firearm are prohibited. Effective 2023-03-10. Controlling law: RCW 9.41.326-.328.

What law covers unfinished frames and unserialized firearms in Washington?

The controlling law is RCW 9.41.326-.328. An unfinished frame must be serialized by a federal licensee; unlicensed manufacture and possession of an untraceable completed firearm are prohibited.

When did Washington's unfinished frame or unserialized firearm restriction take effect?

Washington's rule took effect 2023-03-10. Washington allows a federal licensee to mark a frame or receiver but bars ordinary possession, transport, receipt, sale, purchase, and unlicensed manufacture of an unserialized unfinished part. It also restricts digital manufacturing code when distributed or possessed with intent to produce an unfinished frame using a 3D printer or CNC mill.

Are 80% lowers and self-built firearms legal under federal law?

Federal law does not prohibit making a firearm for personal use, but prohibited-person, detectable-firearm, and unlicensed manufacturing-for-sale rules still apply. On August 17, 2026, Defense Distributed v. Blanche held 27 C.F.R. §§ 478.11 and 478.12(c) unconstitutional, but the judgment did not vacate those regulations and its declaratory and injunctive relief is party-scoped. Buyers outside the protected parties remain subject to the 2022 federal frame-or-receiver rule while litigation continues; state serialization, transfer, possession, and manufacturing laws apply independently.

What to buy

Use a Serialized Stripped Lower Instead

In a restricted state, start with a factory-completed lower carrying the manufacturer's serial number and complete the required dealer transfer. These are serialized receivers, not unfinished 80% lowers, pistol-frame blanks, or do-it-yourself receiver kits.

Aero Precision M5 Stripped Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $170

Aero Precision M5 Stripped Lower Receiver

  • 7075-T6 forged aluminum
  • DPMS Gen 1 / Aero M5 receiver path
$170.00 Catalog
Shop at MidwayUSA
PSA Sabre-15 Ambi Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $99.99

PSA Sabre-15 Ambi Lower Receiver

  • Stripped AR-15 lower receiver
  • 7075-T6 aluminum
$99.99 Catalog
Shop at PSA
Geissele Super Duty Stripped Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $175

Geissele Super Duty Stripped Lower Receiver

  • 7075-T6 forged aluminum
  • Standard mil-spec controls
$175.00 Catalog
Shop at Classic Firearms
USMGM MG-15E Stripped Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $325

USMGM MG-15E Stripped Lower Receiver

  • Billet 7075 aluminum, 9.3 oz
  • SAEBR symmetrical ambi bolt catch and release
$325.00 Catalog
Buy Direct from USMGM
KE Arms KP-15 Polymer Stripped Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $80

KE Arms KP-15 Polymer Stripped Lower Receiver

  • 30% glass-filled nylon, injection-molded
  • Integral stock, buffer tube, grip, and trigger guard
$80.00 Catalog
Shop at KE Arms
FN 15 Military Collector M4 Stripped Lower Receiver
Lower Receivers • $130

FN 15 Military Collector M4 Stripped Lower Receiver

  • 7075-T6 forged, machined and broached to mil-spec
  • FN M4 military-production roll markings
$129.99
Shop at KYGUNCO

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