Palmetto State Armory Expands Short-Barreled Rifle Sales to 17 States Following NFA Court Victory
Gun owners in 17 states can now purchase qualifying short-barreled rifles from Palmetto State Armory through a local FFL without the traditional NFA registration and tax-stamp process, following a major federal court victory.
Palmetto State Armory (PSA) announced Friday, October 23, 2026, that it has expanded the availability of eligible short-barreled rifles (SBRs) through its ship-to-FFL program in 17 states. The move follows a landmark federal court ruling against National Firearms Act (NFA) restrictions and subsequent guidance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ending enforcement of certain federal registration requirements nationwide.
The announcement represents another significant development for American gun owners who have spent decades dealing with additional federal paperwork, registration requirements, and government approval processes simply to purchase rifles with barrels shorter than 16 inches.
Unlike manufacturers relying exclusively on ATF’s recent nationwide non-enforcement policy, PSA was an original plaintiff in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, meaning the company and its covered customers also benefit from a binding federal court injunction.
“Effective today, Palmetto State Armory has expanded the availability of eligible short-barreled rifles through our ship-to-FFL program in 17 states,” the company announced in a video posted to its X account.
According to PSA, its legal, compliance, and operations teams have been working to implement the changes and determine where eligible SBRs can be transferred under the current legal framework. The company has also released a state-by-state shipping map and indicated that additional states could be added as it continues evaluating applicable restrictions.
PSA’s Federal Court Injunction Provides Additional Protection
Perhaps the most important part of PSA’s announcement is the distinction between the ATF’s decision to stop enforcing certain NFA provisions nationwide and the federal court injunction that specifically protects the plaintiffs and other covered parties in the lawsuit.
As AmmoLand previously reported, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix ruled on August 5 that the challenged NFA registration and approval requirements exceeded Congress’s constitutional taxing authority after Congress reduced the applicable making and transfer taxes to zero.
The ruling covered suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and certain firearms classified as “any other weapons” (AOWs). The court issued an injunction protecting the plaintiffs and other covered parties from enforcement of the challenged provisions.
The Department of Justice subsequently confirmed it would not appeal the decision, allowing the judgment to become final.
On October 9, ATF went further, announcing that it would stop enforcing specified NFA making, transfer, and registration requirements for those firearm categories nationwide, extending relief beyond the parties protected by the injunction.
However, there is a crucial distinction between those two developments.
“Enforcement policies can change. A future administration could decide to take a different approach, but a federal court injunction isn’t something a new administration can simply disregard because it doesn’t like the decision,” PSA explained in its announcement.
The company emphasized that the injunction remains legally binding unless a court modifies, stays, or overturns it.
ATF’s nationwide non-enforcement policy could be reversed by a future administration. The injunction provides an additional layer of legal protection for PSA and the other covered parties that does not depend solely on the agency’s willingness to follow its current enforcement guidance.
It is also why PSA’s participation in the original lawsuit is significant. The company did not merely benefit from the litigation after the fact; it helped bring the legal challenge that resulted in the injunction.
SBR Sales Expand, but State Restrictions Remain
PSA’s announcement makes clear that its expanded SBR program is not an unrestricted nationwide rollout.
The company says eligible short-barreled rifles are now available through its ship-to-FFL program in 17 states where its legal and compliance teams have determined the transfers can proceed under existing laws.
Federal background checks and applicable dealer transfer requirements remain in effect. Customers must still complete the required firearms transfer process through a participating federal firearms licensee.
The expansion also does not eliminate state and local restrictions on SBR ownership or transfers.
Those complications have become increasingly apparent since the ATF announced its nationwide enforcement changes. As AmmoLand reported earlier this week, states have responded differently to the federal developments, with some recognizing the changed registration requirements while others continue enforcing restrictions tied to the old NFA system.
For gun owners, the result is a patchwork of state laws that can still prevent them from purchasing firearms that are no longer subject to the same federal NFA approval process.
PSA says its expansion is limited to states where it has determined the transfers can be offered under the current legal framework. The company intends to update its shipping map as additional states become eligible.
From Fighting the NFA in Court to Expanding Gun Owners’ Options
PSA’s announcement also demonstrates the growing commercial impact of the federal court victories against NFA enforcement.
When the injunction first took effect in August, manufacturers and dealers began navigating how to transfer qualifying firearms without the traditional NFA approval process. Suppressor manufacturers were among the first to implement new procedures, with SilencerCo announcing Form 4473 transfers for qualifying customers following the ruling.
Now, PSA is expanding the availability of complete short-barreled rifles through its established FFL distribution network.
For firearms enthusiasts, the distinction between a conventional rifle and an SBR can come down to a few inches of barrel length. Shorter configurations have practical applications, particularly for compact firearms, personal defense weapons, and rifles intended for use with suppressors.
Yet the federal government has subjected these firearms to additional NFA restrictions since 1934, creating a separate regulatory process for firearms that are otherwise functionally similar to their longer-barreled counterparts.
PSA’s latest announcement is a concrete example of what removing those federal barriers means for gun owners. Rather than having to navigate the previous NFA registration and approval process, eligible customers in participating states can now purchase qualifying SBRs through PSA’s expanded dealer-transfer program.
The company credited its participation in the lawsuit and the work of its legal and compliance teams for making that expansion possible.
“We didn’t get involved just to make headlines,” PSA said. “We got involved because we believe in standing up for the rights of everyday Americans.”
The Fight Against NFA Restrictions Is Far From Over
Although the recent court ruling and ATF guidance have fundamentally changed federal enforcement of several NFA provisions, the National Firearms Act itself has not been repealed.
The statute remains on the books, and the current non-enforcement policy does not eliminate every federal requirement associated with NFA firearms. Machine guns and destructive devices also remain outside the relief provided by the recent ruling.
Additionally, the court’s decision rested on Congress’s enumerated taxing powers rather than a final determination of the plaintiffs’ Second Amendment claims. The constitutional fight over the NFA therefore extends beyond the specific legal grounds that produced this victory.
PSA’s expansion nevertheless marks an important milestone. A firearms manufacturer that joined the fight against federal NFA restrictions is now translating its courtroom victory into expanded access to firearms for law-abiding Americans.
The ultimate objective should be the removal of unconstitutional restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms, not merely a temporary reprieve dependent on the policies of whichever administration controls Washington.
For now, PSA’s expansion into 17 states shows that the legal victories are beginning to have practical consequences for gun owners, and the company has made clear that it intends to keep pushing forward.
About Duncan Johnson:
Duncan Johnson is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and unwavering defender of the Second Amendment—where “shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says. A graduate of George Mason University, he enjoys competing in local USPSA and multi-gun competitions whenever he’s not covering the latest in gun rights and firearm policy. Duncan is a regular contributor and editor-in-chief for AmmoLand News and is responsible for AmmoLand’s daily gun-rights reporting and industry coverage.