Montana Firearm Bill of Sale Form

A Montana Firearm Bill of Sale documents a firearm transfer from one private party to another.

It captures the buyer’s and seller’s details, the firearm’s information, and specifics about the transaction itself like the price paid for the weapon.

Montana has no law that mandates a waiting period to buy a gun, and the state is lax on any restrictions for possession.

State Laws for Selling a Gun in Montana

Minimum Age to Purchase

An individual must be at least 18 years old to apply for a concealed carry permit in Montana. [1]

Permit for Purchase

Montana does not require a license to sell or a permit to purchase.

Register a Gun

Montana firearm laws do not require registering a firearm after buying it. Montana Code prohibits government or municipal agencies from requiring private firearms registration with the state. [2]

Open Carry Permit

Not required.

Concealed Carry Permit

In Montana, anyone over 18 and not in one of the prohibited categories is allowed to carry both concealed and openly firearms.

However, although you don’t need a permit, you can decide to obtain one to carry a concealed weapon in the state if you want it for reciprocity purposes.

How to Apply

Montana laws,  allow you to apply for a license to carry a concealed weapon. [1]

A county sheriff will issue a permit to carry a concealed weapon within 60 days of receiving an application if the applicant meets the following criteria:

• Is a United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident
• Is at least 18 years of age
• Holds a valid Montana driver’s license or another form of photo identification issued by the state
• Has been a resident of Montana for at least six months

In addition, they must also not be disqualified by any grounds under Montana Code § 45-8-321. [1] The application form and fees are listed under Montana code. [3]

Step 1  – Get Trained

Complete a firearm safety training course as approved by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. [4]

Step 2 – Apply

Submit a completed Concealed Weapon Permit Application to your local sheriff’s office.

Step 3 – Get Fingerprinted

Submit fingerprints to an approved fingerprinting agency.

Step 4 – Pay Fees

All applicants must pay a $50 filing fee (current as of June 2023).

Step 5 – Submit to Background Check

Pass a background check. [1]

Step 6 – Wait for Approval or Denial

Your local sheriff’s office will approve or deny your application within 60 days of receiving it.

Gun Reciprocity

Montana recognizes every state’s concealed carry permits requiring a criminal records background check as part of their permit application process. [5]

The Montana Attorney General’s office determines the states.

Montana honors the permits of every state except for the following:

• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont (does not issue concealed weapon permits)

States the honor Montana’s permit:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Restrictions on Firearm Ownership

A private party who owns a firearm legally can also sell it without a license as long as the buyer can legally own a gun. [6]

The following people are prohibited from owning guns in Montana: [7]

• Anyone who has been convicted of a felony for which they received an additional sentence, which imposes extra punishment for an offense committed with a dangerous weapon. [8]
• Anyone who committed an offense in another state or a federal offense equivalent to a Montana offense would be subject to an additional sentence. [8]
• Anyone who has been convicted of a felony that currently requires them to register for the sexual or violent offender registry.