Federal firearm regulations feel like a moving target lately. With the ATF’s recent October 2026 Open Letter and ongoing federal court injunctions, many gun owners assume local restrictions have loosened up. But if you are modifying, making, or carrying a short-barreled rifle (SBR) or short-barreled shotgun (SBS) in the Great Lakes State, you need to hit the brakes.
The Michigan State Police just released an update to remind gun owners of a harsh reality: changing federal enforcement policies do not alter Michigan’s strict penal code.
The Baseline: SBRs and SBSs Are Still Felony Charges
In Michigan, it is a serious felony under MCL 750.224b(1) to make, manufacture, transfer, or possess an SBR or SBS. If you are caught out of compliance, you face severe criminal penalties.
There is a major exception: Michigan law allows these NFA weapons if they are “lawfully made, manufactured, transferred, or possessed under federal law”. However, there is a massive legal trap hidden in how our Michigan courts handle this.
Under Michigan law, the burden of proving that your firearm is legal under federal law rests entirely on you. If a county prosecutor or the Attorney General charges you with an illegal firearm, the state does not have to prove your gun is unregistered. You must prove to the court that you fit perfectly into the federal exemption.
Size Matters: The 26-Inch Rule
How you must legally handle your SBR or SBS depends entirely on its total overall length:
- 26 Inches or Less: If your lawfully made SBR or SBS is 26 inches or shorter, Michigan law classifies it as a pistol. This means you must fully comply with Michigan’s pistol registration requirements under MCL 28.422 or MCL 28.422a. Failing to do so opens you up to immediate prosecution under Michigan’s criminal law.
- Greater than 26 Inches: If your firearm is longer than 26 inches, you do not need to register it as a pistol, but you must carry a copy of your federal NFA registration with you whenever you transport or use it. You are legally required to hand that paperwork over to any peace officer who asks for it.
The Danger of Simple Paperwork Mistakes
If you are caught transporting an SBR or SBS over 26 inches without your federal registration papers, it is a Michigan civil infraction carrying a fine of up to $100.00. But the real penalty is what happens to your property: the police can immediately seize your firearm.
Once seized, you have a strict 45-day window to bring your official federal registration paperwork to the law enforcement agency to get your weapon back. If you miss that deadline, your firearm faces permanent state forfeiture.
Do not mistake federal administrative shifts or out-of-state rules for a free pass here in Michigan. Navigating firearm statutes requires deep, generational familiarity with the state’s judicial landscape. The Kronzek Firm has represented thousands of clients across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula since the last century, providing critical legal guidance through the evolution of state gun laws.
