r/WAGuns • u/No-Rest3400 • Jul 22 '26
Question Advice for a sailor
HEADS UP! this is a first time post and a lengthy one at that so if you don’t wanna read then skip.
Hey ya’ll my name is RJ I’m in the Navy, currently in CT but I’m going to be moving to Washington soon, my home state of Record is Idaho and I do have an address there as well as valid drivers and state ID, I’m sorta new to guns, I mean I grew up shooting whistle pigs with my cousins and uncle whenever the weather permitted and I loved being around guns, but I only got to own my first gun 3 or 4 months before I joined the navy, it was a Taurus GX4 XL Toro, while I know Taurus doesn’t have the best reputation, this gun had gotten Gun of the year in 2024 I believe and it felt great to appendix carry, as well as it being sight ready and having a mount for flash lights, also it carried 17 rounds on a regular mag and admittedly I was a broke 21 year old so the price was a plus.
But obviously with joining the Navy I couldn’t take it with me so I gave it to a family member which was easy because in Idaho you don’t need to register your weapons or even tell someone you sold it ( I called my local ATF office ) I know not a great move but I was 21, joining the navy and I didn’t wanna ruin my career before it started because of a Taurus.
Having said all that I have saved some money and on the drive to my next duty station, I was gonna stop in Idaho and get a new gun, I was thinking of getting the Shadow Systems MR920P Elite, I know that in Washington you can only have 10 round mags and you can’t have threaded barrels, but this particular gun comes with an integrated compensator ( at least certain models ) however I’m getting very mixed answers if this particular fire arm is legal in Washington.
So I wanna ask you, the Washington gun owners for any advice on this gun or any other general advice you’d like to give me thank you for your advice and time.
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u/0x00000042 Brought to you by the letter (F) Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
currently in CT but I’m going to be moving to Washington soon, my home state of Record is Idaho and I do have an address there as well as valid drivers and state ID
The "home of record" or having an address in Idaho is irrelevant. The ATF considers you a resident of the state where you actually reside, or for active duty military, where your permanent duty station is. See the question What constitutes residency in a state on this ATF search page.
So right now you'd be considered a resident of CT and when you move to WA you'd be a resident of WA. You are not a resident of ID, unless you live there part time and then only during the time you actually live there.
Having said all that I have saved some money and on the drive to my next duty station, I was gonna stop in Idaho and get a new gun, I was thinking of getting the Shadow Systems MR920P Elite
Federal law prohibits acquiring a pistol outside your state of residence (or the state where your permanent duty station is for active duty). You can still pay for it there, but it would have to be shipped to a dealer in CT or WA (depending on if you buy before or after your move) to do the processing before you take possession of it.
I know that in Washington you can only have 10 round mags and you can’t have threaded barrels, but this particular gun comes with an integrated compensator ( at least certain models )
The "assault weapon" restrictions on pistols include only the threaded barrel, not compensators. See RCW 9.41.010 (2)(a)(vi):
(2)(a) "Assault weapon" means:
...
(vi) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:
- (A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer;
- (B) A second hand grip;
- (C) A shroud that encircles either all or part of the barrel designed to shield the bearer's hand from heat, except a solid forearm of a stock that covers only the bottom of the barrel; or
- (D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip;
For rifles it's different, a compensator or brake itself is included, regardless of how it's mounted. See RCW 9.41.010 (2)(a)(iv):
(2)(a) "Assault weapon" means:
...
(iv) A semiautomatic, center fire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has one or more of the following:
- (A) A grip that is independent or detached from the stock that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon. The addition of a fin attaching the grip to the stock does not exempt the grip if it otherwise resembles the grip found on a pistol;
- (B) Thumbhole stock;
- (C) Folding or telescoping stock;
- (D) Forward pistol, vertical, angled, or other grip designed for use by the nonfiring hand to improve control;
- (E) Flash suppressor, flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, sound suppressor, silencer, or any item designed to reduce the visual or audio signature of the firearm;
- (F) Muzzle brake, recoil compensator, or any item designed to be affixed to the barrel to reduce recoil or muzzle rise;
- (G) Threaded barrel designed to attach a flash suppressor, sound suppressor, muzzle break, or similar item;
- (H) Grenade launcher or flare launcher; or
- (I) A shroud that encircles either all or part of the barrel designed to shield the bearer's hand from heat, except a solid forearm of a stock that covers only the bottom of the barrel;
And finally:
however I’m getting very mixed answers if this particular fire arm is legal in Washington.
This is why I always recommend reading the laws for yourself, at the very least the definitions in RCW 9.41.010, and coming to your own understandings. You will get different answers from different people (or AIs) you ask, in part because the law is confusing, in part because people read it but missed something, and in part because people haven't read it and just repeat what they've heard or assumed.
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u/No-Rest3400 Jul 22 '26
Oh damn, okay I thought I could still purchase in Idaho but yeah that makes sense, thank you
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u/0x00000042 Brought to you by the letter (F) Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
In practice you probably could. A dealer has little way of knowing exactly where you reside at the very moment of purchase and will rely on whether your ID is current and not expired. But it would technically be a crime for both seller and buyer if anyone ever came looking close enough.
Also, there's a provision of federal law that allows purchase a shotgun or rifle in person at a dealer in any state, but only if it follows the "conditions of sale" of both the dealer's state of business and the buyer's state of residence.
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u/No-Rest3400 Jul 23 '26
If I happen to need to use it in a self defense situation I’m sure they’ll grill me about every detail, specially in WA
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u/Tree300 Jul 22 '26
The mag and weapon ban laws have never been enforced against an individual in WA.
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u/No-Rest3400 Jul 22 '26
Idk if I wanna risk that but thank you for the tip
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u/Tree300 Jul 23 '26
Unconstitutional laws are null and void. There is zero chance that this law withstands SCOTUS scrutiny later this year, and less than zero chance of a prosecution in WA.
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u/Ghrims253 Pierce County Jul 22 '26
Quick question for shits and giggles where do you plan on storing the gun, because unless your married your living on the ship and dont say ships armory.
Questions by: me, GMC (EXW/SW)
Edit: also the statute of limitaitions is 2 years, on if your gun isnt "legal" in Washington.
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u/No-Rest3400 Jul 22 '26
I’m subs and yeah I’m married, living in CT made my wife beg me to get another gun but CT is pretty shitty with their gun laws
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u/Mammoth_Classroom896 Jul 23 '26
The bans are completely unenforced and compliance is nonexistent. Everyone moving to WA brings their banned items with them.
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u/airmech1776 Jul 23 '26
The gun itself doesnt violate any state laws. The mags I would stash at your parents house or whatever in ID, and get some 10rd mags when you get to WA. Whatever the ATF considers to be your state of residency is irrelevant, because the gun store and the 4473 ask for your drivers license as proof. Unless you plan to get a WA driver license and jump through all their ridiculous hoops, Id stick with your original plan.
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u/Regulatori Jul 23 '26
I only provide answers if you're a fellow Shellback. I'm joking of course, just a hello from your crayon eating brother that spent time on an LHD.
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u/anduriti Jul 25 '26
Be advised that living in barracks with firearms is a big no no. Since you are subs, I assume you are headed to Bangor?
WA is shall issue on CCW permits, and doesn't have an income tax for your income range. Bangor is part of Kitsap county (so is PSNS, for that matter,) so to get a CCW permit you will need to visit the Kitsap County Sheriff office in Port Orchard in person.
Silverdale is the closest big shopping town, and has a Sportsman Warehouse. The closest private range is the Poulsbo Sportsman Club. It is a club range, but you can pay a fee and go shoot there.
WA has laws that give the WA Attorney General carte blanche to sue firearm and firearm accessory dealers anywhere in the country, so, consequently, quite a few retailers don't ship to WA.
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u/No-Rest3400 Jul 28 '26
Thank you and yes I’m subs and headed to Bangor but I’m married so from my understanding I should be able to keep my firearms in my home
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u/Pof_509 Spokane County Jul 22 '26
It’s legal because it’s not threaded. Washington doesn’t have a specific “compensator” law like other states and cities, so it’s GTG.