Yes, RPGs Are Legal For Civilians to Own in the US – But There‘s a Catch

As a passionate gamer who loves experiencing powerful weapons in virtual worlds, I‘m often asked if weapons like rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers are legal for everyday people to own in real life.

The short answer is yes – with the right licenses, fees, storage requirements and state laws, a civilian can legally own a "live" RPG launcher under federal law. However, it‘s extremely rare and unrealistic for most people.

Let me explain everything you need to know about legally owning an actual RPG launcher as a civilian in the United States.

RPG Ownership Falls Under Strict NFA Regulations

Real RPGs are regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA) as Title II "destructive devices." This classification covers weapons like machine guns, explosive ordnance, large caliber firearms, and other exceptional weapons beyond typical civilian guns.

To legally own an RPG under the NFA as a civilian, you must:

• Pass extensive ATF background checks, with detailed application forms, fingerprints, and passport photos
• Pay a $200 tax stamp fee to legally register each RPG launcher
• Pay another $200 tax for every single RPG round you intend to own
• Wait 6 to 12+ months for ATF approval after filing all the paperwork
• Safely and securely store the weapon(s) per ATF regulations

In addition, individual states and local jurisdictions may further prohibit ownership – overriding the federal regulations. So federal approval does not guarantee RPG ownership everywhere.

By the Numbers: RPG Ownership in the US

Due to these restrictions, civilian RPG ownership is extremely rare, even among collectors licensed for automatic firearms. However, it does legally occur for a small number of determined owners.

• As of April 2022, there were 631,396 registered "destructive devices" classified under the NFA across the country according to ATF data.
• However, this includes ALL types of devices under the Title II category – not just RPGs specifically. Grenades, large bore firearms, and other weapons make up this figure.
• Best estimates suggest only a few hundred to ~1,200 functional RPG launchers are in legal civilian hands as of 2022. Quantifying exactly is difficult.
• For context, there are currently over 1 million+ suppressors, 726,000 machine guns, and half a million short-barreled ‘sawed off‘ shotguns registered in civilian ownership under the NFA.

So while technically ‘legal‘, functional RPG ownership among civilians is exceptionally rare compared to other NFA firearm categories.

The Challenges of Legally Owning an RPG Launcher

Beyond just the $400+ in mandatory federal fees per device, acquiring and owning an RPG launcher brings many logistical challenges under the law:

1. Finding RPGs For Sale

There are very few available for sale to civilians on the private ‘NFA‘ market, as most remain in military hands or are destroyed after service life ends. Those that do pop up often get snapped up quick by wealthy collectors.

Demilitarized RPG tubes (rendered non-functional) can be easier to source, typically costing $6,000 to $12,000. Live examples in working condition cost $15,000+ minimum at auction.

2. State Law Bans

Even after paying fees and getting ATF sign-off, California and Rhode Island both completely prohibit civilian destructive device ownership – this includes RPGs. Several areas like Chicago, D.C. and New York City also ban destructive devices.

3. Few Companies Will Sell RPG Rounds

Getting live RPG rockets or grenades is also very difficult. They must be registered as individual destructive devices to owners, requiring the $200 tax per unit. Due to risks and regulations around explosive ordnance, very few companies will take on that legal liability.

You generally must track down rounds second-hand from existing owners or importers specializing in artillery and explosives – who will still only sell to properly licensed purchasers.

4. Storage and Transportation Rules

The ATF mandates strict storage regulations for civilian-owned destructive devices: Owners must secure RPG launchers in storage with one federal approved lock AND one steel secondary barrier like a locked safe or thick metal cabinet.

Transporting them requires formal coordination with authorities in many jurisdictions as well. For example, simply traveling to another state with an RPG in your car could land you in prison for breaking federal transportation laws around explosives or destructive devices if done incorrectly.

As you can see, while federally legal with the right procedures, owning functional RPG launchers as a civilian brings immense legal liability and practical difficulty compared to normal firearms.

This keeps overall ownership exceptionally small – as few can afford the costs and legal risk involved. For these reasons, most gun and weapon enthusiasts admire RPGs from a distance…in video games, movies, and abroad during military deployments.

Ultimately, handling virtual RPGs in games scratches the itch for most of us civilians! I know I‘ll continue wishing to fire rocket launchers from the comfort of my gaming chair, not from risky and legally precarious real-world ownership.