7 Home Defense Guns For Ban States
Live in a state that places restrictions on guns? No prob! We walk you through some guns that can work in states like CA, NJ, NY, and others with bans.
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As we all know, some states have firearm restrictions that are, to put it kindly, less logical than others.
For example, states like California, New York, and Massachusetts have laws that make it tough to legally protect your home with the most effective weapons possible.
Luckily, the gun industry is so large and vast that there’s still a wide variety of options, even within the most restrictive states.
I've gathered together some of the best home defense weapons that are still legal in states with strict gun control in place.
While these guns are a compromise over something like a proper AR-15, they can still provide the necessary firepower to protect yourself.
So keep reading if you live in a firearm-restrictive state and need some ideas for home defense!
The Quick List
- Editor's Pick: Glock 34 Gen 3 Cali CompliantJump to Details ↓
- Best Lever Action: Henry Big Boy XJump to Details ↓
- Highest Capacity Shotgun: SRM Arms M1216Jump to Details ↓
- Best Semi-Auto Rifle: Fightlite SCR .223/5.56 RifleJump to Details ↓
- Best Shotgun: Beretta 1301 Tactical Mod 2Jump to Details ↓
- Low Recoil Shotgun: Mossberg 590 Persuader 20 GA 9-ShotJump to Details ↓
Table of Contents
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Best Ban State Home Defense Guns Comparison Chart
| Caliber | Action | Capacity | Barrel Length | Overall Length | Weight | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock 34 Gen 3 | 9mm | Semi-auto, striker-fired | 10 | 5.31" | 8.82" | 25.93 oz | $596 |
| S&W Model 327 TRR8 | .357 Magnum/.38 Special | DA/SA revolver | 8 | 5" | 10.5" | 35.2 oz | $1,489 |
| Henry Big Boy X | .357 Magnum/.38 Special | Lever-action | 7 | 17.4" | 36.3" | 7.3 lbs | $805 |
| Fightlite SCR Carbine | 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem | Semi-auto, direct-impingement | 5 (accepts AR-15 mags) | 16.25" | 37.75" | 5.9 lbs | $1,179 |
| Beretta 1301 Tactical | 12 ga | Semi-auto, gas-operated | 7+1 | 18.5" | 37.8" | 6.7 lbs | $1,638 |
| Mossberg 590 Persuader 20 ga | 20 ga | Pump-action | 8+1 | 20" | 40" | 7.25 lbs | $449 |
| SRM Arms M1216 | 12 ga | Semi-auto, roller-delayed blowback | 16+1 | 18.5" | 33.75" | 7.75 lbs | $1,713 |
How We Chose the Best Home Defense Guns for Ban States
For this article, we gathered opinions from our staff who have actually lived in ban states previously. Our Founder/CEO and Videographer/Social Media Manager both lived in Califonia, while our Editor-in-Chief spent time living in New Jersey. We considered guns we had personally shot, reviewed, or owned, as well as a few we’ve researched and recommended to us by people we trust.
For guns we have reviews on, we've linked those. Reviewed guns go through a strict testing protocol. Every review handgun undergoes a strict testing protocol that requires a minimum of 500 rounds of both FMJ and JHP ammo through it at 5 and 7 yards.
Meanwhile, every review rifle undergoes 500 rounds of practice ammo and heavier match-grade ammo at 50 and 100 yards with a 5-25x scope (unless otherwise noted). We require all AR-15s to be tested with at least 3 magazines to assess compatibility, and we use a Lyman Digital Trigger Gauge to measure the average trigger pull for all guns.
Best Firearms for Ban States
1. Glock 34 Gen 3 - Editor's Pick
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-auto, striker-fired
- Capacity: 10
- Barrel Length: 5.31"
- Overall Length: 8.82"
- Weight: 25.93 oz
If you want to take the home defense handgun route, then the Glock G34 offers you a great choice. You are isolated to 10 rounds in the most restrictive states.
However, the Glock series has been around for decades, and the magazines from earlier generations will work in Gen 3 Glocks.
Let's say you live in a state that did not enact gun control until recently. If that's the case, it might be easy to find some pre-ban magazines floating around for the Glock 17/34.
The Glock 34 uses a long slide that will add some velocity, increase your sight radius, and provide a heavier, easier-to-control pistol.
This 9mm Glock is easy to handle and likely easy to find. Even if you are stuck with 10 rounds, you can very easily purchase 10-round magazines for the Glock series of pistols.
Another reason to consider a Glock is because they are affordable, easy to upgrade, and one of the most reliable pistols on the planet.
It's tough to hate on a reliable, proven, and affordable platform.
What do you think of the Glock 34 Gen 3? Rate it below!
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2. Henry Big Boy X .357 Magnum - Best Lever Action
Specs
- Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
- Action: Lever-action
- Capacity: 7
- Barrel Length: 17.4"
- Overall Length: 36.3"
- Weight: 7.3 lbs
The Henry Big Boy X avoids most gun control by being a manually operated firearm with a relatively low capacity and an internal magazine.
It's a lever gun, something designed in the Civil War era, although the X models modernize things a fair bit.
First, they ditch the wood for lighter, more durable synthetic furniture.
It even has a Picatinny rail and M-LOK slots for adding accessories. For home defense, a light is a must-have, and the Cloud Rein micro would fit perfectly on the gun.
We also get high-visibility sights, and the gun is tapped to make adding a red dot easy.
The weapon is fairly light and handy with a 17.4-inch barrel. It weighs in at a little over 7 pounds and can hold seven rounds of ammunition. Side saddle devices now exist to make top-offs possible.
Companies like Midwest produce M-LOK handrails for even more accessorizing. The threaded barrel makes the addition of a muzzle device easy. A good flash suppressor or compensator would be best since most restrictive states don't allow suppressors.
In .357 Magnum, you get a potent caliber that hits hard and expands well with defensive ammunition.
On the flip side, the gun can use .38 Special, which tends to be cheaper for practice. You'll need lots of practice because operating a low-capacity, manually operated weapon is never easy.
It's an old-school solution to a modern problem, but it's tough to find a state that bans lever actions.
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3. SRM 1216 Shotgun - Highest Capacity Shotgun
Specs
- Caliber: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, roller-delayed blowback
- Capacity: 16+1
- Barrel Length: 18.5"
- Overall Length: 33.75"
- Weight: 7.75 lbs
Most ban states only allow 10 rounds in a gun at a time. The SRM 1216 is a shotgun that carries 16 rounds but gets away with it in ban states.
Because the "magazine" is four tubes that require the user to manually rotate the next tube into action.
Technically, it's only a 4-round magazine. They even produce models that require tools to remove the magazine, effectively making it a fixed magazine. Sixteen rounds of 12-gauge are nothing to joke around about.
You can see it in action below:
It provides plenty of power in a compact package. This is a quasi-bullpup shotgun that delivers a semi-auto action.
The SRM 1216 delivers a fast-firing action that utilizes a roller-delayed system, much like the ol' MP5 series of SMGs.
The SRM 1216 comes ready with plenty of rail estate for mounting optics, lights, lasers, cup holders, etc. It's a very modern weapon that can be set up for righties or lefties with ease.
This gun is super reliable in my experience, and with a good defensive 12-gauge load, the SRM 1216 is a devastating weapon.
It might not be as easy to handle as a standard AR-15, but it provides a semi-auto action with 16 rounds. With practice, you'll get fast at rotating the tubes and keeping the gun in action at all times. Heck, if removable magazines aren't an issue, you can purchase multiple SRM 1216 magazines.
4. Fightlite SCR - Best Semi-Auto Rifle
Specs
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem
- Action: Semi-auto, direct-impingement
- Capacity: 5 (accepts AR-15 mags)
- Barrel Length: 16.25"
- Overall Length: 37.75"
- Weight: 5.9 lbs
Finally, let's look at the one "AR-15" that's proclaimed itself 50-state legal, and it's a fascinating rifle design.
The SCR lower is completely different than an AR-15 lower and implements a sporting-style Monte Carlo stock. This design utilizes an integral buffer in the stock and a unique rat tail BCG.
This lower allows you to use a standard AR upper receiver in .300 Blackout, 5.56, and any caliber that can use a standard AR-15 bolt. The SCR retains the semi-auto action, a good bit of the AR-15's modularity, and its soft shooting nature.
I'd actually say it's softer shooting than a standard AR-15. Since you can use standard uppers or the Fightlite upper, you can mount M-LOK rails, optics, lights, and whatever else you may want on your SCR.
The SCR is all kinds of cool and is the least abomination-looking compliant AR-15 design I've ever seen. It's a fascinating option, and it's very ergonomic. I live in a "free" state, and I own an SCR just because I respect the design so much.
Want a compliant AR but don't dig the Fightlite? We got you covered with more ideas and builds in our Featureless AR-15 Rifles [California Build Guide].
5. Beretta 1301 - Best Shotgun
Specs
- Caliber: 12 ga
- Action: Semi-auto, gas-operated
- Capacity: 7+1
- Barrel Length: 18.5"
- Overall Length: 37.8"
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
A tube-fed semi-auto shotgun with a capacity of fewer than 10 rounds is rarely restricted. If you want a pure combat-oriented shotgun, then the Beretta 1301 is tough to beat.
The new 1301 Tactical Mod 2 sports an extended 7+1 magazine tube, a redesigned forend with M-LOK mounting slots, and a new barrel clamp with an integrated sling QD mount.
The 1301 Tactical's semi-auto action makes follow-up shots quickly, and the soft-shooting nature of the gun brings a new degree of controllability to shotguns.
Toss on a red dot, and you've got a very capable fighting weapon. Load it with good buckshot like Federal Flitecontrol, and you'll be ready to go.
With the low capacity, you'll need to train your reloads on the fly. However, it's unlikely that eight rounds of 12-gauge won't solve your problem.
Want to see the standard Beretta 1301 Tactical in action? Check out John's review or watch the video below.
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6. Smith & Wesson Model 327 TRR8 - Best Revolver
Specs
- Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
- Action: DA/SA revolver
- Capacity: 8
- Barrel Length: 5"
- Overall Length: 10.5"
- Weight: 35.2 oz
Staying with the handgun theme, let's take a peek at one of the coolest revolvers on the planet.
Revolvers typically do not fall under restrictive bans due to their fixed magazine design and relatively low capacity.
With that said, the TRR8 is an 8-shot revolver, which is somewhat uncommon.
It's a .357 Magnum, so you can also shoot .38 Special through it without issue. The TRR8 is cut for moon clips as well, which can facilitate faster reloads.
Moon clips are essentially speedloaders that drop into the gun. They are disposable in a fight and the preferred setup for competition shooters who need to shoot fast and reload faster.
.357 Magnum is no slouch in the ballistic department, either. Recoil can be cumbersome, but the TRR8 is a heavy weapon, and 35 ounces of metal help eat some of that recoil.
The TRR8 can utilize a series of rails to attach a red dot and light to ensure the wheel gun keeps up with the most modern of pistols.
In action, the Performance Center design tends to provide a slick action with an amazing trigger. It's a big gun and does big gun things very well.
The TRR8 provides a very modern revolver with complete compliance in states like California and Mass.
7. Mossberg 590 20-Gauge - Low Recoil Shotgun
Specs
- Caliber: 20 ga
- Action: Pump-action
- Capacity: 8+1
- Barrel Length: 20"
- Overall Length: 40"
- Weight: 7.25 oz
For shooters who want a shotgun that's compliant but also easy to handle, look no further than the latest models of Mossberg's famed 590 series.
Mossberg has produced a dedicated 20-gauge tactical shotgun that holds nine rounds of 20-gauge. As a manual action weapon with a fixed magazine, it's unlikely to hit the ban lists.
This 590 model comes complete with ghost ring sights, which I've grown to prefer over the classic bead sight.
The 9-shot model also features a compact 13-inch LOP stock, making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces that you would likely encounter in a home defense scenario.
A 20-gauge round is still a very potent fighting cartridge and will deal some serious damage to a home invader. With nine of them, you'll be ready to quickly take on multiple bad guys if necessary.
Using 20-gauge over 12-gauge reduces the recoil of the gun and makes it a much softer shooter and much easier to handle overall.
The 590 series have always been reliable fighting shotguns, and now that they've been 20-gauged, it's perfect for smaller shooters or recoil-sensitive shooters.
Be sure to check out our full review of the 18.5-inch Mossberg 590 20-gauge!
Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical
Pew Pew Tactical author Travis Pike wrote this article. Travis spent a lifetime shooting as a kid and later joined the United States Marine Corps, where he spent five years as an infantryman. In the middle of his Marine Corps career, he began writing and never stopped. Travis is an NRA-certified instructor and Concealed Carry Instructor for the state of Florida. He has thousands of articles in his name and a variety of publications, including Pew Pew Tactical.
Editing and adding to this article is Wyatt Sloan, Jr. Editor. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical. Jacki also spent time living in New Jersey, so she understands the value of guns you can own in ban states.
Final Thoughts
While living in a ban state might feel like a bummer, there are guns out there you can use to defend your home.
These recommendations will hopefully get you squared away with your home defense setup.
If you live in a ban state, what's your weapon of choice for home defense? Let us know below! For more on securing your home, check out how to Stage Guns for Home Defense.
Latest Updates
- February 2025: Removed .458 SOCOM build. Swapped Glock 34 for the Glock 34 Gen 3 California Compliant model. Changed model specifics for the Beretta 1301 Tactical, Mossberg 590 20-guage, and Fightlite SCR. Added a comparison chart and specs for each model.