Rhode Island's Assault Weapons Ban: What to Buy

Where Rhode Island's Ban Stands

Rhode Island enacted a sweeping assault weapons ban that took effect July 1, 2026. It bans the sale, purchase, manufacture, and transfer of semi-automatic rifles that accept a detachable magazine and have any one listed feature — a pistol grip, a folding or telescoping stock, a flash suppressor or threaded barrel, a bayonet mount, or a hand shroud. It also bans magazines over 10 rounds. Firearms you already lawfully owned are grandfathered.

The law is under active legal challenge, and courts are expected to weigh in — with the U.S. Supreme Court likely to address assault-weapon bans around 2027. Enforcement and the exact scope may shift while that plays out.

The Smart Move: Buy Featureless

Here's the key: whether the ban is ultimately upheld or struck down, a featureless rifle stays legal to buy either way. Because it carries none of the listed features, it isn't a "banned assault weapon" under the law — no matter how the litigation resolves. It's the buy-once, sleep-easy path.

The Simplest Path: A Featureless Rifle

Buy it already compliant, no build required:

UnknownAnderson Featureless 5.56 M-LOK AR-15 Rifle

Price N/AOut of Stock

Or Build It: Featureless Complete Lowers

Start with a lower already configured featureless, then pair it with a compliant upper:

Aero PrecisionAero Precision M4e1 Featureless Complete Ar-15 Lower Receiver - Magpul Fixed Carbine Stock - Fde

Price N/AOut of Stock

Aero PrecisionAero Precision Featureless Complete Ar-15 Lower Receiver - Magpul Fixed Carbine Stock - Black

$339.99Out of Stock

The Compliance Parts

Converting a standard AR to featureless comes down to three swaps — a featureless grip, a fixed stock, and a muzzle brake in place of a flash hider:

Strike IndustriesStrike Industries Ar Simple Featureless Grip

$25.39In Stock

Thordsen Customs FRS-15 Gen III Stock Kit - Enhanced - Black

$155.99Out of Stock

Precision Armament AFAB Hybrid 5.56 Muzzle Brake - Black

$99.23In Stock

Don't Forget Magazines

Rhode Island bans magazines over 10 rounds. Buy 10-round (or smaller) magazines in-state — several makers produce 10-round PMAGs specifically for capacity-limited states. Standard 30-rounders are not the move here.

What's Grandfathered

The law grandfathers firearms lawfully possessed before the cutoff — you don't have to give up what you already own. What it restricts going forward is the sale, purchase, and transfer of covered assault weapons. That's exactly why a featureless build matters if you're buying now: it stays outside the banned category.

The Bottom Line

Rhode Island's ban is real, recent, and still being fought in court. The move that survives either outcome is simple: buy featureless, keep to 10-round magazines, and you've got a modern rifle that stays legal regardless of how the case lands. What you already own is grandfathered — it's new purchases the law reaches.