The Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division (FATD) provides expert technical support to ATF, other Federal agencies, State and local law enforcement, the firearms industry, Congress, and the general public. This Division is responsible for technical determinations concerning types of firearms approved for importation into the United States and for rendering opinions regarding the classification of suspected illegal firearms and newly designed firearms. Further, FATD provides the U.S. Department of Justice, State prosecutors' offices, district attorneys' offices, and military courts with expert firearms testimony on the identification and origin of firearms and other matters relating to firearms and the firearms industry. The Division maintains an extensive firearms reference collection, as well as technical firearms reference files and library and firearms databases.
Mission
The mission of the Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division is to serve as ATF's technical authority relating to firearms and their classification under Federal laws; to respond to law enforcement agencies requests to test, evaluate, and provide expert testimony on firearms and ammunition; and to provide technical services to the firearms industry and other members of the public.
FATD support to the firearms industry and the general public includes the following areas:
- Responses to technical inquiries.
- Testing and classification of products submitted.
- Curios or Relics (C&R) determinations (see the C&R page prior to submitting a C&R inquiry).
- Import evaluations.
- Providing marking variances to the firearms industry
Marking Variances
ATF F 3311.4 Application for Alternate Means of Identification of Firearms (Marking Variances)
Applications for alternate means of identification of firearm(s) (marking variance), ATF Form 3311.4 and letter applications should be submitted electronically at marking_variances@atf.gov or by fax at 304-616-4301. Applications also may be mailed to:
Contact Information
Firearms and Ammunition Technology Division
Email: fire_tech@atf.gov Voice: 304-616-4300 Fax number: 304-616-4301
Alternate Firearm Destruction Methods
To meet the requirement for removal from GCA and NFA provisions, ATF has previously explained that acceptable methods of destruction include completely melting, shredding, or crushing the firearm. See e.g. 27 CFR § 478.12(e). Should you not be able to use those methods, the table below provides alternate destruction methods.
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearm Destruction – AK47, AKM, AKS74 Type Firearms | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Browning M1917 Machinegun | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Chartered Industries of Singapore model Ultimax 100 | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Erma EMP Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Fabrique National Herstal (FNH) model D (BAR-type) | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Finnish Suomi KP/-31 Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Heckler and Koch (HK) model UMP | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Japanese Type 96/99 Light Machinegun | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – MP5/SP5-Type | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – M16/AR-Type Firearms | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – M16/AR -Type Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – MP40 | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – M60 Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – PPS43 | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – PPS-43 Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – PPSh-41 Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – STEN Receiver | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – Società Italiana Tecnologie Speciali S.p.A. (SITES) model Spectre | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – RPG7 | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not considered a “firearm” and is therefore not prohibited from importation by 18 U.S.C. § 922(l) | Firearms | Publication |
| Firearm Destruction – RPD / Type 56 / Type 62 Light Machinegun | Alternate destruction method to ensure that the weapon is not “readily restorable” to a firing condition or is otherwise reduced to scrap. 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b). | Firearms | Publication |