Publications

Alternate magazine construction standards for storage of electric blasting caps with other explosive materials are prescribed.

Published/Revised: June 3, 1977

The recordkeeping requirements for licensed gunsmiths are clarified. ATF Rul. 73-13 amplified.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1977

A firearms licensee may continue operations until his renewal application for a license is finally acted upon.

Published/Revised: January 1, 1975

An office or repair shop used in connection with the manufacture, etc., of explosive materials are not "inhabited buildings."

Published/Revised: June 26, 1975

Certain explosives storage facilities meeting standards of construction prescribed by the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board are approved.

Published/Revised: June 26, 1975

Firearms or ammunition may not be sold at gun shows by a licensed dealer, but orders may be taken under specified conditions.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

The Department of Justice is amending its regulations to delegate to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) authority to seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled substance offenses.

Published/Revised: February 25, 2015

DOJ is amending ATF regulations to remove the cross reference to the regulatory U.S. Munitions List (USML) of the Int'l Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that appears at 27 CFR 447.21; to clarify that the Attorney General (AG) exercises delegated authority pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and Executive Order 13637 to designate defense articles and defense services as part of the  statutory USML for purposes of permanent import controls, regardless of whether the Secretary of State controls such defense articles or defense services for purposes of export and temporary import; and to clarify that defense articles and defense services controlled pursuant to the AG's delegated AECA authority are part of the statutory USML (along with those that are controlled for export and temporary import by the Secretary of State), but that the list of defense articles and defense services controlled by the AG is labeled the USMIL to distinguish it from the list of defense articles and defense services in the ITAR that are controlled by the Secretary of State.

Published/Revised: April 22, 2013

The Department of Justice proposes amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove the reference to an outdated guidance document in an explanatory note following the table of separation distances of ammonium nitrate and blasting agents from explosives or blasting agents. The Department also proposes amending that note to clarify that those separation distance requirements apply to all ammonium nitrate.

Published/Revised: May 29, 2015

The Department of Justice proposes amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to clarify definitions of two categories of persons who are prohibited from receiving, possessing, shipping, or transporting firearms under the Gun Control Act of 1968. The proposed rule would clarify that the statutory term "adjudicated as a mental defective" includes persons who are found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, lack of mental responsibility, or insanity, and that the term includes persons found guilty but mentally ill.

Published/Revised: January 7, 2014

The Department of Justice (DOJ), with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics, is amending its Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of Justice Supplemental Standards) to incorporate existing rules for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) employees that had initially been adopted by the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was within Treasury.

Published/Revised: July 31, 2014

This industry circular warns businesses about selling or holding for sale tobacco products and cigarette papers or tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled for exportation. On or after Feb. 7, 2001, if you sell or hold for sale such products for domestic consumption, you may incur civil and criminal penalties.

Published/Revised: November 19, 2019

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised: November 19, 2019

Certification of Secure Gun Storage or Safety Devices - ATF Form 5300.42

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

This form is used to properly identify the registrant and the firearms to be registered. The form when approved, registers the firearm to the law enforcement agency. The furnishing of this information is mandatory (26 U.S.C. 5853a).

Published/Revised: October 11, 2023

This supplemental Part B of the ATF Form 7 / 7 CR (F 5310.12/F 5310.16), Application for Federal Firearms License, is required to be completed by each Responsible Person (RP) who will be on a new federal firearms license (FFL). The Form 7 / 7 CR itself only has space for one (1) RP’s information; all additional RPs must complete and submit this form supplement. This supplement should also be used when adding RPs to an existing FFL. When submitting this form to add a Responsible Person to an already existing license, the form must be accompanied by a signed written request from a current/existing RP already on the license. We cannot process a form to add an additional RP to an existing license without the express written consent from an existing RP on the license.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

The ATF copy of the form, with fingerprints on Form FD-258 and photograph, will be submitted with the ATF Form 1, 4, or 5 (to the address shown on the specific form) and the other copy will be directed to the responsible person's chief law enforcement officer. Please read all instructions on this form before submitting it to ATF.

Published/Revised: January 13, 2023

This form is used to determine the eligibility of the applicant to engage in certain operations, to determine the location and extent of operations, and to determine whether the operations will be in conformity with federal laws and regulations when working with explosives.

Published/Revised: April 24, 2024

This form is used to obtain a release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and notify ATF of actual importation of defense articles imported pursuant to an approved ATF Form 6.

Published/Revised: August 7, 2024

This form is used to obtain approval to permanently export a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm and claim exemption from transfer tax. State Department export approval is required prior to ATF Form 9 being approved. 

Published/Revised: September 30, 2024

This application must be completed by any federal firearms licensee (FFL) who intend to change the business and/or mailing address of an active license and certify compliance with the provisions of the law for the new address.

Published/Revised: September 12, 2023

This form is used to report the theft or loss of firearms experienced by common carriers in interstate shipment.

Published/Revised: March 1, 2023

This form should be used by Federal Firearms Licensees who require additional space while filling out ATF Form 3310.11, Section C - Description of Firearms.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This form is to request approval to make a NFA firearm. A making tax liability may be incurred.

Published/Revised: January 30, 2026

This form is used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to report the theft or loss of firearms from their inventory or collection, to include firearms lost in transit (to be reported by the shipping FFL).

Published/Revised: January 4, 2022