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Publications

ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports.

Document Type Description Category
Regulatory Youth Handgun Safety Act Notice - ATF I 5300.2 [PDF - 485.46 KB]

Federal law prohibits, except in certain limited circumstances, anyone under 18 years of age from knowingly possessing a handgun, or any person from selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under 18. A knowing violation of the prohibition against selling, delivering, or otherwise transferring a handgun to a person under the age of 18 is, under certain circumstances, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Published/Revised: July 1, 2017

Firearms
Report 2016 - Explosives Incident Report (EIR) [PDF - 6.64 MB]

2016 Explosives Incident Report (EIR)

Published/Revised: June 14, 2017

Explosives
Publication ATF e-Form 4473 - Quick Reference Guide for the Seller [PDF - 672.73 KB]

The quick reference guide is for federal firearms licensees (FFLs) who are using the e4473 form.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2017

Firearms
Publication ATF e-Form 4473 - Quick Reference Guide for the Buyer [PDF - 190.16 KB]

This quick reference guide is to be given to an individual to assist them in using the e4473 form.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory Notice of Firearms Manufactured or Imported - ATF Form 2 (5320.2) [PDF - 329.58 KB]

This form is used by qualified federal firearms licensees to report the manufacture or importation of an NFA firearm.

Published/Revised: May 1, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory 2017 - February - South Dakota - Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry Concealed Pistol [PDF - 33.24 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise South Dakota Federal Firearms Licensees regarding ATF's determination of the South Dakota's Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permit and Enhanced Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol as alternatives to the background check. 

Published/Revised: February 17, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory Fingerprint Card Instructions and Example - FD-258 [PDF - 1.64 MB]

This is a sample fingerprint card (FD-258) that is used when applying for a federal firearms license. This card can be order from the ATF Distribution Center online or by calling 703-870-7526 or 703-870-7528.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2017

Firearms
Regulatory List of Explosive Materials - 2009 [PDF - 59.43 KB]

Notice of List of Explosive Materials.  Removes ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP)

Published/Revised: October 12, 2016

Explosives
Regulatory List of Explosive Materials - 2013 [PDF - 53.68 KB]

Notice of List of Explosive Materials. One addition: Black powder substitutes

Published/Revised: October 12, 2016

Explosives
Regulatory List of Explosive Materials - 2003 [PDF - 53.97 KB]

Notice of List of Explosive Materials. Two additions: Tetrazole explosives, and Ammonium perchlorate having particle size less than 15 microns.

Published/Revised: October 12, 2016

Explosives
Newsletter September 2016 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 161.27 KB]

What’s in this Issue: FFL Advisory – Attempted Thefts of Firearms; NFA Trust “41F”; Theft/Loss in Transit Ruling; Assisting Customers Who Have Been Denied or Delayed on a Firearm Background Check; Brokering Firearms for Exportation; Out of Business Procedures for Electronic Records; Gun Show Transfers: Where and How to record in records; “Occasional” Importation; eForms — Form 6

Published/Revised: September 29, 2016

Firearms
Report 2015 - Arson Incident Report (AIR) [PDF - 4.68 MB]

The Annual Arson Incident Report (AIR) reviews arson-related incidents from data reported to the United States Bomb Data Center (USBDC) through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised: September 26, 2016

Arson
Report 2015 - Explosives Incident Report (EIR) [PDF - 1.91 MB]

The annual Explosives Incident Report (EIR) reviews bombing and explosives related incident and threat from information reported to the United States Bomb Data Center through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised: September 19, 2016

Explosives
Newsletter June 2016 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter - Addendum [PDF - 196.45 KB]

What's In This Issue: Nitrocellulose - Update

Published/Revised: August 31, 2016

Explosives
Report 2016 - Firearms Commerce Report [PDF - 847.43 KB]

2016 - Firearms Commerce Report

Published/Revised: August 8, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory 2016-5 - Marking Variance for Government Defense Contractors [PDF - 92.29 KB]

ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure to the firearms marking requirements contained in title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), sections 478.92 and 479.102. Specifically, ATF authorizes licensed manufacturers of certain destructive device munitions that are manufactured for and transferred to the U.S. Government (USG) to mark these destructive device munitions with sequential lot numbers, provided conditions set forth in this ruling are met.

Published/Revised: August 1, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory 2016-4 - Electronic Transmission of Form 6A Information to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) [PDF - 55.07 KB]

ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure in lieu of the method or procedure prescribed in the regulations that currently require an importer to submit to U.S. CBP an original, paper copy of ATF Form 6A, Release and Receipt of Imported Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (Form 6A), to import firearms, ammunition, and other defense articles.

Published/Revised: July 14, 2016

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Alabama - 2015 [PDF - 1.56 MB]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2015.

Published/Revised: July 11, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice Patriot Act Consultation Letter [PDF - 233.2 KB]

The Department of Justice, Office of Tribal Justice, invited Federally recognized tribes to consult with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco. 

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

Alcohol & Tobacco
Regulatory Response to Tribal Consultations on the Implementation of Certain Provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act Relating to Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco [PDF - 39.82 KB]

The Department of Justice's response to comments received from the federally recognized tribes after consultation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on the implications of ATF's pending final rule, implementation of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 Regarding Trafficking in Contraband Cigarettes or Smokeless Tobacco.

Published/Revised: July 7, 2016

Alcohol & Tobacco
Publication How to Conduct a Firearms Inventory - ATF P 5380.2 [PDF - 206.18 KB]

This publication provides guidelines on how to conduct a firearms inventory, dated July 2016.

Published/Revised: July 1, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory 2016 - June - West Virginia - All FFLs - HB4145 [PDF - 44.01 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance concerning West Virginia House Bill (HB) 4145 as it concerns the provisional licenses made eligible to West Virginia residents aged 18-20.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2016

Firearms
Newsletter June 2016 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 538.19 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Division Chief; Bomb Threat and Suspicious Package Publication; Transfer of Unmarked Explosive Materials; Nitrocellulose; Explosives Storage in Trailers; Type 2 Magazine Floors and Roofs; Highways; Marijuana Use and Prohibited Persons; Background Investigation and Denial; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed IPECs; Lists of Authorized Persons; Remote Storage Locations and Responsible Persons; Seismic and Geophysical Operations … Continued; 2015 Annual List of Explosive Materials

Published/Revised: June 30, 2016

Explosives
Report Firearms Trace Data: Wisconsin - 2015 [PDF - 1.55 MB]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2015.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2016

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Pennsylvania - 2015 [PDF - 1.84 MB]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2015.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2016

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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