Publications

ATF has had outreach programs in place for more than 10 years, beginning with the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program and expanding to include industry outreach and interaction with other professional organizations.  Each year, thousands of firearms are reported lost or stolen.  The owners’ ability to adequately identify these firearms is central to law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes and losses.  Insurance claims and reacquisition of recovered firearms will also hinge on the ability to correctly identify these firearms.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Each year, thousands of firearms are reported lost or stolen.  The owners’ ability to adequately identify these firearms is central to law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes and losses.  Insurance claims and reacquisition of recovered firearms will also hinge on the ability to correctly identify these firearms.  Keep this list separate from your firearms to assist police in the event your firearms are ever lost or stolen.

Published/Revised: April 21, 2022

Also known as the "Orange Book," this documentation provides federal explosives law and regulations and reflects changes and developments in response to the Safe Explosives Act of 2002.

Published/Revised: August 7, 2019

This publication provides information on Daily Summary of Magazine Transactions (DSMT), which is a running balance of explosive materials in a magazine and includes a must have listing.

Published/Revised: August 21, 2020

This publication provides information on magazine explosives classes and storage requirements.

Published/Revised: July 20, 2020

Voluntary steps for Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees to prepare for and recover from natural disasters.

Published/Revised: March 1, 2011

This publication defines what federally licensed explosives dealers must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2011

This publication identifies what licensed manufacturers must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.    

Published/Revised: October 1, 2011

This order outlines procedures for providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or job applicants of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Published/Revised: September 13, 2018

A visual representation outlining the roles, reporting relationships and hierarchy of the organization. 

Published/Revised: February 18, 2022

Grief is a process, not an event. The memories, meanings and fulfilled needs provided by the lost loved one take time to work through. Losing someone close to you means you deserve to allow yourself to feel all your emotions, sadness, anger, intense longing, guilt, and others.  Revised Aug.2017

Published/Revised: April 2, 2019

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, or injure someone. Revised March 2018

Published/Revised: April 2, 2019

Letter to all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in response to questions from industry members regarding the legality of firearm sales and deliveries exterior to the brick-and-mortar structure at which the firearms business is licensed, in light of the March 13, 2020, declaration of a national emergency concerning the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the Department of Homeland Security's subsequent classification of firearms businesses as essential.

Published/Revised: April 10, 2020

This form is used to add responsible persons to a Federal Explosives License or Permit (FEL/P) with the application as well as after a FEL/P has already been issued. It is also required to be submitted with every FEL/P Renewal Application (ATF Form 5400.14/5400.15).

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

This procedure supersedes ATF Procedure 2017-1. The purpose of this ATF procedure is to set forth the recordkeeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) who facilitate the transfer of firearms between private unlicensed individuals. This procedure does not apply to pawn transactions, consignment sales, or repairs.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This procedure supersedes 2013-2. This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to complete the Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473 (Form 4473), as revised effective May 2020, and record the sale of a firearm, when selling to an unlicensed person who (a) Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements; (b) Resides in the same State as the licensee; and (c) Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises.

Published/Revised: June 14, 2021

This is the form which is used by licensed manufacturers and importers requesting ATF approval to adopt markings on behalf of another manufacturer/importer during firearms manufacturing process. OMB No. 1140-0104 (10/31/2026).

Published/Revised: October 31, 2023

This form is a continuation of Section A of the attached ATF Form 4473 and is completed by the transferor/seller. When completed, this attachment is incorporated into and made part of the ATF Form 4473.

Published/Revised: October 31, 2023

Este formulario es continuación de Seccion A del Formulario 4473 de ATF y el transferidor/vendedor lo completa. Cuando esté completo, el documento será incorporado y será parte del Formulario 4473 de ATF.

Published/Revised: October 31, 2023

ATF requires that non-ATF personnel and ATF sponsors (i.e., contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR) and points of contact (POC)) complete ATF Form 8620.42 when requesting that non-ATF personnel be granted escorted access to ATF facilities, non-sensitive information, and/or construction sites in order to perform low risk, non-sensitive duties. 

Published/Revised: November 4, 2024

ATF is issuing this open letter to assist the firearms industry and the public in understanding whether a “partially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional” frame of a Polymer80, Lone Wolf, or similar semiautomatic, striker-fired pistol (sometimes generally referred to as “Glock-type” pistols) has reached a stage of manufacture such that it “may readily be completed, assembled, restored, or otherwise converted” to a functional frame, and is therefore classified as a “frame” or “firearm” in accordance with the final rule titled Definition of ‘Frame or Receiver’ and Identification of Firearms (Final Rule 2021R-05F), which became effective Aug. 24, 2022. 

Published/Revised: December 27, 2022

ATF is committed to helping federal firearms licensees (FFLs) understand their legal obligations under federal law. This open letter advises Wisconsin FFLs that, effective immediately, the Wisconsin concealed carry license does not qualify as an alternative permit/license for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3), which allows FFLs to accept certain state-issued licenses in lieu of running a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when transferring a firearm to a nonlicensee. 

Published/Revised: July 25, 2025

The purpose of this open letter is to provide important updated information to importers concerning the lawful importation of certain frames, receivers and barrels.

Published/Revised: August 12, 2005

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that on July 1, 2005, the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) will cease to operate as the point of contact (POC) for the National Instant Background Check (NICS) program, and to further advise you of the affect these changes may have on firearms transactions conducted under your Federal firearms license.

Published/Revised: April 29, 2005

The passage of Texas House Bill 957 (HB957), with an effective date of September 1, 2021, has generated questions from industry members as to how this state law may affect them while engaged in a firearms business activity. HB957 claims to exempt silencers (also known as suppressors) that are manufactured in Texas, and which remain in Texas, from Federal firearms laws and regulations, including the federal registration requirements. However, because HB957 directly conflicts with federal firearms laws and regulations, federal law supersedes HB957. In summary, all provisions of the Gun Control Act (GCA) and the National Firearms Act (NFA), including their corresponding regulations, continue to apply to FFLs and other persons in Texas.

Published/Revised: July 26, 2021