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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
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: M16/AR-type Firearms [PDF - 223.5 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of M16/AR-type firearms.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: MP40 [PDF - 270.18 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the MP40.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: PPS43 [PDF - 257.92 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the PPS43.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: RPG7 [PDF - 261.57 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the RPG7. 

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: Società Italiana Tecnologie Speciali S.p.A. (SITES) Model Spectre [PDF - 254.77 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of Società Italiana Tecnologie Speciali S.p.A. (SITES) model Spectre.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: Chartered Industries of Singapore Model Ultimax 100 [PDF - 286.41 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of Chartered Industries of Singapore model Ultimax 100.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Regulatory Explosives Employee Possessor Questionnaire - ATF Form 5400.28 [PDF - 1.01 MB]

This form is used to determine the eligibility of the employee possessor (EP) to engage in certain explosives operations.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Explosives
Regulatory Application/Permit for Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Nonimmigrant Aliens - ATF Form 6NIA (5330.3D) [PDF - 1.98 MB]

This form is used to apply to temporarily import firearms and ammunition for lawful hunting or sporting purposes. For use by visiting foreign nationals (nonimmigrant aliens) only.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: M16/AR-type Receiver [PDF - 218.16 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the M16/AR-type receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: MP5/SP5-type [PDF - 262.72 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the MP5/SP5-type.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: M60 Receiver [PDF - 220.51 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the M60 receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: PPSh-41 Receiver [PDF - 197.34 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the PPSh-41 receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: PPS-43 Receiver [PDF - 197.45 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the PPS-43 receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: STEN Receiver [PDF - 230.04 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the STEN receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: Browning M1917 Machinegun [PDF - 255.95 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the Browning M1917 machinegun.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: AK47, AKM, AKS74 Type Firearms [PDF - 257.25 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of AK47, AKM, and AKS74 type firearms.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Firearm Destruction Diagram: Erma EMP Receiver [PDF - 216.38 KB]

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. View more information on the destruction of the Erma EMP receiver.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2025

Firearms
Publication Fact Sheet - National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) - FY 2024 [PDF - 345.77 KB]

PDF version of the NIBIN fact sheet for fiscal year 2024. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.

Published/Revised: June 27, 2025

Firearms
Regulatory 2025-1: Importing Dual-Use Barrels [PDF - 305.19 KB]

ATF has determined that federal firearms licensees may lawfully import “dual-use” firearm barrels—barrels that may be used on both sporting and non-sporting firearms—under 18 U.S.C. § 925(d)(3) if, at the time imported, there is an identified firearm sporting configuration for the barrel. Importation may be approved regardless of whether a barrel had been previously configured on non-sporting, military surplus, or National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms. Further, once the barrel is in the United States, ATF has determined that nothing in the statutes prevent a dual-use barrel from being used to assemble a sporting, non-sporting, or NFA firearm, provided assembling such firearm complies with 18 U.S.C. § 922(r) (assembly of a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun) and the NFA, 26 U.S.C. chapter 53, as applicable. This Ruling supersedes a November 2005 ATF Open Letter on dual-use barrels.

Published/Revised: June 24, 2025

Firearms
Regulatory 2025-2: Importing Training Rounds [PDF - 362.31 KB]

ATF authorizes the importation of certain marking rounds (“training rounds”) because these training rounds do not meet the definition of “ammunition” as defined by the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(17)(A). These items are not designed for offensive and defensive combat and are not “designed for use in any firearm.” Similarly, training rounds are not regulated by the Arms Export Control Act because they are not designed for use in any “firearm” as defined in the permanent importation regulations implementing that statute. An importer of training rounds that are not designed for use in any firearm may import the rounds without submitting an ATF Form 6, Application and Permit for Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (Form 5330.3A). Note, however, less-than-lethal ammunition, which is distinct from training rounds, is generally considered ammunition. This Ruling only applies to training rounds that are not designed for use in any firearm. 

Published/Revised: June 24, 2025

Firearms
Publication Fact Sheet - Tobacco Enforcement - FY 2024 [PDF - 1.93 MB]

PDF version of the Tobacco Enforcement fact sheet, last updated in 2025. ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act and the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act, which now includes Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, such as vapes.

Published/Revised: June 23, 2025

Alcohol & Tobacco
Report Firearms Trace Data: Canada - 2019-2024 [HTML]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in Canada with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2024, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: June 10, 2025

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: The Caribbean - 2024 [HTML]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in the Caribbean with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: June 10, 2025

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Central America - 2024 [HTML]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in Central America with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1 - December 31, 2024, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: June 10, 2025

Firearms
Report Firearms Trace Data: Mexico - 2019-2024 [HTML]

This report provides detailed firearms trace data to assist law enforcement in Mexico with criminal investigations. It includes statistics from January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2024, on firearms recovered and traced, firearm types, calibers, source states, time-to-crime rates, possessor age, top recovery locations and more.

Published/Revised: June 10, 2025

Firearms
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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