This Notice provides options for those who have pending applications under the National Firearms Act (NFA) to register pistols with attached stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles. These applicants may elect to withdraw their applications by contacting ATF before Monday, November 10, 2025. Alternatively, applicants may continue with the registration process. If ATF does not receive a request to withdraw the application by that date, ATF will process the registration form.
On January 13, 2023, the Attorney General signed ATF Final Rule 2021R-08F, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces.’” That rule classified most pistols with attached stabilizing braces as short-barreled rifles under the NFA. Those who wanted to continue possessing such pistols had until May 31, 2023, to file an ATF Form 1 application to register the firearm in the National Firearms Registry and Transfer Record. A federal court vacated Final Rule 2021R-08F nationwide, finding that the rule was arbitrary and capricious and not a logical outgrowth of the initial proposed rule.
Even though the final rule was set aside, many individuals have pending applications to register their firearms. ATF is allowing these individuals to decide how to proceed. Many individuals will want to withdraw their applications. Others may desire that ATF process their application because, for example, they may have attached regular shoulder stocks in anticipation of registration.
For those who do not want their firearms to be registered: Those who filed the ATF Form 1 application via eForms should log into the system and withdraw the application. Those who filed a paper application should notify ATF that they wish to withdraw that application by sending an email, including applicant name, firearm description and serial number, to SBF1Question@atf.gov stating that the application is withdrawn. Any action to withdraw an application must be completed by Monday, November 10, 2025.
For those who want their firearm(s) to be registered: No further action is required by you. ATF will begin processing the remaining applications beginning November 11, unless applicants provide notice to ATF that they do not want their applications processed.