Rules and Regulations Library

Titlesort ascending Description Category Document Type
2005-3 - Meaning of Term Inhabited Building (17 KB)
ATF provides guidance on two situations involving structures and whether they are "inhabited buildings" as defined in 27 CFR Part 555.
Explosives Ruling
2005-2 - Meaning of Term Highway (12 KB)
ATF provides guidance on three different private roads and whether they are "highways" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.
Explosives Ruling
2004-5 - Minigun Ruling (941 KB)
The 7.62mm Aircraft Machine Gun, identified in the U.S. military inventory as the "M-134" (Army), "GAU-2B/A" (Air Force), and "GAU-17/A" (Navy), is a machinegun as defined by 26 U.S.C. 5845(b). Rev. Rul. 55-528 modified.
Firearms Ruling
2004-3 - Locking Requirements for Indoor Type 4 Storage Magazines (11 KB)
ATF provides guidance on three different private roads and whether they are "highways" as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.
Explosives Ruling
2004-2 - Temporary Importation of Firearms Subject to the NFA (351 KB) Approved alternate method or procedure for importers to use when temporarily importing firearms subject to the NFA, the GCA and the Arms Export Control Act for inspection, testing, calibration, repair, or incorporation into another defense article. Firearms Ruling
2003-5 - Distribution of Explosives to Limited Permittees (50 KB)
Distributors distributing explosive materials via common or contract carrier to limited permittees may verify receipt of the materials by telephone, facsimile, e-mail, or other means within three business days of shipment.  ATF Form 5400.4 notation requirements.
Explosives Ruling
2003-4 - Importation of Sten Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale.pdf (194 KB)

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Sten type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Firearms Ruling
2003-3 — Importation of Heckler & Koch G3 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale (230 KB)

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Heckler & Koch G3 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Firearms Ruling
2003-2 — Importation of FN FAL Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale (188 KB)

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Firearms Ruling
2003-1 — Importation of Browning M1919 Type Receivers for Unrestricted Commercial Sale (213 KB)

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Firearms Ruling
2002-6 - Identification of Firearms, Armor Piercing Ammunition, and Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices (76 KB)

In accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

Firearms Ruling
2002-5 - Transfer and Possession Machineguns (12 KB) Applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a Federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies. Firearms Ruling
2002-4 - Indoor Storage of Explosives in Business Premises Directly Adjacent to a Residence or Dwelling (86 KB)
ATF requires approval of variances for indoor storage of explosives in business premises directly adjacent to a residence or dwelling.
Explosives Ruling
2002-3 - Indoor Storage of Explosives in a Residence or Dwelling (11 KB)
ATF will approve variances to store explosives in a residence or dwelling only upon certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of a certification of compliance with State and local law, and documentation that local fire safety officials have received a copy of the certification.
Explosives Ruling
2001-5 - Identification of Transferee (18 KB) Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located, and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders showing the permanent duty station as within the State where the licensed premises are located. Firearms Ruling
1997-2 - Semiautomatic Firearms Resembling the Browning 1919A-4 and A-6 Machineguns (16 KB)

Whether a 1919 A-4 semiautomatic firearm and 1919 A-6 semiautomatic rifle are "portable" firearms subject to tax when sold by their importer or manufacturer pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 4181.

Firearms Ruling
1996-2 - Estate Sale Auctioneers and FFL Requirements (32 KB) Auctioneers who regularly conduct consignment-type auctions of firearms, e.g., held every 1-2 months, on behalf of firearms owners where the auctioneer takes possession pursuant to a consignment contract with the owner of the firearms, giving the auctioneer authority to sell the firearms and providing for a commission to be paid upon such sale, are required to obtain a license as a dealer in firearms. Firearms Ruling
1995-3 - 37/38mm Gas/Flare Guns with Anti-Personnel Ammunition are Defined as NFA Weapons (31 KB) 37/38 mm gas/flare guns possessed with cartridges containing wood pellets, rubber pellets or balls, or bean bags are classified as destructive devices for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. Document Number: Firearms Ruling
1994-2 - Striker 12 Shotgun Defined as NFA Weapon (35 KB) The Striker-12/Streetsweeper shotgun has a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter and is not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes. Therefore, it is classified as a destructive device for purposes of the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. Firearms Ruling
1994-1 - USAS-12 Shotgun as NFA Weapon (34 KB) The USAS-12 shotgun has a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter and is not generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes. Therefore, it is classified as a destructive device for purposes of the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53. Firearms Ruling
1987-2--Revoking 44 obsolete ATF Rulings (260 KB)

Periodic review of outstanding rulings reflect the that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.

Firearms Ruling
1987-1-Revoking 68 Obsolete ATF Rulings (398 KB)

Periodic review of outstanding rulings reflect the that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.

Firearms Ruling
1986-8-Curio and Relic Updates (1195 KB)

This circular announces an addition of firearms that have been classified as curios and relics during the period January 1985 through March 1986.

Firearms Industry Circular
1986-15-Armor Piercing Ammunition (841 KB)

This circular announces that the President signed Public Law 99-408, on August 28, 1986.  This law regulates the manufacture, importation and sale of armor piercing ammunition.

Firearms Industry Circular
1985-2 - Importation of NFA Firearms as Sales Samples (29 KB) A National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm may not be imported for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies if the firearm is a curio or relic unless it is established that the firearm is particularly suitable for use as a law enforcement weapon. Firearms Ruling
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