Firearms Attorney, Best-Selling Author & Founder of RocketFFL
Ryan Cleckner is a firearms attorney, best-selling author, and founder of RocketFFL, where he has helped more than 20,000 students learn how to get an FFL and operate a firearms business.
Ryan's firearms-industry experience includes serving as a Vice President for Remington Outdoor Company and as Federal Government Relations Manager for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). As an attorney, he has represented hundreds of FFLs in firearms-related legal and ATF compliance matters.
Ryan has taught Constitutional Law at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, testified before Congress on firearms law and ATF-related issues, and regularly appears in national media as a firearms legal expert.
Before becoming an attorney, Ryan served as a special operations sniper in the U.S. Army's 1st Ranger Battalion, including two deployments to Afghanistan. He is the best-selling author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook, which has sold more than 250,000 copies, as well as Advanced Long Range Shooting and other firearms books.
Through RocketFFL, Ryan focuses on making complicated firearms laws, ATF requirements, and compliance topics easier to understand.
Many firearm owners look for ways to share their passion with those around them. This may include introducing friends to shooting, teaching others about firearm safety, or simply sharing knowledge and experiences through everyday conversations. But for many, the...
Depending on the license type, an FFL costs between $30 and $200 for three years. In this article, we break down all FFL License fees (including SOT/Class 3).
This rule does not create a new requirement in practice—it simply formalizes what ATF already does by requiring a background check (NICS) for people submitting a Form 1 to make an NFA firearm.Impact: Minimal to none.Applies to: Both...
![[GUIDE] How to Get Your FFL in Mississippi (MS)](https://rocketffl.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mississippi-State-Flag-1024x683-1.jpg)
Many concealed carry gun owners want to become Federal Firearms License holders (FFL) to operate gun stores. These FFL holders are allowed by federal law to handle the selling and distribution of firearms. There are just a few requirements to do more than just...
Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders provide the people of Michigan a safe and legal way to sell, trade, purchase firearms and firearm-related accessories, such as ammo. Having a Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL) is not required to obtain an FFL. However, many...
![Gun Serial Number Lookup [How To and Resources]](https://rocketffl.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Firearm-Serial-Number-Lookup-1024x576-1.png)
Since the Gun Control Act of 1968, all licensed firearm manufacturers (FFLs) are required to mark firearms with a unique serial number. A gun's serial number allows a police department, or other law enforcement agency, to be able to “trace” the firearm to the...
![How to Get Your FFL in Georgia, Step by Step [2026 Guide]](https://rocketffl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/State-Flag-of-Georgia-.png)
Throughout the United States, a growing number of people wish to serve their communities as Federal Firearms License (FFL) Holders. These gun dealers are legally allowed to sell and purchase firearms and other NFA items in their very own gun store. There are just a...
An SOT License is required to make or sell NFA Firearms like suppressors, SBRs, and more. We cover everything about being a Special Occupational Taxpayer (SOT)
![ATF’s New 4473 for 2020 [Firearm Sales Form]](https://rocketffl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ATF-NEW-4473-2020-1024x569-1.png)
ATF's New 4473 It is that time again. The ATF has officially updated the over the counter “Firearms Transaction Record”, more commonly known as the ATF Form 4473. Like most in the firearm industry, you are probably aware that every 3 years to so, a newly revised...
The Assault Weapon Ban of 2018 has been introduced in Congress. The new Assault Weapon Ban proposal is similar in structure to the previous Assault Weapon ban of 1994 with one major difference - the new AWB is stricter. Despite the horrible news for gun rights, there...
Recently the ATF published Procedure 2017-1 (not ATF Ruling 2017-1). ATF Procedure 2017-1 "set[s] forth the record-keeping and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) procedures for a Federal firearms licensee (FFL) who facilitates the transfer of...
Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on NFA firearms! Each year the ATF publishes a report that includes data on the number of firearms in commerce (made, exported, and imported) and statistics on NFA firearms (forms, revenue, and distribution) and FFLs...