ATF Rulings Archives

BREAKING: ATF’s Landmark 34 Rule Package

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 1, 2026

UPDATED 5/5/26 – The ATF just announced a landmark rule making change of 34 proposed rules. We got our hands on 20 of the draft versions of the rules scheduled to be published tomorrow and have already included their summaries under the relevant rules below. The...

ATF Ruling 81-4 – Drop In Auto Sear (DIAS)

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 30, 2026

Summary: AR15 Drop In Auto Sears (DIAS) manufactured after October 31st, 1981 are considered machine guns and are therefore regulated under the National Firearms Act of 1934. IMPORTANT: Despite this ruling, possession of ANY Drop In Auto Sear along with an AR-15 with...

Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide – Updated

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 30, 2026

The ATF’s Federal Firearm Regulations Reference Guide (FFRRG) has been updated for 2023! The FFLRG hasn’t been updated by the ATF since 2014, and an official copy still costs $39.95 from the federal government. RocketFFL, the leader in helping you get your FFL...

ATF Procedure 2017-1 – Private Firearm Transfers Through FFLs

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 30, 2026

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...

ATF’s FFL Newsletter – July 2017

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 30, 2026

The ATF just released their July 2017 newsletter. These ATF newsletters are periodically released to help update the firearms industry on internal ATF news, as well as clarify and/or explain recent ATF rulings. This newsletter covered: Announcement – ATF stands...

ATF Ruling 2016-5

by Ryan Cleckner | Last updated Sep 1, 2026

ATF Ruling 2016-5: 18 U.S.C. 845: EXCEPTIONS18 U.S.C. 921: DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE DEFINITION18 U.S.C. 923: IDENTIFICATION OF FIREARMS26 U.S.C. 5842: IDENTIFICATION OF FIREARMS26 U.S.C. 5845: DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE DEFINITION27 CFR 478.22: ALTERNATE METHODS OR PROCEDURES27 CFR...

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