Category: ATF

Ok, you’re thinking about becoming a firearms dealer or even a licensed manufacturer and you know that you’ll need to become a federal firearms licensee (get an FFL), but you’re not sure about the requirements for becoming an FFL holder. We get it – the whole process can seem complicated, and possibly overwhelming. First, you’ll […]

Welcome to the mother-load of ATF-related data on firearms in commerce! 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 (applications and inspections. In the ATF’s Firearms Commerce in the United States […]

You might have heard that you need to fill out a special ATF Form before you can transport NFA Firearms across state lines. If you have and you’re looking to learn more about interstate transport of NFA Firearms and the ATF 5320.20 form (also called the “Form 20”), then you’re in the right spot. In […]

So, you’re either thinking about getting your FFL, or you already have an FFL license and are curious about Responsible Persons (RPs). We get it – there’s a lot of confusion about Responsible Persons on FFLs. We hear questions about RPs like: How many RPs should my FFL have? How do I add a Responsible […]

How to Get a Class 3 License Ok, first off, there’s really no such thing as a “Class 3 License.” Instead, someone who has a Federal Firearms License, must become a Special Occupational Taxpayer (SOT) in order to deal, manufacture, or import a certain category of firearms called NFA Firearms/Title II firearms. This special category […]

What is an FFL number? An FFL number is a unique identifying number assigned to every Federal Firearms License issued by the ATF. In addition to identifying FFLs, the FFL number also shares some information about the FFL (like the Type of FFL, the expirations date, and more). What does an FFL number mean? An […]

There has been a lot of discussion about “80% Frames” or “80% receivers” lately. We get many questions about them, such as: Are “80% frames” legal? What are “80% receivers”? Is an “80% frame” legally a firearm? Can I convert an “80% receiver” into a firearm? We aim to answer all of these questions here […]

Are armor-piercing bullets legal? A: Yes. Under federal law it is perfectly legal to make, sell and purchase “armor-piercing” ammunition as long as you have the proper licensing. However, there are some nuances to the definition of “armor piercing” ammunition that we’ll explore in this article, along with the licensing requirements for making ammunition for […]

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 some M16 parts, constitutes a machinegun. The Firearm Owner’s Protection Act of […]

As I mentioned in our article on reduced NFA wait times, NFATracker is an awesome resource for our community. These guys collect and display various ATF paperwork approval and NFA transfer information. I’m including some information from their website here, but you really should go check them out on your own. While you’re there, you […]

We’ve got some great news for our industry… NFA paperwork processing times from the ATF are dropping. We have even better news for you if you already have your FFL. This is likely to encourage more customers to buy NFA firearms (like silencers, short barreled rifles, and more) from you!  Considering that you can make […]

Today, the ATF released an overview of the inspection process for FFLs who are also Department of Defense Contractors. You can view/download the ATF Inspection Process for DOD Contractors, or read it in full below. NOTE: This process is similar, but different from, the normal ATF inspection process for FFLs who are not also DOD […]