Publications Library
ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports. ATF publications do not have the force and effect of federal statutes or Department of Justice regulations, and are not final agency actions. They may also be rescinded or modified at ATF’s discretion.
For more information, see “Memorandum for All Components: Prohibition of Improper Guidance Documents,” from Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions III, November 16, 2017.
| Title | Description | Category | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
 Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - September 2013 - Volume 1 (626 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Customer Service Standards; Active Federal Firearms License (FFL) Records; Best Practices; ATF Outreach Activities; New Moves in EPS; FBI/NICS News
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - September 2013 - Volume 2 (623 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Private Party Transfers; Updated ATF Website; Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF Website; Use of Computerized Software; Guidance for Requesting Marking Variances; Personal Firearms Record; Updated Most Frequently Asked Questions; eForms News; FFLs May Ship Firearms to Locations Other than the Business Premises Address; National Firearms Act Firearms in Estates; Sales to Law Enforcement; Retention of Registered Machineguns by Licensees Who Discontinue Business
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Explosives Industry Newsletter-January 2014 (2373 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Meet ATF’s New Director, B. Todd Jones; New Deputy Division Chief; Contingency and Shared Storage; Binary Explosives: Checking Laws; Alternate Identification Markings; Black Powder Lifters; More on Hoods; Underground Storage Reminder; Explosives Disposal; ATF and the Interagency Committee on Explosives; ATF Hosts QRA Workshop; Questions and Answers; Licensee/Permittee Percentages; Licensee/Permittee Population by Type
| Explosives | Newsletter |
|
Explosive Industry Newsletter-June 2013 (1556 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: New Publication; Exploding Ammunition Requirements; Smoke Producing Devices; Reagents; Canadian Type 4 Magazines vs. U.S. Type 2 Magazines; Hardwood or Softwood?; Interior Walls for Type 1 Magazines; Gun Loading Facilities; Horizontally-Mounted Hoods; Indoor Storage Reminders; Recordkeeping Reminders; Permittee Disposal of Surplus Stock; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts from 2006 thru 2012
| Explosives | Newsletter |
|
Personal Firearms Record (ATF P 3312.8) (296 KB) |
By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you will be taking an important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.
| Firearms | Guide |
|
Publication on Fireworks Reminders (ATF P 5400.24) (1598 KB) |
This publication is an overview intended as an aid to compliance with regulatory requirements, not a replacement for the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.
| Explosives | Guide |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - March 2013 - Volume 1 (610 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: SHOT Show 2013; ATF Outreach Activities; Best Practices; FBI/NICS News
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
Federal Firearms Licensees Newsletter - March 2013 - Volume 2 (591 KB) |
What’s in This Issue: Reminder: Keep Your Contact Information Up to Date ; Reminder: eForm 6; Agency Information Collection Activities; Rental of Firearms On-Premises; Rental of Firearms Off-Premises; Clarification of ATF Ruling 2008–3: Making Corrections to the e4473; Recording Identification Documents on the ATF Form 4473—Military Identification and PCS Orders; Purchase of Firearms by Current or Former Law Enforcement Officers; Recording Pistol Grip Firearms in the Acquisition and Disposition Record; Manufacturing NFA Firearms for the United States Government; When Permission Is Required To Move NFA Firearms; Recordkeeping Requirements and Retention Requirements for Licensed Manufacturers; Clarification: Firearms Shipments via Common or Contract Carrier; Brokering of Firearms/Drop Shipments
| Firearms | Newsletter |
|
ATF Procedure 2013-2 (55 KB) |
This ATF procedure gives guidance to licensed importers, manufacturers, and dealers (licensees) on how to record the sale of a firearm to an unlicensed person who:
a. Has a valid alternate permit or otherwise is exempt from National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) requirements;
b. Resides in the same State as the licensee; and
c. Does not appear in person at the licensee's business premises
| Resource Center | Guide |
|
Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide - 2014 Edition (ATF P 5300.4) (3512 KB) |
The 2014 edition of the Federal Firearms Regulations Reference Guide contains information that will help you comply with Federal laws and regulations governing the manufacture, importation and distribution of firearms and ammunition. This edition contains new and amended statutes enacted since publication of the 2005 edition, as well as updated regulations and rulings issued by ATF. | Firearms | Guide |
|
Publication on Table of Distance Requirements (ATF P 5400.25) (1190 KB) |
This publication provides the location for the Federal explosive regulations that require outdoor explosives storage magazines to be located.
| Explosives | Guide |
|
Notice 2014R-15N - ATF Framework for Determining Whether Certain Projectiles are Primarily Intended for Sporting Purposes (444 KB) |
ATF Framework for Determining Whether Certain Projectiles are ‘Primarily Intended for Sporting Purposes’ Within the Meaning of 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(C). Comments are due on or before March 16, 2015. | Resource Center | Report |
|
Guidance for Requesting Marking Variances (197 KB) |
Licensed manufacturers and importers are required to mark firearms manufactured or imported with specific identifying information. ATF may authorize other means of identification ("marking variance") upon receipt of a letter application from a licensed manufacturer or importer.
| Firearms | Guide |
|
Explosives in Transit (307 KB) |
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has regulatory and civil enforcement authority over the transportation of explosive materials in commerce.
| Explosives | Guide |
|
Careers at ATF (363 KB) |
At the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), we conduct criminal investigations, regulate the firearms and explosives industries and assist other law enforcement agencies. We help to prevent terrorism, reduce violent crime and protect the public in a manner that is faithful to the Constitution and the laws of the United States. | Resource Center | Report |
|
2010-9 - Supporting Documentation for Import Permit Applications (35 KB) |
Persons holding a valid Federal firearms license and/or who are registered as importers of articles on the U.S. Munitions Import List importing surplus military defense articles importable as curios or relics, may submit photocopies of the original supporting statements and documents with ATF Form 6, if they certify, under penalties provided by law, that the supporting documentation is true, correct, and complete. Such persons who are authorized under ATF Ruling 2003-6 to file eForm 6, may submit digitally scanned copies of the original supporting statements and documents with eForm 6, if they certify, under penalties provided by law, that the supporting documentation is true, correct, and complete. | Rules and Regulations | Report |
|
2011-1 - Consolidation of Required Records for Importers (76 KB) |
ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure from the firearms acquisition and disposition recordkeeping requirements of 27 CFR 478.122. Specifically, ATF authorizes licensed importers to consolidate their records of importation or other acquisition of firearms and their separate firearms disposition records, provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling are met. | Rules and Regulations | Report |
|
TD-460: Manufacture of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Recodification of Regulations (Published: 7/27/01) (51 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the manufacture of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 270 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 270) as 27 CFR part 40. This change improves the organization of title 27. | Resource Center | Report |
|
TD-462: Stills and Miscellaneous Regulations; Recodification of Regulations (Published: 8/15/01) (40 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to stills. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 170 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 170) as 27 CFR part 29. This change improves the organization of title 27 CFR. | Resource Center | Report |
|
TD-464: Exportation of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, or With Drawback of Tax; Recodification of Regulations (Published: 8/20/01) (43 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations pertaining to the exportation of tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes, without payment of tax, or with drawback of tax. The purpose of this recodification is to reissue the regulations in part 290 of title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (27 CFR part 290) as 27 CFR part 44. This change improves the organization of title 27. | Resource Center | Report |
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TD-465: Implementation of Public Laws 106-476 and 106-554, Relating to Tobacco Importation Restrictions, Markings, Repackaging, and Destruction of Forfeited Tobacco Products (Published: 8/29/01) (59 KB) |
This final rule amends the regulations governing tobacco products in order to implement several provisions of the Imported Cigarette Compliance Act of 2000 included as part of the Tariff Suspension and Trade Act of 2000. Sections 4002 and 4003 of this new law require that tobacco products and cigarette papers and tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled or shipped for exportation (under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC)) can only be re-imported by the original manufacturer or by an export warehouse proprietor authorized to do so by the original manufacturer (except for a personal use exemption discussed below), provide that those articles labeled for exportation may not be sold or held for sale for domestic consumption in the United States unless they are removed from their export packaging and repackaged by the original manufacturer into new packaging that does not contain an export label, and require the destruction of tobacco products forfeited under section 5761(c) of the IRC. | Resource Center | Report |
|
TD-467: Implementation of Public Law 106-544 for Certain Amendments to Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Published: 9/28/01) (42 KB) |
This document implements regulations relating to certain provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, Public Law 106–554. | Resource Center | Report |
|
TD-469: Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax for Use of the United States; Recodification of Regulations (Published: 11/13/01) (41 KB) |
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is recodifying the regulations in part 295 - Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax for Use of the United States, title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). | Resource Center | Report |
|
TD-471: Implementation of Public Law 105-0277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, Relating to Firearms Disabilities for Nonimmigrant Aliens (Published: 2/05/02) (109 KB) |
We are amending the regulations to implement the provision of Public Law 105–277, Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, relating to firearms disabilities for nonimmigrant aliens. | Resource Center | Report |
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TD-472: Delegation of Authority in 27 CFR Parts 45 and 46 (Published: 2/27/02) (46 KB) |
This final rule places with the ‘‘appropriate ATF officer’’ all ATF authorities contained in the Removal of Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes, Without Payment of Tax, for Use of the United States regulations and in the Miscellaneous Regulations Relating to Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes. | Resource Center | Report |