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.

Title Description Category Document Type
ATF Industry Circular 75-9: Recodification (619 KB)

This circular is to advise industry members and others concerned that, effective April 15, 1975, Bureau regulations formerly codified as 26 CFR Parts 170 through 299 (Subchapter E--Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Excise Taxes) have been recodified into the Bureau's reserved Title 27 CFR Parts 170 through 299 (Subchapter M-Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Excise Taxes). This recodification merely relocates the regulations and makes no technical changes in requirements.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 76-3: Explosives Security (579 KB)

Federal explosives licensees and permittees, and others concerned:  On December 29, 1975, a bomb-blast ripped through New York's LaGuardia airport, killing 11 persons and injuring some 15 others. This tragic incident is but the latest in an alarming upward spiral of bombings that have occurred in cities, suburban communities, small towns and rural areas across America in recent years.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 77-11: Theft or Loss of Explosives (475 KB)

This circular is to inform those involved in the manufacture, distribution, storage or use of explosives that ATF Ruling77-13, which deals with reporting theft or loss of explosive materials, was published in the Alcohol, Tobacco and Fireanns Bulletin for May 1977.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 79-4: National Conference on Explosives Control (356 KB)

This circular is issued to inform you that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has scheduled a National Conference on Explosives Control to be held at the Fountain Bay Hotel, in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 25-27, 1979.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 81-5: National Conference on Explosives Control (215 KB)

This circular is issued to inform you that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has scheduled a National Conference on Explosives to be held at the Bahia Hotel, in San Diego, California, May 19-21, 1981.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 83-9: Three Year Firearms Licenses (499 KB)

The purpose of this circular is to inform you of a Treasury decision effective August 1, 1983, T.D. ATF - 135(48 FR 24065), implementing a three year firearms license.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 84-3: Armed and Dangerous Notification (852 KB)

The Bureau of ATF is investigating the criminal activities of a group of violent criminals known as the Sam Melville/Jonathan Jackson Brigade. This group is known for its violent acts, including the illegal use of firearms and explosives.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 84-10: Sales of Firearms by FFLs at Gun Shows (236 KB)

All Federal Firearms Licensees and Others Concerned: This is to notify you that as a result of a formal process which began on April 22, 1980, the regulations have been changed (effective November 29, 1984), to allow licensees to engage in business at gun shows held within the same State as the licensed premises.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 86-12: Explosives Security (193 KB)

With the recent upsurge of terrorism in the world and particularly threats of terrorist activity in the United States, it is timely to again stress the importance of security for explosives.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 91-1: Explosives Security (1555 KB)

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members of serious problems with storage of explosives which may pose a danger to the public, and to alert industry members to the possibility of theft of explosives by terrorists because of the deteriorating Mideast situation.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits (52 KB)

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Resource Center Industry Circular
Firearms Commerce in the U.S. Annual Statistical Update - 2013 (638 KB) Firearms Report
ATF Industry Circular 2000-4: Sale Of Certain Tobacco Products And Cigarette Papers And Tubes On Or After February 7, 2001 (34 KB)

This industry circular warns businesses about selling or holding for sale tobacco products and cigarette papers or tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled for exportation. On or after February 7, 2001, if you sell or hold for sale such products for domestic consumption, you may incur civil and criminal penalties.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 93-5: Tax-Exempt and Tax-Free Sales of Firearms, Shells and Cartridges (827 KB) This circular gives general guidance to firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers about making tax-exempt or tax-free sales of firearms, and shells and cartridges (ammunition). Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits for Purposes of Smuggling (37 KB)

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Resource Center Industry Circular
ATF Guidebook - Importation & Verification of Firearms, Ammunition, and Implements of War (4743 KB)

This publication was prepared by ATF's Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch (FEIB) to assist importers and other firearms industry members in identifying firearms, ammunition, and defense articles that may be imported into the United States and to further clarify and facilitate the import process.

Firearms Guide
ATF National Firearms Act Handbook (ATF P 5320.8) (10614 KB)

This handbook is primarily for the use of persons in the business of importing, manufacturing, and dealing in firearms defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA) or persons intending to go into an NFA firearms business. It should also be helpful to collectors of NFA firearms and other persons having questions about the application of the NFA. 

Firearms Guide
1985-11-Surplus Military Firearms Frames or Receivers (653 KB)

This circular announces that ATF will allow the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms that were previously prohibited from importation by 18 U.S.C. section 925(d)(3).

Firearms Industry Circular
1982-8-Discontinuance of ATF Form 5400.3, for Black Powder (660 KB)

This circular notifies explosives licensees that ATF Form 5400.3, Transaction Record for Black Powder to be used for antique weapons, is no longer required.

Explosives Industry Circular
1974-11-Environmental Responsibilities (704 KB)

This circular advises proprietors of their responsibility to ATF with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, and of the possible effects of these requirements upon their activities.

Explosives Industry Circular
1970-14-Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (3268 KB)

This circular announces the issuance of a  new Treasury Department regulation, Part 180 of Title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War.

Firearms Industry Circular
1968-28-Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War (2230 KB)

This circular announces the transfer of the Arms Import Control Program from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Firearms Industry Circular
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
Federal Firearms Licensee Newsletter - 2019 (319 KB)

What's in This Issue: ATF Personnel Changes; Electronic Storage of ATF Form 4473s; ATF Procedure 2017-1; ATF Form 5; ATF For 4473: Clarification on Disqualifiers Related to Military Service; Electronic Signatures on ATF Forms; NFA Forms Common Errors; ATF FFL Alert System; Replacement Copies of NFA Tax Paid Transfer Forms; FFL Renewals, Updated Form 7 and much more.

Firearms Newsletter
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