ATF approval letter questions

moleman · 05-29-2009, 10:07 AM

Who here has gone about getting an approval letter for a build or gun part from the ATF? Do you send it to the local field office or the DC office? And lastly what is the time frame for their response? I was wanting to verify with the ATF a few specific questions on home builds. Thanks!

**Coils** · 05-29-2009, 11:36 AM

I know others can give better answers.

I'd contact the local office and ask basic questions and give basic answers to find out who you need to contact in the ATF on this.
I know if you want an approval letter a sample has to be sent in, if they don't like that sample it is possible they will keep it. So send in all your questions first with some basic plans or drawings and see what they say, if they say it seems like a good design then send in a sample for them to test. Also request that the person answering your questions and looking at your plans reapond with their name(s) and phone number(s) so you can talk to them personaly if you have any other questions or need advice from them, this why you don't get bounced from person to person that's not familar with your idea.

Markp · 05-29-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moleman

Who here has gone about getting an approval letter for a build or gun part from the ATF? Do you send it to the local field office or the DC office? And lastly what is the time frame for their response? I was wanting to verify with the ATF a few specific questions on home builds. Thanks!

You send it to:

Chief
Firearms Technology Branch
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405

Good luck,

Mark

nalioth · 05-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Do yourself a favor and hire a lawyer to ask your questions of.

The ATF has been caught reversing their "opinions" (that is all that their letters contain) and reversing their reversals.

They are an enforcement agency, not a legislative one. When you write them, they'll just give you their opinion du jour of what they think the law means "that day".

The law hasn't changed in years, but their letters have (in some cases, their opinions flip-flop more than a freshly landed fish).

Just my opinion.

**vz58** · 05-29-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markp

You send it to:

Chief
Firearms Technology Branch
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405

Good luck,

Mark

this

moleman · 05-29-2009, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the replies. I sent them an email in their firearms question asking for the address for firearms questions this morning. Markp beat them to the punch with the answer, thanks.
How long did it take them to answer your letters? Two weeks, a month, six months ect? I realize It's probably best to send them some initial questions, wait for a response and their input before sending them a sample. Hopefully the process won't take more than a few months.

Markp · 05-29-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moleman

Thanks for the replies. I sent them an email in their firearms question asking for the address for firearms questions this morning. Markp beat them to the punch with the answer, thanks.
How long did it take them to answer your letters? Two weeks, a month, six months ect? I realize It's probably best to send them some initial questions, wait for a response and their input before sending them a sample. Hopefully the process won't take more than a few months.

Just remember, there are some questions you don't want to ask!

Mark

moleman · 05-29-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markp

Just remember, there are some questions you don't want to ask!

Mark

I know. My questions aren't drastically different from what I've already posted here and as of yet there have been no black helicopters circling my house. I just want a letter for my particular questions that haven't been answered by other approval letters I've seen out there.

**Coils** · 05-29-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

The ATF has been caught reversing their "opinions"

Akins Accelerator comes to mind.

kernelkrink · 05-29-2009, 09:04 PM

Just don't be surprised if they don't answer your questions or leave themselves a lot of leeway to reverse themselves. Most go like "After examining your diagram we believe that the trigger group you have designed is capable of semi automatic fire only and would be acceptable to install in a semi automatic firearm. However, it might also allow full automatic firing and therefore installing it in a semi automatic firearm could convert it into a machine gun."

I kid you not.