FFL (Federal Firearms License)

FFL (Federal Firearms License) authorizes a business to legally manufacture, modify, or transfer regulated firearms and receivers under U.S. federal law.

Overview

An FFL (Federal Firearms License) is a U.S. federal license issued by the ATF that allows a business to manufacture, modify, receive, and transfer firearms, frames/receivers, and certain regulated components. For engineers, it’s the gatekeeper certification that determines which shops can legally machine, serialize, assemble, or ship parts that are legally considered firearms or receivers.

Use FFL-capable suppliers when your design includes regulated items: frames, receivers, NFA components (e.g., suppressors), or any configuration that ATF may classify as a firearm. Expect more documentation, traceability, and transfer controls than with non-weapon parts. The tradeoff is extra overhead—bound books, serial tracking, and ATF compliance checks—but it lets your program move from prototype to legal saleable product without violating federal law. Non-regulated subcomponents (handguards, mounts, rails, small hardware) can run through non‑FFL shops, but anything serialized or close to the receiver boundary should stay inside the FFL ecosystem from rough machining through final assembly and shipment.

Common Materials

  • Aluminum 7075-T6
  • Aluminum 6061-T6
  • 4140 steel
  • 17-4 PH stainless
  • Titanium Grade 5
  • Glass-filled nylon

Tolerances

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Applications

  • AR-15 and AR-10 lower and upper receivers
  • Pistol frames and slides requiring serialization
  • Bolt-action rifle actions and receivers
  • Suppressor tubes, baffles, and mounts (NFA items)
  • Serialized trigger housings and fire-control units
  • Complete firearm assembly and test for OEM programs

When to Choose FFL (Federal Firearms License)

Use FFL-capable suppliers when your part is or may be classified as a firearm, frame/receiver, or NFA-regulated component that requires legal transfer and serialization. Apply it when you need lawful manufacturing, storage, and shipment of production or prototype weapons, including OEM work under your brand. If you’re unsure whether the part crosses the ATF definition of a firearm, assume you need an FFL partner and clarify early.

vs ISO 9001 (Quality Management)

Choose an FFL when the primary risk is legal/regulatory compliance around firearms manufacture and transfer, not just generic quality management. ISO 9001 addresses how a shop controls processes; an FFL determines whether it can lawfully machine, serialize, store, and ship your receivers and complete weapons at all.

vs AS9100 (Aerospace Quality)

Select an FFL shop for firearm and weapon-system receivers even if your program is defense or aerospace. AS9100 focuses on high-reliability quality systems, while an FFL specifically covers ATF compliance, bound-book logging, serial tracking, and legal transfers for firearms-related components.

vs ISO 13485 (Medical Device Quality)

If the part is a firearm or receiver, an FFL is non-negotiable, regardless of whether the shop also holds ISO 13485. Medical quality systems don’t address ATF rules, serialization requirements, or weapons transfers; FFL status makes sure the work is legal under firearms law.

vs ITAR Registered

Use an FFL when your concern is domestic legality of manufacturing and transferring firearms and receivers. ITAR registration governs export-controlled technical data and defense articles, while an FFL specifically governs who can legally manufacture and transfer firearms under ATF rules inside the U.S.; many defense programs need both.

vs NADCAP (Special Process)

Pick an FFL-capable shop when the gating factor is firearm legality, not special-process control. NADCAP covers processes like heat treat or NDT; an FFL determines whether the shop can even receive, machine, and ship your serialized receiver or suppressor components.

Design Considerations

  • Clearly define whether your part is or could be the legal frame/receiver and communicate that status on drawings and RFQs
  • Provide defined flat areas and minimum dimensions for required ATF markings: manufacturer, city/state, model, caliber, and serial number
  • Avoid design changes that relocate or remove serialization/marking areas without consulting both legal and your FFL manufacturer
  • Keep operations that create or modify the controlled receiver features within FFL shops to avoid illegal transfers between non-licensed vendors
  • Document configuration control for variants (caliber, barrel length, accessories) that may change NFA status and affect how the FFL must log and transfer the firearm
  • Share any ATF determination letters or classification notes with the FFL shop so they can align their records and handling with your legal position