18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3): DEFINITION OF FIREARM
18 U.S.C. 922(o): TRANSFER OR POSSESSION OF MACHINEGUN
18 U.S.C. 921(a)(23): DEFINITION OF MACHINEGUN
26 U.S.C. 5845(b): DEFINITION OF MACHINEGUN
27 CFR 478.11: DEFINITION OF FIREARM FRAME OR RECEIVER
The upper assembly of the Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA (FN) FNC rifle is
classified as the receiver of the firearm for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C.
Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.
ATF Rul. 2008-1
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has recently received
inquiries concerning the installation of a registered sear into the FN FNC rifle. These
sears, when installed, allow a semiautomatic FNC rifle to be converted into a machinegun.
Prior to May 19, 1986, a number of these sears made for the FNC rifle were registered as
machineguns in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). These
sears were required to be registered in the NFRTR as machineguns because they are parts
designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a
machinegun.
In order to install a registered FNC sear into a host FNC rifle, a hole must be drilled into
the lower assembly and a portion of the solid area of the lower assembly between the
magazine well and the compartment for the trigger mechanism must be milled out. If the
lower assembly were to be classified as the receiver, any such modifications would create a
new machinegun receiver, potentially in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(o) (prohibiting the
transfer or possession of a machinegun except for official Federal, State, or local
government use).
The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) at 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(23), and the National Firearms
Act (NFA) at 26 U.S.C. 5845(b), define the term “machinegun” as “any weapon which
shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than
one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.” The term also
includes “the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely
and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a
weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be
assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.” (See also
27 CFR 478.11, 479.11). Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, section 478.11 defines a
“firearm receiver” as, “[t]hat part of a firearm which provides housing for the hammer, bolt
or breechblock, and firing mechanism, and which is usually threaded at its forward portion
to receive the barrel.”
The FNC rifle consists of two major assemblies, the upper assembly and the lower
assembly. The lower assembly houses the trigger, hammer, disconnector, safety/selector,
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and an automatic trip lever in the automatic version. It also incorporates a pistol grip and a
magazine release. The upper assembly houses a barrel that is attached to the upper
assembly by means of a barrel extension. It also houses the bolt carrier with gas piston
affixed, gas tube and handguard, bolt, operating rod and spring. The two assemblies are
mounted together with a front and rear takedown pin. Since 1981, ATF has classified the
lower assembly as the receiver for purposes of the GCA and NFA.
ATF has reconsidered its classification of the lower assembly of the FNC rifle as the
receiver. The upper assembly of the FNC rifle is more properly classified as the receiver.
The upper assembly of the FNC rifle houses the bolt and provides a connection point for
the barrel. Moreover, the upper assembly is classified as the receiver on similar types of
firearms, to include other FN rifles, such as the FN FAL and FN SCAR. Reclassification
of the upper assembly as the receiver will also allow the continued installation of a
lawfully registered sear into an FNC rifle because no modification to the receiver, which is
the upper assembly, is required to properly install the sear.
Held, the upper assembly of the FN FNC rifle is the receiver of the firearm.
Held further, in the event a licensed manufacturer in the United States
manufactures a new firearm that is substantially similar to the FN FNC rifle, it must be
marked with a model designation other than “FNC.”
To the extent this ruling is inconsistent with any previous ATF classifications, they are
hereby superseded.
Date approved: May 27, 2008
Michael J. Sullivan
Acting Director