NFA Item Guide
Machine Guns
The most heavily regulated and expensive NFA items. Learn the unique rules for legal machine gun ownership.
What is a Machine Guns?
A machine gun is defined by the ATF as any weapon that shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot automatically more than one shot by a single function of the trigger. This includes fully automatic firearms and burst-fire weapons. Critically, only machine guns manufactured and registered before May 19, 1986 are legally transferable to civilians — this fixed supply has driven prices from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands.
NFA Classification
Machine guns are regulated under both the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 (FOPA). FOPA closed the machine gun registry — only "pre-May" (pre-May 19, 1986) registered machine guns can be transferred to civilians. Post-1986 machine guns are restricted to licensed dealers (SOT), law enforcement, and military. Each transfer requires ATF Form 4 and a $200 tax stamp.
Legal Requirements
- Must be a pre-May 1986 registered, transferable machine gun
- ATF Form 4 required for all transfers ($200 tax stamp)
- FBI background check on all responsible persons
- Legal in your state of residence (several states ban entirely)
- Must be 21 years old to purchase from a dealer
- CLEO notification required
- Extremely thorough documentation — provenance and registration history matter
Why Use a Trust?
How to Acquire
- 1
Set Up Your Gun Trust
A gun trust is especially important for machine guns due to their extreme value. Ensure your trust has robust succession and estate planning provisions.
- 2
Find a Pre-1986 Transferable Machine Gun
Browse specialized dealers and auction sites (Gunbroker, Ruben Mendiola/Dealernfa, Midwest Tactical). Verify the gun is a registered, transferable pre-May machine gun. This is critical — post-86 machine guns cannot be transferred to civilians.
- 3
Negotiate and Purchase
Prices range from approximately $7,000 (MAC-10/11) to $50,000+ (M16, HK MP5, belt-fed). Many dealers accept payment plans during the wait period. The item ships to a local Class 3 dealer.
- 4
Complete ATF Form 4
File Form 4 with your trust as the transferee. Include all required responsible person documentation. This is a Form 4 only process — you cannot Form 1 a machine gun.
- 5
Wait for ATF Approval
Machine gun Form 4s typically take 4-12 months. The ATF may take additional time to verify registration history in the NFRTR.
- 6
Take Possession
After approval, complete the 4473 and NICS check at your dealer. Verify the serial number matches your approved Form 4. Keep the approved form with the firearm at all times.
State Legality
Machine Guns are legal in 43 of 51 states/territories. Check your state in detail.
Popular Models
- M16 / AR-15 DIAS (Drop-In Auto Sear) — the most common transferable machine gun platform
- HK MP5 — iconic 9mm submachine gun, highly desirable
- MAC-10 / MAC-11 — most affordable entry point into machine guns
- Uzi — classic 9mm submachine gun, relatively common on the transferable market
- M2 Browning .50 Cal — the holy grail of transferable machine guns ($100,000+)
- FN M249 SAW — extremely rare transferable belt-fed
Typical Price Range
$7,000 - $50,000+ (some exceed $100,000)
Plus $200 tax stamp ($5 for AOW transfers)
Average Wait Time
4-12 months (Form 4 only)
ATF processing times vary by volume
Ready to Get Started?
The Liberty Preservation Trust is a comprehensive 50-state NFA gun trust that covers machine guns and all other NFA items. Set up your trust today and start the acquisition process.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. NFA laws are complex and subject to change at the federal, state, and local level. Gun Trust Experts LLC is not a law firm. Always verify current laws with a licensed attorney in your state before purchasing, possessing, or transferring NFA items. Data reflects known laws as of 2026.