Machine Guns
Machine guns are fully automatic firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Only pre-1986 registered machine guns are transferable to civilians — the Hughes Amendment to the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 closed the civilian registry, meaning no new machine guns may be added. As a result, transferable machine guns are rare collector items that command significant prices. Impact Guns is a Class 3 dealer and can facilitate the transfer of registered NFA machine guns when available.
Machine Gun Buying Guide ↓
The NFA Transfer Process
Transferring a registered machine gun requires filing an ATF Form 4 with a $200 NFA tax stamp, passing an ATF background check, and waiting for ATF approval — currently running several months to over a year depending on form type and ATF workload. The machine gun must be registered in the NFRTR (National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record). As an SOT (Special Occupational Taxpayer) Class 3 dealer, Impact Guns can hold the firearm during the transfer process and ensure all paperwork is completed correctly.
What’s Available
The most common transferable machine guns on the collector market include the Thompson submachine gun (.45 ACP), the M16 and AR-15 full-auto lower receivers, the MAC-10 and MAC-11 (9mm and .45 ACP), the UZI, the HK MP5 (registered sears and registered receivers), and various Belt-fed designs. Values have increased significantly since 1986 due to the fixed supply and growing collector demand. Contact us directly regarding specific machine gun availability — inventory changes frequently.
Dealer Samples
Class 3 dealers and SOTs have access to post-1986 dealer sample machine guns for demonstration purposes. These are not transferable to civilians but allow qualified dealers to demonstrate current production full-auto firearms to law enforcement and government buyers. See our dealer samples page for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions: Machine Guns
Can civilians legally own machine guns?
Yes — civilians can own machine guns manufactured and registered before May 19, 1986 (the Hughes Amendment cutoff under FOPA 1986). These are called "transferable" NFA machine guns. Following the January 2026 elimination of the $200 NFA tax stamp fee, the transfer process no longer has the tax cost, but transferable machine guns remain extremely expensive due to their fixed supply — values range from approximately $5,000 for an S&W M76 to $50,000+ for an M16 or MAC-10 in good condition. The supply is permanently limited and prices have risen consistently for decades.
What is the difference between a transferable and a dealer sample machine gun?
Transferable machine guns are pre-1986 registered NFA items that civilians can own. Dealer samples are post-1986 machine guns that licensed SOT dealers can acquire for demonstration purposes — they cannot be transferred to civilians when the SOT license lapses. Dealer samples are not available for civilian purchase regardless of NFA compliance. Only pre-1986 transferable machine guns can be sold to and owned by civilians.
How do I buy a transferable machine gun?
Find a licensed SOT/Class III dealer who has or can locate the specific transferable item you want. Complete ATF Form 4 via eForms with the seller. Pass an enhanced background check. Receive ATF approval (currently 60–90 days for eForms). Pay the dealer transfer fee. The $200 tax stamp fee was eliminated January 1, 2026 — the process now costs only the firearm price and dealer fees. Given the high values involved, working with a reputable Class III dealer who specializes in NFA transfers is strongly recommended.
See Also: Suppressors & NFA • Short-Barrel Rifles • Any Other Weapons (AOW) • How to Buy an NFA Item • ATF eForms