How You Can Buy a Machine Gun (Legally)

Published on June 27, 2025
Duration: 16:34

This video provides an expert-level overview from Brandon Herrera, an FFL/SOT holder and machine gun owner, on the legal acquisition of machine guns in the United States. It details the differences between transferable, dealer sample, no-letter, and keeper machine guns, explaining the regulatory framework including the National Firearms Act and the Hughes Amendment. The guide covers the necessary licensing (FFL/SOT) and associated costs for those looking to enter the firearms industry to acquire post-1986 machine guns.

Quick Summary

Legally owning a machine gun in the US involves understanding different categories: transferable (pre-1986), dealer samples (post-1986, requiring FFL/SOT), no-letter (post-1986 dealer samples transferable between SOTs), and keeper (pre-1986 dealer samples transferable to personal ownership upon SOT retirement). Acquiring post-1986 firearms typically necessitates an FFL 07 and SOT.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Legal Machine Gun Ownership
  2. 00:39Machine Gun Legality and ATF Statistics
  3. 01:20National Firearms Act and Video Updates
  4. 02:15Transferable Machine Guns (Pre-1986)
  5. 02:56Pros and Cons of Transferable Machine Guns
  6. 04:04Personal Transferable Collection
  7. 04:29Dealer Samples: FFL and SOT
  8. 06:49Hughes Amendment and Firearm Owners Protection Act
  9. 08:04Converting Semi-Auto to Full-Auto with SOT
  10. 08:24FFL/SOT Costs and Operational Overhead
  11. 09:23Dealer Samples Pros and Cons
  12. 10:14Law Letters and Their Challenges
  13. 11:00No-Letter Machine Guns
  14. 11:55No-Letter Machine Gun Pricing Examples
  15. 12:34Keeper Machine Guns (Pre-1986 Dealer Samples)
  16. 14:39Summary and FFL123.com Recommendation

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main ways to legally own a machine gun in the United States?

Legally owning a machine gun in the US involves acquiring transferable machine guns (registered before 1986), obtaining an FFL 07 and SOT to possess dealer samples, or acquiring no-letter or keeper machine guns through specific industry channels.

What is the difference between transferable and dealer sample machine guns?

Transferable machine guns are pre-1986 registered and can be owned by civilians with a tax stamp. Dealer samples are post-1986 manufactured machine guns that typically require an FFL/SOT holder to possess, often for demonstration purposes, and may need a law letter for civilian transfer.

How much does it cost to get licensed to own post-1986 machine guns?

To legally acquire post-1986 machine guns, you generally need an FFL 07 manufacturer's license ($150/3yrs) and an SOT ($500/yr), totaling approximately $550 annually for licensing, not including business operational costs.

What is the Hughes Amendment and how does it affect machine gun ownership?

The Hughes Amendment, enacted in 1986, prohibited the registration of new machine guns for civilian ownership after May 19, 1986, significantly limiting the availability of post-1986 automatic firearms to the general public.

Related News

All News →

More 2nd Amendment & Law Videos You Might Like

More from Brandon Herrera

View all →