Factoring Criteria for Weapons

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Note: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reserves the right to deny importation of any revolver or pistol that attains an apparent qualifying score but does not comply with the provisions of section 925(d)(3) of amended Chapter 44, Title 18, U.S.C.

Table of Contents

PISTOL

Prerequisites

  1. The pistol must have a positive, manually operated safety device.
  2. The combined length and height must not be less than 10″. The height (measured at a right angle to the barrel, without magazine or extension) must be at least 4″, and the length must be at least 6″.

Individual Characteristics — Point Values

Overall Length

  • 1 point for each 1/4″ over 6″

Frame Construction

  • Investment cast or forged steel: 15 points
  • Investment cast or forged HTS alloy: 20 points

Weapon Weight (with magazine, unloaded)

  • 1 point per ounce

Caliber

  • .22 short and .25 auto: 0 points
  • .22 LR and 7.65mm to .380 auto: 3 points
  • 9mm Parabellum and over: 10 points

Safety Features

  • Locked breech mechanism: 5 points
  • Loaded chamber indicator: 5 points
  • Grip safety: 3 points
  • Magazine safety: 5 points
  • Firing pin block or lock: 10 points

Miscellaneous Equipment

  • External hammer: 2 points
  • Double action: 10 points
  • Drift-adjustable target sight: 5 points
  • Click-adjustable target sight: 10 points
  • Target grips: 5 points
  • Target trigger: 2 points

Qualifying score: 75 points

REVOLVER

Prerequisites

  1. Must pass the safety test.
  2. Must have an overall frame length (with conventional grips), measured straight (not diagonal), of at least 4½”.
  3. Must have a barrel length of at least 3″.

Individual Characteristics — Point Values

Barrel Length (muzzle to cylinder face)

  • Less than 4″: 0 points
  • 1/2 point for each 1/4″ over 4″

Frame Construction

  • Investment cast or forged steel: 15 points
  • Investment cast or forged HTS alloy: 20 points

Weapon Weight (unloaded)

  • 1 point per ounce

Caliber

  • .22 short to .25 ACP: 0 points
  • .22 LR and .30 to .38 S&W: 3 points
  • .38 Special: 4 points
  • .357 Magnum and over: 5 points

Miscellaneous Equipment

  • Adjustable target sights (drift or click): 5 points
  • Target grips: 5 points
  • Target hammer and target trigger: 5 points

Safety Test

A double-action revolver must include a safety feature which automatically (or, for a single-action revolver, by manual operation) causes the hammer to retract to a position where the firing pin does not rest on the cartridge primer. The safety device must withstand the impact of a weight equal to the revolver’s weight dropped five times from a height of 36″ in a line parallel to the barrel onto the rear of the hammer spur.

Qualifying score: 45 points

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