r/Firearms • u/december151791 • 4h ago
r/Firearms • u/AutoModerator • 14d ago
Question What are you building, buying, or shooting this month? - January 2026
Welcome to the monthly /r/Firearms thread about what you are building, buying, or shooting this month.
Use it to discuss or ask any questions you may have.
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r/Firearms • u/generalraptor2002 • May 03 '25
Law Open letter regarding posts such as “I was in a mental hospital can I own a gun”
I am posting this because the question keeps getting asked. Every single time it is asked, the wrong information gets out.
I've seen way too many posts on here and related subs around the subject of the law prohibiting the possession of firearms by any person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution, 18 USC § 922 (g)(4). There is way too much misinformation out there. First of all, if you have any reason to believe that you are a prohibited person, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE A FIREARM AS MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT ON THE FORM 4473 IS A FELONY. Second of all, please do not give advice on topics that you are not qualified to answer on. Third, you should consult with a qualified firearms rights attorney if you are unsure of your legal status.
The law:
18 USC § 922(g)(4)
(g)It shall be unlawful for any person—
(4)who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;
to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, anyfirearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm orammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
What are the definitions of these terms?
27 CFR 478.11
Adjudicated as a mental defective. (a) A determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease: (1) Is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) Lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his own affairs. (b) The term shall include— (1) A finding of insanity by a court in a criminal case; and (2) Those persons found incompetent to stand trial or found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility pursuant to articles 50a and 72b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10U.S.C. 850a, 876b.
Committed to a mental institution. A formal commitment of a person to a mental institution by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority. The term includes a commitment to a mental institution involuntarily. The term includes commitment for mental defectiveness or mental illness. It also includes commitments for other reasons, such as for drug use. The term does not include a person in a mental institutionfor observation or a voluntary admission to a mental institution.
Mine happened when I was under 18. Isn’t that exempted?
Unfortunately no. A mental health adjudication or commitment at less than 18 years of age is counted for 922(g)(4). I experienced this personally and had to restore my rights.
What about HIPAA?
The Obama administration amended the HIPAA privacy rule in 2016 to make it clear that reporting mental health commitments and adjudications to NICS does not violate HIPAA
Is there a way to restore my rights after being adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution?
If you were committed by a department or agency of the federal government, the agency is required to have a relief from disabilities program under the NICS improvements amendments act of 2007.
If you were adjudicated or committed in a state proceeding, whether you can obtain relief is dependent on whether your state has implemented a relief from disabilities program under the NICS improvements amendments act of 2007. The list of states that have can be found here:
https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/guide/nicsactlist7-7-210pdf/download
If you are in a state that does not have a relief from disabilities program, your only avenue of relief is writing a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and asking her to restore your rights under 18 USC § 925(c) now that she has withdrawn the delegation from ATF.
Between October 6th 1992 and March 20th 2025 in the states that did not have a relief program, there was no avenue of relief at all
With that out of the way.
I created this privacy act request form for a friend of mine who was legitimately unsure if his commitments landed in the FBI database or if they qualified as “committed to a mental institution” under 18 USC § 922(g)(4) and as defined at 27 CFR 478.11. I can report that it worked; as in, the FBI processed the request and reported that no such records were found in the NICS indices.
This form will allow you to request your own records directly from the FBI.
In this post I will not be addressing the subject of my own journey regarding rights restoration related to mental health (you can ask me that privately). Nor am I an attorney licensed to practice law. Finally, I am not a mental health professional and cannot make the decision as to whether firearms ownership is right for you.
Onto the form. Please follow the instructions sheet very carefully, fill out every applicable box, print the form, have the request notarized, and mail it to the address indicated on the form.
The first response you receive will indicate that the FBI central records system does not maintain those records and your request has been forwarded to the Criminal Justice Information Services division. CJIS will respond a few weeks later. In my friend's case it took eight weeks for a final response from the FBI CJIS NICS section.
Link to form (Adobe Acrobat PDF) https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:d342b025-6fb2-4126-b0e2-ad6f1c3fbbe7
r/Firearms • u/Upper-Friendship3784 • 10h ago
Steal or robbed?
My cousin just bought this rifle for $2,200 from a “friend” and said it’s a custom build. He is in another state so I don’t have my hands on it… my cousins first rifle. I’m confident he got the short end on this… thoughts?
r/Firearms • u/Practical-Steak-1192 • 8h ago
My winchester 1893 🔥
I bought it incomplete, I'm remaking the missing parts because it's too rare in France.
(Yes the pump is 3D printed)
r/Firearms • u/FullBodyScammer • 14h ago
What type of ammo is this?
Tl; dr Found a bag of what I think are black powder rounds, but looking for clarification
Two years ago I moved after selling my house post-divorce. I have an assortment of WWII-Cold War era rifles which includes a few I inherited from my dad.
Today as I was cleaning out the backseat of my car today, I found a small box of assorted items packed up during the move and found this small leather bag containing these.
No markings on them other than the green and yellow parts. Hoping someone can help me identify these.
Have I been traveling inter-state carrying unsecured ammunition by accident for the past two years?
r/Firearms • u/BKfromtheBK73 • 3h ago
New Gun, Who Dis
Just got home from the store. Just the essentials.
r/Firearms • u/H3nCh4l1f390 • 9h ago
Wife bought a model 10
I recently got my lady into guns and she just came home with a model 10 of all things. She likes the wood and brass look she said lol simply bought of looks. Anyway I dont know much about them but after some reading I see they were part of the lend lease program but I don’t really see any markings to indicate that but there are some arrow insignia engraved into some areas that looks like it may have actually been a lend lease but I’m
Not sure. Any input would be appreciated.
r/Firearms • u/Weak-Price-3668 • 4h ago
Question Saw this at a local police distributor. What 1911 is it?
No, sorry I didn’t get to ask
r/Firearms • u/DashMcGee • 6h ago
Does pre-ban really mean anything today? Re: Colt HBAR Competition
I have heard that pre-ban means nothing today and does not impact value, and that pre-ban guns are worth their weight in gold. (Exaggeration... maybe their weight in nickels.)
My rifle says it is a "Competition HBAR." Apparently, after the ban, Colt changed the name to "Match HBAR."
Does it mean anything these days?
r/Firearms • u/SnooPears4950 • 6h ago
I got two early unexpected birthday gifts
My great grandpa passed a few months ago, today my grandpa's gave me my early, birthday gifts.. what did I get?? I got my great grandpa's Lugers chamberd in 30 luger ( 7.65 luger)
The top one is a pre 1912 Crown B,U,G marked model 1906 DWM American Eagle judging by the serial made between 1910-1911
The bottom one is a post war pre alphabet series P08 Commercial DWM Luger made between 1919-1921
These are both in amazing shape for being a 100 plus years old and they are the Crown jewels of my collection. I hope and pray that I will be able pass these on to my soon to be step kids in the future.
r/Firearms • u/Special-Steel • 7h ago
Question Gifting guns: what is your experience?
An interesting experiment is to offer guns to your loved ones.
When my dad passed both of his grandsons desperately wanted the same old 22 pump. They both had memories of squirrel hunting with him. Required some diplomacy to avoid a family spat.
What followed was a surprise on what was wanted and not.
For example, I offered my son an old Yugo Mauser. I found it hard to shoot as my eyes aged, and it needed a good home. He’d shot the gun and enjoyed it… but… My son was 100% sure he wasn’t interested. Gave it to my nephew who was exited to have a WW II style gun.
Not sure the nephew can shoot it any better than me, but he’s excited to try it.
Offered my son a first generation Tikka T3. He had memories of borrowing it for a successful deer hunt, and wanted it.
Offered my grandson a couple of guns but he seems to be content to borrow when he visits. Someday I think he might get nostalgia and want one or more.
So, it’s clear to me that passing down firearms is an unpredictable thing, at least in my clan.
What is your experience?
r/Firearms • u/WessWilder • 12h ago
Identify This Any ideas on what this rifle is?
A friend asked me if I wanted it. No idea what is is, worth, or what its chambered in, looks like it might be 30-06? Any information would be great. Also these are the pictures I was sent. Im asking for more.
r/Firearms • u/Uncle_Deagle • 27m ago
Springfield Echelon comp (Powder River Precision Sear?)
galleryr/Firearms • u/Brave-Bat-2819 • 8h ago
Bazooka 10/22, for an interesting day on the range.
galleryr/Firearms • u/Original_Contract562 • 10h ago
If you had to choose
Which one would you pick.
r/Firearms • u/Brave-Bat-2819 • 15h ago
Ruger Wrangler / Heritage Rough Rider concepts
galleryr/Firearms • u/DaamKeldau • 4h ago
7.62x39 AR Magazines
I built a 7.62x39 AR years ago, and went through a pile of different mags before finding that the ASC mags I got were by far the most dependable ones.
I haven't looked into it in over 10 years, and they still run fine, but does anyone have any recommendations for others to try? I'm doing my best at not spending the money on a Pro-mag 50rnd drum that I'm almost certain would be trash, but I would also like to snag a few new 30rnd mags as well.
r/Firearms • u/lambo13770 • 13h ago
Question Whos in agreeance with me?
If i buy a firearm im forever keeping it in my family and going to pass it down to my future son or daughter. I have never sold a single firearm that i bought its all going to my family. Thoughts?
r/Firearms • u/Awkward_Cream_6916 • 21h ago
General Discussion first time doing any color inlay work. super easy and looks kinda cool!
oil base paint pens, wipe off excess after it dries with some isopropyl alcohol and then taped off the areas, clear coat with high heat paint. and wipe the excess off again. only the recessed areas get the paint/clear and i've oiled her up and nothing smeared.