The ATF Bound Book: What Every FFL Must Know in 2026

The Acquisition and Disposition record — commonly called the bound book or A&D book — is the backbone of your FFL compliance. Every firearm that enters and leaves your inventory must be recorded in it. When an ATF IOI walks into your store, the bound book is the first thing they examine. Errors or omissions here are the most common source of serious compliance violations.

What the Bound Book Is and Why It Exists

The bound book is a chronological record of every firearm you acquire and dispose of as an FFL. Its purpose is to allow the ATF — and law enforcement agencies submitting trace requests — to track the chain of custody for any firearm. If a gun used in a crime was sold through your store five years ago, the ATF needs to be able to find the buyer's name in your records within hours. That's only possible if your bound book is accurate, complete, and organized.

Physical vs. Electronic Bound Books

FFLs may maintain their A&D record in a physical bound book — a permanently bound ledger with sequentially numbered pages — or electronically using ATF-approved software. Electronic systems must meet specific requirements: records must be retrievable by serial number, manufacturer, and model; the system must be capable of producing a paper printout on demand; and the data must be backed up regularly.

If you use electronic records, you do not need a physical bound book as well — but you must be able to produce a printed copy instantly during an inspection. Telling an IOI that your system is "down" is not an acceptable response.

Required Acquisition Entries

Every firearm you acquire must be entered into the bound book within one business day of receipt. Required information includes:

• Date acquired
• Manufacturer and/or importer
• Model
• Serial number
• Type (pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, receiver, frame, etc.)
• Caliber or gauge
• Name and address of the person or entity from whom the firearm was acquired (for private acquisitions) or the name of the manufacturer/distributor

Required Disposition Entries

When a firearm leaves your inventory — through a sale, transfer, return, theft, or any other disposition — it must be recorded in the bound book on the date of disposition. Required information includes:

• Date disposed
• Name and address of the buyer or recipient
• License number of the receiving FFL (for dealer-to-dealer transfers)
• Form 4473 serial number or other transaction identifier

Common Bound Book Violations

Late Entries

Acquisitions entered days or weeks after receipt. This is the single most common bound book violation and one of the easiest to fix with consistent daily habits.

Missing Entries

A firearm in your inventory that has no acquisition entry — often found during a physical inventory reconciliation with the bound book. Missing entries can indicate theft, diversion, or simply poor recordkeeping, and the ATF treats all three possibilities seriously.

Incomplete Information

The serial number is recorded but the caliber is missing. The manufacturer is listed but the model isn't. Partial entries don't satisfy the regulatory requirement — every required field must be completed.

Illegible Handwriting

Serial numbers that are ambiguous (is that a 0 or an O? A 1 or an I?) create trace failures. Print clearly. When in doubt, use block letters for serial numbers.

White-Out or Erasures

Corrections must be made by lining through the error with a single line, writing the correct information, and initialing and dating the correction. White-out and erasures are never acceptable on any ATF record.

Physical Inventory Reconciliation

Periodically reconciling your physical inventory against your bound book is the best way to catch errors before an inspection does. Every firearm in your possession should have a corresponding acquisition entry with no disposition entry. Every disposed firearm should have a corresponding disposition entry. Discrepancies need to be investigated and resolved — not ignored.