Florida and Machine Gun's Are They LEGAL?

Yes — but only under very narrow federal rules. In Florida, you may legally own a machine gun only if it is a federally registered, transferable machine gun made before May 19, 1986, and you complete the full ATF approval process. Anything made after that date is illegal for civilian possession under federal law. 

Under federal law, a machine gun is any firearm that fires more than one round per trigger pull, including:

• Fully automatic firearms

• Frames/receivers of such firearms

• Any part or combination of parts designed to convert a gun into a machine gun (e.g., auto sears, switches) 

US Federal Law (The Big Gatekeeper)

• It was manufactured and registered before May 19, 1986

• It is listed in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR)

• You complete the ATF Form 4 process

• You pass the federal background check

• You pay the $200 NFA tax stamp 

• It was made after May 19, 1986

• It is unregistered

• It is a conversion device (auto sear, switch, etc.) not registered before 1986 

Penalties for illegal possession can include up to 10 years in federal prison. 

Florida Law

Florida allows machine gun possession ONLY if:

• It is lawfully owned under federal law

• It is a pre 1986 transferable machine gun 

• Possession of any machine gun that is or can be made operable unless federally registered

• Possession of conversion devices (switches, bump stocks, etc.) 

Florida does not have its own machine gun registration system — it relies entirely on federal approval. 

1. Find a pre 1986 transferable machine gun (prices often $20k–$50k+)

2. Submit ATF Form 4

3. Provide fingerprints, photos, and background check

4. Pay the $200 tax stamp

5. Wait 6–12 months for ATF approval 

Only after approval may you take possession.

• Buy or possess a post 1986 machine gun

• Make your own machine gun

• 3D print or possess an auto sear / Glock switch

• Possess an unregistered machine gun All of these are felonies under federal law.

As a Florida resident and firearms instructor, you can legally own a machine gun — but only a pre 1986, federally registered one, and only after completing the full ATF NFA process. Anything else is a serious federal crime.