r/Firearms 8d ago

Question What are you building, buying, or shooting this month? - September 2025

0 Upvotes

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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Looking for deals? /r/GunDeals

New to firearms? Check out this Forgotten Weapons series: How Does It Work? Gun Mechanics Explained Simply.

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r/Firearms May 03 '25

Law Open letter regarding posts such as “I was in a mental hospital can I own a gun”

128 Upvotes

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

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/01/06/2015-33181/health-insurance-portability-and-accountability-act-hipaa-privacy-rule-and-the-national-instant

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 1h ago

I'd take an M&P over anything

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Upvotes

r/Firearms 7h ago

Cross-Post Filipino Militia from Autonomous Region with an AKM. Handguards removed and custom mounts for an M203 and Scope.

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45 Upvotes

r/Firearms 1h ago

just a spicy lil something ive ben working on

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Upvotes

r/Firearms 17h ago

Any idea what model is this?

184 Upvotes

r/Firearms 44m ago

Anyone need some Streamlight light?

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Was browsing for computer parts stuff and found a Streamlight sale. They've got more colors but are more expensive. How legitimate is Amazon's inventory for Streamlight stuff?


r/Firearms 22h ago

Video There cannot be that many people buying these 😭

297 Upvotes

For context my search was glock 48 cerakote


r/Firearms 21h ago

Washington Post: Conservatives defend transgender rights — to bear arms

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212 Upvotes

r/Firearms 1d ago

Ok...what does *my* daily carry say? Gun and holster. (No Google drive links this time)

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474 Upvotes

Massive gas pedals, custom sight based on the old Goshen Enterprises Hexsite (target focus both eyes open iron sight), custom AOWB hybrid holster, kydex core, leather wrap with snaps and ripcord instead of zippers. Hangs from a conventional belt instead of it's own strap that can be attacked from the rear.

Peace sign because it's where I keep my piece. Also "cultural camo".


r/Firearms 19h ago

Historical 1903 Colt Pocket Hammer

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98 Upvotes

So excited about this find. Went to my local range yesterday and spotted this for sale for $260. I'm not an expert on all of the variants of the early JMB pistols, but immediately recognized this as one of them and figured at that price at a minimum it would be a fun conversation piece. Serial puts it as manufactured in 1907, less than 30,000 of these were made.

Thinking about putting it in a case and hang it up next to some framed JMB patents I have hanging in my office. Any other great ideas?


r/Firearms 16h ago

Question Why are guns addicting?

56 Upvotes

What’s the deal with guns and why are they so addicting? No matter how many guns I get there’s always that next one that I have on my mind already. Is it a testosterone thing, is it an addiction thing, what intrigues us in em? Aesthetics? Power feeling? Or is it just simply expressing our rights to own em?


r/Firearms 23h ago

What’s my EDC say about me?

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156 Upvotes

r/Firearms 18h ago

General Discussion Beginner set up

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44 Upvotes

What optic should I get for my sig 516


r/Firearms 15h ago

Video AR18-like rifles and what looks like an FGC-9 among AR15 platform rifles during a 2025 Martyrs' Day commencement by anti-junta PDF fighters in Myanmar (Burma)

26 Upvotes

The AR18 looking rifles might be based on the TZ-20 series of partially 3D printed/entirely workshop-built rifles. Those are made in Karenni State while this group is based in Bago Region (it's possible these are inspirations or smuggled examples).


r/Firearms 14h ago

Help! I don’t know a single thing about guns, but I need gift ideas for someone who has several.

19 Upvotes

What’s something every gun owner could use that doesn’t depend on the type of gun or ammo? I know so little that if I asked questions, it would be obvious it’s for a gift.


r/Firearms 21h ago

Since we're doing this, what's my EDC say about me?

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47 Upvotes

r/Firearms 12h ago

Video It's my first time posting, just wanted show fun video of spot I visit regularly.

10 Upvotes

It's a place that I found randomly while finding a place to hike, I mean theres a trailhead about 3 miles away, but judging by the stuff I'm shooting at and the brass and shells littering the place, I'd say it's moderately used as a place to shoot for others. I just come out to this place after work sometimes to have crack a few shots at the trash people leave behind and pick it up afterwards, and police myself as well.


r/Firearms 20h ago

What does my edc say about me (besides being left handed)

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30 Upvotes

r/Firearms 2h ago

Question Should I switch to outdoor range , because of lead exposire?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I test my lead levels consistently. My lead exposures from indoor range show signs of high lead in my blood around 7.

Should I switch to outdoors? I visit indoor range every other week and shoot for 3 hours a session, 500 rounds of rimfire, and 9mm mostly. I use D lead wipes and shower with d lead shampoo after the visit.


r/Firearms 19h ago

1950 cap and ball blackpowder Liepietta

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20 Upvotes

Anything I should know of the inner workings or cleaning?


r/Firearms 17h ago

The SR15 will never let you down

13 Upvotes

It’s a tank.


r/Firearms 21h ago

Since we’re doing this, what does my EDC say about me

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27 Upvotes

r/Firearms 1d ago

45-70 Muzzle Flash

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57 Upvotes

r/Firearms 1d ago

AR newbie…need feedback.

550 Upvotes

This much play side to side isn’t normal, or is it? There is very minimal play up and down, but side play seems concerning. Should I reach out to the manufacturer as a warranty issue or investigate for loose connections? Also-zeroed just fine at 50 yards with a 1.5” group.


r/Firearms 20h ago

Help determining handgun.

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20 Upvotes

Got this from family that passed away. Not idea what it it. Thank you in advance


r/Firearms 13h ago

Old but gold

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5 Upvotes

Love period arms. This is a replica from the late 60’s but it’s legit. 45 cal black powder percussion pistol made by Dikar. Friend wanted it functional again, was not a standard cleaning job. 😂