Firearms regulation in France

History

Firearms classification

• Category A:
• *Category A1: Firearms disguised as another object, firearms with fully automatic fire capacities, firearms of a caliber greater than 20mm, handgun magazine with a capacity greater than 20 rounds, and rifles or shotguns magazine with a capacity greater than 31 rounds. There is an exception for magazine capacity for IPSC shooter with a certificate of the shooting range where they are registered.
• * Category A2: military material, material to transport or use weapons in combat and combat-gas protection.
• *Category A11: semi-automatic rifle shorter than 60cm with the stock detached or folded.
• *Category A12: semi-automatic rifle converted from automatic to semi-automatic.
• Category B:
• *Category B1: Handguns with a capacity of 20 rounds or fewer.
• * Category B2: Manually operated long guns with a capacity between 11 and 31 rounds, semi-automatic long guns with a capacity between 3 and 31 rounds and smooth bore pump-action shotguns.
• * Category B4: Any firearm chambered for the following calibers: 7.62×39mm; 5.56×45mm NATO; 5.45×39mm;.50 BMG; 14.5×114mm.
• * Category B5: Any registered parts of all B-categorized firearms such as bolt, barrel, silencer, magazine, etc.
• * Category B6, B7, B8: Specific weapon for riot and order control.
• Category C: Manual operation long guns with a capacity of 11 rounds or less, semi-automatic long guns with a capacity of 3 rounds or fewer.
• Category D: Pepper spray, canne fusil, blank guns, black powder guns, deactivated guns, guns with a brevet older than 1 January 1900, weapons that shoot projectiles in a non-pyrotechnic way with energy between 2 and 20 joules, and anything used or planned to be used as a weapon.

Ammunition Classification

• Category B: quota of 2000 rounds for the first year with a maximum of 1000 in stock and 1000 for every year after that, you need an id card or resident card and the authorization of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
• * 7.62x39
• * 5.56x45
• * 5.45x39 Russian
• * 12.7x99
• * 14.5x114
• Category C-6°: maximum of 1000 in stock, you need an id card or resident card and the acknowledgment of receipt of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
• * 25-20 Winchester
• * 32-20 Winchester or 32-20-115
• * 38-40 Remington
• * 44-40 Winchester ou 44-40-200
• *.44 Remington magnum
• *.45 Colt or.45 long Colt
• Category C-7°: maximum of 1000 in stock, you need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence and the acknowledgment of receipt of ownership to buy those ammunitions.
• * 7.5x54 MAS
• * 7.5x55 Swiss
• *.30 M1
• * 7.62x51 NATO or.308 Winchester
• * 7.92x57 Mauser or 7.92x57 JS or 8x57 J or 8x57 JS or 8mm Mauser
• * 7.62x54 R or 7.62x54 Mosin Nagant
• * 7.62x63 or 30.06 Springfield
• *.303 British or 7.7x56
• Category C-8°: You need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence to buy those ammunitions.
• * Auther rifle munition
• Category D-1°: You need an ID card or resident card and a hunting licence or a shooting licence to buy those ammunitions. Since August 1st 2018 D1 weapon became C categorized.
• Category D-2°: You need an ID card or resident card and must at least 18 years old with the exception of sportive shooters over 12, for whom a written parental authorisation must be written.

Storage

• Category A: Firearms, ammunition and registered firearms parts have to be stored in a gun safe or a safe room.
• Category B: Firearms, ammunition and registered firearms parts have to be stored in a gun safe or a safe room.
• Category C: Firearms and ammunition can be stored in a safe or ammunition have to be stored without giving easy access and firearms have to be stored in a way that they can't use immediately, by using a lock or have them attached to a wall for example.
• Category D:
• *Category D1: Firearms and ammunition can be stored in a safe or ammunition have to be stored without giving easy access and firearms have to be stored in a way that they can't be used immediately, by using a lock or have them attached to a wall for example. Since August 1st 2018 D1 weapon became C categorized.
• * Category D2: No Storage restriction.

  Ownership and purchase conditions

• Category D requires the owner to be older than 18.
• Category C requires the owner to be older than 18, have hunting, shooting or ball-trap licence of the current year stamped by a doctor.
• Category B requires the owner to be older than 18, be affiliated with a shooting range, have attended at least 3 shooting sessions with an instructor, and have a medical certificate. The shooter then receives a 5-year authorization to purchase and own of Category B firearms.
• Category A11 and A12 purchase not allowed since August 1st 2018, for gun ownership before its same requirement as Category B.