French arm reglulation :

The table here after on French Arms Regulation is a non-comprehensive synthesis of the texts in force to date (decree n° 95-589 dated May 6th 1995 and decree n° 98-1148 of December16th 1998).

 

Purchase Cat. Types of arms Calibre Documents to supply
         
SALE
+ 18 years
old		 5° Shotguns : one shot per barrel (single or double barrel). 10/ 12/ 16/ 20/ 24/
28
12/ 14 mm
410 mag / etc.		 I. D. +
hunting or
shooting licence
6° Knives (daggers, bayonets,
coshes).
Crossbows.		   None
7° Blank and gas pistols (signal and starter).
Air rifles (less than 20 joules) and CO2 guns.		 6/ 8/ 9 mm gas or blank
4,5 et 5,5 mm		 None
8° True replica of black powder pistols and carbines.
Soft air guns (less than 2 joules).		 .31/ .36/ .44/ .45
.50/ .54/ .58/ .69/ .75
4,5 et 5,5 mm		 None
FREE SALE
+ 18 years
old

Subject to
registration
after purchase		 5° Shotguns : repetition and
semiautomatic.
Rifled shotguns :
- One shot per barrel
- Repetition
- Semiautomatic		 10/ 12/ 16/ 20/ 24
410 mag/ 222 Rem/ 270 W
280 Rem/ 7x64/ 300 W
30.30/ 8x60 S/ 7x65 R
8x57 JRS/ 9,3x62/ 9,3x74 R
375 HH / etc.		 I. D. +
hunting or
shooting licence
7° Hobby and competition rifles (civilian looking) 22 Lr/ 22 Short/ 22 Mag I. D.+
hunting or
shooting licence
Air rifles and CO2 guns
(more than 10 joules).		 4,5 mm (V° + de 195 m/s)
5,5 mm (V° + de 145 m/s)
Rubber bullets defence pistols. 12/50 gomm-cogne
11,6 safegom / etc.		 I. D.+
medical certificate
Subject to
prior
prefectorial
authorization		 1° War handguns and war rifled
shotguns,
automatic or semiautomatic
with their ammunition		 9 mn para/ 45 ACP/ etc.
30-06/ 303 British/ 7 ,5
30M1/ etc.		 I. D.
+ APAD
4° Handguns :
- Small calibre one shot or more.
- Lead shot and their ammunition.
- Big calibre and their ammunition.		 All I. D.
+ APAD
Shotguns :
- pump action guns
- semiautomatic more than 3 shots.
- repetition more than 10 shots.
Gun sticks .		 All I. D.
+ APAD

 

Documents to supply :

  • I.D : with picture.
  • Valid hunting licence.
  • Valid shooting licence.
  • APAD : 2 copies of the prefectorial authorization of acquisition and possession of arms established less than 90 days prior.

 

Others :

  • 22 Rifles in 7th category arms are on free sale provided the buyer (more 18 years) presents a valid hunting licence or shooting licence.
  • Ammunition for the 5th category arms are on free sale provided the buyer presents a valid hunting licence or shooting licence
  • The registration for each arm is supplied by the shop and is to be filed with the Gendarmerie or the Police Constabulary. Registrations can only be filled out by French residents.
  • Any owner of a 1rst or 4th category arm or anyone requesting the authority to acquire such arms must own a safe or safe cabinet.
  • The arms which total length is shorter than 80 cm or which barrel length is shorter than 45 cm are subject to authorization.