Category C weapons (reportable)

Verified 30 July 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Can you have a Class C weapon if you're not a hunter or a sports shooter? Here are the main rules to know about Class C weapons.

Tableau - Weapons and components of weapons classified in category C (excluding ammunition)

Ranking

Designation

Features

C1-a)

Semi-automatic repeating long gun

Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter

Firing up to 3 rounds, without replenishment

C1-b)

Manual repeating shoulder gun

Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter

Firing up to 11 rounds, without re-supply

C1-c)

1 shot long gun per barrel

C1-d)

Manual repeating shoulder gun

Striped barrel equipped with a reloading device with a chambered pump for gages 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 410

Maximum capacity of 5 strokes

Total length greater than 80 cm

Gun length greater than 60 cm

Fixed stock

C2

Elements of C1 weapons

C3

Firearm manufactured for firing one or more non-metallic projectiles

Classified in this category by ministerial decision

C4

Weapon and launcher having a projectile propelled in a non-pyrotechnic manner

Mouth energy of 20 joules or more

C5

Weapon having equivalent characteristics classified in category C because of its dangerousness

C9

Deactivated Class A, B or C firearm (rendered unfit for fire)

C11

Power supply system for a weapon classified in category C1 - a) and C1 - b)

C12

Weapon alarm and signaling system

Major

Deactivated firearm (category C9)

Weapon rendered unfit for fire

Weapon rendered unfit for fire

To buy a firearm neutralized (category C9) you must meet the following 3 conditions:

  • Not be enrolled in FINIADA: titleContent
  • Do not have on your criminal record bulletin no. 2 of convictions for certain offenses. For example, murder, murder, willful violence, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking... It is the prefecture that makes the request for a ballot.
  • Not behave in a way that would make you or others fear the use of the weapon

Defense weapon (category C3)

To purchase a defensive weapon (a firearm made to fire a bullet or non-metallic projectiles, category C3), you must meet the following 3 conditions:

  • Not be enrolled in FINIADA: titleContent
  • Do not have on your criminal record bulletin no. 2 of convictions for certain offenses. For example, murder, murder, willful violence, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking... It is the prefecture that requests a ballot.
  • Not behave in a way that would make you or others fear the use of the weapon

Warning and signaling weapon (C12)

To buy a alarm and signaling weapon (C12), you must meet the following 3 conditions:

  • Not be enrolled in FINIADA: titleContent
  • Do not have on your criminal record bulletin no. 2 of convictions for certain offenses. For example, murder, murder, willful violence, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking... It is the prefecture that requests a ballot.
  • Not behave in a way that would make you or others fear the use of the weapon

Other Class C weapon

You must complete the 4 conditions following:

  • Not be enrolled in FINIADA: titleContent
  • Do not have on your criminal record bulletin no. 2 of convictions for certain offenses. For example, murder, murder, willful violence, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking... It is the prefecture that makes the request for a ballot.
  • Not behave in a way that would make you or others fear the use of the weapon
  • Have a hunting license or a sports license or collector's card
    The hunting license can be issued in France or abroad. It must be accompanied by an annual or temporary validation document or a validation document from the previous year.
    The sports license must be issued by the French Sports Federation which has received ministerial delegation for the practice of shooting, ball-trap or biathlon (+ attestation certifying that you practice one of these sports if the federation also has a ministerial delegation for other sports). The license must be valid.
    The collector card must be valid.
Minor over 16 years

A minor cannot buy a Class C weapon.

One a minor over 16 years of age may possess a category C weapon if he fills the 2 conditions following:

  • Have the authorization of a person exercising parental authority not entered in the FINIADA: titleContent
  • Have a valid hunting license, or a valid license from a sports federation that has received ministerial delegation for shooting, ball-trap or biathlon (+ certification that the minor is playing one of these sports if the federation also has ministerial delegation for other sports)
Minor between 12 and 16 years

A minor cannot buy a Class C weapon.

One A minor 12 years of age or older may possess a category C weapon if he fills the 2 conditions following:

  • Have the authorization of a person exercising parental authority not entered in the FINIADA: titleContent
  • Have a valid license from a sports federation that has received a ministerial delegation to practice shooting, ball-trap or biathlon (+ certification that the minor plays one of these sports if the federation also has a ministerial delegation for other sports)

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You're a hunter

To purchase a Class C weapon, you must go to a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must have created a SIA account to buy a gun as a hunter.

The purchased weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You will need to confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AIS: titleContent.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Reminder

If you had a gun before the opening of the AIS: titleContent, you have until December 31, 2024 to create an account in the AIS.

You're fired as a sports shooter

To purchase a Class C weapon, you must go to a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must have created a SIA account to buy a gun as a sportsman's licensee.

The purchased weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You will need to confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AIS: titleContent.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

You are licensed as a biathlete or ball-trap shooter

To purchase a Class C weapon, you must go to a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must provide a file containing the following documents:

  • Declaration on the form cerfa no. 12650
  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Copy of your current sports license

The gunsmith or broker will forward your file to the prefecture of your home.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, the prefect may ask you to provide a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist.

You are a collector and have the collector card

To purchase a Class C weapon, you must go to a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must provide a file containing the following documents:

  • Declaration on the form cerfa no. 12650
  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Copy of your valid collector card

The gunsmith or broker will forward your file to the prefecture of your home.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, the prefect may ask you to provide a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist.

You're in a different situation

Deactivated firearm (category C9)

To buy a firearm neutralized (category C9), you must contact a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must have created a SIA account.

You need a medical certificate less than a month old certifying that your physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of category C weapons.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist may be requested.

The purchased weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You will need to confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AIS: titleContent.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Defense weapon (category C3)

To purchase a defensive weapon (a firearm made to fire a bullet or non-metallic projectiles, category C3), you must contact a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must have created a SIA account.

You need a medical certificate less than a month old certifying that your physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of category C weapons.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist may be requested.

The purchased weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You will need to confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AIS: titleContent.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Warning and signaling weapon (C12)

To buy a alarm and signaling weapon (C12), you must contact a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must have created a SIA account.

You need a medical certificate less than a month old certifying that your physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of category C weapons.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist may be requested.

The purchased weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You will need to confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AIS: titleContent.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

To purchase an alarm and signaling weapon (C12), you must contact a gunsmith, one licensed broker, or a private in the presence of a gunsmith.

You must provide a file containing the following documents:

  • Declaration on the form cerfa no. 12650
  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Medical certificate less than one month old certifying that your physical and mental health condition is compatible with the possession of category C weapons.

The gunsmith or broker will forward your file to the prefecture of your home.

If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, the prefect may ask you to provide a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist.

Other Class C weapon

You cannot acquire other Class C weapons.

In fact, their acquisition is reserved for people with a hunting license, or a sports license from shooting, ball-trap or ski federations (biathlon), or a collector's card, valid.

You must retain your Class C weapon and its components in one of the following ways:

  • In a suitable safe or vault
  • By dismantling a weapon element making it immediately unusable, which is kept separate
  • By any other device preventing the removal of the weapon (for example, chaining on a rack, passage of a cable in the bridge)

Ammunition should be kept separately under conditions that prohibit open access.

Please note

These provisions do not apply to firearms neutralized (category C9).

Buying, selling or possessing one or more Class C weapons without making a declaration is punishable by up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to €30,000.

The prison sentence is a maximum of 7 years and the fine of €100,000 maximum for infringements committed in organized band.

The additional penalties the following may be added:

  • Prohibition of possession or carrying, for a maximum of 5 years, a weapon subject to authorization
  • Confiscation of one or more weapons
  • Withdrawal of hunting license with prohibition to apply for a new license for up to 5 years

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Class C firearm - Declaration of acquisition, sale, transfer or possession

FAQ