French Category B firearm and ammunition quotas: 15 firearms, 3,000 rounds
Published on · Updated on · 9 min read · Anthony Baillon
Verified by a gunsmithIn French Category B, a sport shooter holds fifteen firearms at most, six for five years as a first-time holder. Each firearm gives the right to 3,000 rounds bought per twelve-month period, 1,000 per day, and 1,000 held at home. Magazines are limited to ten per firearm, and .22 LR escapes the 3,000 quota.
At a glance
| Quota | Ceiling | Article |
|---|---|---|
| A1 and B firearms | 15, or 6 for 5 years | R312-40, R312-41-1 |
| Rounds bought | 3,000 per firearm per 12 months | R312-47 |
| Rounds held | 1,000 per firearm | R312-49 |
- The counter runs per firearm, from the date the authorization was issued.
- Magazines: ten per firearm; above 20 rounds for a pistol, on a federation certificate for action shooting.
- Cost of the full quota: €780 of ammunition a year for a 9 mm firearm.
Fifteen Category B firearms, six for a first-time holder
Article R312-40 authorizes licensed adult shooters « dans la limite de quinze armes » [up to fifteen firearms]2. The quota covers Category B firearms authorized for sport shooting and Category A1 firearms of 3° bis and 7°2. Category C firearms are not included: no text caps their number714.
The Category B firearm quota, before and since 1 January 2024
Adult sport shooter with an FFTir license; Category A1 and B firearms authorized for sport shooting
Before 2024, article R312-41 placed ten single-shot rimfire handguns outside the quota of twelve. It was repealed on 1 January 2024, when the quota rose to fifteen32.
View the data
| Profile | A1 and B firearm quota | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Adult shooter, until 31/12/2023 | 12 + 10 outside the quota | Former R312-40 and R312-41 |
| Adult shooter | 15 | R312-40 |
| First-time holder, for 5 years | 6 | R312-41-1 |
| Minor aged 12 or over | 3 single-shot rimfire handguns | R312-40 |
Article R312-41-1 sets a limit of « un maximum de six armes » [a maximum of six firearms], « pendant une durée de cinq ans à compter de la délivrance de leur première autorisation » [for five years from the issue of their first authorization]2, for:
- The first-time holder, who has never held an authorization for sport shooting.
- The former holder listed in the FINIADA in the meantime.
- The authorized minor who comes of age.
An adult who takes part in national or international competitions escapes this ceiling2. A license holder who has only held Category C firearms is still a first-time holder at their first Category B application. The authorization itself is covered in the French Category B authorization.
What counts towards the firearm quota, and what does not
| Item | In the quota | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Category B firearms authorized for sport shooting | Yes | R312-40 |
| Category A1 firearms of 3° bis and 7° | Yes | R312-40 |
| Frames and lower receivers | Yes, since 1 Sep. 2023 | R312-42, F2250 |
| Rifled pump-actions moved up to B | Yes, since 1 Jul. 2024 | F2250 |
| Other firearm parts, including caliber conversions | No | R312-42 |
| Firearms under a pre-1996 lifetime "modèle 13" authorization | No | SIA FAQ |
| Category C firearms | No | SIA FAQ |
Firearm parts do not count, « à l'exception des carcasses ou, le cas échéant, des parties inférieures des boîtes de culasse » [except frames or, where relevant, lower receivers] (article R312-42)2. Frames entered the quota on 1 September 2023 whatever their date of acquisition, and rifled pump-actions moved up to B on 1 July 20241. A gun rack unchanged since 2023 may therefore have a different count.
3,000 rounds per firearm per twelve-month period
A firearm's authorization « vaut autorisation d'acquisition et de détention des munitions correspondantes » [is also authorization to acquire and hold the matching ammunition], up to « 3 000 cartouches par arme au titre du 2° de l'article R. 312-40 » [3,000 rounds per firearm under 2° of article R312-40]4. The quota is calculated firearm by firearm: five firearms give the right to 15,000 rounds over twelve months7.
Three ammunition ceilings for a single firearm
Category B cartridges, per firearm authorized for sport shooting
Purchases are capped over twelve months (R312-47) and per day in the SIA, stock per firearm (R312-49)47.
View the data
| Ceiling | Per firearm | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Bought over 12 months | 3,000 rounds | R312-47 |
| Bought in one day | 1,000 rounds | SIA FAQ |
| Stock at home | 1,000 rounds | R312-49 |
The SIA adds a transaction ceiling: « Vous pouvez acheter pour une arme, 1000 munitions par jour et un maximum de 3000 sur l'année » [for one firearm you may buy 1,000 rounds per day and a maximum of 3,000 over the year]7. A caliber conversion part does not count among the fifteen firearms but opens « un quota distinct d'acquisition de munitions » [a separate ammunition purchase quota]74.
Ammunition ceilings by number of firearms
3,000 rounds bought and 1,000 held, per Category B firearm
The SIA FAQ gives the example of a shooter with 5 firearms: 5,000 rounds can be bought per day and 15,000 over the year7. A caliber conversion part also opens its own ammunition quota7.
View the data
| Category B firearms | Bought per day | Bought over 12 months | Maximum stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1,000 |
| 5 | 5,000 | 15,000 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 10,000 | 30,000 | 10,000 |
| 15 | 15,000 | 45,000 | 15,000 |
The ammunition quota resets on the authorization date
The twelve-month period runs « à compter de la date de délivrance » [from the date of issue] of the authorization (article R312-47)4: not from 1 January, nor from the date the firearm was bought. The dealer enters each purchase in the SIA, and the balance can be read in the account, firearm by firearm. How the account works is described in the SIA account and digital gun rack.
1,000 rounds per firearm in stock, whatever their origin
Article R312-49 sets a separate ceiling: « Nul ne peut détenir plus de 1 000 munitions par arme » [nobody may hold more than 1,000 rounds per firearm]5. Purchases and stock are checked separately: three purchases of 1,000 rounds fit within the purchase quota, but if they are not fired, the stock exceeds 1,000.
Shooting clubs have their own stock ceilings: 75,000 rounds for 15 to 199 members, 150,000 for 200 to 499, 300,000 from 5005.
Category C ammunition: outside the 3,000 quota
The classification of a round does not follow that of the firearm. Category B 10° covers centerfire ammunition designed for handguns, « à l'exception de celles classées en catégorie C par un arrêté » [except those classified in Category C by an order], and Category B 4° five calibers, including 7.62 × 39 and 5.56 × 456.
| Ammunition | Category | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| 9 mm, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP | B 10° | 3,000 bought per 12 months, 1,000 held |
| 7.62 × 39, 5.56 × 45, 5.45 × 39 | B 4° | 3,000 bought per 12 months, 1,000 held |
| .44 Rem. Magnum, .45 Colt, .32-20 | C 6° | 1,000 per firearm held |
| .308 Winchester, .30-06 | C 7° | 1,000 per firearm held |
| .22 Long Rifle | C 8° | None with the firearm; 500 without it |
The Category C ceilings are those of articles R312-61 and R312-6314. The list of revolver calibers classified in C 6° comes from an order15: a Category B semi-automatic rifle chambered in .308 Winchester therefore fires Category C ammunition. The two entry-level calibers are compared in 9 mm vs .22 LR.
Shooting beyond the quota: at the club or by reloading
Two routes allow more than 3,000 rounds of the same caliber to be fired in a year.
Buying ammunition at the club
Pros
- Outside the SIA counter: « Je peux acheter des munitions au club pour une consommation sur place » [I may buy ammunition at the club for use on site]7.
- No stock at home, so no risk against the 1,000 ceiling.
Cons
- Nothing leaves the range: « Je ne peux repartir avec les munitions » [I may not leave with the ammunition]7.
- The club's choice: calibers and brands limited to what it stocks.
Reloading ammunition
Pros
- Components without a quota: ammunition components are acquired « sans limitation » [without limit] for the calibers of the firearms held (article R312-48)4.
- Loads tailored to the firearm and the discipline.
What each route offers
To shoot a lot at the range, club ammunition avoids the counter and the stock, at the cost of a limited choice and no rounds taken home.
To shoot in competition or away from the club, reloading frees up purchases but not stock: 1,000 rounds per firearm at home, and 2 kg of powder.
For a volume below 3,000 per firearm, the dealer purchase quota is enough.
Keeping track of loads is covered in the reloading log.
Ten magazines per firearm, on top of the firearm quota
« Nul ne peut acquérir et détenir plus de dix systèmes d'alimentation par arme » [nobody may acquire and hold more than ten feeding systems per firearm] (article R312-45)8. For the disciplines that require them, magazines of more than 20 rounds for a handgun or more than 30 for a long gun are bought on a federation certificate and do not count among the ten (article R312-45-1)8; for action shooting, that is the FFTir certificate1. See pistol magazines.
Exceeding a quota: a fine and surrender without compensation
- Firearm quota exceeded: 4th-class petty offence (article R317-4)9.
- More than ten magazines per firearm: 4th-class petty offence (article R317-5)9.
- Category C ammunition beyond 1,000 per firearm, or 500 without the firearm: 4th-class petty offence (articles R317-7 and R317-8)9.
The heaviest consequence lies elsewhere: without regularisation in the SIA, « je peux être dessaisi par le préfet » [the prefect may take my firearms from me], and without compensation7. Article L312-12 provides that surrendering or seizing the firearms « ne donne lieu à aucune indemnisation » [gives rise to no compensation]10.
Quota budget: €780 of ammunition per 9 mm firearm
The 3,000-round quota amounts to 250 rounds a month. In 9 mm FMJ bought by the thousand, a round costs €0.26 to €0.281112.
| Rate | Rounds per year | 9 mm at €0.26 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 a month | 1,200 | €312 |
| 200 a month | 2,400 | €624 |
| Full quota, 250 a month | 3,000 | €780 |
- First year: up to €780 per 9 mm firearm shot at the full quota, on top of the firearm and the safe.
- Following years: the same amount, the quota resetting each year on the authorization date.
The .22 LR, Category C ammunition, does not count towards this quota. Price details are in 9 mm ammunition for sport shooting.
Four misconceptions about French Category B quotas
- "The quota is twelve firearms." That was the figure until 31 December 2023; it has been fifteen since 1 January 202423.
- "Fifteen firearms, plus ten single-shot handguns outside the quota." Article R312-41, which placed those ten firearms outside the quota, has been repealed since 1 January 20243. Adding the two together leads to exceeding the quota.
- "3,000 rounds per authorization." The text says « par arme » [per firearm]4: the gap can reach a factor of fifteen.
- "The counter resets on 1 January." It resets on the date the authorization was issued4.
Sources 15 references
The articles of the code de la sécurité intérieure were reread on Légifrance in their version in force on 24 September 2026, the service-public.gouv.fr factsheets and the prices the same day. French documents keep their French titles and quotations, with a short translation in brackets. Click a note marker in the text to highlight the matching source.
- Service-Public (DILA) — Armes de catégorie B pour un tireur sportif, fiche F2250 (in French), checked on 20 March 2025, consulted on 24 September 2026: 15 firearms, 6 for 5 years for a first-time applicant; « Les carcasses et les parties inférieures des boîtes de culasse sont prises en compte dans le quota d'armes depuis le 1er septembre 2023. Cette règle s'applique quelle que soit leur date d'acquisition » [frames and lower receivers have counted towards the firearm quota since 1 September 2023, whatever their date of acquisition]; rifled pump-actions moved up: « depuis le 1er juillet 2024 : ces armes entrent dans votre quota de détention, quelle que soit leur date d'acquisition » [since 1 July 2024 these firearms count towards your holding quota, whatever their date of acquisition]; « 3 000 cartouches par arme autorisée pour le tir sportif, par période de 12 mois consécutifs » [3,000 rounds per firearm authorised for sport shooting, per 12 consecutive months]; « au maximum 10 systèmes d'alimentation par arme » [at most 10 feeding systems per firearm]; action shooting: feeding systems of more than 20 rounds for a handgun « à condition d'avoir le certificat de la Fédération française de tir » [provided you hold the French shooting federation's certificate].
- Légifrance — articles R312-40 à R312-43-1 du code de la sécurité intérieure, « Tir sportif » (in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: R312-40 (version of 1 January 2024, decree no. 2023-557) — firearms « des 3° bis et 7° de la rubrique 1 du I et des 1°, 2°, 4°, 5°, 9° et 10° du II de l'article R. 311-2 » [of 3° bis and 7° of heading 1 of I and of 1°, 2°, 4°, 5°, 9° and 10° of II of article R311-2], « dans la limite de quinze armes » [up to fifteen firearms]; minors aged at least twelve: three single-shot rimfire handguns; R312-41-1 — « un maximum de six armes » [a maximum of six firearms] for five years for anyone who has never held an authorisation, has been in one of the situations of L312-16, or comes of age after a minor's authorisation; adults in national or international competitions excluded; R312-41 repealed on 1 January 2024; R312-42 — firearm parts outside the quotas « à l'exception des carcasses ou, le cas échéant, des parties inférieures des boîtes de culasse » [except frames or, where relevant, lower receivers].
- Légifrance — section « Tir sportif » du code de la sécurité intérieure, version au 31 décembre 2023 (in French): former R312-40 2° « dans la limite de douze armes » [up to twelve firearms] and former R312-41 (« armes de poing à percussion annulaire à un coup dans la limite de dix, qui ne sont pas comptabilisées dans le quota prévu à l'article R. 312-40 » [single-shot rimfire handguns, up to ten, not counted in the quota of article R312-40]), repealed on 1 January 2024 by decree no. 2023-557 of 3 July 2023.
- Légifrance — articles R312-47 et R312-48 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: R312-47 (version of 1 January 2024) — « L'autorisation d'acquisition et de détention d'une arme ou d'un élément d'arme permettant la conversion du calibre vaut autorisation d'acquisition et de détention des munitions correspondantes » [the authorisation to acquire and hold a firearm or a calibre conversion part is also authorisation to acquire and hold the matching ammunition]; acquisition « par période de douze mois à compter de la date de délivrance de celle-ci » [per twelve-month period from its date of issue] of « 3 000 cartouches par arme au titre du 2° de l'article R. 312-40 » [3,000 rounds per firearm under 2° of article R312-40]; R312-48 (version of 1 August 2018) — « Les personnes mentionnées à l'article R. 312-40 sont autorisées à acquérir et détenir, sans limitation, des éléments de munitions, pour les calibres des armes qu'elles détiennent. » [the persons listed in article R312-40 may acquire and hold ammunition components without limit, for the calibres of the firearms they hold].
- Légifrance — article R312-49 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), version in force since 1 January 2024 (decree no. 2023-557), consulted on 24 September 2026: « Nul ne peut détenir plus de 1 000 munitions par arme » [nobody may hold more than 1,000 rounds per firearm]; shooting associations: 75,000 rounds for 15 to 199 members, 150,000 for 200 to 499, 300,000 from 500.
- Légifrance — article R311-2 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), version in force since 7 September 2025, consulted on 24 September 2026: B 4° « Calibre 7,62 × 39 », « 5,56 × 45 », « 5,45 × 39 », « 12,7 × 99 », « 14,5 × 114 »; B 10° « Munitions à percussion centrale et leurs éléments conçus pour les armes de poing mentionnées au 1° à l'exception de celles classées en catégorie C par un arrêté conjoint » [centerfire ammunition and its components designed for the handguns of 1°, except those classified in Category C by joint order]; C 6° to 8° ammunition.
- Préfecture des Pyrénées-Orientales — FAQ du SIA, détenteurs particuliers, version du 15 octobre 2024 (PDF, in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: « Vous pouvez acheter pour une arme, 1000 munitions par jour et un maximum de 3000 sur l'année » [for one firearm you may buy 1,000 rounds per day and a maximum of 3,000 over the year]; example with 5 firearms, « 5000 munitions par jour » [5,000 rounds per day] and « 15 000 munitions » [15,000 rounds] over the year; excluded from the quota: lifetime "modèle 13" authorisations issued before 1996 and Category C firearms; frames included « y compris celles acquises avant le 1er août 2018 » [including those acquired before 1 August 2018]; « conversions » open « un quota distinct d'acquisition de munitions » [a separate ammunition purchase quota]; « Je peux acheter des munitions au club pour une consommation sur place. Je ne peux repartir avec les munitions » [I may buy ammunition at the club for use on site; I may not leave with it]; if an excess is not regularised, surrender ordered by the prefect without compensation.
- Légifrance — articles R312-45 et R312-45-1 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: « Nul ne peut acquérir et détenir plus de dix systèmes d'alimentation par arme » [nobody may acquire and hold more than ten feeding systems per firearm] (R312-45, version of 10 February 2022); feeding systems of more than 20 rounds for handguns and more than 30 for long guns, on a federation certificate, for the disciplines that require them, not counted among the ten (R312-45-1, version of 1 August 2018).
- Légifrance — articles R317-4 à R317-8 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: 4th-class petty offence for exceeding the quotas of R312-40 and R312-41-1 (R317-4, version of 1 January 2024), the ten feeding systems per firearm (R317-5), the 1,000 rounds of Category C 6° and 7° per firearm (R317-7) and the 500 rounds of 6° to 8° without the firearm (R317-8).
- Légifrance — articles L312-11 et L312-12 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French): surrender ordered by the prefect; « la remise ou la saisie des armes, des munitions et de leurs éléments ne donne lieu à aucune indemnisation » [surrendering or seizing firearms, ammunition and their components gives rise to no compensation].
- Armurerie Centrale — munitions 9x19, prices read on 24 September 2026: STV Scorpio FMJ 124 gr €259.00 per 1,000, i.e. €0.26 a round; boxes of 50 from €12.90 (Fiocchi FMJ 123 gr) to €15.95 (Aguila FMJ). ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Armurerie de la Bourse — munitions de catégorie B, prices read on 24 September 2026: STV Scorpio 9x19 FMJ €280.00 per case of 1,000, i.e. €0.28 a round; boxes of 50 from €15.00 (Norma FMJ 115 gr) to €16.00 (Geco, Fiocchi, Sellier & Bellot, Magtech FMJ 124 gr). ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Légifrance — article R2352-73 du code de la défense (in French): acquisition, transport and holding free for a quantity of civilian hunting or shooting powder « au plus égale à 2 kg » [of 2 kg at most].
- Légifrance — articles R312-52 à R312-63 du code de la sécurité intérieure, « Armes soumises à déclaration » (in French), consulted on 24 September 2026: no maximum number of firearms; « Nul ne peut détenir plus de 1 000 munitions du 6° ou du 7° de la catégorie C par arme détenue légalement » [nobody may hold more than 1,000 rounds of Category C 6° or 7° per lawfully held firearm] (R312-61); 500 rounds of 6°, 7° and 8° without holding the matching firearm (R312-63).
- UFA — « Régime des munitions » (in French), updated 29 March 2024: calibres classified in B 4°, B 10°, C 6°, C 7° and C 8°, including the revolver calibres .32-20, .44 Remington Magnum and .45 Colt in C 6°. ⚠️ Association source, reproduced on a club's website.
The text in force prevails. This article describes the texts as of 24 September 2026. The ammunition balance for each firearm can be read in the SIA account.
Frequently asked questions
How many Category B firearms may you hold in France?
Fifteen at most for an adult sport shooter, since 1 January 2024 (article R312-40 of the code de la sécurité intérieure). A first-time holder is limited to six for five years from the first authorization, unless they take part in national or international competitions. A minor aged 12 or over, outside international competition, may hold three single-shot rimfire handguns.
Are the 3,000 rounds per firearm or per authorization?
Per firearm. Article R312-47 allows « 3 000 cartouches par arme » [3,000 rounds per firearm] for sport shooting, per twelve-month period. With five firearms a shooter may therefore buy 15,000 rounds over twelve months; with fifteen, 45,000.
When does the ammunition quota reset?
The twelve-month period runs « à compter de la date de délivrance » [from the date of issue] of the authorization, under article R312-47: not from 1 January, nor from the date the firearm was bought. The balance is shown in the SIA account.
How much ammunition may you keep at home?
A thousand rounds per firearm: « Nul ne peut détenir plus de 1 000 munitions par arme » [nobody may hold more than 1,000 rounds per firearm] (article R312-49). This stock ceiling is separate from the 3,000-round purchase ceiling and applies whatever the origin of the rounds, reloads included.
Does .22 LR ammunition count towards the 3,000 quota?
No. The .22 LR is Category C ammunition, heading 8°, and the 3,000 quota covers rounds acquired under the Category B authorization. It has no holding ceiling as long as you hold the matching firearm; without it, 500 rounds of 6°, 7° and 8° at most (article R312-63).
Do reloaded rounds count towards the quota?
Not towards the purchase quota: article R312-48 allows acquiring and holding ammunition components « sans limitation » [without limit] for the calibers of the firearms held. They do, however, count towards the stock of 1,000 rounds per firearm under article R312-49.
What is the penalty for exceeding the firearm quota?
A 4th-class petty offence, under article R317-4 of the code de la sécurité intérieure. According to the SIA FAQ, without regularisation the prefect may order the firearms to be surrendered, without compensation (article L312-12).