Firearm categories
The National Firearms Agreement (NFA) sets out a national approach to the regulation of firearms in Australia. This includes the licencing requirements for the ownership of firearms. The NFA outlines the categorisation of firearms that correspond to the different licences available for owners of firearms for different purposes.
The categories of firearms in the NFA are generally reflected in the different firearms listed in various Items of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations.
This section provides an overview of firearm categories and which Item number they correspond to in the Regulations.
View the
National Firearms Agreement.
Category A and B firearms
- Air rifles or soft air rifles
- Rimfire rifles (other than semi-automatic rimfire rifles)
- Shotguns (other than semi-automatic, pump-action and lever-action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds)
- Muzzle-loading firearms
- Single-shot, double-barrel and repeating centre fire rifles
- Break-action shotgun/rifle combinations
Category A and B firearms generally align with Items 1 and 2 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations. Import controls extend to soft air (also known as BB) rifles and paintball markers, and also capture imitations.
Category A and B firearms do not include firearms to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral. It also excludes fully automatic firearms or firearms that are substantially the same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm.
Category C firearms
- Semi-automatic rimfire rifles without a firearm magazine or fitted with a magazine of a capacity no greater than ten (10) rounds
- Semi-automatic shotguns without a firearm magazine or fitted with a magazine of a capacity of not greater than five (5) rounds (restricted Category C)
- Pump-action repeating shotguns without a firearm magazine or fitted with a firearm magazine of a capacity no greater than five (5) rounds (restricted Category C)
Category C firearms do not include fully automatic firearms or firearms to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral.
Category C firearms generally align with Item 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations.
Restricted Category C firearms relate to specific restrictions for sports shooters and international sports shooters – see those sections below for more information.
Category D firearms
- Semi-automatic centre fire rifles
- Semi-automatic rimfire rifles fitted with a firearm magazine with a capacity greater than ten rounds
- Semi-automatic shotguns fitted with a firearm magazine with a capacity greater than five rounds
- Pump-action repeating shotguns fitted with a firearm magazine with a capacity greater than five rounds
Category D firearms do not include fully automatic firearms or firearms to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral.
Category D firearms generally align with Item 6 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations.
Category H firearms
- Handguns, including air handguns, other than handguns to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral, fully automatic handguns or handguns that are substantially the same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm
Category H firearms generally align with Item 9 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations
Category H firearms do not include firearms to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral. It also excludes fully automatic firearms or firearms that are substantially the same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm.
Note: firearms ‘substantially the same in appearance’ includes those with a very similar shaped or styled receiver as a fully automatic firearm, such as those that resemble an AR-15 platform or other popular fully automatic firearm styles.
Highly restricted firearms
- All fully automatic firearms (such as machine pistols, machine guns, sub-machine guns and assault rifles)
- All firearms to which a firearm accessory is attached or integral
- Lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds
- Any of the following that are substantially the same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm - Items 1, 2, 9, and 14A of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations
Highly restricted firearms are classified to Item 12 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations. There are also some firearms that may not meet any of the Item numbers in Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations and they will be treated as prohibited absolutely.
