The possession of the following firearms is prohibited, except in limited circumstances:

• Self-loading centre fire rifles - Class D
• Self-loading rim fire rifles, 10 round capacity or less - Class C
• Self-loading rim fire rifles, more than 10 round capacity - Class D
• Self-loading shotguns, 5 round capacity or less - Class C
• Self-loading shotguns, more than 5 round capacity - Class D
• Pump action shotguns, 5 round capacity or less - Class C
• Pump action shotguns, more than 5 round capacity - Class D

Categories of firearms

Access to restricted firearms

Security of firearms

Categories of firearms

Class A

• Air rifles, air guns and paint-ball firearms;
• .22 calibre rim-fire rifles (not being self-loading rifles);
• Single or double barrel shotguns (not being self-loading or pump action shotguns).
• receivers of these firearms

Class B

• Muzzle loading firearms (not being handguns);
• Revolving chamber rifles;
• Centre-fire rifles (not being self-loading rifles);
• Break action combination shotguns and rifles;
• Double barrel centre-fire rifles that are not designed to hold additional Rounds in a magazine, and
• All other firearms (not being prescribed firearms, handguns, self-loading Firearms or pump action shotguns) that are not class A firearms.
• receivers of these firearms.

Class C

• Self-loading rim-fire rifles having a magazine capacity of 10 rounds or less;
• Self-loading shotguns having a magazine capacity of 5 rounds or less;
• Pump action shotguns having a magazine capacity of 5 rounds or less.
• receivers of these firearms (does not include revolving chamber rifles)

Class D

• Self-loading rim-fire rifles having a magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds;
• Self-loading centre-fire rifles;
• Self-loading shotguns having a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds;
• Pump action shotguns having a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds.
• receivers of these firearms (does not include revolving chamber rifles)

Class H

• Handguns.

Access to Restricted Firearms

Access to Class C firearms

This will be limited to:-

1. Primary Producer

This includes employees and relatives who live on or near the land on which that business is carried on and must be employed in that business. Applicants must show a genuine need for the firearm for the purpose of that business and that there is no satisfactory alternative to using a firearm of that class. There is a limit of one self-loading rifle and one self-loading shotgun or pump action shotgun per licensed person.

2. Clay Target Shooters

The applicant must be a member of the SA Clay Target Association Incorporated or the Australian Clay Target Association Incorporated (ACTA) and must also be a member of a recognised firearms club affiliated with either of those associations (the ACTA is the accredited association for shooting the discipline at Olympic or Commonwealth competitions). Applicants must also show a genuine need for the class C firearm for the purpose of an activity of the club conducted in accordance with the rules of the Australian Clay Target Association Inc.

3. Collectors

Licensed, bona fide firearms collectors will be able to possess class C firearms in a collection provided they have been rendered temporarily incapable of use, by removal and separate secure storage of the bolt and or firing pin, breech b;lock or immobilised by means of a trigger lock. A collector's licence does not allow a person to use a class C firearm.

Access to Class D firearms

This will be limited to an applicant who gains their livelihood wholly or partly from professional shooting and the applicant needs the firearm to destroy animals in the course of professional shooting. If the applicant does not satisfy the legislative requirements to have possession of a class D firearm, the applicant will not be granted a firearms licence to possess these firearms. 

Security of firearms

In Buildings;

SECURITY OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

Possession pursuant to firearms licence

Note: firearm includes receivers of firearms.

Reg 38. ( I ) A person (not being a dealer) who has possession of a class A or B firearm, must keep the firearm or receiver secured by-

(a) Securely attaching and locking it to part of the building in which it is kept; or

(b) Keeping it in a locked cabinet made of hardwood or steel that is securely attached to the building in which it is kept, or

(c) Keeping it in a locked safe made of steel that is securely attached to the building in which it is kept; or

(d) Keeping it in a locked steel and concrete strongroom; or

(e) Such other method as is approved by the Registrar.

(2) A person (not being a dealer) who has possession of a class C, D or H firearm must keep the firearm or receiver secured by-

(a) Keeping it in a locked safe made of steel that is securely attached to the building in which it is kept.

(b) Keeping it in a locked steel and concrete strongroom.

(c) Such other method as is approved by the Registrar.

(3) A cabinet or safe referred to in sub regulation (1) or (2) must be-

(a) Fitted with fittings and locks that prevent it from being easily forced open.

(b) Made of material of sufficient thickness to prevent it from being easily broken, opened or destroyed.

(4) Despite sub regulations (1)(C) and (2)(a), a safe need not be attached to the building if it's mass when empty is 150 kilograms or more.

In Vehicles

Conditions of licences           

21.(1)(d) When a firearm or ammunition is not secured as required by the normal security requirements the holder of the licence must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the firearm or ammunition is not lost or stolen or does not come into the possession of an unauthorised person.