Firearm information - frequently asked questions

Category A

Category B

Genuine need test for Category B: the applicant is required to satisfy the Commissioner that a firearm of category A would be inadequate or unsuitable for the purpose for which the firearm is required.

Category C

Category E

Category H

Genuine need test for Category H:
The applicant is required to satisfy the Commissioner that a firearm of category A, B, or C would be inadequate or unsuitable for the purpose for which the firearm is required.

A person does not have a genuine need to acquire or possess a firearm of category H because it is required for:

(a) hunting,
(b) recreational shooting, other than by a person described in paragraph under the heading “Restrictions for category H”, and for a purpose described in that paragraph; or
(c) destroying stock or vermin.

See 'Related Information' on the Firearms Licence page for Schedule 3 of Firearms Regulations, 1974.

Your licensed firearm dealer can provide you with further advice.

Schedule 3 of Firearms Regulations, 1974 also provides this information.

Pneumatic Firearms

Pneumatic firearms are commonly referred to as air guns. Some firearms have rifled barrels and some do not. They come in various calibres, however they are mainly .177 or .22 with both pneumatic pistols and rifles available in these calibres.

Break Open Firearms

Break open firearms are usually single or double barrel shotguns in various gauges but can include some rifles and handguns. In most cases there is a lever on the rear of the action, generally moving this lever to the right allows the action to be opened.

Usually firearms of this type will have the safety catch located at the rear of the lever that opens the action making it readily accessible to the shooter's thumb. Some models have no external safety catch.

Bolt Action Firearms

Bolt action firearms are usually a repeating rifle or single shot in almost every conceivable calibre and can include some shotguns. They may have a fixed or removable box magazine, hinged floor or tubular magazine under the barrel or in the butt of the firearm. These firearms can be easily identified by a turned bolt, with the bolt handle usually on the right-hand side of the action. The bolt is raised and drawn to the rear to open the action. Safety catches are normally found at the rear of the action behind the bolt handle or near the trigger guard.

Lever Action Firearms

Lever action firearms are usually manually operated repeating rifles and can be identified by the cocking lever under the action of the firearm. They usually have a tubular magazine under the barrel or movable box magazine. They are available in a variety of calibres.

Downwards movement on the lever opens the action. Most of the western style rifles will not be fitted with a safety catch however the newer models have generally been fitted with a push button safety just in front of the hammer.

Pump Action Firearms

Pump action firearms are common in shotguns of various gauges but can also include rifles in both rim fire and centre fire calibres.

They can be identified by a sliding fore end that is drawn to the rear to open the action. They can be fitted with a tubular magazine under the barrel or a box magazine. Most have a safety catch located near the trigger guard.

Self-loading Firearms

Self-loading firearms are available in a large variety of rifle calibres and in shotgun gauges. They are usually identifiable by a small cocking handle which usually protrudes to the right-hand side of the breech bolt. They may be fitted with box or tubular magazines and can vary greatly in ammunition capacity.

Self-loading firearms are also referred to as semi-automatic firearms as each press of the trigger cycles the action automatically. These firearms will operate in one of the following manners: blowback, gas operated or recoil operated.

Fully Automatic Firearms (Prohibited)

Most fully automatic weapons have a large capacity box or drum magazine. Most have a select fire switch to allow either semi-automatic or full automatic fire.

Single Shot Rifles

Single shot rifles do not have a magazine. Bolt or lever action single shot rifles are manually loaded through the ejection port and into the chamber.

A ‘replica’ firearm
Is a real firearm that must be licenced before a person can possess it (eg: a Colt .45 ‘Peacemaker’ revolver manufactured in 1873 would cost a small fortune to own today. You can, however, purchased a modern-day ‘replica’ of that firearm for considerably less. The replica is the same in every respect, including that it shoots real .45 ammunition – but it is still a ‘replica’, not the ‘real’ 1873 firearm.

An ‘imitation’ firearm
Is a fake firearm that looks like the real thing but cannot be made to shoot.  These are legal in Western Australia.

When most people think (and call) ‘replica’ firearms are actually ‘imitation’ firearms. 

If it’s a ‘replica’ firearm then it needs to be licenced and if there’s no person licensed to in the interim then it should be seized by police pending the outcome of the estate probity and licensing.

An ‘Innocuous’ firearm
Is a firearm where all major parts of the firearm are welded. The steel rod is welded into the barrel, this removes or destroys the functionality of specific parts. The firearm generally retains its pre-rendered functional appearance but is incapable of being returned to its original firing condition.