Hello all,

I'm trying to compile a list of calibres that are banned in the various EU member countries. For instance, some countries ban military or former military cartridges even if used in sporting firearms. Does anybody know which respective countries have bans on which calibres?

I'm not aware of any such bans here in the Czech Republic.

rich....

I guess I'm just addled; but cannot think of any at the moment for Germany. I'm sure I'll get promptly corrected!



Belgium, France & Spain, if I am correct are the major culprits for this theme. Hopefully, you'll get some helpful responses from some of our country colleagues.

hi,
it can seem a joke, but I think that the only really banned caliber is actually the .50/12.7 BMG and, +/-, equals.

In Italy any caliber that has a "classification" based on manuals, produced cases, variuos type of documentation can be officially approved. Then the rifle can be produced in that caliber.

We shoot military calibers also in military bolt action or semiauto, or full auto modified to semiauto only. I have may friends that have the swiss STG57 in 7.5x55 Swiss. Or Colt in .223. But we shoot also miitary calibers in modern bolt action rifles.

We have some limitation only on the pistol cartridge 9mm parabellum.

Is .50 BMG fair game?

Here in CZ, if you can convince the authority that it is only for 'Sporting' puposes, it should be fine.

I think in Spain is banned, 223,308 W from militar origin ammunition (308 W from civilian source are permitted) and some 50 calibers (50 BMG).

Is there any information from our Flemish or French friends out there?

Also, I am interested in all calibres, including pistol and former Eastern block.

So in Spain is it okay to have a 7.62x39mm, 7.62x54mm, 9x18mm Makorov, 9x19mm Parabellum, etc.?

Anything bigger than 270 is banned from big game hunting in Ireland.

Mac

500grains,
I was generally speaking, and Richierich1 wrote also "sporting firearms" and some where .50bmg is available for sportive shooting.
On the last number of an Italian shooting magazine there were an article on a ultra long range rifle in a new, for me, caliber .4xx; maybe it will be available also for the civillians.

Sorry, I forgotten something, about France I know that any military or ex military caliber is available there because are all banned.

Since I've officially used the following in the military, I guess that they are all banned in France...

.177 Air Rifle/Pistol
22 Short
22 LR
22 Hornet
5.56mm NATO (223)
7.62x39mm
7.62mm NATO (308)
32 ACP
380 ACP
9mm Parabellum
38 Spl
45 ACP
50 BMG
12 ga

Does this also include oldies like the:

45-70 Govt
30-40 Krag
303 British
43 Mauser & Spanish
38 and 45 Colt (and S&W)
44 Russian and Spl
6.5mm, 7mm, 7.65mm and 8mm Mausers
6.5mm and 8mm MS

I don't think that it will leave much choices if we added it all up for every country...

Rich,

you guys are very well informed. Yes any military caliber is not allowed for hunting.

Please remove from your list this calibres :

quote:

.177 Air Rifle/Pistol
22 Short
22 LR
22 Hornet
12 ga

They are legal.
Nothing to be proud of, but it's the law.
Albeit thi ban, a consolation, many calibres are usable. We miss the military calibres only because these ammos are the cheapest.

Mac, the 270 thing in Ireland has been relaxed this past year. It is now allowable to own up to 300mag. We used to have the stupid situation that 7/08 or 7x57 was not allowed, but 270wby mag was.

Private ownership of pistols has also been restored to the rep of Ireland in the past few years.

In theory there are no restrictions in N. Ireland, but in practice the police won't license anything over 300mag. You can have one each of any pistol of a given calibre if you are member of a target shooting club.

Regards

I have an invitation to hunt in Ireland, the outfitter said anything you want to shoot calibre wise. I was planning on shooting a .308 or .30 06. It was my understanding that since Ireland was a republic that anything could be liscenced if you could get a permit. Is that incorrect?

In France will they issue a temporary lisc. for a militay calibre to a traveling hunter? I have been told that the military cartridge law is waived sometimes for traveling hunters?

Aleko

Military calibers banned?? That absolutely ruins my plans to hunt with a Brown Bess musket.

quote:

Originally posted by Heritage Arms:
.... It was my understanding that since Ireland was a republic that anything could be liscenced if you could get a permit. Is that incorrect? ...

Aleko

What does being a republic have to do with anything? I'm sure there are more than just a few republics with rather strict gun laws on the books.
- stu

I have travelled through France and Belgium this year with my 308 win and had no problems with the Consulate or customs. Having said that they all say " that shouldn't be a problem" rather than it was OK. As I have a Sauer 202 rifle I purchased a 7x64 barrel to be absolutely safe.

Regards

Mark

quote:

they all say " that shouldn't be a problem" rather than it was OK

Mark, Aleko,

quote:

they all say " that shouldn't be a problem" rather than it was OK

It' the reality. In fact the customs and air police don't give a damn.
As far as You don't harm anybody, You'll not be checked. I have never been told of somebody being checked, criminal inquiries apart.

Note in France one can own any sort of weapon (perhaps not a recent tank, a fighter or a carrier, artillery and MG) after having obtained an authorisation. It's not difficult to get one for sane and law-abiding people.

In Germany every caliber is posible. the law says

for Big game min. 6,5mm and 2000 joule energie
in 100 meters
for roe deer no caliber restriction but min
energie 100 joule in 100 meters, that means
minimum a 222
for predators, fair hunting, take enough gun.

Muzzleloders, I dont know, never saw a hunter with one, arcebuse and bow are highly illegal.

burkhard

Here in the Czech Republic airguns, rimfires, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and slingshots are banned from hunting even the tiniest of pests. But I guess that there is something to be said about taking out a 12 gram field mouse with a 36 gram shot load from a 12 gauge. I picked that bore size because it’s a nice fit for them to run up and hide in if you miss.

Well what can we expect? Laws are passed by lawyers and legislators who generally know nothing about anything except laws and legislating. That explains the abundance of damned silly laws. They passed them because that's all they know how to do. Their only excuse is that we elected them.

No calibers is banned in Denmark

Richie

quote:

Here in the Czech Republic airguns, rimfires, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and slingshots are banned from hunting even the tiniest of pests

Thanks Ritchie, yes rimfires, crossbows, airguns and slingshots are against the law here.
Muzzleloaders (if any in France???????) are legal.

Hi guys
what about EU weapon passport? can i bring my 3006 to the other EU member countries which this caliber is banned? for hunting purpose or should i change caliber for each and every country i shall visit?
regards
YES

Why is bowhunting not allowed in most EU countries?

That a well placed broadhead-tipped arrow ill kill the largest game animals is a proven fact, gentlemen. Too many American sportsmen and states cannot be wrong in this.

And please don't trot the arguments about slobs shooting beyond the limits of the equipment. Same happens with rifles all the time.

HP,

I would say in the UK, there are two arguments against bow hunting..

1) The incidence of wounding would go up.

2) Historically we had a problem with deer poachers using crossbows. At the time, using crossbows was not actually illegal (although poaching obviously was!) so they ammended the law to make securing a conviction easier...

As prior to outlawing the use of bows for hunting, there was virtually no legal bow hunting being carried out in the UK anyway, I don't actually have a problem with the law..

Although I would not favour bow hunting being introduced into the UK, that does not mean I support banning it in other countries. I believe as the circumstances and conditions are different in each country, there is no "one size fits all" solution...

Regards,

Pete

Pete, Bowhunting is legal in all US States. Several of which are very similar to the UK in topography and population density. Wounding rates are no worse than those for rifle hunting, and perhaps even better, as archers tend to be far more accomplished in the arts of fieldcraft than rifle hunters.

Your assumption that woundings would rise in the UK should bows be allowed does not speak highly of British sportsmen.

As I said, Americans have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that proper use of bows and arrows result in quick, humane kills that demand far more from the hunter than using a rifle.

The evidence is available for anyone who wants it. Simply contact the wildlife management department of any State. But then, there is none more blind than those who refuse to see.

Dear Yes

quote:

Hi guys
what about EU weapon passport? can i bring my 3006 to the other EU member countries which this caliber is banned? for hunting purpose or should i change caliber for each and every country i shall visit?
regards
YES

To stay absolutly safe try a 7x64 or 375 H+H depending on the game to be hunted.

Regards

Mark

HP,

Wounding rates may well be similar in the US, (I still think reaserch shows bow hunters have a worse wounding rate though?) but I don't believe that would be the case in the UK..

Part of that is that I believe the *average* stalker in the UK probably wounds less deer than his counter part in the States...

Why do I say that?

Again its down to circumstances..In the States you have many "hunters" who go out perhaps once or twice year...they are under pressure to get their buck due to competion from other hunters and short seasons..You often read here of people witnessing multiple shots at deer, deer shot at long range by unskill hunters, or an "if its brown its down" approach...

This is in addition to the various horror stories posted by many American members concerning the antics they see at their local range in the run up to deer season...

It is also evidenced by the number of shooting accidents and the fact hunter orange is deemed manditory in so many States.

I believe this large grass root of "slob" hunters pulls down the wounding rate for the more dedicated American hunters....

In the UK, things are different..There is so much red tape surrounding firearms, we don't get many bubas who only shoot one box of ammo a year Plus there is no free public hunting for these guys to go and hunt...

I would say therefore your typical British stalker is more dedicated and we have arrived at a situation where a small number of stalker take a large number of deer, which is the opposite to the States..

Added to that the ethos here tends to frown on such things as long rang shooting, shooting running deer or shooting that requires multiple shots per animal..All in all, I think generally we have a much more conservative approach..

Conversly if you legallised bow hunting, I think the situation comapred to the States would be reversed..We would have very little skill base over here and perhaps a lack of suitable equipment too...So compared to American bowhunters, I suspect ours would not be as skilled or as expirenced and hence would have a higher wounding rate....

So all in all, putting the welfare of the deer to the fore, I can't see any reason to support the introduction of bow hunting here...

Regards,

Pete

oh come now dan i know you really wanna use old bessie......heck if you come up here ill even get a you a exact reproduction of a british officers uniform from the late 1800's

Pete

Thanks for Your explanations.
In France it was hard to get but we got it, bow hunting is legal and restrictions are almost all removed, mechanical blade prohibition apart.

Correct me if I am wrong, I think one can bowhunt BIRDS IN SCOTTLAND.,

By the way, I would like to know in which countries is bowhunting legal.

Jean,

I really don't know, but you may well be right about that...there's quite a few often subtle differences in various laws between Scotland and England/Wales..

Regards,

Pete

TTT

Do a search in the European Hunting section and ask for Categorie 1. This will take you to my post on the controlled caliber list for France. The calibers in that list are not legal for hunting. Rifles in the listed calibers can be owned and fired at clubs and in competitions (such as military weapon competitions) but require the same authorization as that of a handgun.

There is no caliber bann in Germany from 17HMW to 700 N.E. everything is possible. But

No

bows, crossbows, handguns, airguns and muzzleloaders for hunting.

In Germany you can carry a HANDGUN for trapping or shooting a wounded annimal!

Hey Jean,
Are release aid devices now legal in France for bow hunting? Last time I checked only finger relase was permitted, which makes no sense in my very humble opinion.

500 Grains:
You are safe with the Brownbess, the French restrictions applie to combat ammunition types (and their service weapons) officialy adopted by governments after 1873, if I recall correctly.

Now, I'm pretty sure that in France anybody can buy airguns, rimfires, crossbows, and other sharp stuff off the shelf, but it is illegal to hunt with them, which is ok.

If you are a visitor hunter, I don't think you'll have any problem bringing in your 30-06 M70, but you may have serious difficulties finding ammos at the local sporting store.

Hub

I believe in the Isaak Walton Pledge

quote:

Originally posted by Stan_R:

If you are a visitor hunter, I don't think you'll have any problem bringing in your 30-06 M70, but you may have serious difficulties finding ammos at the local sporting store.

Hub

I believe in the Isaak Walton Pledge

Stan_R,

If you are referring to France than I would disagree with that statement. The 30.06 cartridge and rifles chambered for it are Categorie 1. To import the rifle, even temporarily, requires an "Autorisation d'Importation de Materiel de Guerre", known as an AIMG for short. As for finding ammunition, it is not that rare but you would have to produce your "Autorisation de detention" which shows you have the authorisation for a specific 30.06 chambered firearm or the ammo seller cannot sell it to you. I buy Cat. 1 ammo all the time for my handguns, it's no different for the 30.06. Lastly, it would be illegal to hunt with a firearm in 30.06 so the visiting hunter would run into serious problems if checked. Now, sometimes people do get in without actually being asked what caliber their rifle is, and undoubtedly there are animals taken with Cat. 1 cartridges. But it remains illegal.

Hello Wink,

sorry to say that but you re wrong ... your statements are for french citiznes a EU members with "carte europeenne d armes a feu" can come and hunt in france with his class 1 caliber ... but the main concern is about ammo no way to get others that the one you bring with you and no one can help you due to class 1 ...

and for non EU members as they asked via the consulate the same as EU members you can use use it and hunt ... every years hunters come to france to hunt chamois with ONF and their 308 or 30-06 ... if your firearm is legal in your country you can use it.

my uncle as a canadian citizen has done that five time within ten years and last time was last year so ???!!

have a good day.

medved, this is news to me and good news if it is widely observed by the authorities. I have never heard of it and have never seen any of the legislation or documents that would cover the cases you mention. I will check with my local Office National des Forêts, who by the way confirmed just three months ago that one cannot hunt with a categorie 1 firearm, but I didn't ask about "exceptions" and undoubtedly they gave me just the answer which you say does apply to residents. The "carte européenne des armes à feu" does provide proof that you are the owner of the firearm, registered in the country that delivered your "carte". I do not believe it has any incidence on the legality of hunting with any of the weapons listed on the "carte" but perhaps here again there is some legislation I do not know of. I will check on this, let's hope it's true.