Legal Constraints when buying Firearms
Defined by FCA, Act 60 of 2000

Take note of the following process, especially if you are buying your first gun:
1. You must first complete the prescribed proficiency training for the type(s) of firearms you want to procure. The training would cover the law, plus one or more of the following modules: Handgun, Shotgun, Rifle, Semi-auto rifle (a.k.a. hand machine carbine)
a. We don’t offer this training, but we can refer you to a convenient training centre.
b. To save time in future, we suggest you complete as many of the modules as possible right away. Since they are formal qualifications, these never expire.

2. With your Proficiency Certificate(s) you then apply to the SAPS for a Competency Certificate.
a. The Competency Certificate is considered your personal permit to possess a type, or several types, of firearm, i.e. Handgun, Shotgun, Rifle, Semi-auto rifle.
b. Expect this process to take around 3 months, possibly longer.
c. To save repeating this process in future, we suggest you apply for Competency in as many of the modules as possible, right away.
d. We don’t offer formal assistance with preparing application forms, but we can refer you to specialists.

3. Once you have your Competency Certificate, you can then apply for the specific firearm license
a. The “white” license is your permit to possess the specific firearm you have selected and bought.
b. Outfitters 4 Africa does supply you with the SAPS 271 license application forms, with our details and the firearm details included.
c. Expect this process to take around 3 months, possibly longer.
d. While we do offer guidance, we don’t offer formal assistance with preparing the application forms, but we can refer you to specialists.

4. You can collect the firearm from us, or we can ship it to you, only once you have received the actual license card from the SAPS.
a. Bring the card with when you collect.
b. If we must ship the firearm, please e-mail a scanned copy of both sides of the license card to our firearms admin team, or send pictures via WhatsApp. See our contact details page.

5. Quantity restrictions on firearms are managed via the firearms licensing process. You may buy all the firearms you desire, but Outfitters 4 Africa may only hand them over on production of a valid firearm license CARD for each specific firearm.
Please also read our commercial terms related to buying a firearm from Outfitters 4 Africa.

Legal Constraints when buying Firearm Parts
Defined by FCA, Act 60 of 2000

Please note:
1. Any barrel, frame or receiver we sell is a firearm, as defined in the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000 as amended (FCA), and must follow the normal licensing procedures and Outfitters 4 Africa’s process for selling firearms.
a. You will find any of these items we have available under the firearms section of our website.

2. Parts like magazines, grips, stocks, sights, springs, suppressors, etc. are unregulated parts and may be freely procured, with or without a firearm license, in any quantity.

3. Take note of Section 94 of the FCA, copied below. We will require your firearm license details when you buy any slide, bolt or breech-block from Shooting Suff.
a. You can send a copy to us via e-mail or WhatsApp.
b. We’ll shortly provide the opportunity to upload this information to your secure Outfitters 4 Africa account.

We draw your attention to the following definition(s) and section(s) in the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000 as amended. Our emphasis has been added.
“firearm” means any –
(a) device manufactured or designed to propel a bullet or projectile through a barrel or cylinder by means of burning propellant, at a muzzle energy exceeding 8 joules (6 ft-lbs);
(b) device manufactured or designed to discharge rim-fire, centre-fire or pin-fire ammunition;
(c) device which is not at the time capable of discharging any bullet or projectile, but which can be readily altered to be a firearm within the meaning of paragraph (a) or (b);
(d) device manufactured to discharge a bullet or any other projectile of a calibre of 5.6 mm (.22 calibre) or higher at a muzzle energy of more than 8 joules (6 ft-lbs), by means of compressed gas and not by means of burning propellant; or
(e) barrel, frame or receiver of a device referred to in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d), but does not include a muzzle loading firearm or any device contemplated in section 5;

94. Prohibition of possession of firearm parts
1. For purposes of this section, ‘firearm part’ means a slide, bolt or breech-block of a firearm

2. No person may possess any firearm part unless he or she –
a. holds a licence in respect of a firearm capable of bearing that firearm part;
b. holds a dealer’s licence, manufacturer’s licence, gunsmith’s licence, import, export or in-transit permit or transporter’s permit issued in terms of this Act; or
c. is otherwise authorised to do so.

Legal Constraints when buying Reloading Components
Defined by FCA, Act 60 of 2000

Reloading is governed and authorised by the Firearms Control Act (FCA), Act 60 of 2000 as amended, and also by the Explosives Act, Act 26 of 1956 as amended. For convenience we have copied the relevant sections below.
Please note:

1. Bullets (projectiles) and empty Cartridge Cases (a.k.a. brass or “doppies”) are unrestricted and may be freely ordered in any quantity with or without a firearm license.
2. Should you order Primers and/or nitrocellulose Propellant, we require proof of your firearm license(s) when you collect, or before we can ship these goods.
a. You can send a copy to us via e-mail or WhatsApp.
b. We’ll shortly provide the opportunity to upload this information to your secure Outfitters 4 Africa account.

3. Restrictions on Primers
a. In terms of Section 93(2)(a) of the FCA, Outfitters 4 Africa may supply no more than 2400 primers at a time, per firearm license, to “occasional” firearm owners,
i. Most firearm owners would likely fall into this category
ii. You are probably “occasional” if you hold a section 13 (self-defence) and/or section 15 (occasional sport shooting / hunting) and/or section 17 (private collector) license, without being dedicated through an accredited association.
b. In terms of Section 93(2)(b) of the FCA, this limit does not apply if you are “dedicated”, i.e. a dedicated sport shooter, dedicated hunter or professional hunter. You may buy as many primers as you need.
i. We accept Section 16 or 16A “white” licenses as proof of dedicated status.
ii. We also accept formal proof of dedicated status from your accredited association, even if you don’t have a section 16 “white” license.
iii. Old “green” licenses issued under the Arms and Ammunition Act are still valid (ref: SA Hunters Court Case) and have no quantity restrictions associated with them.
c. If you hold a permit to possess more primers, issued in terms of Section 93(2)(b) of the FCA, please supply us with a copy of that permit when purchasing more than the restricted quantity.
d. In terms of Section 93(2)(a) of the FCA, Outfitters 4 Africa may only supply primers of a suitable size (large or small) for the calibre of your firearm.
i. We acknowledge that, depending on your loads, rifle primers can be used in pistol calibres, and vice versa, so we do not differentiate other than size.

4. Restrictions on Propellant
a. We may supply only one tin of (Somchem) nitrocellulose propellant at a time, per firearm license.
b. If you have more than one license, we may supply one tin per license, but no more than 4 tins (2kg) of (Somchem) nitrocellulose propellant per person, per day.
c. We acknowledge that reloading involves responsible experimentation, so do not judge what propellant you prefer to use for any particular calibre(s).

5. Shipping of Components
a. Bullets (projectiles) and empty cartridge cases (a.k.a. brass or “doppies”) are unrestricted so may be shipped countrywide with any of our courier options.
b. Primers can be shipped countrywide by RAM Couriers and must be received by the firearm licence holder.
c. We cannot ship propellant; this must be collected from our premises by the holder of a firearm licence.

6. Should we detect that you have ordered items in contravention with our policies or any law, we will contact you to resolve the issue. So, don’t worry if all this sounds complicated – Outfitters 4 Africa will help you to do things right!

Reloading is governed and authorised by the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000 as amended (FCA). We draw your attention to the following relevant extracts from the Regulations:

45. Prohibition of unlicensed manufacture of firearms and ammunition
(1) No person may manufacture any firearm or ammunition without a manufacturer’s licence.
(2) A manufacturer may only sell firearms and ammunition to a dealer or to the State and may export firearms and ammunition subject to section 73(1).

93. Loading or reloading of ammunition
(1) Section 45(1) does not apply to the loading of ammunition by the holder of a licence to possess a firearm for use in his or her licensed firearm
(2) (a) A holder of a licence contemplated in subsection (1) may not have more than 2 400 primers in his or her possession for each firearm in respect of which he or she holds a licence.
(b) The limitation in paragraph (a) does not apply to a dedicated hunter, dedicated sports person or professional hunter who holds a licence issued in terms of this Act or any other holder of a licence issued in terms of this Act authorised by the Registrar to possess more than 2 400 primers for a firearm in respect of which he or she holds a licence on good cause shown.
(3) No person may load prohibited ammunition contemplated in section 92.

The use of nitrocellulose propellant for reloading is governed and authorised by the Explosives Act, Act 26 of 1956 as amended. We draw your attention to the following relevant extracts from the Regulations.

TRANSPORT OF EXPLOSIVES

6.1.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in regulation 6.1.1 of these regulations, a person who is the holder of a valid firearm licence issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969, may on production of such licence obtain 500 grams of nitrocellulose propellants. For this purpose, such valid firearm licence shall be deemed to be a permit issued in terms of section 7(5) of the Explosives Act, No. 26 of 1956, and regulation 6.1.1 of these regulations.
6.1.4 Any person who obtains nitrocellulose propellants under the exception contained in regulation 6.1.3, shall, at the time of such acquisition, furnish the supplier with a certificate declaring the purpose for which the propellant is to be used and giving his own full name and residential address, his identity number, and the number, place of issue and date of issue of the firearm licence. The number of the firearm licence shall be quoted on the way-bill/ invoice.

STORAGE OF NITROCELLULOSE PROPELLANTS

8.23.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these regulations, persons who are in possession of one or more valid firearm licences issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act 75 of 1969), may in respect of each such licence keep on their premises 600 grams of nitrocellulose propellants for the private reloading of cartridges of small arms only and not for sale or other trade: Provided that the total amount of nitrocellulose propellants so kept shall not at any time exceed 2 400 grams in mass.
8.23.2 The nitrocellulose propellants shall be kept locked up in a sturdy cupboard.