first rifle · licensing · nsw ·

Buying Your First Rifle in NSW: Licence, PTA and Pickup, Step by Step

To buy your first rifle in NSW you need a current firearms licence for the right category, a Permit to Acquire (PTA) for that specific firearm, and approved safe storage at home. A first PTA carries a 28-day waiting period, so most buyers should allow four to six weeks from choosing a rifle to taking it home.

This guide walks through each step as it happens at our counter in Roseville Chase, using the rules in force in October 2026. Laws are changing in stages, so we link to the NSW sources and update this page when new rules commence.

Step 1: Get your licence

  • Genuine reason. Most first-time owners use sport or target shooting (club membership) or recreational hunting / vermin control.
  • Safety course. Complete an approved firearms safety course before applying. We run a long-arms firearms safety course at the store; book a seat and read what to bring on the day.
  • Apply. Applications go through the NSW Firearms Registry online, with ID verification, your course certificate and proof of your genuine reason. New applicants wait a minimum of 28 days.
  • Licence term. Licences issued from 1 July 2026 run for a maximum of two years (previously up to five).

Step 2: Choose the rifle, and check the category

Category A covers rimfire rifles (other than self-loading), single and double-barrel shotguns and air rifles. Category B covers centrefire rifles (other than self-loading), including bolt-action and lever-action centrefires. Your licence must cover the category of the firearm you buy. Talk to us before you apply for a PTA so the PTA names the right firearm type.

Browse rifles, bolt-action rifles or rimfire rifles, or ask in store for a package (rifle, scope, rings and sling) set up for your intended use.

Step 3: Sort your storage first

Since 1 July 2026 a PTA is not issued until NSW Police are satisfied you meet the safe storage requirements. Have your gun safe bought and installed before you apply. Category A and B firearms must be kept in a locked receptacle that is not easily penetrable, with ammunition locked away separately; check the NSW Police safe storage requirements for your category, and ask us which of our safes meet them and how to fix them in place.

Step 4: Apply for the Permit to Acquire

  • Apply online through Service NSW (MyServiceNSW account linked to your licence). The fee is $30 per PTA; some concession and primary-producer holders are exempt.
  • One PTA is needed for each firearm.
  • Your first PTA has a mandatory 28-day waiting period. A second or later PTA for a firearm type already registered to you has no waiting period.
  • A PTA is valid for 90 days. Approved PTAs are issued digitally through the Firearms Registry's Gun Safe portal and can be shown to us on your phone.

Step 5: Collect the rifle

Bring your licence and PTA to the store. We identify the firearm against your PTA, complete the paperwork and send it to the Firearms Registry, which then issues your registration certificate. If you are outside Sydney, we can send the rifle to a licensed dealer near you instead: see dealer-to-dealer transfers.

Ammunition is sold for collection in store only, to a licence holder for that calibre. Your PTA can be used in place of the registration certificate to buy ammunition for the new rifle.

Changes still to come

Further reforms have passed but are not yet in force, including caps on the number of firearms per licence holder, mandatory club membership for most Category A and B licence holders, and moving some firearm types into higher categories. Applications that exceed a future cap will be treated as never made, with no refund, so check the current rules before applying. We update this page when these commence.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to buy a rifle in NSW?

With a licence already in hand, allow about four to six weeks for a first rifle: the 28-day PTA waiting period plus processing. Later PTAs for the same firearm type have no waiting period.

Can I pay for a rifle before my PTA arrives?

Yes. We can hold an in-stock rifle with a 50% deposit and the balance within 30 days, or take full payment. The rifle is released only once your PTA is presented.

Do I need a safe before applying for a PTA?

Yes. Since 1 July 2026 a PTA is not issued until you meet safe storage requirements.

Sources: NSW Police Permit to Acquire fact sheet; NSW Government, next phase of firearms reforms (1 July 2026); SSAA NSW reform update. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last checked 12 October 2026.

Back to Expert Advice