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Guides / Ammunition limits and reloading rules

Ammunition limits and reloading rules

200 rounds per firearm, who's exempt, and the reloading limits.

Checked against the Act on 9 November 2026. This guide explains the law in plain words; it isn't legal advice.

Who may have ammunition

You may only have ammunition if you hold a licence for a firearm that can fire it, or an ammunition permit (section 90).

The 200-round limit

You may have at most 200 cartridges for each licensed firearm (section 91(1)).

Firearm 1 200
Firearm 2 200
Total you may have400 rounds
Each box = 20 rounds. Section 91(1). Dedicated and professional hunters and sports shooters are exempt.

You’re exempt from the limit if you’re (section 91(2)):

  • a dedicated hunter or sports shooter
  • a professional hunter
  • authorised by SAPS for good cause
  • buying ammunition at an accredited shooting range and firing it there

Ammunition must be stored in your safe with the firearm when it’s not under your control (regulation 86).

Reloading

If you hold a licence, you may load ammunition for your own licensed firearm (section 93):

  • at most 2,400 primers per licensed firearm
  • the same people are exempt: dedicated and professional hunters and sports shooters, or anyone SAPS authorises on form SAPS 536
  • you may never load prohibited ammunition

Limits on powder (propellant) aren’t in the Firearms Control Act. Check the explosives rules or ask your dealer.

Proposed changes are not law yetA draft amendment bill reported in 2025 and 2026 would cut the limit to 100 rounds per firearm. It hasn’t been passed. The 200-round limit is the law as it stands.
Sources
  1. Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, consolidated (SAFLII)
  2. Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 with amendments (PDF, Natshoot)