The shotgun market - France

Hunting is essentially a rural activity in France, practiced by people over 40 on average. The practice is not easily passed on to younger people, as it is legally necessary to obtain an official license to buy a shotgun and hunt in France. The shotgun is a long-barreled, smooth-bore firearm with a shoulder stock, used almost exclusively for hunting small and large game. To a lesser extent, these guns are also used for sporting purposes, notably ball-trap. Different types of shotgun can be distinguished on the market, depending on the type of barrel bore (smoothbore or rifled) and their mechanism. The smoothbore barrel is the historic shotgun barrel, used to fire shotgun pellets (multiple projectiles placed in the same ammunition), while the rifled barrel is less frequently used for shotguns.the rifled barrel, on the other hand, is less frequently considered a hunting rifle, as it fires single-shot ammunition offering greater accuracy and longer range. The rifled bore is popular in areas where the use of hunting rifles is prohibited (e.g. sports where shotguns are used). This study looks at these weapons, their use in hunting, the main players and distributors in this market in France, and the trends that may influence it. The market for hunting rifles and shotguns is mainly an import market in France, despite a few flagship express rifle manufacturers such as Vernon Carrey and Chapuis. In France, the number of hunters is declining over time, but this trend is offset by a growing average purchase basket per hunter, which helps to reduce the market's decline. In addition, the reduction in the price of the national hunting license in 2018, from 400 to 200 euros, should give new impetus to the weapons market, and examination application rates have risen sharply since this measure. The regulations governing this market are very strict (a hunting license is required for the purchase of a rifle, and sales are controlled).however, the rise of informal shotgun sales and the fact that only a minority of hunters in France have a hunting license undermines the professionalization of this market. This study will deal only with official data on the acquisition and possession of hunting firearms.