It is like this in France. Everyone has to have a licence (unless you shoot Black Powder which is on free sale - at the moment)Duncan, here in Germany it makes no difference if a military rifle ist in original chambering or rechambered, one alway needs a licence to buy it.
A military RIFLE is a Category 1 firearm and so needs lots of complicated paperwork and supervision.
A military RIFLE that has been re-chambered to a hunting caliber is a Category 5 firearm and is easy to buy and to own. You obviously have to pay for the re-chambering work but even so it is better than jumping through the Category 1 hoops!
To give you an idea a 'hunting' SMLE (SMLE #1 MkIII* Fabrication BSA, années 1916 avec “cut off” (interrupteur de magasin)
Calibre .303 Sporting (5ème Cat) costs about 490€)
My current task is to find a good quality Cat.5 rifle at a good price for me (That means one that the wife will not complain TOO much about!!!)
Hope that clarifies things a bit.