California Gun Roster

What Is the California Handgun Roster?

The California Department of Justice maintains a Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale — a list of semi-automatic pistols that manufacturers have submitted for testing and that have passed California's safety device, drop safety, and chamber load indicator requirements. Handguns not on the Roster cannot be sold new by California dealers. The Roster has shrunk significantly over the years because California's "microstamping" requirement (enacted 2013) has prevented most new handgun models from being added — manufacturers have largely declined to retool their production lines to add microstamping technology. As a result, many popular modern handguns (including most recent Glock, Sig Sauer, and Smith & Wesson models) are not on the Roster. Roster-compliant handguns are available for purchase by California residents through licensed dealers.

How to Buy a Handgun in California

To purchase a handgun in California, the firearm must be on the Roster, the buyer must be a California resident 21 or older, and the transfer must occur through a California-licensed FFL dealer. When ordering from Impact Guns, choose your firearm, provide your California FFL dealer's information during checkout, and Impact Guns will ship the firearm to your FFL for transfer. The transfer includes a Dealer Record of Sale (DROS), a 10-day waiting period, and a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) requirement. See our how to order a firearm guide for the full process.

Roster-Compliant Handguns: What's Available

Despite the shrinking Roster, a solid selection of quality handguns remains available to California buyers. Glock maintains several models on the Roster including the Glock 19 Gen 4, Glock 17 Gen 4, and Glock 21 Gen 4 — note that Gen 5 models are generally not Roster-compliant. Smith & Wesson has several M&P and Shield models on the Roster. Ruger maintains multiple models including the SR9, SR40, and several Security-9 variants. Springfield Armory XD and XDS series models are available. Beretta maintains several models including the 92FS. Walther has PPQ and PPS models on the Roster. Taurus offers several Roster-compliant options at accessible price points. Always verify current Roster status before ordering — the list changes periodically as certifications expire.

Single-Action vs. Revolver: The Roster Doesn't Apply

California's Handgun Roster applies only to semi-automatic pistols. Revolvers are not subject to Roster requirements — any revolver that is otherwise legal under California law may be sold new without being on the Roster. This means the full range of Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, and Colt revolvers is available to California buyers regardless of Roster status. For California buyers who want a modern handgun not on the Roster, a quality revolver is often the best path. See our full revolvers page.

The "Single Shot Exemption" and Private Party Transfers

California law has historically allowed non-Roster handguns to be transferred through a "single shot exemption" (converting a pistol to single-shot configuration for the transfer) and through private party transfers of used firearms. These pathways have been subject to ongoing legal changes — always verify current California law with a California FFL before relying on any exemption. The safest approach for most buyers is to select a Roster-compliant handgun. For current California firearms law guidance, consult the California DOJ firearms bureau or a California-licensed attorney.

Magazine Capacity Restrictions

California restricts magazine capacity to 10 rounds for all firearms. When purchasing a handgun for delivery to a California FFL, Impact Guns ships with California-compliant magazines only. High-capacity magazines cannot be shipped to California. This applies to all firearms regardless of Roster status. See our California legal guns page for our full roster-compliant selection.

Shop California-Legal Handguns at Impact Guns

Browse our California-compliant handgun selection at Impact Guns. For our full California legal firearms page, see California legal guns. For revolvers (not subject to Roster), see revolvers. For questions about California transfers, see our how to order a firearm guide or contact our Ogden store at 801-999-1903.