Maryland Legal Guns for Sale — Compliant Handguns & Rifles

Maryland Legal Guns

Maryland enforces some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the country — a Handgun Roster of approved pistols, a list of banned “assault weapon” rifles, magazine capacity limits, and Handgun Qualification License requirements. Impact Guns ships Maryland-compliant handguns, rifles, and magazines to Maryland FFL dealers for buyers who meet state requirements.

Read our full Maryland Legal Guns Buying Guide ↓

The Maryland Handgun Roster

Maryland maintains the Maryland Handgun Roster Board approved list — only handguns on that roster can be sold to Maryland residents through dealers in the state. The roster is updated periodically; manufacturers must submit each model for approval, which involves drop testing, firing tests, and other criteria. Many popular handguns are roster-approved (most Glocks, Sig P320s, Smith & Wesson M&Ps in standard configurations), while some newer models or specific variants are not. Always verify a specific model and configuration is roster-approved before ordering for Maryland delivery.

Assault Weapons and Magazine Limits

Maryland prohibits specifically enumerated “assault long guns” (including many AR-15 and AK-pattern rifles) and any centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine plus two or more enumerated features (pistol grip, folding stock, flash hider, etc.). Magazine capacity for any firearm is limited to 10 rounds for new sales (manufactured after October 2013), though larger pre-ban magazines may legally remain in possession depending on the holder’s situation. We ship Maryland-compliant 10-round magazines with affected firearms.

Handgun Qualification License (HQL) Requirement

To purchase a handgun in Maryland, the buyer must hold a current Handgun Qualification License issued by the Maryland State Police — this requires a state-approved firearms safety training course, fingerprinting, and background check, in addition to the standard 4473 and NICS check at transfer. Long gun purchases do not require an HQL. The HQL is the buyer’s responsibility to obtain before initiating a handgun purchase.

What Works in Maryland

Maryland-compliant options include Handgun Roster pistols (most full-size and compact 9mm/.45 ACP service pistols from major makers), bolt-action and lever-action rifles, pump and semi-auto shotguns, and detachable-magazine rifles configured without the prohibited feature combinations. Many manufacturers offer Maryland-compliant rifle variants — fixed-magazine AR-15 builds, featureless rifles, or models meeting the state’s narrow definitions. Browse our state legal guns hub for compliant options across all restricted states.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maryland Handgun Roster?
A state-maintained list of handgun models approved for sale in Maryland. Only models on the roster can be sold by Maryland dealers to Maryland residents. The list is updated periodically as manufacturers submit new models for approval testing.

Do I need an HQL for a long gun purchase in Maryland?
No — the Handgun Qualification License is required only for handgun purchases. Long guns (rifles and shotguns) require the standard NICS background check and 4473, the same as any other state.

What magazine capacity is legal in Maryland?
Maryland limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds for sales after October 1, 2013. Larger pre-existing magazines may be possessed under specific circumstances, but new purchases ship with 10-round magazines for Maryland delivery.