California Legal Handguns: Every Handgun You Can Buy in 2026

A handgun is legal to buy new in California only if its exact version is on the California DOJ Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale. Right now the roster lists 997 handguns from 52 manufacturers, and 65 were added in the last 90 days. Search any model below, or browse the most popular California legal handguns by type.

Popular California legal handguns by type

Each model below has several certified versions. Click a model to see every California-legal version, its specs and where to buy it.

Compact and sub-compact carry pistols

The most popular concealed carry pistols you can buy new in California.

Full-size pistols

Duty, home defense and range pistols with longer barrels and grips.

Revolvers

Double-action revolvers on the roster, from snub-nose carry guns to hunting magnums.

.22 LR pistols

Low-recoil, low-cost pistols for training, plinking and new shooters.

See all 145 models → Search all 997 handguns →

Buying guides: Best concealed carry guns · Best handguns for beginners · Best revolvers · Best .22 pistols

What makes a handgun California legal

Under the Unsafe Handgun Act (Penal Code 31910 and 32000), a manufacturer must submit each handgun model to a DOJ-certified lab and pay an annual fee to keep it listed. To be added, a handgun must:

Pass a firing test and a drop safety test.
For centerfire semi-automatic pistols, have a chamber load indicator and a magazine disconnect. These remain enforced because the Ninth Circuit stayed that part of the 2023 Boland v. Bonta injunction while the appeal is pending.
Ship with magazines that hold no more than 10 rounds.

Microstamping is no longer a roster requirement. SB 452 removed it from the roster rules, and a 2023 court order had already stopped its enforcement, which is why manufacturers began adding new pistols again. SB 452 also created a separate dealer microstamping mandate that can start January 1, 2028, if the DOJ finds microstamping commercially available. The DOJ found the technology viable in July 2025.

Every version is certified separately. A different finish, barrel length, sight package or caliber of the same pistol may not be on the roster, so always check the exact version before you buy.

Glocks and AB 1127

Since July 1, 2026, AB 1127 bars California dealers from selling semi-automatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar that can be converted to fully automatic with a simple device. That covers most Glock pistols, even older Gen 3 models that were on the roster. Glocks you already own stay legal to keep. Several lawsuits challenge it, including one by the U.S. Department of Justice, but as of October 2026 no court has blocked it. Read our full AB 1127 explainer.

How to buy a handgun in California

Be at least 21 and not prohibited from owning firearms.
Get a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC). It is a 30-question test given at most gun stores. Take our free FSC practice test.
Bring a California driver license or ID plus proof of residency, such as a utility bill from the last three months.
Choose a handgun on the roster at a licensed dealer, or buy online and have it shipped to a California dealer.
Complete the DROS paperwork and background check. There is a 10-day waiting period.
Pick up your handgun after a safe handling demonstration, with a DOJ-approved lock or proof you own an approved safe.

Purchase limit: the old one-gun-a-month purchase limit was struck down in Nguyen v. Bonta in 2025, but since April 1, 2026, AB 1078 bars applying to buy more than three firearms of any type in any 30-day period. See all the new California gun laws for 2026.

Can you buy a handgun that is not on the roster?

Yes, in a few situations. These off-roster exemptions are why you see guns like newer Glocks and SIGs for sale used in California:

Private party transfers (PPT). Two California residents can transfer an off-roster handgun through a licensed dealer, with the same background check and 10-day wait.
Sworn law enforcement can buy off-roster handguns, and many later sell them through PPT.
Single-action revolvers that meet minimum size rules: at least a 3-inch barrel, 7.5 inches overall and a 5-round cylinder.
Curios and relics, generally firearms 50 years or older.
New residents who bring handguns they already own must report them to the DOJ within 60 days.
Family transfers between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren, reported to the DOJ within 30 days.

Handguns that leave the roster work the same way: dealers can no longer sell them new, but they can still be sold used through a private party transfer. See our step-by-step guide to buying an off-roster handgun, or check popular off-roster handguns like the Glock 19 Gen 5.

Keep up with roster changes

The DOJ adds and removes handguns every month. Cal Gun Roster syncs with the DOJ daily, and we publish a monthly summary of every roster change.

Frequently asked questions

What handguns are legal in California?

Any handgun on the California DOJ Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale can be sold new by a licensed dealer. The roster currently lists 997 handguns from 52 manufacturers. Each version is certified separately, so check the exact model, finish and barrel length.

Is the Glock 19 legal in California?

Only certain older Gen 3 Glock models were ever on the roster, and since July 1, 2026, AB 1127 bars dealers from selling pistols that can be converted to fully automatic with a simple device, which includes most Glocks. Glocks you already own remain legal to keep.

Can I buy a handgun that is not on the roster?

Yes, in some cases. Off-roster handguns can change hands through a private party transfer at a licensed dealer, and exemptions cover sworn law enforcement, curios and relics, certain single-action revolvers, new residents bringing guns they already own, and transfers between parents, children and grandparents.

How old do you have to be to buy a handgun in California?

You must be at least 21 to buy a handgun from a California dealer, and you need a valid Firearm Safety Certificate, a California driver license or ID, and proof of residency.

How long is the waiting period in California?

Ten days. The dealer submits your purchase to the DOJ (called DROS), and you can pick up the gun after ten 24-hour periods if you pass the background check.

Is there a limit on how many guns I can buy in California?

Yes. The old one-gun-a-month purchase limit was struck down in Nguyen v. Bonta in 2025, but since April 1, 2026, AB 1078 bars applying to buy more than three firearms of any type in any 30-day period, with some exemptions.

How many rounds can a magazine hold in California?

Ten. Semi-automatic pistols sold in California ship with 10-round magazines, and it is illegal to buy, sell or import magazines that hold more.

More California gun law guides: Transporting guns in California · California magazine laws

Getting a concealed carry license? See California CCW by county for your sheriff or police department’s process, fees and local gun ordinances.

Sources

This page is general information, not legal advice. Gun laws change often; confirm with a licensed California dealer or the DOJ before you buy. Last reviewed October 30, 2026.