California Handgun Roster — Frequently Asked Questions

The California Gun Roster — officially called the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale — is a list maintained by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) of handgun models that have been tested and approved for sale by licensed firearms dealers. Under California Penal Code Section 32000, dealers may only sell handguns that appear on this roster. There are currently 932 certified handgun models on the CA roster.

AB 1127, signed by Governor Newsom in 2025 and effective July 1, 2026, prohibits California dealers from selling "semiautomatic machine-gun convertible pistols" — defined as handguns with a cruciform trigger bar that can be converted to full-auto by installing an auto sear. This affects most Glock Gen 3, 4, and 5 striker-fired pistols and similar designs. Private transfers of currently-owned Glocks are not affected. Glock Gen 3 models purchased before July 1, 2026 can still be owned and transferred. Verify current availability with your licensed FFL dealer.

As of July 1, 2026, AB 1127 prohibits dealers from selling most Glock pistols including the Glock 19. However, Glock 19s purchased before that date can still be owned and transferred through private party transfers (PPT). Check with your local FFL dealer for the most current status. Some Glock Gen 3 models may remain available depending on dealer inventory pre-dating the law. View the Glock 19 on Cal Gun Roster.

Three laws have shrunk the California Roster significantly: (1) The original 2001 safety testing requirements. (2) The 2013 microstamping requirement — which effectively halted new semi-automatic pistol additions since no manufacturer has implemented microstamping technology. (3) The 3-for-1 rule requiring manufacturers to remove three models for every one added. Combined with $200-per-model annual renewal fees, many manufacturers have let their certifications lapse, reducing the roster from over 1,200 to 932 models.

Microstamping is a technology that etches a microscopic code onto the firing pin of a handgun, theoretically stamping a traceable mark on shell casings when the gun is fired. California law has required all new semi-automatic handgun models added to the roster to have microstamping since 2013. The problem: no major manufacturer has implemented the technology in a production handgun. As a result, no new semi-automatic pistol design has been added to the California Roster since May 2013. Under SB 452, the DOJ has found microstamping "viable" — a January 1, 2028 mandate may require existing rostered pistols to be microstamping-enabled.

Yes, through limited channels. Off-roster handguns (models not on the CA DOJ Roster) can be acquired through: (1) Private Party Transfer (PPT) — if a California resident legally owns the handgun, they can sell it to another CA resident through a licensed FFL dealer. (2) Moving to California — firearms legally owned before moving can be brought in. (3) Law enforcement exemptions — active duty and some retired officers can buy off-roster. You cannot buy a new off-roster handgun from a dealer.

To buy a handgun legally in California: (1) Ensure the model is on the CA DOJ Roster — search Cal Gun Roster to verify. (2) Get a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) — pass a 30-question test at a licensed dealer. (3) Visit or order through a licensed California FFL dealer. (4) Complete the DROS (Dealer Record of Sale) form — $31.19 state fee. (5) Pass the DOJ background check. (6) Wait the mandatory 10-day waiting period. (7) Return to take possession with valid ID.

California requires a mandatory 10-day waiting period for all handgun purchases. You cannot take possession of the firearm for 10 calendar days after the DROS is submitted — regardless of when your background check clears. This applies to all purchases including private party transfers and online purchases shipped to a California FFL.

DROS stands for Dealer Record of Sale. It is the California state form completed at the point of sale for all firearms purchases. The dealer submits the DROS to the California DOJ to initiate the background check and start the 10-day waiting period. The DROS fee is $31.19, paid to the state at time of purchase.

A Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) is required to purchase any handgun in California. To get an FSC: visit any licensed California firearms dealer, pay a $25 fee, and pass a 30-question written test covering safe handling and California firearms laws. You need a score of 75% (23/30) to pass. The FSC is valid for 5 years. Ask your local gun store to administer the test.

AB 1078, effective April 1, 2026, replaced California's old one-handgun-per-30-days rule with a new limit of three firearms (handguns and semiautomatic centerfire rifles combined) per 30-day period. This means you can purchase up to 3 qualifying firearms in any 30-day window, up from the previous 1-handgun limit.

Duncan v. Bonta is a federal court case challenging California's 10-round magazine capacity limit. The case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court level via cert petition. A SCOTUS grant would impact the roster indirectly via the related Boland v. Bonta case. As of mid-2026, the cert petition has been relisted multiple times without action — a pattern that sometimes precedes a grant.

The California DOJ updates the official Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale continuously — models are added when manufacturers pay certification fees and complete testing, and removed when certifications expire (typically annually). Cal Gun Roster syncs with the DOJ's recently added and recently removed lists daily to keep our database current.

There are over 230 9mm handguns on the current California DOJ Roster. Popular California-legal 9mm options include the SIG Sauer P365, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield, Springfield Armory Hellcat, Beretta 92FS, HK VP9, and various Ruger and Springfield models. Browse all California legal 9mm handguns on Cal Gun Roster.