California Handgun Roster Explained

California is the only state that keeps a list of which new handguns a dealer may sell. If a model is not on the Roster of Certified Handguns kept by the Department of Justice, no California dealer can sell it to you new — no matter how ordinary the gun is everywhere else. This page explains what that means for an order you place here.

What the roster actually is

The roster is the DOJ's list of handgun models that have passed California's firing, drop and safety-device tests and carry the required safety features. A model stays on it only while the manufacturer keeps paying to renew it, which is why guns drop off the list for commercial reasons rather than safety ones.

Why nothing new gets added

Since 2013 California has required new semi-automatic pistol models to microstamp a code onto the cartridge case. No manufacturer has certified a new semi-automatic pistol model since. On top of that, AB 2847 requires three grandfathered models to come off the roster for every new model added. The practical result is a list that only shrinks, and a lot of perfectly common pistols — current-generation Glocks, the SIG P365 family, the HK VP9CC, the Springfield Hellcat Pro, the S&W Shield Plus — that a California dealer cannot sell you new.

What you can still do

• Buy a rostered model new. Plenty of good handguns are still certified, including older generations of models whose newest version is off the list. Every handgun on this site shows its roster status on the card and on the product page.
• Buy used through a private party transfer. An off-roster handgun that is already in California can be transferred between two residents through a licensed dealer. The roster does not apply to used guns in a PPT.
• Check whether an exemption applies to you. Sworn peace officers and some other categories can buy off-roster. Your dealer will tell you whether you qualify.

Single-shot exemption: be careful

You may still read about the single-shot exemption, where an off-roster pistol was sold in a single-shot configuration and converted afterwards. California narrowed that route and the DOJ treats abuse of it seriously. We do not sell handguns under that exemption.

How we show roster status

Handguns on this site carry a CA roster badge. That badge means one thing: before we ship it to a California dealer we confirm the exact model and generation is certified. If it is not, we tell you before we take payment, and we will suggest a rostered alternative that is close to what you were after. Outside California the roster does not apply and the same handgun ships normally.

Also worth reading: how a California FFL transfer works and what makes a rifle California-legal.