California’s roster of certified handguns is growing again after a decade-long freeze, and the models recently added to the California handgun roster include California-compliant versions of the SIG Sauer P320 and P365 families, the Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield Plus, the Ruger Max-9, and the Springfield Armory Echelon. Every one of them still had to pass firing, drop-safety, and mechanical-feature tests before a licensed dealer could put one in the case.
What’s New on the Roster
SIG Sauer has moved fastest. The company now offers California-compliant versions of the P320, P320-M18, P320-XFULL, P365, and several P365 variants including the P365-XMACRO COMP and P365-XL. Each California version is built with the required safety features and carries a unique model number that has to match the roster listing exactly.
Smith & Wesson added the M&P9 Shield Plus, a slim 9mm compact popular for concealed carry. The DOJ listing shows it with a 3.1-inch barrel in polymer and stainless steel construction, with a certification expiration date of January 1, 2027.1State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. M&P9 Shield Plus – 14031 Ruger secured a spot for the Max-9, a budget-friendly striker-fired compact that competes directly with the Shield Plus and P365 in the subcompact category.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Max-9 03522 Springfield Armory appears on the recently added list with its Echelon platform (model EC9409BFCCA-U) rather than the Hellcat line many California buyers were hoping for.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Recently Added Handgun Models
Notable absences remain. Older Glock models (Gen 3 variants) are still on the roster, but no Gen 5 Glocks have been added. Gen 5 pistols lack the magazine disconnect mechanism and loaded chamber indicator California requires, and Glock has not released modified versions that include them. Industry speculation suggests the company may wait for a future generation designed from scratch for California compliance rather than retrofit existing designs.
Why New Guns Are Being Added Again
From 2013 until recently, the roster only shrank. A microstamping requirement that took effect in 2013 demanded that new semi-automatic pistols engrave microscopic characters (make, model, and serial number) onto shell casings when fired. No manufacturer produced a handgun with the technology, so no new semi-automatic pistols could be certified. As older models lost certification through lapsed fees or minor design changes, the list dwindled year after year.4FindLaw. Boland v Bonta
The California Rifle and Pistol Association challenged the Unsafe Handgun Act in Boland v. Bonta and won a preliminary injunction against microstamping, the loaded chamber indicator, and the magazine disconnect requirement in 2023.4FindLaw. Boland v Bonta The Ninth Circuit later stayed and vacated that ruling, so those safety requirements returned to force.
The change that actually reopened submissions was SB 452, signed in 2023. It replaced the immediate microstamping mandate with a staggered timeline: dealers must sell only microstamping-enabled pistols starting January 1, 2028, and only if the DOJ makes two separate findings about technology viability and commercial availability.5State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Senate Bill (SB) 452 Microstamping Pushing microstamping into the future gave manufacturers a window to certify guns built with chamber load indicators and magazine disconnects, which are engineering challenges but not impossible ones.
What “Certified” Actually Means
Every semi-automatic pistol on the roster has to include a loaded chamber indicator giving a clear visual signal when a round is in the chamber. The indicator text must be at least 1/16 inch tall, use contrasting colors against the frame, and be visible from at least 24 inches when a round is chambered. When the chamber is empty, the indicator must not be visible.6California Legislative Information. California Code Penal Code 31910 – Unsafe Handgun and Related Definitions
Pistols with detachable magazines also need a magazine disconnect mechanism that prevents firing when the magazine is removed. Revolvers face a different set of requirements, including a safety device that retracts the hammer away from the primer.6California Legislative Information. California Code Penal Code 31910 – Unsafe Handgun and Related Definitions Before a model is listed, three units go to a DOJ-certified independent lab for firing and drop-safety testing.7California Code of Regulations. California Code of Regulations 11 CCR 4059 – Which Handguns Must be Tested, Who May Submit Handguns, Submission Requirements
Once listed, the manufacturer has to pay a $200 annual maintenance fee per model to keep it certified. Stop paying and the model drops off, at which point dealers can no longer sell new units.8Legal Information Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 11 Section 4072 – Fees for the Roster of Certified Handguns
How to Confirm a Specific Model Is Certified
The DOJ runs a searchable online database where you can look up any handgun by manufacturer, caliber, barrel length, or frame material. Each entry shows the exact model number, handgun type, and expiration date.9State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Handguns Certified for Sale A separate page tracks models recently added.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Recently Added Handgun Models There’s also a de-certified list showing guns whose certification has expired or been revoked.10State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Removed Handgun Models
Check the model number carefully. A gun with the same name but a different SKU than the roster listing is not certified for sale, even if the only difference is a finish color or accessory rail. If the model doesn’t appear in the database, no licensed dealer can legally sell it to you as new.
Buying an Off-Roster Handgun Legally
The roster limits what dealers can sell as new. It does not ban ownership, and several exemptions exist. Off-roster guns often sell at significant premiums through these channels because supply is capped.
Private Party Transfers
California law exempts private party transfers from roster restrictions.11California Legislative Information. California Code PEN 32110 If a California resident already owns an off-roster handgun, they can sell it to another resident through a licensed dealer. Both parties appear at the dealer in person, and the standard background check and waiting period apply. This is how most off-roster pistols change hands, and popular guns like Gen 5 Glocks often command prices well above retail.
Intrafamilial Transfers
Parents, grandparents, and children can transfer firearms to each other without going through a dealer, as long as both parties are California residents. The recipient reports the transfer to the DOJ within 30 days and must hold a valid firearm safety certificate. When the family member lives out of state, federal law requires the gun to move through a California FFL, adding transfer fees and processing time.
Law Enforcement Exemptions
Sworn officers in “Group 1” agencies (police departments, sheriff’s offices, the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Corrections, and federal law enforcement) can buy off-roster handguns for personal use and later sell them to any eligible buyer through a dealer.12State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. State Exemptions for Authorized Peace Officers Officers in “Group 2” agencies (parks, DMV, fish and wildlife, university police, and others) can also purchase off-roster guns, but their resale options are more restricted. A third group of agencies gets no off-roster purchase privileges at all.
New Residents
People who move to California can bring personally owned handguns, including off-roster models, so long as the guns are otherwise legal to possess. New residents file a report with the DOJ within 60 days of arriving. Importing an off-roster gun specifically to resell it is not permitted.
The 2028 Deadline Manufacturers Are Racing
The current window for adding new semi-automatic pistols has an expiration date. SB 452 sets January 1, 2028, as the target for requiring all semi-automatic handguns sold by dealers to be microstamping-enabled. That deadline is conditional. By July 2026, the DOJ must provide grants or contracts to entities producing microstamping components at reasonable cost. By July 2027, the DOJ must decide whether those components are actually available commercially and whether microstamping-enabled firearms can be bought.5State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Senate Bill (SB) 452 Microstamping
The DOJ satisfied the first prerequisite in July 2025, issuing a report finding the technology viable. Whether the commercial-availability finding follows on schedule is a separate question. If the DOJ determines the components aren’t available at reasonable prices by 2027, the 2028 mandate could be delayed. Manufacturers watching that timeline are pushing models through certification now, before the requirement potentially takes hold and creates another submission freeze like the one that ran from 2013 to 2023.