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June 20, 2026
Best Colorado-Legal Firearms After SB25-003 (2026)

Colorado's SB25-003 specified-semiautomatic-firearm permit regime starts August 1, 2026. A semi-auto rifle or shotgun bought on a standard 4473 before that date needs no eligibility card and no safety course. Here are the best CO-legal firearms to buy in the grandfather window, plus permit-free bolt and lever guns and unaffected carry pistols.

Best Colorado-Legal Firearms After SB25-003 (2026)

Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed SB25-003 on April 10, 2025, and its specified-semiautomatic-firearm purchase regime takes effect August 1, 2026. After that date, buying a semi-auto rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine means a five-year eligibility card from your county sheriff and an in-person state-certified safety course. The single most useful thing a Colorado buyer can do right now is buy the semi-auto rifle or shotgun they want on a standard 4473 before August 1. A rifle transferred before the deadline is grandfathered with no permit, no course, no registry, and no surrender. This guide ranks the best Colorado-legal rifles to grandfather in that window, the manually operated bolt and lever guns the permit regime never touches, the recoil-operated carry pistols SB25-003 does not reach, and the Colorado-legal magazines that fit under the state's 15-round cap. For the full deadline breakdown, read our companion article on the Colorado gun ban and what to buy before August 1. See also: our Washington after HB 1240 guide and California after AB 1127 guide for the feature-test versions of state firearm law, where the legal lever is a featureless configuration rather than a purchase deadline.

By AB|Last reviewed June 2026

SB25-003 Cheat Sheet: What's Covered, What's Free

SB25-003 is a permit regime, not a feature ban. It does not outlaw the AR-15, the AK, or the tactical shotgun. Instead it defines a category called a specified semiautomatic firearm and, effective August 1, 2026, requires an eligibility card and a safety course before a dealer can transfer one. A specified semiautomatic firearm is a semi-auto rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, or a gas-operated semi-auto handgun with a detachable magazine. Everything outside that definition stays an ordinary purchase.

Semi-auto rifle / shotgun
Permit Regime Covers (after Aug 1, 2026)Any semi-auto rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine. A pre-Aug-1 4473 grandfathers it; after Aug 1 the buyer needs the eligibility card and safety course.
Permit-Free or UnaffectedBolt, pump, lever, and slide-action rifles and shotguns. .22LR-and-lower rimfire (unless it has a separate upper and lower receiver). Fixed-mag guns capped at 15 rounds.
Handgun
Permit Regime Covers (after Aug 1, 2026)Only a gas-operated semi-auto handgun with a detachable magazine. This is a narrow Desert Eagle-class category.
Permit-Free or UnaffectedRecoil-operated semi-auto handguns (Glock 19, S&W M&P, SIG P320, and the carry-comp pistols in this guide). Revolvers and single-shot pistols.
Rapid-fire devices
Permit Regime Covers (after Aug 1, 2026)Forced reset triggers, binary triggers, and bump stocks are dangerous weapons effective on signing in 2025. Possession is a class 5 felony.
Permit-Free or UnaffectedNothing. These are already illegal in Colorado, are not grandfathered, and have no permit pathway and no buy-before window.
Magazines
Permit Regime Covers (after Aug 1, 2026)Magazines over 15 rounds. Colorado has capped detachable magazines at 15 rounds since 2013 under HB13-1224; SB25-003 only raised the over-cap penalty.
Permit-Free or UnaffectedMagazines of 15 rounds or fewer, including 10-round AR-15 and pistol magazines.
Suppressors
Permit Regime Covers (after Aug 1, 2026)Not covered by SB25-003 at all. These are federal NFA items and stay legal in Colorado.
Permit-Free or UnaffectedNFA process applies (Form 4, background check, registration), but the federal making and transfer tax is now $0 and eForm approvals run on the order of days to a couple of weeks.

Source: Colorado SB25-003 as enrolled, signed April 10, 2025, purchase regime effective August 1, 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Verify current configurations and process with your transferring FFL and your county sheriff.

Why Buy Before August 1, 2026

Buying before August 1, 2026 is the difference between a normal gun-store transaction and a multi-step permit application. SB25-003 does not ban possession of specified semiautomatic firearms you already own. A semi-auto rifle or shotgun you buy on a standard 4473 before the deadline is grandfathered: there is no eligibility card, no safety course, no registry, and no surrender obligation. The law only changes what happens at the point of a new transfer after August 1.

After the deadline, the same rifle requires a CPW Firearm Safety System profile, a five-year eligibility card from your county sheriff backed by a name-based background check and a fee, and an in-person state-certified safety course. If you are not hunter-education certified, that course is the 12-hour Extended version with a 90-percent final exam. None of that is prohibitive, but it is friction, scheduling, and cost stacked on top of the gun itself. Buyers who know they want a detachable-mag semi-auto rifle this year save themselves the entire pathway by transferring before August 1.

This urgency applies to rifles and shotguns, not to rapid-fire devices. Forced reset triggers, binary triggers, and bump stocks became felonies to possess in Colorado the day SB25-003 was signed in 2025. There is no grandfather clause and no buy-before window for them; that is covered in detail below. If you want to spec a Colorado-legal AR-15 or AK build to take to a dealer before the deadline, the rifle builder lets you configure a complete rifle against any optic, light, or trigger in the catalog.

Best Colorado-Legal Semi-Auto Rifles to Buy Before August 1

Semi-auto rifles with a detachable magazine are specified semiautomatic firearms under SB25-003. Transferred on a standard 4473 before August 1, 2026, every rifle below is grandfathered with no eligibility card, no safety course, and no registry. Ranked by how directly each replaces a standard fighting-rifle role.

1

Century Arms WASR-10

Best CO-legal semi-auto rifle to buy before Aug 1. A detachable-mag AKM is a specified semiautomatic firearm under SB25-003, so on a standard 4473 today it needs no eligibility card and no safety course.

$899
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Lowest-cost entry into a detachable-mag fighting rifle in CO
  • +Standard AKM accessory and magazine ecosystem
  • +Runs cheap 7.62x39 and shrugs off neglect
  • Coarser fit and finish than a premium AK
  • Side-rail optic mounting is dated vs an AR top rail
  • Import supply is uneven; stock and price swing
2

Palmetto State Armory PSA PA-15 16" Carbine

Best-value CO-legal AR-15 to buy before Aug 1. A detachable-mag 5.56 carbine is a specified semiautomatic firearm, so the pre-Aug-1 4473 is the cheap way to skip the permit pathway.

$649
Shop at PSA
  • +Outstanding value when sale pricing is strong
  • +Full lifetime transferable warranty
  • +Standard AR-15 parts keep upgrades simple
  • Specs vary by SKU; confirm handguard, trigger, gas length
  • Finishing trails premium brands
  • Basic furniture often prompts upgrades
3

Aero Precision M4E1 Complete Rifle 16"

Best mid-tier CO-legal AR-15 to grandfather before Aug 1. Mid-length gas and enhanced receivers make it the quality step up from a budget PA-15.

$1,199
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Parts quality rivals brands costing $500 more
  • +Mid-length gas runs soft and reliable
  • +Deep M4E1 receiver and build ecosystem
  • Standard mil-spec trigger is adequate, not exceptional
  • Config varies by complete-rifle vs upper/lower build SKU
  • Government-profile barrel is heavier than lightweight options
4

Palmetto State Armory PSA JAKL 16" 5.56

Best piston-driven CO-legal rifle to grandfather before Aug 1. Folding, suppressor-ready, and still on the AR-15 lower and STANAG path.

$1,300
Shop at PSA
  • +Adjustable piston runs clean and tunes for suppressors
  • +Folds flat without a buffer tube
  • +Uses standard AR-15 lowers, triggers, and STANAG mags
  • Roughly 1.5 lb heavier than a comparable DI AR-15
  • Front-heavy from the piston mass
  • Proprietary monolithic upper limits barrel and handguard swaps
5

Kalashnikov USA KR-103

Best American AK-103-pattern rifle to grandfather before Aug 1. Modernized AK build quality for buyers who want a US-made detachable-mag 7.62x39.

$1,199
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Tighter build quality than many imported AKs
  • +Standard AK-pattern controls and mags
  • +US production sidesteps import-supply swings
  • Pricier than an imported WASR-10
  • 24x1.5mm muzzle thread limits some muzzle-device options
  • Side-rail optic mounting is dated vs an AR top rail
6

Ruger AR-556 (Model 8502, State-Compliant)

Factory CO-configured AR-556 with a fixed stock, non-threaded muzzle, and 10-round magazine. Its detachable magazine still makes it a specified semiautomatic firearm, so a pre-Aug-1 4473 remains the simplest path; the factory config is not a permit exemption.

$799
Shop at KYGUNCO
  • +Ships in a CO-compliant configuration out of the box
  • +Stocked at every major US firearm retailer
  • +1:8 twist handles 55 to 77 grain loads
  • Still a specified semiautomatic firearm; only a pre-Aug-1 4473 skips the permit and course
  • Fixed M4-style stock has no length-of-pull adjustment for different shooters or kit
  • Non-threaded muzzle needs gunsmithing to add a device later

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Rapid-Fire Devices: Already Illegal, Not a Buy-Before Item

Forced reset triggers, binary triggers, and bump stocks are already a felony to possess in Colorado, and there is no buy-before window for any of them. SB25-003 reclassified these rapid-fire devices as dangerous weapons effective on signing in 2025 under the bill's safety clause, not on the August 1, 2026 timeline that governs rifle purchases. Possession is a class 5 felony. They are not grandfathered, there is no permit pathway, and acquiring one in Colorado is a crime today.

Do not confuse the rifle deadline with these devices. The grandfather logic that makes a pre-August-1 rifle purchase smart does not exist for rapid-fire devices. A semi-auto rifle is a lawful purchase in Colorado before and after the deadline; the only thing that changes is the permit requirement. A forced reset trigger is unlawful to possess in Colorado regardless of date. There is nothing to rush out and buy here.

Eligible forced reset triggers covered by the May 2025 DOJ settlement are not being treated federally as machine guns, but state law still varies and several states restrict them. Check current state and local law before buying. If FRTs are legal where you live, our forced reset trigger buyers guide covers the current legal landscape and the products that ship. If you live in Colorado, that guide is informational only; the devices it covers are felonies to possess in this state.

Permit-Free Alternatives: Lever and Bolt Guns

Manually operated firearms are statutorily excluded from the specified-semiautomatic-firearm definition, so they never require the eligibility card or the safety course, on any timeline. Bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action, and slide-action guns sit entirely outside SB25-003's purchase regime. If you do not need semi-auto fire, a lever-action shotgun or a bolt-action rifle is a permit-free buy in Colorado before August 1 and after it. These are the two cleanest manually operated picks: a soft-shooting .410 lever gun and a threaded, optic-ready 6.5 Creedmoor bolt rifle.

Permit-Free Alternatives: Lever and Bolt Guns

Manually operated firearms (lever, pump, bolt, slide) are statutorily excluded from the specified-semiautomatic-firearm definition. These never require the eligibility card or the safety course, on any timeline.

1

Henry Lever Action Shotgun .410 Bore Side Gate

Permit-free firepower the SB25-003 regime never touches. A manually operated lever-action shotgun is statutorily excluded from the specified-semiautomatic-firearm definition, so it transfers on an ordinary 4473 before or after Aug 1.

$1,088
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Never subject to the eligibility card or safety course
  • +Soft-shooting .410 for small game and close defense
  • +Traditional Henry fit and handling
  • .410 terminal performance trails 12 and 20 gauge
  • Lever cycling is slower than a semi-auto
  • Premium price for a .410
2

Ruger American Rifle Gen II Predator

Permit-free precision. A manually operated bolt-action is excluded from the SSF definition, so this threaded, optic-ready 6.5 Creedmoor field rifle never requires the eligibility card or course.

$769
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Never touched by the SB25-003 permit pathway
  • +Low MSRP for a threaded, optic-ready bolt gun
  • +Suppressor-ready 6.5 Creedmoor host
  • Light sporter weight is not ideal for long PRS strings
  • Lower capacity than a chassis rifle
  • Less trigger and chassis depth than Remington 700 footprint rifles

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Carry Pistols SB25-003 Does Not Touch

The vast majority of carry pistols are unaffected by SB25-003. The law only reaches gas-operated semi-auto handguns with a detachable magazine, a narrow Desert Eagle-class category. Recoil-operated pistols, which covers nearly every modern carry gun, are ordinary purchases before and after August 1 with no eligibility card or course. The Glock 19, S&W M&P, and SIG P320 all clear the rule, and so do both carry-comp pistols below: the recoil-operated, internal-hammer Equalizer Carry Comp in 9mm and the striker-fired Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp in .380, both of which sit outside the specified-semiautomatic-firearm handgun definition. For a wider carry list, see our best concealed carry pistols guide and the best compensated carry pistols guide.

Carry Pistols SB25-003 Does Not Touch

SB25-003 only covers gas-operated semi-auto handguns with a detachable magazine, a Desert Eagle-class category. Recoil-operated carry pistols (the overwhelming majority, including these) are ordinary purchases before and after August 1.

1

Smith & Wesson S&W Performance Center Equalizer Carry Comp

Unaffected carry pistol. SB25-003 only covers gas-operated semi-auto handguns; this recoil-operated 9mm is an ordinary purchase before and after Aug 1.

$599
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Easiest-racking compensated 9mm on the market
  • +Three included magazines cover all carry modes
  • +Optic-ready Shield RMSc cut
  • Internal hammer has fewer aftermarket trigger options
  • Larger than P365-class subcompacts
  • Comp adds noise and concussion in confined spaces
2

Smith & Wesson S&W Performance Center Bodyguard 2.0 Carry Comp

Unaffected pocket carry. A recoil-operated .380 micro that the SSF handgun rule never reaches, so it transfers on any timeline.

$499
Shop at Classic Firearms
  • +Only factory-comped pocket .380 in production
  • +Class-leading capacity for the size
  • +AmeriGlo LumiGreen front sight
  • Comp adds OAL over the base Bodyguard 2.0; verify holster fit
  • Light frame still produces sharp recoil
  • .380 terminal performance trails 9mm carry comps

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Stock Up on Colorado-Legal Magazines

Buy 10- and 15-round magazines, which are Colorado-legal, and do not buy over-cap magazines. Colorado has capped detachable magazines at 15 rounds since 2013 under HB13-1224, and SB25-003 did not change that limit. SB25-003 raised the penalty for over-capacity magazines, but the line is exactly where it has been for more than a decade: 15 rounds is the ceiling. A Colorado buyer who wants spares should stock standard 15-round and smaller magazines, not the 30-round magazines sold in free-cap states.

For training and round count, magazine quantity still matters even at lower capacity. A range and home-defense rotation runs comfortably on six to eight 15-round AR-15 magazines; a carry pistol wants at least three flush-fit magazines so one is always loaded, one is on the gun, and one is in the wash of the rotation. The 10-round options below are flush, concealable, and unambiguously under the Colorado cap, which makes them the no-think pick when you want spares that are legal everywhere in the state.

Compatibility is per platform. The PMAG 10 AR/M4 GEN M3 feeds any standard STANAG-pattern AR-15, including every rifle in the top section that runs 5.56 on an AR lower. The SIG P365 10-round flush-fit magazine fits the P365 carry family. Match the magazine to the host; a STANAG AR magazine does not feed an AK or a pistol, and a P365 magazine does not feed a rifle.

Recommended Colorado-Legal Magazines

Magazines & Feeding • $14.19

Magpul PMAG 10 AR/M4 GEN M3 (5.56)

  • 10 rounds
  • 5.56x45 / .223
$14.19
View at OpticsPlanet
Magazines & Feeding • $58.79

SIG P365 10-Round Flush-Fit Magazine

  • 10 rounds
  • 9mm
$58.79
View at OpticsPlanet

Affiliate links (?)

What the Permit Process Looks Like After August 1

After August 1, 2026, buying a specified semiautomatic firearm runs through four steps before a dealer can transfer the gun. First, the buyer creates a profile in the CPW Firearm Safety System. Second, the buyer applies to the county sheriff for a five-year eligibility card, which requires a name-based background check and a fee. Third, the buyer completes an in-person state-certified safety course: a 4-hour Basic course if already hunter-education certified, otherwise a 12-hour Extended course, scoring 90 percent or higher on the final exam. Fourth, the dealer confirms eligibility before the transfer. The card and the course completion must fall within five years before the purchase.

None of this deregulates anything that already applied. The federal NICS background check, the 4473, and Colorado's existing transfer rules all remain. SB25-003 adds the permit and course on top of the existing process for new purchases of covered firearms. It does not touch guns you already own, does not create a registry of grandfathered guns, and does not require anyone to surrender a rifle. The practical takeaway is unchanged: if you want a detachable-mag semi-auto rifle or shotgun, the cleanest path is a standard 4473 before the August 1 deadline.

If a manually operated gun covers your use case, the lever and bolt guns above sidestep the pathway entirely, and recoil-operated carry pistols are never covered. Colorado residents weighing a state with a feature-based ban instead of a permit regime can compare the frameworks in our Virginia after SB 749 guide and Washington after HB 1240 guide. The legal mechanics differ state to state; the buying logic of acting before a deadline does not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SB25-003 ban AR-15s in Colorado?
No. SB25-003 does not ban possession or sale of AR-15s. Effective August 1, 2026, buying a semi-auto rifle with a detachable magazine (a specified semiautomatic firearm) requires a Colorado eligibility card from your county sheriff plus a state-certified safety course. A rifle transferred on a standard 4473 before August 1, 2026 is grandfathered with no permit, no course, and no registry.
Can I still buy a semi-auto rifle in Colorado after August 1, 2026?
Yes, but the process changes. After August 1, 2026 you must first create a CPW Firearm Safety System profile, obtain a five-year eligibility card from your county sheriff (name-based background check plus a fee), and complete an in-person state-certified safety course (4-hour Basic if you are hunter-education certified, otherwise 12-hour Extended) scoring 90 percent or higher on the final exam. The dealer confirms eligibility before transfer. Buying before August 1 on a standard 4473 skips all of that.
What is a specified semiautomatic firearm under SB25-003?
A specified semiautomatic firearm is a semi-auto rifle or semi-auto shotgun with a detachable magazine, or a gas-operated semi-auto handgun with a detachable magazine. The law excludes .22LR-and-lower rimfire (unless it has a separate upper and lower receiver), manually operated guns (bolt, pump, lever, slide), guns with a permanently fixed magazine of 15 rounds or fewer, recoil-operated semi-auto handguns, permanently inoperable guns, and antiques.
Are forced reset triggers legal in Colorado?
No. SB25-003 reclassified rapid-fire devices, including forced reset triggers, binary triggers, and bump stocks, as dangerous weapons effective on signing in 2025. Possession is a class 5 felony. These are already illegal in Colorado, they are not grandfathered, and there is no permit pathway. There is no buy-before window for rapid-fire devices.
Are Glock and SIG carry pistols affected by SB25-003?
No. SB25-003 only covers gas-operated semi-auto handguns with a detachable magazine, which is a small category roughly limited to Desert Eagle-class pistols. Recoil-operated pistols like the Glock 19, S&W M&P, and SIG P320 are not covered and remain ordinary purchases with no eligibility card or course required.
What magazines are legal in Colorado in 2026?
Colorado caps detachable magazines at 15 rounds, a limit in place since 2013 under HB13-1224. SB25-003 raised the penalty for over-capacity magazines but did not change the 15-round limit. Magazines of 15 rounds or fewer, including 10-round AR-15 and pistol magazines, are legal to buy.

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