Elk River Guns

Colorado’s New Semi-Automatic Firearm Law (SB25-003), Explained

Colorado SB25-003 · Effective August 1, 2026

Colorado’s New Semi-Automatic Firearm Law, Explained

Starting August 1, buying most semi-automatic rifles in Colorado requires a sheriff-issued eligibility card and an in-person safety course. Here’s what’s covered, what isn’t, and how to buy before — and after — the deadline.

Last updated July 8, 2026 · Written for our customers, not lawyers.

In-store · Last day is July 27

Want one the simple way? Buy in-store before July 27.

Buy a covered semi-auto from us in-store under today’s rules — no eligibility card, no safety course — and the sale just has to be finished before the law takes effect on August 1. Because of background-check and waiting-period timing, Monday, July 27 is our last day to start an in-store sale on these. After that, in-store buyers follow the new state process below.

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What the law does

Senate Bill 25-003 prohibits manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm (SSF) in Colorado on or after August 1, 2026, unless the buyer has completed a new state eligibility-and-training process. It does not ban ownership, and it does not touch firearms you already have.

The one-sentence version: After August 1, you’ll need a sheriff-issued Firearms Eligibility Card and a passing grade in an in-person safety course before you can buy a covered semi-auto in Colorado.  See CPW’s official Firearms Safety Program page →

What’s covered — and what isn’t

Covered

  • Semi-automatic rifles with a detachable magazine
  • Semi-automatic shotguns with a detachable magazine
  • Gas-operated semi-auto handguns with a detachable magazine

Not covered

  • Bolt, pump, lever & slide actions
  • Rimfire .22 or smaller (unless separate upper & lower)
  • Fixed magazines of 15 rounds or fewer
  • Recoil-operated handguns — most semi-auto pistols
  • Permanently inoperable guns; qualifying antiques & C&R

Handgun shoppers: the vast majority of semi-auto pistols are recoil-operated and therefore exempt. Only gas-operated semi-auto handguns fall under the law.

Already own a covered firearm?

You’re unaffected. SB25-003 applies only to purchases and transfers on or after August 1, 2026. Anything lawfully in your possession before that date is grandfathered — no card, no course, no registration required to keep it.

Come shoot with us — then let’s get you squared away before the deadline.

How to buy an SSF after August 1

Each step unlocks the next: the card unlocks the course, and the certificate unlocks the purchase.

1

Apply through your county sheriff’s office. Submit the online application with a government photo ID and a completed name-based background check. If approved, the sheriff issues your Firearms Eligibility Card — which is what makes you eligible to take the course. An application fee applies whether or not you’re approved.

2

Complete the safety course and get your certificate. With your card, you sign up with a sheriff-verified instructor. The course is in-person only and you must pass the exam at 90% or better. Your certificate is what makes you eligible to buy — and it’s good for five years.

3

Buy through an FFL. Bring your card and certificate to a licensed dealer (that’s us). We confirm your course in the state system, run the CBI InstaCheck, and complete the transfer under all applicable state and federal law, including waiting periods.

The safety course — and the hunter-ed shortcut

Save yourself 8 hours

Get your Colorado hunter-education card first.

A CPW hunter-education card does not exempt you — you still take a safety course. But it changes which course you owe:

Have a hunter-ed card 4-hour Basic firearms safety course
No hunter-ed or prior course 12-hour Extended course, across at least two days

Either way you pass at 90%, and your hunter-ed credentials must be verified in CPW’s system. So step one for most people: knock out hunter education through Colorado Parks & Wildlife, then take the short course.

Training at the range with Elk River Guns

Local classes coming soon

Get first notice when class dates open.

A local instructor is setting up the required safety course. Get on our SB25-003 class list and we’ll email you the dates, locations, and how to sign up.

SB25-003 Class Interest

Buying online from us

Nothing changes with our online store. We continue to list and ship these firearms to your FFL nationwide, exactly as before. Colorado simply joins the list of states (like New York and California) where extra steps apply at transfer. Colorado residents completing a transfer after August 1 go through the eligibility-card and course process at the receiving FFL; out-of-state customers see no change at all.

Not sure where your rifle lands? Bring it by — we’ll tell you straight.

Quick reference

Effective date August 1, 2026
Our last in-store sale (old rules) Monday, July 27, 2026
Covered Semi-auto rifles/shotguns with detachable mags; gas-operated semi-auto handguns with detachable mags
Not covered Bolt/pump/lever/slide; .22 rimfire (no separate receivers); fixed mags ≤15; recoil-operated handguns; qualifying antiques/C&R
The sequence Sheriff eligibility card → safety course (90%) → certificate → buy at FFL
Course length 4-hour Basic (with hunter-ed) or 12-hour Extended (without)
Course validity 5 years
Already own one? Unaffected — grandfathered

Frequently asked questions

Is Colorado banning AR-15s?
No. SB25-003 does not ban ownership of AR-pattern or other semi-automatic rifles. It adds an eligibility-card and safety-course requirement before you can buy or transfer a covered firearm on or after August 1, 2026. Firearms you already own are unaffected.
What’s the deal with July 27 versus August 1?
The law takes effect August 1. To sell you a covered firearm in-store under the current process, the transaction — including the background check and any waiting period — needs to be complete before that date. To leave room for that, July 27 is our last day to start an in-store sale on these firearms.
Does a hunter-education card mean I can skip the course?
No. A hunter-ed card does not exempt you. It qualifies you for the shorter 4-hour Basic course instead of the 12-hour Extended course. You still have to complete the course and pass the exam at 90%.
Which comes first — the course or the sheriff?
The sheriff comes first. You apply through your county sheriff’s office and, if approved, they issue your Firearms Eligibility Card. That card is what makes you eligible to take the safety course. When you pass the course, your certificate is what makes you eligible to buy.
I already own a covered rifle. Do I need to do anything?
No. The law only applies to purchases and transfers on or after August 1, 2026. There’s no registration requirement for firearms you already possess.
Are handguns affected?
Only gas-operated semi-automatic handguns with a detachable magazine. Most semi-auto pistols are recoil-operated and are exempt.
Are .22 rifles covered?
Rimfire firearms of .22 caliber or smaller are exempt — unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver. A standard .22 plinker is fine; a .22 built on a separate-receiver platform may not be.
Can I still buy from your website after August 1?
Yes. We continue to list and ship these firearms nationwide to your FFL. Colorado buyers complete the new eligibility-card and course steps at the receiving dealer; out-of-state buyers are unaffected.
How long is the safety course good for?
Five years. After it expires, you’ll need to take another Basic course to purchase a covered firearm.
How much does all of this cost?
There’s a state Firearms Eligibility Record fee collected by the sheriff (set by the Parks and Wildlife Commission), any separate sheriff administrative fee, the private instructor’s course fee, and the usual FFL transfer/InstaCheck fee. The application fee is charged whether or not you’re approved. We’ll post current figures here as they’re confirmed.
Does a concealed-carry permit (CCW) count?
No. Background checks and courses taken for a CCW are not reciprocal for the Firearms Safety Program.
Where’s the official information?
Colorado Parks & Wildlife maintains the program page at cpw.state.co.us/specified-semiautomatic-firearms, hunter education at cpw.state.co.us/hunting/education-outreach, and the full bill text is at leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-003. Always confirm specifics with CPW and your county sheriff.

Beat the deadline — or get on the class list.

Shop in-store before July 27 to buy under today’s rules, or sign up above and we’ll walk you through the new process when classes open.

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This page is general information for our customers and is not legal advice. Senate Bill 25-003 and its implementation details are subject to change as Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the Department of Revenue, and county sheriffs finalize rules and fees. Verify all specifics with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (cpw.state.co.us) and your county sheriff before relying on them. Elk River Guns · 28610 US Hwy 40, Steamboat Springs, CO.