Are AR pistols legal in Colorado?
Last verified against primary sources: · Updated
Yes — AR-pattern pistols are legal to own in Colorado. As gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines, they are "specified semiautomatic firearms" under SB25-003, so from August 1, 2026 buying one requires the state's new eligibility-card and safety-course pathway.
Possessing an AR pistol you already own stays legal, with no registration requirement — the same as an AR-15 rifle.
Why AR pistols are covered
SB25-003's covered-firearm definition includes gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines:
"Specified semiautomatic firearm" means any of the following, except as provided in subsection (1)(d)(II) of this section: (A) a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine; or (B) a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine.
An AR-pattern pistol is a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun that feeds from a detachable magazine, so it falls under clause (B). The statute defines "gas-operated semiautomatic handgun" (§ 18-12-116(1)(c)) by five technical operating-system types — long-stroke piston, short-stroke piston, direct-impingement, hybrid, and blowback-operated systems. Blowback is expressly one of the listed "gas-operated" categories, so a blowback-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine is also covered.
This is why AR pistols land differently from ordinary handguns: most common pistols (recoil-operated single- or double-action semiautos, and revolvers) are outside the definition, but AR-style pistols, being gas-operated, are inside it.
The .22 rimfire nuance
A small-caliber exemption exists, but with a catch that matters for AR-pattern guns:
"Specified semiautomatic firearm" does not include: (A) a firearm designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 or lower caliber rimfire ammunition, unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver.
So an ordinary .22 rimfire semiauto is exempt — but the exemption is lost if the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver. An AR-pattern .22 clone has that separated-receiver design, so it remains covered even in rimfire.
What this means in practice
From August 1, 2026, buying an AR pistol in Colorado requires the safety-course pathway: an eligibility card from your county sheriff, the $52 state course-record fee plus county and instructor fees, and either a 4-hour basic course (with a hunter-education certificate) or a 12-hour extended course, ending with a 90% exam and a hands-on demonstration. Owning an AR pistol you already have is unaffected, and Colorado's 15-round magazine limit applies as usual.
Court challenge, status as of July 20, 2026: SB25-003's eligibility-card scheme is being challenged in federal court (Del Toro v. Polis, D. Colo., No. 1:25-cv-02725, filed Sept. 2, 2025). As of our last check, no injunction blocks any part of the law and August 1, 2026 remains the operative date. Court status is sourced from case-tracking services and news reporting, not court orders directly, and can change quickly.
Common questions
Are AR pistols legal to own in Colorado?
Yes. There is no ban on possessing an AR-pattern pistol in Colorado and no registration requirement. SB25-003 restricts buying and selling them starting August 1, 2026, not owning ones you already have.
Are AR pistols covered by the August 2026 purchase rules?
Yes. An AR pistol is a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine, which is a "specified semiautomatic firearm" under C.R.S. § 18-12-116(1)(d)(I)(B). From August 1, 2026, buying one requires the eligibility-card and safety-course pathway.
Why are AR pistols covered when most handguns are not?
Because AR pistols are gas-operated. The definition covers gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines; ordinary recoil-operated pistols and revolvers fall outside it. The statute lists blowback among the covered "gas-operated" operating systems.
Is a .22 AR pistol exempt in Colorado?
No. A .22 or lower rimfire firearm is exempt only if it does not have a separate upper and lower receiver. An AR-pattern .22 has that separated-receiver design, so it remains a covered "specified semiautomatic firearm."
What do I need to buy an AR pistol after August 1, 2026?
An eligibility card from your county sheriff plus completion of the required in-person safety course (4-hour basic with a hunter-education certificate, otherwise 12-hour extended), then the normal background check, 3-day wait, age 21, and 15-round magazine rules.