Massachusetts Approved Handgun Roster: August 2026 Update

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security publishes the Massachusetts Approved Handgun Roster and related rosters on its official roster page.^[1] The Approved Handgun Roster is the August 2026 edition.^[2]

What the Roster Controls

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 123 generally bars a licensed dealer from selling, renting, leasing, or transferring a handgun unless the model appears on the applicable approved roster or a statutory exception applies.^[3] The testing and roster process is governed by 501 CMR 7.00.^[4]

Separate Attorney General Rules

Roster placement does not by itself establish compliance with the Attorney General's handgun-sales regulations at 940 CMR 16.00. A Massachusetts licensed firearms dealer must check the current roster unless a statutory exception applies, and the roster itself notes that handgun transfers are also subject to the Attorney General's regulations, which listed firearms do not necessarily meet.

How to Verify a Model

• Use the official EOPSS roster page, not an old downloaded copy.
• Match the manufacturer, model, caliber, and any listed configuration exactly.
• Check whether a statutory exception applies before treating an unlisted handgun as transferable.
• Document the roster edition and the date checked in the transaction file.