Issuing Authority: Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Regulatory Authority: G.L. c. 140, §§ 123 and 131¾
MA REG. # 1309, Dated 3-25-16
Rules and regulations governing the inclusion of firearms, rifles, and shotguns on rosters of weapons referred to in G.L. c. 140, §§ 123 and 131¾.
Firearms that have passed the testing requirements of G.L. c. 140, § 123 (clauses 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st) as certified by approved independent testing laboratories.
Placement criteria (§ 7.04):
- Testing by approved independent testing laboratory (not owned by manufacturer or advocacy organization)
- Functional design equivalent of previously approved firearm
- Tests performed by another state with identical requirements
Testing requirements include:
- Clause 18th: Metal melting point (>900°F), tensile strength (>55,000 psi), density (>7.5 g/cc), or 600-round firing endurance test
- Clause 19th: Drop test (5 firearms, 7 positions each)
- Clause 20th: Not prone to firing more than once per trigger pull or explosion during firing
- Clause 21st: Barrel under 3 inches requires accuracy disclosure at 7, 14, and 21 yards
Compliance (§ 7.05): Any licensee selling a firearm not on the roster violates § 123, except for: (a) pre-10/21/1998 lawfully owned firearms; (b) gunsmith service/repair; (c) consignment returns; (d) formal target shooting roster firearms.
Appeals (§ 7.06): Petition within 90 days of denial/approval. Must include clear and convincing evidence from approved independent testing lab. Secretary responds within 45 days.
Publication (§ 7.07): Published periodically with effective date, supersedes notice, and disclaimer that AG's 940 CMR 16.00 Handgun Sales regulations also apply.
Current roster: Approved Handgun Roster, August 2026 (25 pages, 1,269 make/model/caliber entries across 47 manufacturers) — supersedes the March 2026 edition. Available at mass.gov/lists/approved-firearms-rosters.
Approved independent testing laboratories (§ 7.04, and the § 7.06 appeal evidence source): three as of August 2026 — .
Post-2024-Act scope: the roster remains handgun-only despite the broadened § 121 definition of "firearm." The FCAB Roster Subcommittee recommended against extending § 123 testing to rifles and shotguns — see FCAB memo.
List of large capacity firearms, rifles, and shotguns as defined by G.L. c. 140, § 121.
Key rule (§ 7.10): Weapons NOT listed on the Large Capacity Roster may still be large capacity weapons if they are semiautomatic and capable of accepting or readily modifiable to accept a large capacity feeding device.
Firearms designated as solely designed and sold for formal target shooting competition.
Placement criteria (§ 7.13):
- Manufacturer affidavit that firearm is solely designed/sold for formal target shooting
- Recognized by a national organization for formal target shooting competition
- Pistol: barrel length at least 4 inches; revolver: at least 5 inches
- Must have match grade adjustable rear sights or match grade optical target sighting system
- Pistol: 4+ match grade components (target trigger, custom barrel, ported barrel/compensator, custom barrel bushing, improved magazine well, extended slide release, target hammer, custom feed ramp, custom ejection port, custom extractor, target grips, trigger pull <4 lbs)
- Revolver: 3+ match grade components (target trigger, custom barrel, ported barrel/compensator, target hammer, target grips)
Publication (§ 7.15): Published biannually.
Current roster: Formal Target Shooting Firearms Roster, April 2026 (4 pages, 153 make/model/caliber entries across 18 manufacturers) — supersedes the March 2026 edition. Available at mass.gov/lists/approved-firearms-rosters.
Separately maintained under Section 26 of Chapter 284 of the Acts of 2014 (codified in G.L. c. 140, § 123). Contains firearms exempt from testing requirements, designated as qualifying competitive Olympic pistols.
Current roster: Olympic Competition Firearms Roster, May 2018 (4 pages, 116 make/model/caliber entries across 26 manufacturers, all .22 LR or .22 Short). ⚠ Eight years old against a stated bi-annual publication schedule — confirm no newer edition before relying on it. Available at mass.gov/lists/approved-firearms-rosters.