Updated August 2024: Added all new models and latest updates to legislation.
After taking a break since Freedom Week back in 2019, California gun owners finally have another reason to celebrate! New guns are finally starting to be added to the dreaded Handgun Roster!
Guns like the Sig P320 M18, Sig P365, and Springfield Armory Hellcat are now available for purchase from your favorite FFL in California!
Being able to buy 10-year-old guns doesn’t seem like a big deal to those in “free states,” but until recently, the only way to purchase something new in California was through private party transfers. (That often meant used guns at an inflated price.)
But with a change to the law, the roster has grown. So we’ve updated our list of the best guns on the California Roster (so far) to bring you the best of the best the roster list has to offer.
Keep reading!
THE QUICK LIST
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Editoru0026#39;s Pick
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Best Red Dot Ready
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Best Ergonomics
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Best Modular Pistol
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Best Metal Framed
Table of Contents
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Best California Roster Guns
1. Glock 17/19 Gen 3 – Editor’s Pick
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Lots of aftermarket support
- Reliability proven
- Fieldstrips without tools
Cons
- Plastic sights
- Mediocre trigger
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Safety: Trigger Safety
- Weight: 24.87 oz
- Barrel Length: 4.49” (G17), 4.02″ (G19)
- Overall Length: 8.03” (G17), 7.36″ (G19)
No list of California handguns (or any list, really) would be complete without mentioning the tried-and-true Glock 17 and 19 that’s been a staple of law enforcement for decades.
Of course, since it’s California, we’re talking about the Gen 3 Glocks introduced in 1998, not the fancy new Gen 5s with their MOS this and backstrap that.
Thanks to their (forced) popularity, though, the Gen 3 Glocks enjoy a huge aftermarket. Issues like not having a MOS version can be solved by swapping out the factory slide for one of many pre-milled slide options.
The difference between the 17 and 19 when it comes to California-compliant versions is really just the size, with the 19 being easier to conceal due to its compact size.
Unless you were lucky enough to legally purchase standard-capacity rounds during Freedom Week, both the 17 and 19 will feed from a 10-round mag. The lucky few will benefit from the 15-round mag of the Glock 19 and the 17-round mag of the Glock 17.
With that said, it really just comes down to what fits your hands best and can hide under your shirt the easiest.
You can read our reviews of the Glock 17 and Glock 19 for more info.
2. Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP – Best Red Dot Ready Pistol
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Great for concealment
- Easy to shoot
- Optics ready
Cons
- May be too small for larger hands
- Not a ton of aftermarket support
- Snappy recoil
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Weight: 17.9 oz
- Barrel Length: 3”
- Overall Length: 6”
- Features: Optics ready slide, Tritium U-Dot sights
With the release of modern micro-compact firearms into the California market, guns like the Springfield Hellcat are the perfect choice for those who were previously limited to small guns, accommodating only six rounds or less.
With its thin grip and 10-round capacity, the Hellcat is a great option for a micro-compact. Add to that the optics-ready slide and you’ve got a strong alternative to the P365.
Being a micro-compact has its tradeoffs, with a much stronger kick than larger handguns. The Hellcat also lacks the modularity of the P365, so aftermarket options aren’t as great.
Overall, the Hellcat is a great option, with the Hellcat Pro worth considering if you’re looking for something a little bit bigger.
We have more in our review of the Hellcat!
What do you think of the Hellcat? Rate it below!
3. Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 – Best Ergonomics
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Accurate
- Reliable
- Good ergonomics
Cons
- Lack of full front slide serrations
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Weight: 24.7 oz
- Barrel Length: 4.25”
- Overall Length: 7.4”
- Features: Aggressive grip texture, Interchangeable backstraps
With its great ergonomics and option of interchangeable backstraps, the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 is a great option for those looking to change things up from the reliable but sometimes boring world of Glocks.
The downside of the M&P 2.0 is that, for whatever reason, the optics-ready version is not available (yet?) in California. Like Gen 3 Glocks, you’ll have to have the slide milled out or find a pre-milled slide to install in order to get that RDS on your 2.0.
Unlike Glocks, however, the aftermarket is not nearly as developed, so it might cost a bit more to get that optic mounted. On the bright side, you’re sure to find a grip that will suit your needs, given the different backstraps that come in the box.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with Smith & Wesson. Though it might not be the ideal handgun for a CCW situation, it is definitely fun to shoot and can punch paper, as can the rest of them.
Do we have a review? You betcha! Read up on the S&W M&P9 M2.0 in our written review.
4. Beretta PX4 Storm – Best DA/SA
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Rotary barrel reduces recoil
- Awesome trigger
- Easy to shoot
Cons
- Subcompact model doesn't have rotary barrel
- Double action is okay (single action is better)
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm or .40 S&W
- Action: DA/SA
- Weight: 27.7 oz
- Barrel Length: 4”
- Overall Length: 7.55”
- Features: Interchangeable backstraps, Ambidextrous slide release and safety
Unlike most of the guns on this list, the PX4 Storm is a double/single-action hammer-fired gun, so the initial trigger press will take some getting used to compared to all the striker-fired guns on our list.
Like the Glocks and M&P 2.0, the PX4 Storm doesn’t come optics-ready, which seems to be an oversight in today’s market. This is probably not as big a deal in California, where the idea of a pistol RDS is not as common as in free states.
The Storm makes up for that shortcoming with its reduced recoil. Beretta’s fancy rotary barrel technology, which helps reduce recoil and muzzle jump, and interchangeable backstraps make a great handgun.
While hammer-fired handguns are not everyone’s cup of tea, they’re definitely worth checking out if you like them. If not, we’ll just call it your “experimental phase” and promise not to bring it up too much.
We reviewed the PX4 Storm Compact, so head over there for more on this pistol.
5. Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro Comp – Best Modular Pistol
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Class-leading capacity
- Reduced muzzle flip
- Easier draw from concealment
Cons
- Mag can hang up on big hands
- Slightly harder to conceal
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Weight: 21.5 oz
- Barrel Length: 3.1”
- Overall Length: 6.6”
- Features: Integrated compressor, Optics ready slide, XRAY day/night sights
Following in the footsteps of the P320, the ever-popular P365 finally made its way to California! As with all the new California-compliant guns, the LCI and MDM come standard.
One huge benefit of guns introduced in the last few years is the optics-ready slide, with the X-Macro ready to take on any RDS you have right out of the box. What also makes this gun appealing is its thin profile, making it easy to see why it’s been popular with the CCW community.
It’s important to point out that one of the main draws of the standard X-Macro is its size compared to its ammo capacity. That isn’t the case here in the California version, which is limited to 10 rounds.
Still, compared to the standard P365, which is also available in California, the X-Macro is slightly longer and has less of a kick than its micro-compact cousin.
Check out the Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro Comp review for even more deets.
Honorable Mentions
Editor’s Note: These are guns that our editors felt were worth mentioning and that are also good options when shopping the roster.
6. CZ P-01 – Best Metal Framed Pistol
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Easy to conceal
- Awesome ergonomics
- Shoots great
Cons
- Limited holster options if you carry with a red dot
- DA/SA trigger might not be for everyone
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Action: DA/SA
- Weight: 28.1 oz
- Barrel Length: 3.75”
- Overall Length: 7.2”
- Features: Accessory rail, Decocker
We’re big fans of CZ pistols and that’s because they tend to work. If you want to forgo the polymer world of Glock, the CZ P-01 is a fantastic option.
First off, we have to mention its ergonomics. This gun feels great in the hand – regardless of your hand size. It’s comfortable to shoot, and though it’s compact, it handles more like a full-size in all the best ways.
It’s also pretty accurate whether you’re shooting with a red dot or irons. Reliability-wise, we’ve run this one with everything from steel-cased to high-end self-defense rounds and haven’t had a slip-up yet. We’ve put 2,500+ rounds through it and still haven’t had any failures of any kind.
If you love a good DA/SA option and want to avoid the polymer craze, the tried-and-true CZ P-01 is the answer.
Read more about what the CZ P-01 has to offer in our full review.
7. Bersa Firestorm -Best Budget-Friendly Pistol
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Pros
- Affordable
- Reliable
- Solid Trigger
Cons
- Snappy recoil
- Expensive OEM magazines
Specs
- Caliber: .380 ACP
- Action: DA/SA
- Safety: Integral locking system & manual safety
- Weight: 20 oz
- Barrel Length: 3.5”
- Overall Length: 6.6”
- Features: Rubber-wrapped grips, Manual safety
The Bersa Firestorm is a nifty .380 ACP primed for carry. Opting for a DA/SA single-stack design, it boasts a great trigger.
Sights are Glock-esque but that means they are pretty easy to see while shooting. Though some might balk at the idea of a .380 ACP, we find it’s a solid caliber that has its merits.
While the Firestorm is not known for being a high-end pistol by any means, it functions well out of the box and has a nice feel and finish to it. It’s what we would call a value! You won’t be disappointed, is what we’re trying to say.
We have a full review of the Bersa Firestorm if you’re interested in learning more.
8. Wilson Combat 1911
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Prices accurate at time of writing
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Specs
- Caliber: .45 ACP
- Action: SA
- Weight: Varies based on model
- Barrel Length: Varies based on model
- Overall Length: Varies based on model
If a 1911 is more your speed and you don’t mind dropping some cash to get one, we recommend taking a look at Wilson Combats 1911s.
These guns are simply amazing when it comes to performance. They run well, look elegant, and have a high-quality look and feel to them. Not to mention, the Wilson Combat triggers feel fantastic! These guns are reliable and run well. You won’t be disappointed with the performance.
The downside? Price. For a Wilson Combat 1911 model on the roster list, you’re looking at over $3,000+. For more gun owners, that price tag is a stretch.
But if you have some extra dough lying around and you’re dying for one of the best 1911s on the market, then the Wilson Combat 1911 series is definitely worth it.
California Handgun Roster Explained
Disclaimer: While the information provided here is legal in nature, it is not to be construed as legal advice and is for educational and entertainment purposes only.
Back in 2001, California legislators passed what is commonly referred to as the Unsafe Handgun Act. The law essentially designated every handgun that wasn’t tested and approved by the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) to be “unsafe” and thus illegal for retail sale (i.e., purchasing from an FFL).
While there were some carve-outs for handguns falling into the curios and relics category, as well as “single shot” handguns (i.e. handguns that are not capable of chambering a round after firing), the only exceptions when it came to the purchase of standard revolvers and semi-automatic pistols were sales to law enforcement officers and sales occurring through private party transfers.
Even to this day, the latest version of the popular Glock 17 and Glock 19 handguns available in California are the Gen 3 Glocks, which were first introduced in 1998.
Putting aside the question of whether restricting the types of firearms allowed for purchase violates the 2nd Amendment, the Handgun Roster wasn’t nearly as restrictive when it first came into being.
To determine whether a handgun was “safe,” revolvers and pistols needed to pass a series of tests. Tests included drop and firing tests to ensure the firearm would not go off on its own when dropped and would not malfunction when fired.
The kicker, however, is that beyond those two tests, revolvers and pistols were required to have additional safety features, many of which were added on throughout the years.
Additional Requirements
For revolvers, the requirement is just a safety feature that causes the hammer to retract so the firing pin doesn’t rest on the primer of the round. Essentially, any revolver would have this type of safety feature already, so this isn’t a huge deal.
When it comes to pistols, however, all semiautomatic pistols must:
- 1) have a loaded chamber indicator (LCI) if it is a centerfire pistol, i.e. some type of mechanism to indicate there is a round in the chamber,
- 2) have a magazine disconnect mechanism (MDM) to prevent the pistol from firing when there is no magazine seated, and
- 3) be able to imprint a series of characters on each cartridge casing when the round is fired, i.e. “microstamping.”
The LCI and MDM requirements were added in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and the microstamping requirement was put into place in 2010. However, the technology for microstamping wasn’t actually available at the time.
That requirement was delayed and went into effect in 2013 when the CA DOJ decided on its own that microstamping was feasible to include in pistols.
Microstamping
Since the microstamping requirement went into effect, new semiautomatic pistols could not be added to the handgun roster, simply due to the fact it was not possible to implement such a feature.
When the inventor of microstamping technology expresses doubt about the feasibility of his own invention, it’s probably a good indicator that it isn’t ready for prime time, let alone ready to be made a legal requirement for all commercially available handguns.
A firing pin demonstrates different microstamping concepts (Photo: David Howitt, Frederic Tulleners, and Michael Beddow/University of California, Davis).
Because no guns could meet the microstamping requirement and thus could not be approved and added to the Handgun Roster, every new semiautomatic pistol introduced since 2013 was “off-roster,” i.e., not approved as “safe” by the CA DOJ.
Without the option to purchase from an FFL, California residents can only purchase any off-roster pistol from an individual who legally acquired it in the first place — typically a law enforcement officer or someone who moved into CA with their previously purchased firearms.
Boland vs Bonta: What This Means for California Gun Owners
With the Supreme Court ruling in Bruen, states like California have been having a tougher time enforcing firearms regulations.
In March 2024, following the guidance from Bruen, U.S. District Judge Carney struck down the California Handgun Roster’s LCI, MDM, and microstamping requirements, labeling them unconstitutional in Boland vs. Bonta.
As expected, the CA DOJ asked for the decision to be stayed pending an appeal. (Translation: they asked the court to prevent the decision from taking effect until a final decision after the case has been appealed).
What was surprising was that the CA DOJ did NOT seek a stay on the microstamping requirement — only the LCI and MDM requirements. In other words, this meant the microstamping rule was null and void.
While the elimination of the microstamping requirement is definitely good news, the California legislature quickly decided to address microstamping another way: passing a law for the microstamping requirement to take effect in 2028 if the technology is available by then.
In the meantime, what this means for California gun owners is that manufacturers like Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory are able to come up with California-compliant versions of their popular pistols by including the LCI and MDM features without having to include microstamping.
Unfortunately, magazine size is still limited to 10 rounds.
Final Thoughts
Even just a year ago the idea of ever seeing a P365 or Hellcat straight from the factory seemed impossible. Thanks to the hard work of 2A groups along with firearms retailers around the state, gun owners in California now have more options to choose from.
One important thing to keep in mind is that because of the ongoing lawsuits against the Handgun Roster in California, the list of available guns continues to evolve every few months as manufacturers modify their existing guns to meet the requirements of the California market.
If you don’t see your favorite gun on the Handgun Roster, check the Recently Added page of the California Bureau of Firearms every so often to see if it’s been added.
What is your favorite CA roster handgun? Is something off-roster worth 2x MSRP to you? Let us know in the comments! Ready to buy a gun? Check out How to Buy a Gun in California.
43 Leave a Reply
Thank you
Going to buy a handgun tomorrow so I can get some fuc@#$& ammo.
Pleasantly surprised to see the Beretta PX4 Storm on the approved list!
What the CA DOJ will allow you to purchase is up for grabs.
Yes, they publish a list, but everything the do is subject to whatever whim of the day they imagine.
There are restrictions of what you can purchase in the state, but whether it’s new or used is a matter of their opinion of the day — and those opinions are very subjective. California losses one battle after another in the CA and US Supreme Courts, but California continues to act in contravention of the law, The limits of magazine capacity is a good example of that.
Firearms dealers are subject to these whims and the DOJ regularly confiscates “legal” firearms that someone in Sacramento decides that shouldn’t be sold. They have a list of firearms you can’t own as per their whims, their statute dujours, They run their state in contempt of the laws, subjectively and without accountability — and don’t mind confiscation of an individual’s firearms knowing that many people don’t have the money to fight them in court. They’ll keep doing this as long as gun owners don’t fight them.
This is probably an over asked question, but can I legally own a handgun that is not on the CA roster? I currently have a Savage 1911, Kimber Ultra Carry II, and a Walter 1911 in .22. Only one of those is on the roster, but all of them meet the requirements. Less than ten rounds and no threaded barrel. Is there an exception for Military? It looks like I’ll end up stationed at Pendleton sooner or later.
Yes you can own handguns that aren't on the roster. The roster only applies to new handguns for sale. There are registration requirements for people moving into ca, suggest you google ca. dept of justice, subsection firearms. This section also covers members of the military being stationed in ca. Due to ever changing political landscape here in ca, I'd try and leave my guns with someone out of state.
So I can’t buy those guns new? What if I were to bring them in from my current home state of VA?
If the handguns you currently have are on the ca. roster then yes you could buy new ones here in ca. Again check the ca. doj website for a list of what's available. Also you can bring your guns with you if moving into ca, just be aware that ca. law requires you to register them with the state. Again the doj website will have the full particulars regarding registration.
You reviewed the Bersa Firestorm, but you put an ad up for the Bersa Thunder.
To see the Firestorm, go to Palmetto State Armory's website and search for this:
Bersa Firestorm 3.5" .380 ACP 7 Round Pistol, Black - FS380M
Then click on the gun that doesn't have the trigger lock on the side.
Curious about the “there are only a couple not great 1911 in 9mm” comment - could you say more about that? I was looking for a 1911 in 9mm and finding myself frustrated by the lack of options
I love my HK P2000.
Thanks for giving the Bersa some love. I have a Firestorm and it is a tack driver, no joke. All the haters talk about metallurgy issues, well Bersa was founded by 3 Italian engineers from Berreta who immigrated to Argentina. I trust them more than some rich kid YouTube Glock boys.
This list is definitely out of date now. With the S&W Sd9ve off the list, only the sd40ve remains. The M&P 2.0’s are now on the list with a new Sig and a version of the Ruger Max 9.
We're working on an update to this as we speak!
Can we show some love to those stuck in Cali and have that updated list? It would be nice to have to something to reference for showing friends. Because the anti-roster lawsuit is never ending.
Just got a rewrite in from our CA writer and I am working on editing it as we speak! Should have it rolled out on the site by the end of this week. Thanks for the patience!
HK P30L , hands down. Oh wait a minute, hands up.
This article is only half useful. Top ten? It should be about three. What about the carrying rig? A great gun is essentially useless for concealed carry if you can't find a practical carry holster that suits your needs. Very few of the guns on this list have any substantial market for concealed carry holsters. Outside of the top 3 or 4 most popular ones, you can just forget about choices like kydex or leather, IWB/OWB, left hand/right hand, light/no light, active/passive retention, etc. You'll be lucky just to find ANY holster that fits well. Really, there are only a handful of practical carry combinations of gun and holster - definitely not 10.
Ruger EC9S? 7+1 single stack, inexpensive, and reliable.
Beretta PX4 should also be on the list. Great quality polymer hammer fired in 9mm, 40sw and 45 acp.
All that money being saved not being able to buy what the rest of the nation can buy is going into the CA government's pocket. So, we're not really saving anything.
The CA roster of approved handgun is a joke. The state claimed it’s for safety but it’s an underhanded way the state of California disarmed its citizens through legislation. One of the safety requirements for a handgun to be on the roster is microstamping which is a technology which does not exist. Anyway, this law and several others are being challenged in federal courts for being unconstitutional thanks to a recent landmark SCOTUS decision in Bruen.
What is the difference between a handgun and a hammer
My EDC is a S&W shield 40 with the Apex trigger and the duty/carry upgrade kit, an aftermarket barrel and trijicon night sights. Now that I've upgraded it pretty much as much as I can, I love it! I could have just saved up and got a Sig or a CZ but I'm happy with what I have. It's accurate and dependable and now has a great trigger. And it fits in my pocket, if I want to pocket carry.
The Shield + Apex combo is a good one!
My CA roster EDC is a Sig SP2022. I think if it as my DA/SA hammer fired P320. They have very similar dimensions, it works for a left handed shooter and it's lighter than a P226. European military and LE tested and proven.
Thank you for posting! Im picking up my G34 Gen 3 this Friday. Im excited to finally be able to shoot in California… been a long time coming.
P229 and any S&W J frame should be at the top of this list.
I know it must be very hard to get this list down to 10, BUT, by not having the H&K P2000/P2000sk (the only other other sub compact next to the Shield that superior quality) as one of the top picks is sin-full. I would take the Bersa/S&W SD off and put the P2000/P2000sk as one of the top, as well as, the Springfield XD line. As well, within the Sig part where you have the P220/226, why not include the P229? Make the Bersa and SD a special mentioned, budget friendly category after the top 10.
FYI, the Bersa Firestorm .380 came off the roster this year.
I bought the SD9VE for my first gun in early 2021. Yeah, the trigger sucks, but it's otherwise a great gun. Accurate, reliable, feels good in the hand, and I personally find the two-tone look sexy.
Its back on. The back story to that was the morons at the CA DOJ didn't process the annual payment in time that Bersa is forced to pay annually. Same happened with H&K at the beginning of the year. Every HK fell off roster for about a week before someone decided to accept payment.
The USP series is still off the roster. Only HK’s available are the p2000/k’s unfortunately
I'm getting frustrated... I had my Walther PPKS stolen about 2 years ago...my best carry pistol. But the PPKS was heavy and I am older so I need a lighter weight small pistol .380...since I have a quantity of .380 ammo left over. Bursa...Tarus... springfield... all would be excellent! But living in CA... I am running into a brick wall...even to find any of these even AVAILABLE from Dealers. Any suggestions??? Kirt Salisbury Livermore, ca
Don't overlook Kahr Arms. As small as they come and their whole line designed for CCW. And, made in Nevada! It's a little surprising that one of their models wasn't among the top 10 list here.
Yeah. I own the CW9. It's incredibly comfortable in the hand and has magazines with an extension that gives it a longer grip. Very smooth double action trigger and well priced for California. Kahr has plenty of other choices as well. And while some might argue the single stack magazine is inferior to the double stack, the arbitrary magazine ammo limit and the shrinking list of options for CCW pistols make it an excellent contender for quality carry pistol selections.
Late response but when I was still living in the People's Republic of Commiefornia I picked up a Springfield EMP. It's a compact, 9mm 1911 that's on the roster. Kind of expensive but it's been reliable so far and it's small enough to be concealed with no problems, other than it's relative heft (get a good belt and holster to support it). The light trigger lends itself to good accuracy from such a small pistol and it's pretty good looking - doesn't mean much but it is very eye catching when I'm with friends or family at the range.
Where are all of the revolvers on the list? S&W 627 pro series, Ruger GP100 and so on
I couldn’t live there. Period.
Other Gen 3 GLOCKS available include the 36 and 30SF
We have both the 226 and 19. both are really good guns. but we also have a fmk and that is almost as good as the glock for about $200 less.
"The only way around the roster is to find a California resident that owns the gun you want and make a private sale for it, or be exempt yourself from the roster — and that’s LEO only." --you failed to mention an interstate, intra-familial transfer (e.g. have a parent in another state gift you a non-CA roster handgun). Pretty close family ties are required - has to be parent or grandparent I think, I seem to remember aunts/uncles are excluded. Internet search will give you all the specifics.
I’m going to add HK USPs. I know their design is a bit dated, but they great shooters!
It really is a fine gun. One of the best first time guns you can get really, and good for many years after into intermediate and advanced.
You should also mention the Springfield XD Gen 1 series of handguns. They are usually less expensive than the Glock models, and if your like me and don't care for the finger grooves and grip angle on the Glock Gen 3's, they're a solid alternative. They are available in 3" compact, 4" service, and 5" tactical models.