Real build data, Q3 2026
Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2026Every ranking on this page comes from parts real builders added to their builds on GunPartPicker, Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2026. A pick counts each time a builder adds the part to a build in our builder, filed under the part's own category. Prices and stock are checked daily across every store we track. No surveys, no search trends, no sponsored picks.
Quick picks
Live prices- 1
Most addedPSA AR-15 Blem "Stealth" Stripped Lower ReceiverPicked by hundreds of builders in Q3 2026/1 store/In stock - 2
Also popularSmith & Wesson Sw M&P15 Stripped Lower Receiver 5.56mmPicked by hundreds of builders in Q3 2026/7 stores/In stock - 3
Also popularBravo Company Manufacturing Complete AR-15 Lower Receiver Assembly - FDE Furniture7 stores/In stock - 4
Also popularDaniel Defense DDM4 V7 5.56 Semi-Automatic Rifle, Brown - 02-128-02338-0477 stores/In stock
How we pick: ranked by how often builders added each part to a real build on GunPartPicker in Q3 2026, in stock parts first, then by tier. Prices and stock are checked daily across every store we track.
What SB25-003 Actually Does
Colorado's SB25-003 took effect on August 1, 2026. Despite years of "Colorado gun ban" headlines, the law that actually passed is not a ban — it's an eligibility-and-training requirement. To buy or transfer most semi-automatic firearms that accept a detachable magazine, you now have to complete a state-approved firearms safety course and obtain an eligibility card first.
The bill was introduced as a hard ban on the sale of detachable-magazine semi-autos, then amended during the 2025 session into the permit-and-training model that Governor Polis signed on April 10, 2025. Firearms you already lawfully own are not affected — the law does not restrict simply keeping or using them.
SB25-003 at a glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Safety Course | Required |
| Eligibility Card | New Step |
| Existing Guns | Grandfathered |
| Magazine Cap | 15 Rounds |
The New Purchase Process
Under the old rules, buying an AR-15 in Colorado meant a standard background check at an FFL. As of August 1, 2026, buying a covered semi-auto is a multi-step process:
- Take a state-approved safety course. Colorado authorizes a basic and an extended course covering safe handling, secure storage, and state law.
- Get your eligibility card. After the course, you apply through your county sheriff, who verifies eligibility and issues the card.
- Buy at an FFL. Present the card, pass the standard background check, and complete the purchase like normal.
What To Buy: Rifles Worth The Extra Step
Because the process now takes real effort, most Colorado buyers are consolidating around one quality rifle instead of several impulse buys. These are the platforms that reward the investment.
Premium Tier ($1,300–$2,000)
Buy-once rifles from the most-trusted names — the ones you keep for decades:
The Geissele Super Duty and Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 are the two most-recommended complete rifles in the AR-15 community — cold-hammer-forged barrels, properly staked gas keys, and mid-length gas for a smooth-shooting 16" gun.
Budget & Mid Tier ($500–$900)
Completely reliable rifles that leave budget for the course, ammo, and magazines:
No stores yet
The PSA Guardsman-15 stands out for shipping with mid-length gas — the spec experienced shooters recommend for a softer-shooting 16" rifle. The IWI Zion-15 is a step up in fit and finish that still lands under most premium rifles.
Don't Forget Magazines
Colorado has capped magazines at 15 rounds since 2013 — that part isn't new. What SB25-003 changed is the penalty: selling, transferring, or possessing a magazine over 15 rounds is now a class 1 misdemeanor. Standard 30-round AR magazines are not sold at retail in the state.
Brands You'll Actually Find
The AR-15 brands with the deepest complete-rifle selection on GunPartPicker — a solid proxy for what's widely stocked, supported, and easy to find in stock:
Top AR-15 Rifle Brands by Catalog Share
Share of complete rifles among the top brands on GunPartPicker
| Item | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| CMMG | 33% |
| Daniel Defense | 18% |
| Palmetto State Armory | 14% |
| POF-USA | 12% |
| Smith & Wesson | 8% |
| Geissele | 7% |
| Ruger | 4% |
| Bravo Company | 3% |
Your Compliance Checklist
Everything to line up, in order:
In order, before you buy
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Safety Course | #1 |
| Eligibility Card | #2 |
| Choose Your Rifle | #3 |
| 15-Round Mags | #4 |
What's Serialized — And What Isn't
Colorado's course-and-eligibility requirement attaches to the firearm, and on an AR-15 exactly one part is legally the firearm. Knowing which is which tells you precisely which purchases run through the new process and which you can still order straight to your door.
Goes through an FFL — the serialized firearm:
- Lower receiver (stripped or complete) — this is the serial-numbered part; legally, it is the rifle
- Any complete rifle — it's built on a serialized lower
Not serialized — ships to your door, no FFL:
- Upper receiver — stripped or complete, including the barrel, bolt carrier group, and handguard
- Barrels, bolt carrier groups, handguards
- Stocks, buffer tubes, triggers, gas blocks and gas tubes
- Muzzle devices, charging handles, grips
The takeaway: the expensive, performance-defining half of an AR-15 — the complete upper — is not serialized. You can order a premium upper online with no eligibility step and pair it with a single serialized lower you acquire through the new process. That's what makes the "quality upper + budget lower" route so efficient here.
If you're building, start with the serialized lower — this is the part that runs through the course-and-card process:
Picked by hundreds of builders in Q3 2026/In stock
Picked by hundreds of builders in Q3 2026/In stock
In stock
Then finish it with a complete upper — not serialized, so it ships to your door with the barrel, BCG, and handguard already installed:
The Bottom Line
Colorado did not ban the AR-15. It made buying one a deliberate process: take the course, get your eligibility card, then buy at an FFL like normal. The practical takeaway is to buy quality once — get the training done, pick a rifle you'll keep, and stock compliant 15-round magazines. What you already own is grandfathered and stays yours.
Filed underAR-15/5.56 NATO/Lower Receivers/Buyer's Guide/Explainer
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Did Colorado ban the AR-15 with SB25-003?
- No. SB25-003 (effective August 1, 2026) requires a state-approved safety course and an eligibility card to purchase most semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine, but it does not ban them and does not restrict firearms you already own.
What do I need to buy a semi-auto rifle in Colorado now?
- Three things: a completed state-approved firearms safety course, an eligibility card issued through your county sheriff, and a standard FFL background check at the point of purchase.
Does SB25-003 affect guns I already own?
- No. Existing owners are grandfathered. The law does not restrict possessing or using firearms you lawfully owned before August 1, 2026 — it governs new purchases and transfers.
What is the magazine limit in Colorado?
- 15 rounds. That cap has existed since 2013; SB25-003 raised the penalty for selling, transferring, or possessing an over-capacity magazine to a class 1 misdemeanor. Buy 15-round or smaller magazines in-state.
Can I still build an AR-15 from a stripped lower?
- Yes, but the stripped lower is the serialized firearm, so the same course-and-eligibility purchase requirement applies to buying it. Non-serialized parts like uppers, barrels, and handguards are not subject to that step.
How long does the new process take?
- Longer than a same-day purchase. Budget time for the safety course and the county sheriff's eligibility-card step. If you plan to buy in the next year, start the course early so the card is ready when you are.
Are bolt-action or pump rifles affected?
- The requirement targets semi-automatic firearms that accept a detachable magazine. Firearms outside that definition are generally not covered, but confirm specifics with your FFL before you buy.
Written by
GPP Editorial TeamAR Build Specialists
GunPartPicker guides are powered by data from real builds. What builders actually select tells the story.
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Tools for this guide
- Legal toolGun Travel CheckerCan I bring my gun to another state? Pick where you start, where you are going and what is coming along: carry pistol, AR-15, magazines, suppressor, SBR, brace, forced reset or binary trigger, hollow points. Every state on the route is checked for transporting firearms across state lines: magazine limits, assault weapon bans, NFA rules, carry permit type and trigger bans, with what to do before the state line.
- Planning toolAR Build Cost CalculatorHow much does it cost to build an AR-15? Pick caliber, barrel length, stock or brace and optic, then drag both edges of the price band from the cheap end to the top end. Every slot fills with the part builders add most that is in stock, priced live. The headline total is the core rifle, optics and extras are priced separately, and beside them sits what builders really pay per slot, measured from real part picks. Roll a random build, or open yours in the builder in one click. Computed from over 1 million AR parts selected on GunPartPicker since 2020.
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