Overview
In most cases, handguns sold in California must be listed on the CA DOJ's Roster of Certified Handguns. Learn more about the Roster of Certified Handguns. There are few exceptions to the rule.
One of the exceptions is made by AB 1964's amendment of CA PNE 32100, which is commonly called Single Shot Exemption (SSE) 2.0.
What is SSE 2.0?
According to the amendment made by AB 1964, the regulations applying to unsafe handguns do not apply to:
single-shot pistol with a break top or bolt action
a barrel length of not less than six inches
has an overall length of at least 10½ inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled
However, these exemptions don't apply to a semiautomatic pistol that has been temporarily or permanently altered so that it will not fire in a semiautomatic mode.
Practically, for the manufacturer, the single-shot pistol must be built from scratch from a frame that has not ever been used to make a semiautomatic pistol. The single-shot pistol must be manufactured as a single-shot pistol from it's conception.
Can single-shot exempt pistols be made semiautomatic?
Theoretically, a single-shot pistol can be modified to be semiautomatic. However, according to CA DOJ, modifications may make the single-shot pistol into an assault weapon or an unsafe handgun
Aftermarket changes or modifications made to certain single shot pistols (i.e. changing upper receivers, connecting gas tubes) may be considered manufacturing these pistols into assault weapons.
Alterations of a single shot pistol (i.e. changing upper receivers, connecting gas tubes) may also be considered manufacturing an unsafe handgun.
Although Dumpling Defense does manufacture and sell compliant single-shot pistols, we DO NOT make any modifications or alterations to them, any request to do so will be denied.