We've seen this claim circulating since the draft guidance came out in May: that rimfire rifles, including something as common as a Ruger 10/22, got swept into Colorado's new semiautomatic firearm restrictions. It's wrong, and the statute makes the reason clear.
Where the confusion started
When the Department of Revenue's draft guidance document went public in mid-May 2026, some early coverage reported — based on rumor and incomplete readings of the draft, not the actual list — that popular rimfire platforms might be included. For a lot of Colorado shooters, a .22 plinker is about as far from what SB25-003 was written to target as it gets, so understandably, that report set off some alarm.
What the statute actually says
C.R.S. 18-12-116(1)(d)(II)(A) excludes from the "specified semiautomatic firearm" definition: "a firearm designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 or lower caliber rimfire ammunition" — with one exception: "unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver."
That second clause is the whole ballgame. A standard Ruger 10/22 has a single-piece receiver — there's no separate upper and lower like you'd find on an AR-platform rifle. It's designed for and only operates with .22 LR rimfire ammunition. It checks every box for the rimfire exemption and none of the boxes that would pull it back out of that exemption. Under the plain text of the statute, a stock 10/22 is not a specified semiautomatic firearm, regardless of its detachable magazine.
Where the confusion actually applies
The separate-upper-and-lower clause exists specifically to catch .22-caliber AR-pattern rifles and pistols — a .22 LR upper on an AR-15 lower, for instance, or a dedicated .22 AR-pattern clone. Those firearms are still SSFs, because the modular, two-piece receiver design is exactly what the exception carves back out. A Ruger 10/22, a Marlin Model 60, a Browning SA-22, and similar traditional one-piece-receiver .22 rifles are not in that category.
Bottom line
If your rimfire rifle has a conventional, single-piece receiver, the rimfire exemption almost certainly covers it. If it's built on an AR-style split upper/lower — even in .22 LR — it's a different story, and it's worth checking against the state's guidance list or the statute directly rather than assuming either way.
As always, we are not lawyers — just Colorado citizens trying to understand the new law and share what we learn. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney/client relationship. The accuracy, completeness, or currency of the content is not warranted. Your use of content on this website is at your own risk. Consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.
