Last updated July 2026 · By Nick Hall, covers ammunition and gun laws for USA Gun Shop
Quick take: A new Colorado law, House Bill 25-1133, took effect July 1, 2026. It raises the minimum age to buy rifle and shotgun ammunition to 21, requires photo-ID age checks (including on deliveries), and mandates that ammunition be sold from behind the counter or an enclosed case. It reshapes how ammo is bought and shipped in the state, and hits buyers aged 18 to 20 hardest.
- What it is: Colorado House Bill 25-1133 (HB25-1133), a state law now in effect as of July 1, 2026.
- Key detail: Minimum age to buy rifle and shotgun ammunition rises to 21, with photo-ID verification required, including on deliveries.
- Specs: Ammunition must be sold from behind the counter or from within an enclosed case.
- Who it’s for: Colorado retailers, online sellers shipping into the state, and buyers, especially those aged 18 to 20.
What HB25-1133 actually requires
The core of the law is a higher age floor for long-gun ammunition. Under HB25-1133, a buyer must be at least 21 to purchase ammunition for a rifle or shotgun in Colorado. That is a change from the way ammunition sales have typically worked, where an 18-year-old could buy long-gun ammo alongside a rifle or shotgun.
The bill pairs that age floor with two point-of-sale rules. Sellers must verify a buyer’s age with a photo ID, and that verification requirement extends to deliveries, not just in-store pickups. The law also dictates how ammunition is displayed: it has to be kept behind the counter or inside an enclosed case rather than sitting on an open shelf where a shopper can grab it directly.
Who is exempt
The law carves out several groups from the age restriction. Active military members and on-duty peace officers are exempt. So are people who hold a hunter-education certificate or a valid hunting license, a nod to the state’s large hunting community and the fact that many hunters start young.
For an 18-to-20-year-old who wants to buy rifle or shotgun ammunition, the hunter-education or hunting-license path is the practical route to qualifying. If you fall into one of these categories, expect to show documentation at the counter, since the same photo-ID verification framework still applies to the transaction.
How it affects buyers aged 18 to 20
The biggest practical impact lands on younger adult buyers. Under federal rules, a person can generally buy handgun ammunition at 18. That does not change here. What changes is that, in Colorado, an 18-to-20-year-old can no longer buy rifle or shotgun ammunition under this state law unless they meet one of the exemptions above.
That distinction, handgun ammo at 18 but rifle and shotgun ammo at 21, is the detail most likely to catch people off guard. If you are shopping for a specific platform, it is worth knowing which category your ammunition falls into before you check out. Our guide to the best AR-15 rifles covers common chamberings that would fall under the rifle-ammunition rule in Colorado.
Delivery, retailers, and penalties
Online and delivery sales into Colorado are squarely covered. Because the photo-ID verification requirement applies to deliveries, sellers shipping ammunition into the state need a way to confirm the recipient’s age at handoff, not just at the point of order. Retailers also have to rework how they stock and display ammunition to meet the behind-the-counter or enclosed-case rule.
Enforcement escalates with repeat conduct. A first violation is a civil infraction, while repeat violations become a class 1 misdemeanor. Requirements can vary in practice, so confirm the specifics with your retailer or the state before you buy. For how this fits into the broader patchwork, see our US gun laws by state directory. This article is general information, not legal advice.
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