Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Richland County. Columbia is South Carolina's capital, where the Broad and Saluda meet to form the Congaree, with Fort Jackson bringing a large military community. Pistols ship to a dealer in Richland or Lexington County; accessories ship to the door.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where South Carolina law allows.
South Carolina has no purchase permit, registration or waiting period. A dealer sale uses ATF Form 4473 and the federal NICS background check. Federal age rules apply at a dealer: 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns. When you buy online, the firearm ships to the South Carolina FFL you choose, and the dealer runs the check and completes the transfer. Bring a current government photo ID that shows your address.
Dealers in these communities all work for Columbia-area buyers:
Since March 2024, adults 18 and older who can legally own a handgun may carry openly or concealed in South Carolina without a permit. The optional Concealed Weapons Permit is issued statewide by SLED, the State Law Enforcement Division, after a training class. Many residents keep the permit for reciprocity with other states. Schools, courthouses, law enforcement offices and posted private property remain off limits, and some locations carry stiffer penalties for unpermitted carry.
South Carolina sets deer seasons by Game Zone. The coastal zones open earliest, on August 15, while the upstate mountain zone opens later in the fall, and most zones close January 1. Rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders are legal during the gun season. Bag limits, antlerless days and tagging rules changed in recent years, so check the current SCDNR regulations and Game Zone map for your county before you hunt.
Richland County has deer, turkey and feral hogs on private land, and SCDNR runs the Wateree Range near Eastover; check the SCDNR game zone map for dates.
South Carolina's permitless carry since 2024 has put a lot of new Glocks in holsters here, and the river bottoms toward Congaree National Park hold deer and hogs.
The public ranges below are run or officially listed by state wildlife agencies and state forests near the cities we cover. Most ask for a hunting or fishing license, an access permit or a small daily fee, and some close for the season, so check the agency page before you take a new pistol out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Columbia or anywhere in Richland County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
Not since March 2024 for eligible adults 18 and older. The Concealed Weapons Permit from SLED is still available and helps with carry in other states.
No. A dealer sale requires the federal background check only.
Yes. Feral hogs may be hunted on private land in South Carolina with landowner permission and a hunting license. WMA rules differ, so check SCDNR.
The 10mm Glock 20 with heavy loads is the hog pistol, and the Glock 40 MOS adds a longer barrel and a red dot. Check your state's rules on night hunting and lights first.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) or a local attorney about your own situation.