How buying a gun in Charleston works
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, no registration and no waiting period; a dealer sale needs ATF Form 4473 and the NICS check. Federal ages apply at a dealer: 21 for handguns and 18 for long guns. Online orders ship to the South Carolina FFL you choose.
Dealers in these communities all work for Charleston-area buyers:
- Mount Pleasant
- North Charleston
- Summerville
- James Island
- Goose Creek
- Hanahan
- Johns Island
- Ladson
Carrying a gun in Charleston County
Since March 2024, adults 18 and older who may legally own a handgun can carry openly or concealed in South Carolina without a permit. The optional Concealed Weapons Permit from SLED still helps with reciprocity. Schools, courthouses, police offices and posted private property remain off limits.
Hunting near Charleston
South Carolina sets deer seasons by Game Zone; the coastal zones open in mid-August and the upstate mountain zone later in the fall, with most zones closing January 1. Rifles, shotguns, handguns and muzzleloaders are legal in gun season. Check SCDNR rules for your county.
Charleston County is a coastal Game Zone with an early deer season; Francis Marion National Forest is close by.
Hunt clubs in the Lowcountry and Francis Marion National Forest nearby draw deer and waterfowl hunters.
Public shooting ranges near Charleston
These public ranges are run by or with state wildlife agencies and are good places to zero rifles and practice drills between matches. Hours, fees and rules vary; check each range page before you go.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.