Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Richland County. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina, located where the Broad and Saluda rivers converge to form the Congaree. Firearms ship to FFL dealers in Richland and Lexington counties.
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 requires no permit to purchase or firearm registry, and there is no state waiting period. At a licensed dealer, buyers present photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473, and undergo a federal NICS background check. A South Carolina concealed weapons permit can substitute for the NICS check. Federal law mandates a minimum age of 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns, and state law prohibits handing a handgun to anyone under 18. Private sales between residents do not require a background check, but knowingly selling to someone who cannot legally own a firearm is illegal.
Dealers in these communities all work for Columbia-area buyers:
Effective March 7, 2024, South Carolina's Constitutional Carry Act allows anyone 18 or older who can lawfully possess a firearm to carry openly or concealed without a permit. Firearms may be stored anywhere in a vehicle. SLED continues to issue concealed weapons permits, which are maintained for reciprocity and expedited dealer purchases. Carry is prohibited in schools, courthouses, polling places, detention facilities, daycares, hospitals, doctors' offices, government meetings, places of worship without permission, and properties with compliant signage.
South Carolina is divided into four game zones. Game Zone 3, covering the Midlands and Lowcountry, opens deer season on private land from August 15 to January 1, allowing archery and guns from opening day, with bucks only until September 14. Game Zone 4 in the Pee Dee starts firearms season on September 1. Game Zones 1 and 2 in the Upstate have archery from September 15-30, primitive weapons from October 1-10, and guns from October 11 to January 1. All legal firearms are permitted for deer hunting, each deer must be tagged, and harvests must be reported to SC Game Check by midnight.
Richland County offers deer, turkey, and feral hogs on private land, with SCDNR managing the Wateree Range near Eastover. Check the SCDNR Game Zone map for current hunting dates.
Fort Jackson supports a significant military presence in Columbia, and the river areas near Congaree National Park are home to deer and feral hogs.
Public ranges on the city pages are operated or listed by the state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest. Most require a license or a day pass and close on some weekdays; check the agency page first.
Source: State wildlife agency and public-land range listings, 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.
No. South Carolina requires no permit to purchase and maintains no firearm registry. A federal NICS background check and completion of ATF Form 4473 are required at the licensed dealer receiving your order.
No. State law imposes no waiting period, allowing buyers to take home firearms the same day after a dealer's NICS check returns a proceed.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division issues all CWPs statewide; the Richland County sheriff does not. SLED also offers free permit training courses in every county monthly.
A basic AR-15 in .223 or .300 Blackout or a bolt-action .308 with a low-power scope; check your state's rules on night hunting and public land.
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.