Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in Charleston County. Charleston is a historic port where Lowcountry marsh meets the Atlantic, and salt and humidity are the enemies of any pistol kept here. Parts ship to your door; pistols ship to a Charleston County dealer.
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:
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.
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; the Francis Marion National Forest is close by.
Coated slides and stainless barrels sell well in the Lowcountry, and the Francis Marion National Forest draws deer and duck hunters nearby.
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 drive out.
Source: State wildlife agency public range lists (Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas), September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville, Charleston or anywhere in Charleston 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 SLED permit is optional.
No. Only the federal background check.
SCDNR runs public ranges across the state; see the list on this page.
The polymer frame does not care, but the slide, barrel and magazine springs will rust if left wet. Rinse salt off, dry the slide rails and striker channel, and oil lightly after every wet trip.
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.