Question about South Carolina

[Bottom Gun]

I will be going to Columbia, SC to work for a while. I have accepted a contract with FN (Fabrique Nationale) there. It should prove to be very interesting and educational. They make a lot of neat guns.

Being an Arizona boy, I’m not at all familiar with that area. I plan to take a few guns along including an AR-15.
Can anyone tell me if there are any unusual state laws or regulations in SC regarding firearms? For example, do any laws limit magazine capacity or is there a minimum caliber for big game hunting? Is public carry allowed?

Is there much public land there and do they allow you to shoot on public land like they do here in the Southwest or is all shooting done at ranges?

Can someone point me toward a site where I can bone up on the laws and regs so this dumb old country boy doesn’t go over there and screw up?

Thanks in advance for your time and guidance.

- Ken

 

[lawson4]

Ken, when you get to FN, look up R. Miller in Engineering, he can help with the info you're requesting. Tell him I sent you.
Face to face purchasing w/o paper work, no limit on number of guns purchased, no registration. I think there may be a limit on how small a caliber can be used for deer. (like no .22 or .17).
SC is pretty gun friendly.
lawson

 

[Carbon_15]

In SC the law only says you must use a centerfire for big game. As far as where to shoot, look into www.midcarolinarifleclub.com ( a membership club) or Indian Creek rifle range (a public club owned by SC-DNR)
No real weird gun laws, we used to have a one handgun a month law, but that went away. I think we have a "saturday-night special" law, dealing with zink framed guns.

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/SCSL.pdf

 

[hacksaw]

Welcome!

To SOUTHBYGODCAROLINA!!!!!!!!!!! Put yer feet up and stay a while! Drop me a line if ya ever get down to Myrtle Beach!

 

[ScottsGT]

Well, to start off, KISS YOUR DRY HEAT GOODBY
Welcome to the real heat! Your going to be working right around the corner from where I live. When looking for housing, stay in the Northeast side of town. You DON'T want the morning traffic from the other side of town. In this area to shoot, there is the mentioned Mid Carolina Rifle Club, or Indian Creek rifle range (a public club owned by SC-DNR), but also the Poinsette State Park range in Sumter and an indoor range over in West Columbia. They charge about $6 per half hour, but they're not too pickey with it on a slow day. Last time I shot there, they didn't even ask to see my free range time card. He didn't even charge me for the time. But leave that AR at home, they don't allow AR's or AK's on the indoor range due to all the cheaper steel core ammo destroying their backstop/steel plating. their rifle range is basically for hunters to zero in their scopes.
As far as gunshops, there is the mentioned Indoor range, Shooters Choice, Palmetto Firearms, Police Supply, Sportsmans Warehouse, Wateree Firearms (a bit pricey) Hardware House, Lexington Pawn and Gun, and various pawnshops scattered around town. But nothing on the North East side of town where I live.
I do some shooting at a friends farm up in Elgin, about 15 min. north of FN, maybe we can get together for some outdoor fun at the farm when you get settled in.
If your going to get a CWP, I think there is a waiting time after moving to the state. If your going to get one though, don't pay for one of the classes offered at various gunshops, go through the Columbia PD. They offer a free class from a top notch guy.
Oh, no public carry unless CWP, and no showing or printing. Unless your hunting, but then again, too many Barney Fifes that might try to make a case. Hunting season here is from Aug. 15th (or Sept. 15 in Kershaw county and above where I hunt) to January 1st or 2nd.

 

[hagar]

I'm another transplanted Arizonan. My job went to India, so I came here..

While I miss AZ, SC is a great state. I could have ended up in Chicago, Milwaukee or Washington DC, I had some serious discussions going with companies there.

The FN factory is about 2 miles from my house, maybe you can organize a tour for me!

My biggest complaint is the lack of 600/1000 yard ranges. I have to drive to Augusta or Butner to go shoot a full distance highpower match. Lots of 100/200/300 yard reduced courses around, but you have to drive far, and fees are a little higher than AZ. Second biggest complaint is the lack of decent gun stores here. The few we have are on the west side of the city, and overpriced. But then I buy most of my stuff from forums like these anyway.

Gas is cheap (compared to the rest of the country anyway), fishing is good, the weather is agreeable. More humid than AZ, but winters are about the same. Traffic is much better than AZ, but it's getting worse. People behave better here, I always though 50% of the people in AZ were dopeheads, illegal aliens or on the run from the law. Restaurants here suck! I miss all the good Thai food restaurants we had in Phoenix.

Shoot me a line when you get here.

 

[Sportcat]

Welcome to SC.. I lived in Columbia for about eight years before moving to the Upstate.

 

[ScottsGT]

Sportcat, you lie! We ran your sorry butt out of town

 

[AirForceShooter]

I just want to know when us Florida types can carry in SC

AFS

 

[Bottom Gun]

Thanks for the replies and the good info, everyone.

I will definitely contact you, ScottsGT, after I get there and get settled. I appreciate the kind offer.

I'll contact you too, Hagar. How many illegals would you like me to bring you?