How's S. Carolina for shooters?

[paleroadster]

So my employer has started talking to me about our location "way out in the middle of nowhere S. Carolina".  They have incoming a very high value ongoing job for defense and need a 5 axis/multi-task programmer, preferably with Mazatrol experience.  I'm not sure the relocation offer will tempt me, but I'm very interested in moving my taxable earnings to a free state.  I haven't had any reason to look into S. Carolina before.  So I'm interested specifically in the gun enthusiasts experience living there.  I don't remember seeing them in the news like NJ, NY, CT, MA and CA so I'm confident it has to be better than where I'm stuck now.  So what's the good, and the bad regarding; CCW, buying, owning, shooting, hunting etc?  Climate will be more favorable for my Guzzi too I'm sure, I can barely eek out ten months of riding up here.  Please let me know any special points of interest or concern too.  

[aciera]

Can’t help. But love mazatrol.

[bushog]

Aiken?

[kevshell]

Where is the middle of nowhere? South Carolina is pretty diverse. Upstate versus lowcountry is very different. Places in the middle of state like Orangeburg are unlike those two places. There's a strong heritage of hunting and fishing in South Carolina. Depending on where you're coming from the hunting can be very different from other parts of the country. I was used to hunting hardwoods in Maryland and there are a lot of areas of South Carolina that are densely populated with pine trees. Let us know if you know the approximate location or zip code of the middle of nowhere.

[bigbore5]

I'm about 30min from the SC border. Kev is right. Like NC, the area in SC will be the factor in what it's like. A mountain hillbilly is nothing like a coastal Geechi. About as different as an upstate New Yorker and a Cajun! Even speak different languages.

But either way, it's a slower and much more laid back way of life. There's great hunting and fishing statewide. There's cool weeks, but for the most part I can ride the motorcycle year round. Snow days are very rare and it's all melted and gone in a day or two. You do have to be careful and watch for deer while riding or driving. They are everywhere.

It's the South, so there's a strong gun culture. Lots of public hunting land and not too difficult to find hunting opportunities. You're going to be mostly limited to deer and hogs for the big game. But there's plenty of them.

[contender]

Well, I too live within about 20 minute drive of the state, and go there frequently.

Both of our son's relocated there in the past few years. One is LEO,, and the other works in a medical equipment building industry. Both are in the "Upstate" area.

CCW is welcomed & easily obtained.
SC just passed "Constitutional Carry" too.
I have folks who travel into & out of SC & NC for USPSA competition all the time w/o any issues. I've done the same thing.

I've also been in most of the State in all kinds of places. Never had any issues with firearms. I've been in the Charleston area scuba diving. Big city, and more crime,, but no rabid stuff like NYC.
My "brother from another mother" lives in Lexington. He retired from ICE,, and he too is a gun guy. Plus,, the way SC looks at retirement monies & some of their other laws,, It's got a LOT of pluses.
And lastly,, my youngest,, & his wife,, relocated there,, AND are moving a gun business there. She's the president of "Chamber's Flintlocks!"

Several good gun ranges, and a few gun makers are there. I also heard one maker is expanding by planning another mfg plant there.

Palmetto State Armory is also based in SC.

In short,, SC is pretty well known as "gun friendly!"

[paleroadster]

Sounds good to me, there is so little public land open to hunting in MA I've given up mostly. Last I did was archery for the special season, last year I tried it was so crowded it felt like a turkey shoot. Mostly I was wondering about silly infringements like purchase limits, AR bans or magazine bans. I would pretty much have to try on purpose to find a place as bad as I'm in now.

[kevshell]

In addition to Palmetto State Armory you should look up Nichols Store. I bought quite a few things from them and they're good people to deal with. They're a little bit like a Cabela's or Bass pro but privately owned and the people who work there actually know what they're talking about.

[bigbore5]

Mar 29, 2024 9:25:11 GMT -5 paleroadster said:

Sounds good to me, there is so little public land open to hunting in MA I've given up mostly. Last I did was archery for the special season, last year I tried it was so crowded it felt like a turkey shoot. Mostly I was wondering about silly infringements like purchase limits, AR bans or magazine bans. I would pretty much have to try on purpose to find a place as bad as I'm in now.

It's the South. Most of the anti gun and anti hunting crap is referred to by the politicians down here as "retirement" from office.

[parallaxbill]

I'm 15 minutes from SC currently, but I am in the process of moving to northwest Chester Co. It's a poor county, but I'm retired. I've been hunting my place since 1983 and we have one of the longest and most generous deer seasons in the country.
"Constitutional" carry is here now and that's definitely a plus but their version needs an adjustment or two to make it "real" Constitutional carry.

I'm a long-term member of a fine gun club, Charlotte Rifle and Pistol Club which is located on the NC/SC line on Jim Wilson Rd. near Waxhaw NC and Indian Land, SC. We have a 300 yard range, shotgun facilities, and combat action ranges plus more.

Taxes are low where I'm going but insurance tends to be high, although not much higher than red counties in NC.

I think you'll love it if you end up in a red county.

[parallaxbill]

PS....lots of bad drivers in SC! Probably affects the insurance rates. And no car inspections!!

If you're 65 or older hunting license is a one time fee of $9. All good things IMHO.

[kevshell]

I think you'll find the Carolinas are just very different from the Northeast. I grew up in Maryland where even 30 to 40 years ago you could see the liberalism on the horizon and then it got really bad. They do not like concealed carry permits in Maryland unless you have a really substantiated need. I got pulled over in North Carolina for a license check and you give them both your driver's license and your concealed carry permit. I gave the officer both and told him I did not have a weapon in the car. The officer proceeded to read me the right act for NOT having a firearm in the car or on my person. He said if I'm going to go to the effort of getting it I should have it at all times. I just smiled and thought how refreshing this is compared to where I used to live in Maryland. Enjoy the Carolinas.

[parallaxbill]

Great beaches and mountains in both states too, but I prefer Cape Hatteras and the outer banks for fishing.

[parallaxbill]

On the door of my favorite breakfast/lunch grill south of Rock Hill just off I-77.

[kevshell]

Mar 29, 2024 15:46:57 GMT -5 parallaxbill said:

On the door of my favorite breakfast/lunch grill south of Rock Hill just off I-77.

Fantastic. Carrying a gun - no problem. Trying to sell us something - stay out of here.