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Airgun law · United States
Are Airguns Legal in South Carolina?
Yes, with conditions.
Generally legal, but with real rules to follow, usually age verification and, in some places, a low-power threshold.
Tier 3: Moderate
Mainly age verification (typically 18+), with some local variance.
SC
The picture at a glance
Each measure below scores how restrictive South Carolina is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).
ClassificationNot a firearm
Age rule18+ for sales
PossessionFree for adults
Transfer / saleAge verification
TransportCased advised
PreemptionPartial preemption
Before you buy or sell
- Carrying a pellet gun on elementary or secondary school property is a crime under § 16-23-430 (it counts as a 'weapon').
The rules in detail
Classification
Not a firearm
Not a firearm; falls under the broad 'weapon' definition in SC Code § 16-23-405 (any device that may be used to inflict bodily injury). The old concealed-weapon statute (§ 16-23-460) was repealed by 2024 Act No. 111 (eff. March 7, 2024), and § 16-23-20 covers only cartridge-firing handguns.
Age rule
18+ for sales
Industry standard 18+.
Possession
Free for adults
Lawful for adults. No general concealed-carry ban on pellet guns since § 16-23-460 was repealed (March 7, 2024); carrying any weapon on elementary or secondary school property is still a crime (§ 16-23-430).
Transfer / sale
Age verification
Standard sale.
Transport
Cased advised
Open transport in case is best practice.
Preemption
Partial preemption
Standard firearms preemption.
Hunting with an airgun
Pneumatic weapons allowed during firearms seasons only
Deer
Allowed with conditions
Allowed during firearms seasons only
Turkey
Allowed with conditions
Allowed during firearms seasons only
Small game
Allowed with conditions
Qualified; WMA small-game restrictions matter
Predators
Allowed with conditions
Allowed during firearms seasons only
Other big game
Allowed with conditions
Allowed during firearms seasons only
Keep exploring
Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.Find a place to shootAirgun-friendly ranges, flagged where confirmed.Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.
This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.