How to Buy a Suppressor in South Carolina

You can own, buy and hunt with a suppressor in South Carolina. Short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs are legal too. Place your order online, and we handle the paperwork in-house and ship to your door on a Form 4 or a 4473.

South Carolina bans machine guns, sawed-off rifles and sawed-off shotguns, with an exception for people ATF authorizes to possess these weapons, and that exception doesn't mention federal registration. That's why a 4473 alone works here for a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW. Machine guns still go on a Form 4 with the $200 tax. The sections below cover South Carolina law for each NFA item, how we transfer it, and the hunting rules.

South Carolina NFA Laws at a Glance

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1. 4473 transfers are for individuals only. A trust can only take ownership on a Form 4.
2. If you'd like it shipped to your house on a 4473, you'll need a South Carolina concealed weapons permit issued in the past five years. This is only for 4473 home delivery. A Form 4 order doesn't need a concealed weapons permit to ship.
3. South Carolina's hunting rules have some exceptions. It's up to you to make sure you're in compliance before you hunt.
4. South Carolina bans sawed-off rifles, sawed-off shotguns and machine guns, but the ban doesn't apply to "any person authorized to possess these weapons by" ATF (SC Code 16-23-250).
5. South Carolina bans possessing a destructive device, defined to include a bomb, an incendiary device or anything that can detonate or explode (SC Code 16-23-710 and 16-23-720). The law has no exception for items registered under federal law. Its exemptions include the lawful use of firearms (SC Code 16-23-770). We ship destructive devices that South Carolina law allows to a South Carolina dealer for transfer.

Form 4 or 4473 in South Carolina

Which form should you use? On October 9, ATF announced that, for the time being, it won't enforce the NFA for items with a $0 tax: suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and AOWs (ATF open letter). That could change. South Carolina law doesn't tie these items to registration, so for now you have the option of not registering on a Form 4, and we sell them here on either form. Our advice for most buyers is still the Form 4.

Skipping the Form 4 saves the ATF wait, but it carries a risk. ATF's own FAQ says, "The NFA treats unregistered firearms as contraband," and ATF lists ways enforcement could restart: a new tax from Congress, the August 5 injunction being overturned, or the Justice Department rescinding its guidelines. A 4473 item has no established path to register later. A Form 4 item is registered to you or your trust, which keeps it compliant today and under future administrations.

With a Form 4:

• Tax: $0 in federal tax on a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW.
• Wait times: ATF's August 2026 averages were 6 days for individual eForm 4s and 20 days for trusts. See our current approval times.
• Trust benefits: trustees you name can possess the item, and your heirs take possession without a new ATF form.
• Reorders: with your photo and prints on file, your next Form 4 takes only a signature.

For a side-by-side look, see our 4473 vs. Form 4 page.

South Carolina Suppressor Laws

Are suppressors legal in South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina has no suppressor permit, license or registration law, and its ban on machine guns and sawed-off weapons doesn't cover suppressors. Because no South Carolina law requires federal registration of a suppressor, a 4473 suppressor is an option here, and not in the 14 states that tie it to registration. See suppressor laws for every state.

South Carolina SBR and SBS Laws

Are SBRs legal in South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina bans a sawed-off rifle (barrel under 16 inches, or modified to under 26 inches overall) or a sawed-off shotgun (barrel under 18 inches, or modified to under 26 inches overall) (SC Code 16-23-210, 16-23-230 and 16-23-260). The ban doesn't apply to "any person authorized to possess these weapons by" ATF (SC Code 16-23-250), and that exception doesn't mention federal registration. We ship SBRs and SBSs to your South Carolina door on a Form 4 or a 4473.

New to short-barreled rifles? Read our SBR & SBS Buying Guide or browse short-barreled rifles.

Machine Guns in South Carolina

Can you own a machine gun in South Carolina? Yes, with ATF authorization. The law that bans sawed-off rifles and shotguns covers machine guns too, and the same exception applies to people ATF authorizes to possess them (SC Code 16-23-250).

Federal machine gun law is unchanged since October 9: ATF says the NFA still applies in full and the $200 tax remains. Separately, federal law limits civilians to machine guns lawfully registered before May 19, 1986 (18 U.S.C. 922(o)). Every machine gun we transfer to South Carolina goes on an approved Form 4 before it ships to your address.

Hunting With NFA Items in South Carolina

Can you hunt with a suppressor in South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina's hunting laws and SCDNR's rules don't prohibit suppressors.

• Deer: South Carolina's deer laws don't set a general caliber, barrel length or magazine rule. During primitive weapons seasons, you can use a bow, a crossbow, a muzzleloading shotgun of 20 gauge or larger, or a black powder rifle of .36 caliber or larger, and revolving rifles aren't allowed (SC Code 50-11-310). On wildlife management areas, big game hunters can't use armor piercing, tracer, incendiary or full metal jacket bullets, or .22 or smaller rimfire.
• Turkey: You can't take a wild turkey with a rifle, pistol, buckshot or shotgun slug (SC Code 50-11-500).
• Feral hogs, coyotes and armadillos at night: You can hunt them at night all year on property registered with SCDNR each year, with any legal firearm, bow or crossbow, and with or without bait, electronic calls, artificial light or night vision. At night, you can't use a firearm within 300 yards of a residence without the occupant's permission, unless it's your own land or you hold a depredation permit. Hunters 16 and older need a hunting license (SC Code 50-11-715; SCDNR).
• Coyotes in daylight: There's no closed season on private land, and electronic calls are allowed. You don't need a hunting license to shoot a coyote on your own property within 100 yards of your home.
• Ducks, geese and other migratory birds: South Carolina adopts the federal rules: no shotgun larger than 10 gauge, a three-shell limit unless plugged, and no rifles, pistols or machine guns (SC Code 50-11-10; 50 CFR 20.21).

We provide this hunting information as a general guide. It's each hunter's responsibility to confirm it's correct and current before hunting, since the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources can change the rules each season. Check the current South Carolina hunting laws and regulations before you hunt.

How Buying Works in South Carolina

At checkout, choose Form 4 or 4473, then home delivery to your South Carolina address.

Our guide on how to buy a suppressor covers each step.

Serving Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Rock Hill and All of South Carolina

We serve buyers across South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Columbia, Charleston and Hilton Head. We keep hundreds of suppressors in stock, including brands and models many local gun stores don't carry. Call us if you want help choosing one for your rifle, pistol or shotgun.

We file your electronic eForm 4 within 24 hours once all your information is on file, then ship to any South Carolina address after approval. A 4473 order ships to your door following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1. You don't need to visit a gun store to complete the transfer, and we've been shipping suppressors directly to customers' homes for more than 10 years.

Questions? Call (512) 879-1068  ·  Shop in-stock suppressors

South Carolina Suppressor Brands We Sell

We sell three suppressor brands based in South Carolina:

• AAC, West Columbia
• PTR, Aynor
• Rugged, Travelers Rest

We ship these, and all the other suppressors on our site, to your South Carolina door on a Form 4 or a 4473.

Why South Carolina Buyers Choose Capitol Armory

South Carolina Suppressor and NFA Questions

How do you buy a suppressor in South Carolina in 2026?

Order on our site and pick Form 4 or 4473 at checkout. We file the paperwork, and the item ships to your South Carolina address: after ATF approval on a Form 4, or following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1 on a 4473.

Can you get a suppressor in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina has no suppressor permit or registration law, and we ship suppressors to South Carolina addresses on a Form 4 or 4473.

Do I need a Form 4 or tax stamp for a suppressor in South Carolina?

Not under ATF's current policy. On October 9, ATF announced that, for the time being, it won't enforce the NFA for items with a $0 tax, which covers suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs. South Carolina doesn't require federal registration, so for now you can buy one on a 4473 alone. A Form 4 is voluntary now, but we still recommend it because of the uncertainty and because the law didn't change. ATF is just choosing not to enforce it. Machine guns still have the $200 tax.

Do I need a concealed weapons permit to buy a suppressor in South Carolina?

South Carolina law doesn't require one to buy a suppressor. If you'd like it shipped to your house on a 4473, you'll need a South Carolina concealed weapons permit issued in the past five years. This is only for 4473 home delivery. A Form 4 order doesn't need a concealed weapons permit to ship.

How long does it take to get a suppressor in South Carolina?

ATF's averages for August 2026 were 6 days for an individual eForm 4 and 20 days for a trust. Once approved, it ships to your South Carolina address following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1.

Can you hunt with a suppressor in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina's hunting laws and SCDNR's rules don't prohibit suppressors. Turkey can't be taken with a rifle or pistol, and migratory birds follow the federal shotgun rules.

Are SBRs legal in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina's ban on sawed-off rifles and shotguns doesn't apply to "any person authorized to possess these weapons by" ATF (SC Code 16-23-250). We ship them to your door on a Form 4 or 4473.

Can you own a machine gun in South Carolina?

Yes, a pre-1986 transferable machine gun with ATF authorization. It transfers on a Form 4 with the $200 tax.