Ricochet Range is proud to now offer SCDNR Fishing and Hunting Licenses.

Step One: If born after June 30, 1979, go to Hunter-ed.com and complete your hunter’s education course. SCDNR accepts hunter education certifications issued by other states in the United States and Canadian provinces. If you have a certification from another state, your certification meets the hunter education requirement in SC. If you have a question about your certification, please contact the Hunter Education Office at 1-800-277-4301. Ensure you print out your Hunters Ed Course completion Cert. In 2-3 weeks your hard card will arrive in the mail.

Step Two: Visit SCDNR’s Web Site and familiarize yourself with all the state laws, licenses you will require, and tags needed (if any).

Step Three: Visit Ricochet Range at 1410 US HWY 15 S., Sumter, Sc. 20150. Ensure you bring your Hunter’s Ed certification and proof of SC residency (SC state issued ID or Military ID with hard copy SC Military orders in hand). These requirements can be found on SC DNR’s Web Site.

Step Four: While at Ricochet Range, purchase all last minute items and ensure your rifle is zeroed (if required).

As the licensee, you are required to maintain current knowledge of all local, state, and federal laws as they pertain to the activity you are participating in. Ricochet Range, LLC is a private business and only serves as an authorized location to purchase SCDNR Hunting and Fishing Licenses. The views and opinions expressed by SCDNR or State Officials, do not reflect the views and opinions set forth by Ricochet Range, LLC and visa versa.

With South Carolina now an Open Carry state, a lot of people ask, whether they should or not.

Within this article, we will cover five key topics that normally come up in our conversations. Readiness, tactical advantage, comfort, security, and the public eye (Public Reactions). While having a concealed firearm is keeping it hidden from those around you, open carry is keeping it outside any and all articles of clothing, though it must still be secured on your person so nothing happens to it until needed. As a resident or non-resident of South Carolina, you must possess a South Carolina permit or a permit from a reciprocal state to carry; and no, the permits you print at home by watching a video do not count.

Readiness

When thinking of readiness, some think about emergencies (like earthquakes) and how best to quickly deal with the situation. With a self defense shooting, it is the same concept. What are the steps you need to take in order to keep your family safe, and how fast can you perform them while maintaining your safety. When dealing with a threat you need to remember you are always reacting to the situation. While you can not be ready for every situation, you must be in a ready state of mind, just in case. With open carry, the time it takes to pull your firearm from your holster and get sights on your threat, are greatly reduced. Concealed carry on the other hand can cause your reaction time to be increased due to clothing, holster placement, and the size of the firearm you are carrying. Yes, smaller firearms are harder to grab and acquire your sights.

Tactical Advantage

Concealed carry, by design, is your tactical advantage. Though there is a reduction in readiness, you gain in not being a target of opportunity. If you think about it in a realistic scenario: By open carrying a firearm, though you might not be an initial target for an active shooter situation…you can become the initial target. Concealed carrying gives you the upper hand by staying a non-immediate target, while allowing you to draw your firearm when you have the best angle of defense. Though you may have an extra second of drawing time, you gain more in having the art of surprise.

Comfort

Comfort is probably the most over looked aspect in daily carry when you first get your permit. The first holster everyone normally goes for is the most inexpensive top of the line holster that fits inside the waistband, and often made by unknown company that does not stand by their brand. Before purchasing a holster take a look at your daily activities. Are you working in an office where you are sitting all day? Do you work outside doing construction? Do you work in retail and you are on your feet all day?

Each type of work will have you rethinking wanting to carry if you are uncomfortable. First, think about the actions you are performing during the day and the type of clothing you are wearing. Working indoors in air conditioning allows for the wearing of a holster outside the waistband and a loose fitting shirt or sweater. This allows you to sit and stand without the firearm/holster pinching your gut or causing hip issues. This would not be the case if you are working with a tighter fitting shirt like you would while wearing a uniform. In this case, an inside the waistband hard plastic holster may be the better choice. If your employer allows it, you may want to use an outside the waistband holster, as they allow for more movement.

Regardless of your daily activities take comfort into consideration as it can effect your desire and consistency to carry long term.

Security

With the changes in South Carolina law public open carry is no longer prohibited, provided you have a valid CWP. Since some of you will want to open carry, please ensure your firearm is secured in your holster well enough that someone will not have immediate access.

WEAR A GOOD THICK BELT. Many have asked why this is so important. Lets highlight four reasons:

1. Some holsters are designed to ride high on the waist. Using a thin belt will not cut it. Over time, your designer belt that is blinged out with ornaments will begin to sag and quickly break down. Thick belts with reinforced stitching are as important as the holster itself.
2. Most holsters are designed to be used in conjunction with a belt. That little plastic hook portion is not made to attach to you pants. It is designed to claps onto the belt when you draw your firearm so you do not look like Barney Fife from the Andy Griffith Show.
3. A belt adds support to the firearm and holster, keeping them in place until needed. When wearing them long term, it helps to avoid hip and back issues, regardless of the weight of the loaded firearm.
4. Believe us, NO ONE wants to see your underwear or ass crack.

The Public Eye

Ah, yes, the public. There are South Carolinians who don’t know we are able to carry, wether openly or concealed. Those individuals, if they see your firearm, could be the first to call 911 and give the dispatcher an over-exaggerated explanation of why you should be thrown in jail because their safe space was violated. While emergency dispatchers are trained to question the actions of the callers, there are times that they must dispatch law enforcement officers. If this happens to you, be respectful, do not make any sudden moves, and get the names of everyone involved. We are also a fan of ensuring you have legal representation BEFORE a situation happens (Click here). This is ultimately why concealed carry wins the argument over open carry in our opinion. What the general public can’t see, will not hurt them or cause a reaction.

You see, in the end it all comes down to training, muscle memory, and personal preference. We encourage everyone who is legally allowed to carry, to do so. Exercise your rights, but do it safely!

Members of Ricochet Range, we have had a lot of people coming through the range who have been bringing in steel core rounds. Since we have a standard way of conducting these checks using a strong magnet, many new customers have been placing these damaging rounds under non-steel component rounds in pre-filled magazines to bypass these checks. Because of this, please understand we are having everyone empty their pre-filled magazines from this point forward to conduct an accurate check.

Why we do not allow steel core rounds: Steel core rifle rounds travel with enough energy to go through the backstop. Regardless, if you are firing handgun, rifle, or shotgun rounds with steel components it can cause sparks downrange. Since unburnt gunpowder settles on the concrete floor and sparks cause fire, steel component rounds are not and will not be allowed on the range (regardless of your intent to not fire them, we will ask you to remove them from the range completely)

Q: I have steel cased rounds but the projectiles do not contain steel. Can I use them?

A: No you cannot. Two reasons, if we cannot check the projectile, we do not allow the round. Secondly, if a steel case is down range, it has a chance of being hit and thus causing a spark.

What will happen to those who are caught with steel or any non approved rounds?

1. You will be removed from the range.
2. You forfeit your right to a refund for any fees paid and are responsible for any fees due up to that point.
3. If it has caused any damage to our equipment or building, you will be held financially liable.
4. St. Peter will be forwarded an email and you might be denied gate access…….

Jm4 Tactical Holsters are now at Ricochet Range! These are magnetic leather holsters that are super convenient and very versatile all while made in the USA. No belt? No problem! These holsters can fit any style pants. Come to the range and see the amazing colors in person and what these holsters can do.

Want to up your skills at home or when on the road, we have just what you need for dry fire training. Ricochet Range is now stocking the Mantis X systems in our store. Attach this little guy to any firearm or bow and take your fundamentals to the next level. This thing is like a range buddy that is brutally honest about your shooting.

https://mantisx.com/collections/all-items/products/mantis-x10-elite