The Mossberg Patriot in .450 Bushmaster is a 6.5-pound bolt-action with a 20-inch matte-blued barrel, threaded 11/16-24 at the muzzle and rifled at a 1:24 twist. It feeds from a detachable box magazine holding four, for 4+1, measures 40.25 inches overall, and comes with Weaver-style scope bases already on the receiver. The stock is black synthetic, the trigger adjusts, and there is a manual safety.

The .450 Bushmaster is a straight-wall cartridge, and this short, light rifle is easy to handle in a stand. In Game Zone 3, which covers the Midlands and Lowcountry, private land opens to guns on August 15, bucks only until September 14, and in the Pee Dee's Game Zone 4 guns open September 1. The Upstate zones follow October 11 after the archery and primitive weapons windows. Every deer is tagged and entered in SC Game Check by midnight.

Key features

• .450 Bushmaster bolt action, 20-inch threaded barrel
• 11/16-24 muzzle thread, 1:24 twist
• 4+1 detachable box magazine, one included
• 6.5 pounds, 40.25 inches overall
• Weaver-style bases installed, adjustable trigger

Delivery is to the South Carolina FFL dealer of your choice, who runs the NICS check and hands it over with no permit or waiting period.