Whats your favorite part of Switzerland?, and it's going to be the AK104.

 

Hey Bildobaggins (cool name BTW)! I would definitely have to say the Geneva Lake riviera - Nyon, Morges and Lausanne isn't too bad either. The view, people and atmosphere seem a lot calmer and positive. I've also spent time in Basel, Zürich, Lucerne, great cities, but had my best experiences on the Lac Léman.

Thanks for the question, AND answer of course.

 

AK-104 would be the way to go, you are not losing too much velocity with the shorter barrel length. But you are gaining a big advantage if you ever had to clear a room.

 

With the 7.62x39 caliber you loose almost nothing with the 4 inch difference.

European cities are typically older and more dense. Streets are narrower, buildings are closer together typically narrow and tall (compared to US). Obviously this isn't 100% correct, there are exceptions but Europe was built close together and up. A shorter barrel will be just fine.

Folding stocks and extending stocks are made for different reasons. The folders are typically for storage and short spaces like vehicles. Extending stocks are for length of pull. To bring the rifle closer or further away from you depending on whether or not you have thick clothes or other gear and your body shape (short & stocky vs long and skinny). I have yet to shorten my AR stock even with a backpack and jacket.

Flashlight is probably the most important thing.

We haven't had Norincos or Chinese firearms since 1994 so it's hard to say what they make now but their AKs were good....back then

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With the 7.62x39 caliber you loose almost nothing with the 4 inch difference.

European cities are typically older and more dense. Streets are narrower, buildings are closer together typically narrow and tall (compared to US). Obviously this isn't 100% correct, there are exceptions but Europe was built close together and up. A shorter barrel will be just fine.
Folding stocks and extending stocks are made for different reasons. The folders are typically for storage and short spaces like vehicles. Extending stocks are for length of pull. To bring the rifle closer or further away from you depending on whether or not you have thick clothes or other gear and your body shape (short & stocky vs long and skinny). I have yet to shorten my AR stock even with a backpack and jacket.
Flashlight is probably the most important thing.
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Folders for vehicle storage and extending for body armor.
Flashlight, Flashlight, Flashlight. Oh and a Flashlight too!
That rail is begging for a quality Red Dot Optic and a, you guessed it, Flashlight.
If I had my exact selection without any impediments, I would get a folding stock with that rail system. The would be, "The Gun."

 

104 is my preference. That's basically what I'm converting my Saiga into now.

Be sure to train under competent instructors and be sure that whatever rail systems, mounts, lights, optics etc you use are of good quality.

 

I also started to realize that I won't be able to use my airsoft gadgets . I am on the budget though, so will have to see where to get the best price-performance ration.

As for training, we don't really have that here. There are some gun self-defense classes, I even saw a CQB class. I tried to organize a CQB training with some special ops guys I know, but still awaiting a confirmation.
I'd like to get decent training, just not sure where - some say you can do it in other countries, e.g. Czech Republic (or Syria hahaha)

 

Switzerland eh?

Whats your ability to get something like this?

 

That's where I would start.

 

I wouldn't use the upper hand guard rail, I'd get a side rail mount. For closer range stuff I'd like the optic to sit closer to my face. Have a pistol for your car, and that thing in your trunk. I don't know what your laws are like so figure this all out before doing any of our suggestions. AKMs with side rails and stocks that fold to the left don't allow for the stock to be folded with a mount. I think it's kinda stupid they do that.

 

I think i prefer it closer as well. Can you use the irons with the side mount? AK rails and scopes seems to already be high enough.
We may only transport weapons to ranges, etc. Or use them for protection of private (business) space AFAIK. But even then, mags must be empty, ammo and weapon separated. Would have to look into that.

A bigger question here is, when do you say "to hell woth it" and start using common sense. CCW permits are basically impossible to obtain (even batons can only be transported, not carried), but I ask myself how bad must a situation be to risk jail time to be a good citizen. That point isnt here yet, but its a stupid choice that might come eventually.

 

Sig 550 series is practically a Kalashnikov anyways right! Not sure about ghas system but locking system is similar from what I remember.

 

Pistol for visits to the market. Shotgun for 'oh shit' moments. Rifle for "Goddamn it why did they follow me" scenarios.

Ideally you should be as invisible as possible. Avoid conflict whenever possible and a knife is pretty quiet for up-close-and-personal situations.

I agree with the above.. the "AK" is viewed as the 'enemy' weapon in many scenarios..and you would attract the wrong kind of attention if you use it.

 

I'll try to make a pistol and rifle work hehe. Plus some self defense.

People dont like wood AKs. I wonder how many people would be able to id the 104 above as an AK. But most will know the SIG.
And as you say, if I'm being invisible, will it matter that much? I think having contact to whatever local network you have might be useful.

Good comment, thanks!

 

Just a thought but 20 round Hungarian mags might help him stand out less. They are lower profile and may make his rifle look like a Sig in the distance

 

Thanks for all your input guys. I think for now the 104 will be my pick, I really like it, and with the option of getting a folder for concealability and transport (could probably fit in a backpack compared to a rifle bag) it might be a good, versatile, yet not too expensive solution.

Do you have any tips on optics and eventual side mounts?
For example, is there an option to have an optic, but be able to use irons as a backup? I know AKs are quite high and most optics are lower than on standard rifles. Do you have any recommendations that are good, but not too expensive?

Thanks and have a nice one !

- Andi

 

The options for mounting optics are a little limited if you want to use iron sights at the same time.

Obviously you can use the side mount to attach a low mount. One that sits almost on the dust cover. This will make it low but not low enough to use irons....at least I don't believe so. To use irons you'd have to take the side mount off which takes a second to do. Flip the lever and pull off. I'm pretty sure though that there are optics that can be co witnessed. Hopefully someone with better knowledge of that will chime in.

Another option is offset side mount. Where the optic sits to the left of the of the dust cover. This gives you both the iron sights and optic but not in one. You would have to shift your head. In either of these cases you can't use the folding stock. Can't fold it with the side mount attached.

There are also railed handguards to attach a optic to.

For optics Aim Points are awesome. So are Trijicon. Neither of which are cheap though but you do get what you pay for and they have options from small RMR to magnified.

Russian optics are very good but not all have options for rails. Some come as one unit optic and side mount.

There's a subsection here for optics. Check it out, lots of reviews


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PK-01V and PK-A (both Russian and Venezuelan models) allow for usage of irons.

 

If you've done something to attract the attention of the "good guys" holding a particular type of rifle isn't going to keep you from getting shot at.

Find the smallest package you can in .30 caliber. Start there.

 

Thanks for the replies! Let me quickly to get back to you:

@Arik: I would like to check out the section. From another forum, a user recommended this optics - the cool thing is, they have a CQB reticle, as well as markers for up to 600m for the 7.62. I will check the forums, maybe I find something else.

@Walleye: Thank you, these seem cool. Seems $200-300 is the price range to expect for a decent optic.

@mike_r123: You mean a muzzle break? I heard flash suppressors are better, and not as loud. SIGs are unfortunately too expensive for my budget, and I believe the 7.62 would do a better job in this scenario - price is great and I'd stack up at least 1'000 rounds (+ additional 1'000 9mm for handgun). You think that would be enough?

@steelfed and @Corrosive: Thanks guys, that's what I'm starting to focus on. The 104 seems to be versatile, has emergency mounts already installed (if need be) and with a stock swap, I can make it ultra compact. Zhukov or something comes to mind.

 

Just keep in mind the wisdom of Patton: "fortified fighting positions are monuments to human stupidity" (paraphrasing because I'm too lazy to look it up).
You can have all the ammo and gear in the world and it wouldn't do you any good if your position becomes compromised and you have no way to transport it without detection.
Stealth goes out the window that first time you open fire on somebody so have a backup plan, or several.
Stay flexible and adaptive.

 

where is your SIG 550?