i thought the russians couldn't own guns ?

[MIL-DOT]

last night i was watching, for the second time,"the long way round" an excellent documentary about an incredible motorcycle trek through asia and north america by actors ewan mcgregor and charlie boorman. if you haven't seen it, it really is very good. anyway, during the incredibly arduous journey (huge understatement there) through siberia they were given a lift by some russian truckers, when they came a cross a black bear, much to the dismay of mcgregor, the russians chased it down and killed it, apparantly only for the skin and gall blader IIRC. getting to my point, the rifle they used was without a doubt an AK variation, semi-auto (coulda been auto too for all i know, but i doubt it). it had what looked like a pistol-grip stock, but definately had a wooden foregrip that gave me the strong impression it was either a saiga or a vepr. the odd thing was the magazine, it was a large,i mean from bullet tip to primer, bigger than a x39, more like a .308 M-14 mag,W/no curve at all. i'm quite familiar with AK's and a gun-nut (oops, wrong term) gun-TOLERANT friend and i paused the dvd for a good long look, i'm confident my description is accurate. so anyway, what's the deal ? i didn't think civilian rusky truck drivers could cruise the country side sporting AK's, or can they ?

 

[Oleg Volk]

They can. Hunting or sports license allows shotguns, five years of smoothbore ownership allows applying for a rifle license. No handguns allowed. Some arms in private hands aren't legal.

 

[jlbraun]

I watched another episode where they stay with a guy in a big house and are eating dinner - then some "friends" come over with AK's and Makarovs. I think it was pretty clear that the people Ewan was staying with in that episode were organized crime.

 

[brigadier]

Veper made a .308 that perfectly describes the description you gave.

The Russian gun laws are a bit weird. You can get permits to own long guns and from what I understand, Russia only recognizes guns as rifles, pistols and shotguns. In other words, if you can have a rifle, it doesn't matter what the rate of fire is. Again, I am not certain on this but that's the understanding I have. Handguns can also be had but only depending on how you performed in the military (everyone is drafted at age 18 unlike in the US.
All this aside, the Russians generally don't care what you do and own as long as you are not causing trouble so mafia or not, it's pretty common for people to own handguns over there. Basically, once you do something to get thrown in jail, they'll throw the book at you but until then, no one cares.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Select-fire is not legal.
Folding stocks are OK but must disable firing mechanism when folded.

 

[Val USP]

Veper made a .308 that perfectly describes the description you gave.

It is - Vepr (Wild boar)

The Russian gun laws are a bit weird.

May I tell you about gun law here - in CA???

You can get permits to own long guns and from what I understand, Russia only recognizes guns as rifles, pistols and shotguns.

Are you sure - the gun law in US is not separate guns? Is it the same rules (at least in CA) to buy handgun or rifle?

In other words, if you can have a rifle, it doesn't matter what the rate of fire is.

Well here - it does not, but in Russia - it is kind of hassle to got shotguns, but it is easier than small bore rifle. And of course it is very difficult to got something like SKS. So, you are wrong again.

Again, I am not certain on this but that's the understanding I have. Handguns can also be had but only depending on how you performed in the military (everyone is drafted at age 18 unlike in the US.

Well, it is not right again. You can perform in army very well and you can served in navy seals or as paratrooper - it is NOT any rules - you able to have handguns. Unlike in USA - handguns allow to police, special forces, bodyguards and some security companies (not all security handle a guns, some of them - just tear gas guns for self protection).
All this aside, the Russians generally don't care what you do and own as long as you are not causing trouble so mafia or not,

it's pretty common for people to own handguns over there.

Again and again - it is NOT TRUE. It is in USA is pretty common to own and care the handguns. In Russia - I told you before - just some people have them. And quantity of own guns here and there ..... I think for each gun they have we have at least 300.

Basically, once you do something to get thrown in jail, they'll throw the book at you but until then, no one cares.

My dear, just go there - obtain the gun.... and check it out.

 

[JKimball]

Looks like Val and Oleg have your answer covered. But I'd like to share a couple interesting gun related experiences I had while I was in St. Petersburg for a couple years as a missionary.

One day I met with a man in his home, when I got there he was finishing up reloading some shotgun shells getting ready for a duck hunting trip. I didn't see the gun, but the casings were full length brass, looked like 12 guage, and there was no crimp. He was inserting a cardboard circle down into the casing on top of the shot and dripping melted wax down in there to seal it in place.

Another time my companion and I met a man on the street who had had a little too much to drink, so we helped him find his way home. (Passing out can be deadly there.) He was friendly and talkative, and when we got back to his apartment he decided to show us something. The next thing I know he has a Colt Python in his hand and muzzled me with it more than once. He wasn't threatening me, it was just really bad muzzle control, like you might experience at any one of hundreds of gun stores in America, except the chances were better that it was loaded and the guy holding it wasn't exactly in complete control of himself. I've always thought the Colt Python was one of the coolest guns out there, but we decided we shouldn't stick around too long to admire it. To this day I wonder how he got that gun.

 

[oldfart]

Dduring the Beslan standoff I saw news footage of locals waiting outside the perimeter, some with SKSs and Mosins. I didn't notice any handguns but I wouldn't have been surprised if there were some there.
As with any government, the Russian one has laws that people circumvent any way they find beneficial to themselves. We have laws regulating machine guns yet we all know there are plenty of them not on paper. Even in occupied France there were guns in the hands of civilians. It will always be that way, even in the most tyrannous regimes.

 

[Silvanus]

I watched another episode where they stay with a guy in a big house and are eating dinner - then some "friends" come over with AK's and Makarovs. I think it was pretty clear that the people Ewan was staying with in that episode were organized crime.

I loved that episode The rich (mafia?) guy had a nice black AK type rifle and even a PPSH And when his friends came over they fired a few handguns outside.

It really was a strange situation. They were in a very poor area and then there's this guy with his really big and nice house, guns, a lot of well dressed and also armed friends...

I agree that if you haven't seen "Long way around" you should definitely buy the DVD. It's very interesting.

 

[El Tejon]

MIL-DOT, don't worry, you can always get a "permit" for any gun you desire from the Armenian Mafia. Heck, the ink will still be wet when you pay for it.

Back when Misha "No Mas" Gorbachev was throwing in the red towel, the Armenian Mafia was driving truckloads of guns off bases and warehouses and still does to this day.

 

[SomeKid]

Another time my companion and I met a man on the street who had had a little too much to drink, so we helped him find his way home. (Passing out can be deadly there.)

Weather, or crime?

 

[JKimball]

Weather, or crime?

Weather was the primary concern, but crime is a real problem too.