AK Vehicle Carry

[doc540]

working on a system to conceal and secure my AK within a vehicle

another factor under consideration is "reasonable" access when secured

I'll post pics and updates as they transpire


(yes, it's legal within my state)

 

[JustinJ]

You probably already know this but i'll throw it out there anyways. The AK platform has a negative image and is often associated with crime so if used for SD that perception could be a variable against you when forced to justify your actions legally. Its my understanding that few, if any, LE departments will allow them to be used for patrol specifically for the public image attached to the AK. Using the same guns and ammo as you local law enforcement can be a defense against allegations that one carries a specific gun because they want the most "killing potential".

I'm not saying not to use it but that this should be considered. I have an AK74 for home defense but in our state self defense shootings in one's home tend to carry much less liability and legal risk than outside of it.

What type of vehcile do you drive and where are you intending to store it?

 

[doc540]

all good points to consider


"self defense potential" is currently leading my list

And, trust me, if I have to resort to my rifle for self defense, I'll have no problem justifying anything in my community.

But, I suppose I could consider for some other inexpensive, high capacity rifle with a better public image.

Well-used Ruger mini-14 or aftermarket M1 carbine?

I can't talk my 89 year old father out of his 1944 M1 carbine.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd make sure however you carry it that it is not accessible in your lunge zone. It may be completely legal in Texas, but if law enforcement happens to find something like that in your lunge zone during a contact there's going to tend to be a lot of assumptions that you are involved in something inappropriate with consequent attention and questions.

Personally, if I were going to routinely carry a long gun in my vehicle 24-7, it would be in the trunk or far back on an SUV and in a locked pelican case. On an SUV I might loop a bike chain through the case handle and secure it to some mounting point in the rear of the vehicle. I'd personally have much less concern about my being able to deploy the rifle in under 60 seconds than I would about theft of the weapon from the vehicle. On average, nation wide, odds of having your vehicle broken into versus odds of being involved in a self-defense shooting are about on par with the odds of getting rained on versus the odds of getting hit by lightning.

 

[doc540]

another consideration would be to build another inexpensive SKS with a compact TAPCO stock

I've done a few of those.

I'd really like to focus the thread on effective securing and concealing options rather than "should I or shouldn't I".

 

[Rob G]

I'm not sure about securing a full size AK unless you have a pickup truck or some kind of large SUV. In those cases maybe you could do something with the door pouch using velcroed fabric for fast access on a collapsible stock weapon?

I have a Jetta and I think what I'd do with something like that would be this: I'd put hardware mounts either on the underside of the glove box or as part of the driver's side door pouch to hold the gun. Then I'd use some kind of fabric (as close in appearance to the interior as I could find) attached to the car's interior to form a protective visual covering over the gun. I'd use either a zipper or velcro on it to allow me to access the gun quickly.

For the gun itself, forget about a full size AK. Even with a collapsible stock it'd be too big. I'd get a Draco pistol instead. You still get the 7.62X39 round and the 30 round magazine but it's got a much shorter barrel than a standard AK. They're also relatively affordable and really reliable. There's no shoulder stock on it since it's technically a pistol but if you wanted to SBR it you could always add one, probably something in a side folder would work best for a car gun.

 

[ball3006]

I either put mine, loaded, behind the seat of my pickup or on the seat next to me with a sack of loaded mags on the seat......chris3

 

[AK103K]

working on a system to conceal and secure my AK within a vehicle

Check out Big Sky racks. They are the best car/truck racks Ive ever used.

http://www.bigskyracks.com/

I used one for a number of years in my work trucks, and had a number of people get in the truck and never even notice there were two long guns just above their head.

Ive also been pulled over by the police a few times too, and they never saw a thing. Kind of hide in plain sight, with pretty much instant access.

 

[doc540]

Big Sky has some creative options right there.

 

[Owen Sparks]

The critical factor is speed of access. When you need a gun you usually need it in a hurry.

 

[doc540]

The critical factor is speed of access. When you need a gun you usually need it in a hurry.

true

and speed is relative

If I can access it freely within 5-10 seconds, that might be "speedy" enough for me.

 

[Ruddie]

My underfolder AK stays wedged between the back seat of my Tahoe (stock folded of course).
In my opinion, if it takes me going to another area of my automobile to get a gun that I need for defensive purposes then I'm already dead. If you are in need of being defensive in an automobile then your most likely going to be in the drivers seat, why not have everything needed to stay alive within a reasonable area. I do live in a state that allows me to do this. For you it might not be the case. I also have a fobus holster for my duty Glock affixed to the inside of my console for quick access if needed.

 

[Ruddie]

Also, law enforcement supply companies might offer something designed for a patrol car that will suit your need.

 

[doc540]

thanks for the pm

and I already have this mounted and concealed nearby


The thought keeps running thru my mind: "A pistol is what you fight your way back to a rifle with"...well, that's a paraphrase, but you get the idea

It wasn't too many years ago that many vehicles in Texas had a rifle mounted in a rack and in plain sight.

Crime's gotten to the point where that's seldom practicle.

 

[PavePusher]

doc540, do you have any clearer pictures/links for that? I have a 2000 M5 that needs something similar... Thanks in advance.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

FWIW, I was given a hybrid AK by my brother for the expresed purpose of a "trunk gun", or a rifle to be stored but reasonably available. It has an AMD folding stock, and a Romanian front section (US made receiver, etc). It also fits in a US M60 barrel bag, making it very well protected in the trunk. My purpose is like yours. I'm not going to be out waving it around, but if a bad situation rises that calls for a rifle, it's there. My vehicle permits a fast access at the back, and I figured I'd just jump out and access the rifle, and have the option to hide behind or near the vehicle for cover, or escape to another location on foot, but still be able to return very hostile fire if needed, and punch through a vehicle if needed. When practicing, though, it became aparent that the M1 Carbine is also a viable gun for the job. I consistently shot better with either of my two M1 carbines than I did with the 7.62x39 AK. The AK round, though, really has some strong ability to penetrate vehicles, barriers, etc, better than the carbine, especially with the steel core ammo. I think the AK needs a better sight, and mine carries an Ultimak with a Zeiss Z-point. Since I didn't have to spend much on the gun (aside a few furniture upgrades, etc), I spent a little extra on the optic. I do not feel handicapped by not being able to "quick draw" the rifle; it is stowed, but still accessible, and, I do have a rather potent sidearm to fight my way to the rifle (Glock 29).

[/IMG]

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

PS: Ak's are much less offensive looking with a 5, 10, or 20 round magazine, if you want to have a assault rifle available, but a lower profile look.

 

[doc540]

doc540, do you have any clearer pictures/links for that? I have a 2000 M5 that needs something similar... Thanks in advance.

Here ya go:

$20, left handed Uncle Mikes and some left over rubber bushings:
(drill holes big enough to get the screws and a driver through the outside of the holster and cover the screw heads with a piece of vinyl inside)


with black interior, tint, and a black Subway cap it's concealed well enough


And since it's a Sigma, no self-respecting thief would try to use it in a crime

And how many miles on the M5?

 

[HorseSoldier]

The critical factor is speed of access. When you need a gun you usually need it in a hurry.

A pistol is the solution, not a long gun you're trying to deploy from the driver's seat. Quite honestly, if you're in a vehicle and your response to a situation is to stop and deploy a long gun rather than get away as a private citizen -- even in Texas -- you're opening the door for being "defendant" (or civil suit) rather than a rousing "good on ya" from the legal system.

(To say nothing of the risk of being zapped by responding law enforcement -- 911 caller saying "guy just jumped out of his car with an assault rifle" tends to muddy the waters more than a bit when you're trying to sort out the situation while running code and blowing redlights en route to a scene.)

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

A rifle might save your life when attacked from a vehicle or while in or around a vehicle. We'll worry about what the cops think after we have protected ourselves. I have watched cops come to a fight poorly armed. Even they have come to believe that long arms are the correct DEFENSIVE weapons now and then. Retreat hell! Make a citizens arrest.

 

[PavePusher]

47K. Had 42K when I picked it up last December, just before Christmas. Drove it home to Tucson (from Salt Lake), and did a round-trip to S.L. again in March to do some skiing, with a stop at Brian Head on the way back south.

Mostly a weekend driver, with some road-tripping when not needing to carry large volumes of stuff. I really, really like it. It handles very well in the mountains....