Uhhh Switzerland’s Gun Laws Are Way Better Than America’s?
James Reeves
324,265 views
Switzerland has some of the strangest gun laws in the world. In this episode, James Reeves sits down with Mike, better known as Bloke on the Range, to break down Swiss firearm laws, what Swiss citizens can legally own, how the permit system works, why concealed carry is nearly impossible, and why some machine guns, grenade launchers, and collector firearms are actually easier to own in Switzerland than in the United States. From crew-served machine guns that may not even count as firearms, to full-auto permits, suppressors, ammunition restrictions, magazine rules, and the Swiss gun owner “starter pack,” this is one of the weirdest and most interesting gun law discussions we have ever done. This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult qualified counsel or local authorities before relying on any firearm law information.
Contents:
00:00 Switzerland’s weirdest gun law
01:20 Who can own guns in Switzerland?
01:58 What counts as a firearm?
04:05 Antique and “free” firearms
07:00 Normal firearms, permits, and magazine limits
11:31 Machine guns, suppressors, and grenade launchers
16:43 Suppressors and full-auto ownership
20:16 Shooting and storing full-auto guns
22:02 Banned ammunition and other Swiss oddities
23:30 Why concealed carry is nearly impossible
25:03 3D printing, transport, and inspections
26:33 The Swiss gun owner starter pack
29:20 Entry-level full-auto guns
30:08 Closing
20 Comments
But what does suck is the cost of shooting which is generally high. Guns. Ammo. Range fees. Exorbitant. You can join a shooting club which is better but the scope of disciplines shrinks a lot.
If there was one thing i could change it would be shooting ranges. Outdoor shooting ranges, esp ones that allow more dynamic disciplines are hard to come by. And did i mention prices? Also, long range shooting doesnt exist. It just doesnt. Im so jealous of americans that can just go shoot on public land and cheap outdoor ranges.
•No Hughes amendment/NFA equivalent in Switzerland
•Some really funny exemptions for certain items in both directions of allowance
•Basically its the United States overall, but definitely more burocratic
Personally, I was trained on the STGW 90 at 16 during my sports shooting phase. While it was a structured and regulated experience, it’s not something I or anyone I know associates with everyday life or personal defence. The idea of someone casually carrying a firearm outside of these contexts feels entirely foreign—and honestly, unnecessary—in Switzerland.
For the vast majority of Swiss people, guns just aren’t a topic of interest or relevance.
It’s important to recognize that Switzerland’s relationship with firearms is shaped by its unique history and system, not by cultural norms around gun ownership. Most Swiss people, like myself, simply don’t see a need for guns in their lives.
• as a hunter your valid hunting license allows you to buy hunting rifles, hunting shot guns and ammo without a gun permit or an extract of the criminal record
• general carry is not allowed but as a hunter you can carry at your hunting ground
• since february 2025, suppressors have become shall issue for hunters
• I also received a permit for a thermal scope for hunting wild hogs. as far as I know, permits for thermal scopes are only issued to hunters
• hollow point ammo for handgun calibers (like 9x19mm or .45 AUTO for example) is restricted for civilians but as a hunter you can acquire it with a special permit from the federal police - that's how I was able to acquire some hornady critical duty ammo recently for the coup de grâce.
Uhhh Switzerland’s Gun Laws Are Way Better Than America’s?
James Reeves
324,265 views
Switzerland has some of the strangest gun laws in the world. In this episode, James Reeves sits down with Mike, better known as Bloke on the Range, to break down Swiss firearm laws, what Swiss citizens can legally own, how the permit system works, why concealed carry is nearly impossible, and why some machine guns, grenade launchers, and collector firearms are actually easier to own in Switzerland than in the United States. From crew-served machine guns that may not even count as firearms, to full-auto permits, suppressors, ammunition restrictions, magazine rules, and the Swiss gun owner “starter pack,” this is one of the weirdest and most interesting gun law discussions we have ever done. This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult qualified counsel or local authorities before relying on any firearm law information.
Contents:
00:00 Switzerland’s weirdest gun law
01:20 Who can own guns in Switzerland?
01:58 What counts as a firearm?
04:05 Antique and “free” firearms
07:00 Normal firearms, permits, and magazine limits
11:31 Machine guns, suppressors, and grenade launchers
16:43 Suppressors and full-auto ownership
20:16 Shooting and storing full-auto guns
22:02 Banned ammunition and other Swiss oddities
23:30 Why concealed carry is nearly impossible
25:03 3D printing, transport, and inspections
26:33 The Swiss gun owner starter pack
29:20 Entry-level full-auto guns
30:08 Closing