Just how "safe" would a "printed" gun be?

MetalCarnage · May 5, 2013

Guys,

I just read this article on Forbes concerning a gun that was "completely made with a 3D printer" They say the only component not made on the printer was the firing pin. I'm wondering more about the barrel(s). Can a "printed" plastic be strong enough to withstand even some of the lower pressure rounds? 'Course the politicians are in a tizzy as well.

What do you think?

-Ron

speerchucker30x3 · May 5, 2013

As a single use, fire and forget weapon, why not? There would be other restrictions. It would have to be based on low pressure cartridges designed exclusively for blow back or short recoil guns like 22 RF, 25 auto, 32 auto and possibly 45 auto if it was bulky enough. The barrel would have to be kept reasonably short to keep pressures from getting too high. Say 1/2 inch to 1 inch and because of this velocities would probably be under 700 FPS. It would be nothing more than a belly buster. I'd sooner have a knife, a set of knitting needles or chopsticks would be a more logical weapon.

CalG · May 5, 2013

Depends on which end of the muzzle you might be looking at.

Safe? Compared to being unarmed and facing an attacker? Take your pick ;;;;;;;;;;

sealark37 · May 5, 2013

Liberals have always been petrified of plastic firearms.

michiganbuck · May 5, 2013

How dangerous is the thought of a gun?
In this mixed up anti gun world children can get kicked out of school for pointing a finger. I read about one child getting suspended for shaping a toasted cheese sandwich like a hand gun… and terrorists who maim defenseless civilians and children get three square meals a day on my tax bill. Go figure .

epdesign · May 5, 2013

Your only printing the lower in the case of the AR-15 because that's the only part that has to be purchased through an FFL.. The rest of the gun can be sent directly to your home and are way harder to trace. you could also safely print the lower part of a polymer hand gun such as the glock S&W and H.K. hand guns. There have been polymer AR-15 lowers on the market for years but they have been problematic.. In all reality your better off milling your own. its fairly simple and as long as you have one to copy it is easy. Printing one is fine buy you defiantly loose reliability..

you can buy 80% lowers and not have to go through an FFL and finish them your self so why print one? I have seen AK 47's made out of a shovel in a guys garages. in my opinion printing is well and fine but if its not reliable its worthless

GeoD · May 5, 2013

Named after this weapon

FP-45 Liberator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And used for fighting National Socialists.

As an amusing aside, the wikipedia article says there is no "documented" use of the original weapon being used for the intended purpose.
This is because, as one can imagine, Alexandre, Devereaux and Dumont had something more important to do after shooting Adolf in the neck and taking his Mauser then to fill out "documentation". The good news was when they shot Fritz in the neck it was with Adolf's Mauser and from a safer distance. That would have left a mark on Fritz that would not buff out.

As is usual the Forbes article bleats about "criminals can print plastic firearms at home" and how we MUST ban these firearms "For the Children" (TM)

Here is a clue. Criminals, by definition, don't obey laws ( See the fallacy of the Gun Free Zone [footnote 1] ). People who are Criminally minded and yet smart, motivated, and drug free enough to set up a plastic printer already have jobs in Govt. or "Green" companies stealing tax dollars and putting them in their pockets. A ban on firearms always hurts only the law abiding.

The recent Islamist attack in Boston did not use guns, but think how how many asinine arguments could be made for banning high capacity pressure cookers. Imagine any gun control blather and substitute "pressure cooker" for "gun" or "assault weapon".

On cue, the Boston Globe printed sob stories about Muslims who worry about "scrutiny", because that is so relevant compared to the dead and maimed. :crazy:

[footnote 1] Gun Free Zones - 1/2 Hour News Hour - YouTube

michiganbuck · May 5, 2013

If we would just bring back the rope there would be a lot less worry about guns and bombs.

ExecutedToday.com » 1996: Billy Bailey, the last American hanged

MetalCarnage · May 6, 2013

GeoD said:
Named after this weapon

FP-45 Liberator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And used for fighting National Socialists.

As an amusing aside, the wikipedia article says there is no "documented" use of the original weapon being used for the intended purpose.
This is because, as one can imagine, Alexandre, Devereaux and Dumont had something more important to do after shooting Adolf in the neck and taking his Mauser then to fill out "documentation". The good news was when they shot Fritz in the neck it was with Adolf's Mauser and from a safer distance. That would have left a mark on Fritz that would not buff out.

As is usual the Forbes article bleats about "criminals can print plastic firearms at home" and how we MUST ban these firearms "For the Children" (TM)

Here is a clue. Criminals, by definition, don't obey laws ( See the fallacy of the Gun Free Zone [footnote 1] ). People who are Criminally minded and yet smart, motivated, and drug free enough to set up a plastic printer already have jobs in Govt. or "Green" companies stealing tax dollars and putting them in their pockets. A ban on firearms always hurts only the law abiding.

The recent Islamist attack in Boston did not use guns, but think how how many asinine arguments could be made for banning high capacity pressure cookers. Imagine any gun control blather and substitute "pressure cooker" for "gun" or "assault weapon".

On cue, the Boston Globe printed sob stories about Muslims who worry about "scrutiny", because that is so relevant compared to the dead and maimed.

[footnote 1] Gun Free Zones - 1/2 Hour News Hour - YouTube

I hope that no one ever points out to them that, even if they "banned" and confiscated all the guns the criminals would still be able to hire/force someone with the right equipment - lathe, mill, etc. to make something functional out of metal. What a bunch of twits!

Here's an update on the "plastic gun" where they actually test fired it - Meet The 'Liberator': Test-Firing The World's First Fully 3D-Printed Gun - Forbes The results aren't too surprising.

-Ron

john.k · May 6, 2013

A printed gun would be ok if you only used printed bullets.Seriously though,you guys are lucky that blackpowder from fireworks was used and not bought from a gunstore.The fuss about guns made on a CNC mill went on for ages some years ago,just a media beatup,this is another.Regards John.

Rob F. · May 6, 2013

Just as easy to print metal like in this other thread.
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/designing-3d-metal-printer-264901/

wyop · May 6, 2013

It depends on the pressure of the cartridge, as Rod points out.

Handgun pressures are much lower than rifles (until we get to something like the .500 S&W).

Shotgun pressures are lower yet.

Someone could "print" a short-barreled pistol firing a .410 shotgun cartridge... and as long as there is rifling in the barrel, it's not illegal. It would be easy to "print" rifling in the bore. I think the SAAMI spec for .410 chamber pressures is 13,500 psi, MAP.

SND · May 6, 2013

I can hear the liability insurance for the 3D printer manufacturers going ding ding ding like a lottery machine.

sable · May 6, 2013

This story was top of the bill on UK lunchtime news ,just hope they don't find out you don't need to buy a 3D printer to make a gun.

Robert Robles · May 6, 2013

The neighbors bad kids printed guns when I was a youngster, folks called them zip guns. Two sizes .22 and .45. Multiple use. assembled out of common products. All the tools needed were black electrical tape, (pre-duct tape), L shaped wood, a nail and rubber bands. Me, I preferred a slingshot.

kapps · May 6, 2013

I'd be a bit wary of using an ABS gun but I do not doubt a design could be made out of PPSF that would function and handle the heat/pressure.

Search

Largest Manufacturing Technology Community on the Web

Search

Just how "safe" would a "printed" gun be?

MetalCarnage

Stainless

speerchucker30x3

Titanium

CalG

Diamond

sealark37

Stainless

michiganbuck

Diamond

epdesign

Plastic

GeoD

Aluminum

michiganbuck

Diamond

MetalCarnage

Stainless

john.k

Diamond

Rob F.

Diamond

wyop

Cast Iron

SND

Diamond

sable

Titanium

Robert Robles

Aluminum

kapps

Cast Iron

Similar threads