I saw another post in another thread about making rifles or guns by yourself with machine tools. I have a friend who severely needs a lesson in what you can do with a machine shop, especially in regards to weaponry, and a simple, homemade gun would be perfect. The only problem is, I don't know where to start. I have only basic knowledge of the "innards" of firearms, and while I think I could figure it out on my own I don't think it would turn out very good. I'm thinking something small and simple, like a .22 or something. Have any of you guys attempted this, and did you have plans, websites, guidelines, etc. to help you along? Thanks for any info in advance!
Can you make a gun?
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EGO partum , proinde EGO sum
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Techno-Anarchist
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Simplest one I made was a couple of feet of black iron pipe the right size with a pipe cap on one end. Drill a small hole in the center of the cap. Screw cap over shotgun shell. Place nail in hole and bang with rock. It works amazingly well. I think I was about 12 or so.Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here
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Seriously un-cool.
You can joke and horse around about anything except safety issues.
I consider dicking with Federal firearms law to be a safety issue. So nix the cutsie stuff about machine guns. You can't make a legal one, no matter what licensing you have, unless it's an order for a government agency. See the Firearms Owner's Protection Act of 1986. And if you make an illegal one, anybody who is dumb enough to give you advice about it on a public forum is too dumb to be giving advice.
The book cited above is most probably -
Mueller, Walter. Building a Single Shot Falling Block Rifle. Village Press, 1998.
$14 from http://www.okdpm.com/Metalworking%20Books/
I haven't examined it myself, but I haven't heard that it's a particularly simple project. I am not aware of any available plans or instructions for a very simple gun. Even backyard SMGs aren't all that simple, not if you're the one making the setup for every single cut. The late Frank de Haas had a book on making various single shot rifles, but none were really specified to plan level, and none were all that simple.
Scratchbuilding an entire gun (even if you buy the barrel) is not a trivial task. I don't think a pipe zip gun is what you want to use to impress your friend with the capabilities of the machine shop.
There are kits for muzzleloaders which are pretty neat-o, but they don't usually involve a lot of machine work, just detail fitting and finishing.
Then there are 80 percenters. There are several sites and at least one forum devoted to guns built around receivers which have had 80% of the machining already done by the vendor. 0% receivers are available too. AR-15s and 1911s seem to be the most popular.
[This message has been edited by sauer38h (edited 05-28-2005).]
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Why not take a firearm, such as a rifle of known guality, and remodel it. Such as fitting a new barrel of better quality, and possibly change the sights.That would keep you from getting into serios safety issues, or Federal laws, as long is it is for your own use.This would give you the machine practice involving precision set-upsand you would have something worth while when you are done.
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The Mueller book is an excellent reference, and worth having if building a single shot rifle is being considered.
It is far from a simple project though. It is fairly complex, but will result in an excellent rifle.
The deHaas book has simpler plans. They lack in dimensions in most areas, but the dimensions are not as important as the fit of one part to another. They are simpler, and can be built with basic shop equipment. DeHaas includes instructions that are easily followed.Jim H.
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Before you build anything, be SURE you know the laws. It is possible to do it legally, if you jump through the proper hoops. An inquiry to the BATF would be a good idea. In the end, their opinion is the only one that maters.
Personally, I'd be inclined to build a blackpowder muzzleloader. The restrictions on those are less.----------
Try to make a living, not a killing. -- Utah Phillips
Don't believe everything you know. -- Bumper sticker
Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. -- Will Rogers
There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory. - Josh Billings
Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
Don't own anything you have to feed or paint. - Hood River Blackie
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"You can't make a legal one, no matter what licensing you have, unless it's an order for a government agency."
Not true, with a type 07 ffl and a paid SOT I can build all the machineguns I want. I just cannot transfer them unless it is to a govt agency or to another FFL/SOT who has a demo letter.
[This message has been edited by LoneGunman (edited 05-28-2005).]
[This message has been edited by LoneGunman (edited 05-28-2005).]
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"I can build all the machineguns I want."
Since when?
There is a suit on that very question in the 9th circuit, but knowing the 9th circuit, I'm not about to start stockpiling parts in anticipation of a favorable outcome.
Or are you talking about "salesman's samples"? If that little dodge is how you figure to do it, you're a brave man indeed.
p.s. On reflection, I think the 9th circuit case involves adding "for personal use" to the very tiny list of exemptions to the FOPA 86, a special though potentially important case.
[This message has been edited by sauer38h (edited 05-28-2005).]
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FOPA 86...the only actual gun ban ever signed into law...by a much beloved Republican President.
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