3D Printed Guns

[Washington Resistance Army]

I mean an all plastic firearm is effectively a bomb, so just make a bomb in that case.

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Printing all the other bits that make a gun is easy enough and most don't even need to be metallic, but fabricating a proper gun barrel is currently beyond the existing technology. What appears to be a simple metal tube is actually easily the most sophisticated piece of engineering in most modern firearms, employing complex metallurgical techniques in their production. A 3D printer basically just sinters layers of powdered metal in the shape of a tube, so a printed gun would likely fail catastrophically after a few shots.

Some may argue that printed guns may still be useful for assassins who ideally only need to get one shot right, or robbers who can ideally carry out a heist without having to fire even once, but that still leaves the problem of ammunition - it cannot be printed, purchase of ammo requires a valid gun permit in most locations, and the necessary components to make one's own rounds are also regulated. All that considered, not to mention the price tag of a suitable printer and the specific skills required to operate it, a serious criminal in need of a gun would likely find it much more convenient to just buy a conventionally-made firearm and ammo on the black market, having both the contacts and the means to do so, and his purchase in the very least being unlikely to blow up in his face.

Fully functioning firearms barrels have already been printed. The machines they used to do it are still a bit out of the price range for normal people but they're dropping rapidly. People are seriously underestimating how far these things have already come.

[Sovaal]

I mean an all plastic firearm is effectively a bomb, so just make a bomb in that case.

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Printing all the other bits that make a gun is easy enough and most don't even need to be metallic, but fabricating a proper gun barrel is currently beyond the existing technology. What appears to be a simple metal tube is actually easily the most sophisticated piece of engineering in most modern firearms, employing complex metallurgical techniques in their production. A 3D printer basically just sinters layers of powdered metal in the shape of a tube, so a printed gun would likely fail catastrophically after a few shots.

Some may argue that printed guns may still be useful for assassins who ideally only need to get one shot right, or robbers who can ideally carry out a heist without having to fire even once, but that still leaves the problem of ammunition - it cannot be printed, purchase of ammo requires a valid gun permit in most locations, and the necessary components to make one's own rounds are also regulated. All that considered, not to mention the price tag of a suitable printer and the specific skills required to operate it, a serious criminal in need of a gun would likely find it much more convenient to just buy a conventionally-made firearm and ammo on the black market, having both the contacts and the means to do so, and his purchase in the very least being unlikely to blow up in his face.

Weh, that’s a lot, and I’ll get to your actual message later.

But what i was replying to was the idea of a fully plastic firearm being an effective firearm. From my current understanding, the vast majortiy of plastics out there are pretty much incapable of handling explosive forces safely. Could be wrong.

[Washington Resistance Army]

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Printing all the other bits that make a gun is easy enough and most don't even need to be metallic, but fabricating a proper gun barrel is currently beyond the existing technology. What appears to be a simple metal tube is actually easily the most sophisticated piece of engineering in most modern firearms, employing complex metallurgical techniques in their production. A 3D printer basically just sinters layers of powdered metal in the shape of a tube, so a printed gun would likely fail catastrophically after a few shots.

Some may argue that printed guns may still be useful for assassins who ideally only need to get one shot right, or robbers who can ideally carry out a heist without having to fire even once, but that still leaves the problem of ammunition - it cannot be printed, purchase of ammo requires a valid gun permit in most locations, and the necessary components to make one's own rounds are also regulated. All that considered, not to mention the price tag of a suitable printer and the specific skills required to operate it, a serious criminal in need of a gun would likely find it much more convenient to just buy a conventionally-made firearm and ammo on the black market, having both the contacts and the means to do so, and his purchase in the very least being unlikely to blow up in his face.

Weh, that’s a lot, and I’ll get to your actual message later.

But what i was replying to was the idea of a fully plastic firearm being an effective firearm. From my current understanding, the vast majortiy of plastics out there are pretty much incapable of handling explosive forces safely. Could be wrong.

Depends entirely on the round being fired. The Songbird pistol is pretty much entirely plastic and only has a metal firing pin (just a random nail from around the house) and a metal barrel liner for the .357 version. If I'm not mistaken the .22 version has a plastic printed barrel that even features some basic rifling.

[Imperium Sidhicum]

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Printing all the other bits that make a gun is easy enough and most don't even need to be metallic, but fabricating a proper gun barrel is currently beyond the existing technology. What appears to be a simple metal tube is actually easily the most sophisticated piece of engineering in most modern firearms, employing complex metallurgical techniques in their production. A 3D printer basically just sinters layers of powdered metal in the shape of a tube, so a printed gun would likely fail catastrophically after a few shots.

Some may argue that printed guns may still be useful for assassins who ideally only need to get one shot right, or robbers who can ideally carry out a heist without having to fire even once, but that still leaves the problem of ammunition - it cannot be printed, purchase of ammo requires a valid gun permit in most locations, and the necessary components to make one's own rounds are also regulated. All that considered, not to mention the price tag of a suitable printer and the specific skills required to operate it, a serious criminal in need of a gun would likely find it much more convenient to just buy a conventionally-made firearm and ammo on the black market, having both the contacts and the means to do so, and his purchase in the very least being unlikely to blow up in his face.

Fully functioning firearms barrels have already been printed. The machines they used to do it are still a bit out of the price range for normal people but they're dropping rapidly. People are seriously underestimating how far these things have already come.

Still, aren't these barrels somewhat unreliable compared to properly-machined ones? I mean, the principle of 3D printing is essentially sintering together layers upon layers of powdered metal, so unless that barrel is somehow hardened post-printing, I don't see how it could be as safe and reliable as one made by traditional means. Sure, the printed ones may last a few shots well enough, but has any of these printed weapons been put through proper firing tests with hundreds of rounds so far?

[Len Hyet]

Fully functioning firearms barrels have already been printed. The machines they used to do it are still a bit out of the price range for normal people but they're dropping rapidly. People are seriously underestimating how far these things have already come.

Still, aren't these barrels somewhat unreliable compared to properly-machined ones? I mean, the principle of 3D printing is essentially sintering together layers upon layers of powdered metal, so unless that barrel is somehow hardened post-printing, I don't see how it could be as safe and reliable as one made by traditional means. Sure, the printed ones may last a few shots well enough, but has any of these printed weapons been put through proper firing tests with hundreds of rounds so far?

Yup

[Imperium Sidhicum]

Still, aren't these barrels somewhat unreliable compared to properly-machined ones? I mean, the principle of 3D printing is essentially sintering together layers upon layers of powdered metal, so unless that barrel is somehow hardened post-printing, I don't see how it could be as safe and reliable as one made by traditional means. Sure, the printed ones may last a few shots well enough, but has any of these printed weapons been put through proper firing tests with hundreds of rounds so far?

Yup

I am impressed. The technology has indeed advanced considerably.

That said, I don't see a cause of alarm in it. For someone desperate to get an unregistered gun, it's still cheaper and easier to just buy one on the black market, and as for legal gun owners, I don't see a problem with them printing their pieces rather than buying them in gun shops - the only who might object might be gun manufacturers, but they too can simply charge people for blueprints online. The only real issue that may arise from advances in 3D printing technology is easier mass production of unregistered guns, which might interest terrorists and drug cartels - but then again, the said entities do not seem to have a problem procuring arms as it is. Besides, that still leaves any illicit users with the problem of procuring ammunition.

[Dooom35796821595]

The OP dosen't actually say anything other then the fact they exist, and 3 lines of logic devoid gun support. How it's not been locked...idk.

As for dangers in 3D printers, bio-printers are far worse. 3D printed bioweapons...

[Washington Resistance Army]

The OP dosen't actually say anything other then the fact they exist, and 3 lines of logic devoid gun support. How it's not been locked...idk.

As for dangers in 3D printers, bio-printers are far worse. 3D printed bioweapons...

We in The Division now bois

[LimaUniformNovemberAlpha]

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Being that murders often end in suicide, I doubt this will be that much of a deterrent.

[Imperium Sidhicum]

It's possible to print with powdered metal as well with some printers. The end product still looks rather shabby and probably wouldn't last more than a few shots, every one of them being at least as dangerous to the operator as to the target.

Being that murders often end in suicide, I doubt this will be that much of a deterrent.

The majority of murders don't involve a firearm to begin with, being carried out with mundane household tools. Not to mention that most murders happen in the heat of passion, there being no real deterrence of any kind for that.

[Dooom35796821595]

Being that murders often end in suicide, I doubt this will be that much of a deterrent.

The majority of murders don't involve a firearm to begin with, being carried out with mundane household tools. Not to mention that most murders happen in the heat of passion, there being no real deterrence of any kind for that.

Remove passion?

Prozium and censorship, the cure for crime and war.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Being that murders often end in suicide, I doubt this will be that much of a deterrent.

The majority of murders don't involve a firearm to begin with, being carried out with mundane household tools. Not to mention that most murders happen in the heat of passion, there being no real deterrence of any kind for that.

Knives are often used. You know, like a kitchen knife or something.