The Open Source Gun Project

[billybob_jcv]

Hmm, I thought I understood - but the last few posts confused me...

I *thought* the primary purpose of this exercise was to produce the *regulated* portion of the firearm - ie, the receiver. The rest of the parts (barrels, bolts, etc) are already easily purchased from multiple vendors - and can be (currently) purchased without Big Brother watching over us. If the scope of the project is focused on the receivers, then you avoid the issues of needing to mill and rifle a barrel and other difficult processes.

Of course, it would be great to be able to build your own complete firearm in your garage without buying anything but some steel - but I think that's not realistic or necessary. Instead, the focus can be on leveraging the entire firearm industry to supply the unregulated parts, and only worry about those parts *if* Big Brother decides to try to control them.

I also have another comment...

Does this first attempt at an opensource firearm really need to be a relatively high-profile semi auto rifle? What if the initial attempt is something much more under the radar - like a bolt action rimfire rifle or a plinking pistol? You would be able to perfect the manufacturing processes, information distribution, etc, etc without the "stigma" of creating an Evil Black Rifle in your garage. Once the processes are in place, retooling for an opensource AK-clone should be relatively easy. I suspect this kind of thinking will probably rub the activists the wrong way - they will want to charge ahead with their bayonets out - I'm just trying to offer a more subtle approach...

[billybob_jcv]

(a) Central registry
The Secretary shall maintain a central registry of all firearms
in the United States which are not in the possession or under the
control of the United States. This registry shall be known as the
National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The registry
shall include -
(1) identification of the firearm;
(2) date of registration; and
(3) identification and address of person entitled to possession
of the firearm.
(b) By whom registered
Each manufacturer, importer, and maker shall register each
firearm he manufactures, imports, or makes. Each firearm
transferred shall be registered to the transferee by the
transferor.
(c) How registered
Each manufacturer shall notify the Secretary of the manufacture
of a firearm in such manner as may by regulations be prescribed and
such notification shall effect the registration of the firearm
required by this section. Each importer, maker, and transferor of a
firearm shall, prior to importing, making, or transferring a
firearm, obtain authorization in such manner as required by this
chapter or regulations issued thereunder to import, make, or
transfer the firearm, and such authorization shall effect the
registration of the firearm required by this section.
(d) Firearms registered on effective date of this Act
A person shown as possessing a firearm by the records maintained
by the Secretary pursuant to the National Firearms Act in force on
the day immediately prior to the effective date of the National
Firearms Act of 1968 (!1) shall be considered to have registered
under this section the firearms in his possession which are
disclosed by that record as being in his possession.
(e) Proof of registration
A person possessing a firearm registered as required by this
section shall retain proof of registration which shall be made
available to the Secretary upon request.

[wash]

Guns made for personal use avoid pretty much all reporting and registration requirements.

AKs and ARs are already routinely made from an unregulated flat or 80% lower and parts that are also unregulated.

If someone in the government wanted to stop people making paperless guns, they would have to regulate parts such as barrels so the ability to rifle a barrel might be very useful at some point.

If I see the writing on the wall, I'll start buying up parts kits and barrels.

It would be nice to be able to do everything in house but that's pretty far beyond my means and few will ever get there.

[billybob_jcv]

Guns made for personal use avoid pretty much all reporting and registration requirements.

AKs and ARs are already routinely made from an unregulated flat or 80% lower and parts that are also unregulated.

If someone in the government wanted to stop people making paperless guns, they would have to regulate parts such as barrels so the ability to rifle a barrel might be very useful at some point.

If I see the writing on the wall, I'll start buying up parts kits and barrels.

It would be nice to be able to do everything in house but that's pretty far beyond my means and few will ever get there.

(a) Identification of firearms other than destructive devices
Each manufacturer and importer and anyone making a firearm shall
identify each firearm, other than a destructive device,
manufactured, imported, or made by a serial number which may not be
readily removed, obliterated, or altered, the name of the
manufacturer, importer, or maker, and such other identification as
the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.
(b) Firearms without serial number
Any person who possesses a firearm, other than a destructive
device, which does not bear the serial number and other information
required by subsection (a) of this section shall identify the
firearm with a serial number assigned by the Secretary and any
other information the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.
(c) Identification of destructive device
Any firearm classified as a destructive device shall be
identified in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations
prescribe.

[okimreloaded]

Any non prohibited person can build a gun if he wants to without Dros or registration or serial numbers as long as he does not transfer it, although my limited understanding is that if one did wish to transfer it there are means for adding the proper information.

The reason I vote for the saiga type is because the receiver is not milled, it is bent- which makes it much easier.

However it would be interesting to see what other types could be built. Just as computers are hacked guns can be hacked too.

The point of hacking is to push the limits and to learn new things- for instance I remember reading about the FP liberator and later the deer gun, single shot insurgency pistols that were minimalistic in form and function. One group may want to go off on that tangent and just see how simple they could make a gun.

The goal of the project as I see it, is to create an organized system for producing firearms outside of the over regulated ways- as a model- in case buying a firearm the traditional way becomes too burdensome, all within the letter of the law.

I would love for the opposition to see that all it takes is a few affordable machines and dedicated people to make regulation pointless and expensive to enforce.

Of course not all of the required machines are affordable but creating a network of people who make the parts we need and have those machines is part of what this is about.

[okimreloaded]

I'd also encourage all those unfamiliar with a saiga rifle to google it. It looks very similar to a regular rifle, and lacks all "evil features" that the state is so concerned about.

[The Wingnut]

It seems like it is open to further legal discussion and I'd be open to the idea of seeing what could be done to design a gun that can be assembled with as few machines as possible but doubt that it would be up to modern standards we've all come to expect.

This is what initially sprung to mind for me: A very inexpensive, highly simplistic, but reliable and accurate firearm. Something that uses as few parts as possible and is not reliant upon close tolerances or complex machining, but will function and perform well.