3D-printed full-auto bullpup 'ghost guns' can now be made for a couple of hundred dollars — designs have evolved dramatically outside the U.S. -

The topic of 3D-printed “ghost guns” has always been one of the highest-caliber discussions worldwide — both in and out of the United States, where gun ownership is chambered in the Constitution. Things are a bit different outside the U.S., as detailed in an interesting exposé in Bloomberg — ownership of guns is highly restricted in other countries, and their manufacturing, even more so. The write-up is interesting for anyone interested in 3D printing or guns, as it details the evolution of the concept and the people behind it.

The original 3D-printed gun design was the Liberator, a one-shot pistol that would likely crack after you shot it. However, as 3D printers and their respective materials advanced, the concept of printing a “ghost gun,” as they’re often called, reportedly isn’t nearly as difficult as it was before. These days, a decent printer, filament, and an extra few metal components are the only requirements.

Evolving gun designs to fit the mold of 3D printing was necessary, and a key element was the now-popular FCG-9 carbine, which released on October 2020 by Jacob Duygu (aka JStark1809), a now-deceased German-Kurdish member of the Deterrence Dispensed online group. This design is chambered in 9 mm and obviates the need for any factory-made gun parts — employing fasteners and other small parts using the metric standard. The only tricky bit seems to be the barrel itself, though there are multiple well-documented ways to build it.

3D-printed full-auto bullpup ‘ghost guns’ can now be made for a couple of hundred dollars — designs have evolved dramatically outside the U.S.