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UK Ballistics Scientists: 3D-Printed Guns Are 'of No Use To Anyone'

Posted by Soulskill on from the might-hurt-if-you-throw-them-at-somebody dept.

New submitter graveyardjohn writes: "The BBC has a short video about why the U.K.'s National Ballistics Intelligence Service thinks 3D-printed guns are 'of no use to anyone.' They show a 3D-printed gun being fired in a test chamber. The barrel explodes and the bullet flops forward a few feet. They say, 'without additional expertise and the right type of ammunition, anyone attempting to fire one would probably maim or even kill themselves.'"

7 of 490 comments (clear)

  1. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm fucking sick of seeing 3D printers associated with guns.

    1. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Apparently, Phillipean barrios are full of people with substantial engineering expertise.

      http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2013/04/08/backyard-gun-shops-in-the-philippines/

  2. Good thing technology never moves forward by BoberFett · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a good thing technology never moves forward. This issue can now be put to bed.

  3. polymer AR lower recievers... by gandhi_2 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There are several commercially successful makes of polymer AR lowers.
    In AR-land, the serial is on the lower.
    A 3d printed lower gives you the ability to print a non serial numberd AR. Which is legal (US federal. YMMV) because home-made guns don't have to be serialized.

    --
    THL phish sticks
    1. Re:polymer AR lower recievers... by PseudoCoder · · Score: 5, Informative

      what's the difference between a lower and an upper? which part has the barrel? or the trigger and "chamber"?

      Barrel, chamber and bolt assembly go on the upper receiver. The trigger, magazine, stock and serial number on the lower receiver.

      --
      "Now, I doubt any of you would prefer a rolled up newspaper as a weapon against a dictator or a criminal intruder."
  4. Also, cars are of no use to anyone by Theaetetus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The BBC has a short video about why the U.K.'s National Ballistics Intelligence Service thinks 3D-printed guns are 'of no use to anyone.' They show a 3D-printed gun being fired in a test chamber. The barrel explodes and the bullet flops forward a few feet. They say, 'without additional expertise and the right type of ammunition, anyone attempting to fire one would probably maim or even kill themselves.'

    In a related story, the U.K. Horse and Buggy Registration Service thinks the automobile will be 'of no use to anyone.' They show a vehicle being driven on a test track. It travels a short distance at 10 mph, then the engine blows a rod and one wheel falls off. They say, 'without additional expertise and the right type of petrol, anyone attempting to drive one would probably main or even kill themselves."

  5. Re:Not a very thorough evaluation by Nidi62 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why even bother printing guns when you can just buy a legally unregulated upper, a trigger assembly, and an 80% lower reciever blank then just mill the blank and assemble a fully working, untraceable and unserialed AR-15?

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil