[MachIVshooter]

OK, I will start by saying that I have been into metalworking for a long time. Yesterday I picked up a Verticle milling machine and lathe ($$$=ouch!). My new machines have the capacity and accuracy (<.001") to build pretty much any handgun frame/slide or rifle reciever, minus the barrel (rifling is a tough nut to crack!) and I would probably use an existing magazine (not worth the headache). I built zip guns when I was a teenager (obviously they were not legal), but I am getting more serious now. I have one 9mm that is basically junk, but the barrel is OK. This would be my starting point. My question is this: How much of a PITA would it be for me to legally manufacture a complete handgun and get a serial number assigned by ATF? I know it can be done, but I am concerned that the amount of red tape I have to wade through may not be worth it. If it is too much trouble, I'll just stick to making muzzle loading stuff. Thanks in advance.

[Stinkyshoe]

You can legally manufacture one gun per year.
http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#a7
They are fun projects but thats all. No need to reinvent the wheel. Learning to shoot is more fun.
For more info...go to www.roderuscustom.com

[MachIVshooter]

The ATF page is kinda vague, but from what I can gather I can make handguns without any type of licensing/paperwork, so long as they are for me and not for sale? If so, I better go pick up some stainless steel stock:D

I was always told that you have to obtain a permit for breech-loading, cartridge-firing guns. Learn something new every day.

[thereisnospoon]

home gunsmith forum at

www.homegunsmith.com


Enjoy

[ShackleMeNot]

You can make as many guns per year as you want. The "one gun per year" rule doesn't exist any where in the law.

What you cannot do is make guns with the intent to sell them or you have just become a firearms manufacturer. Making guns for personal use is a fun and rewarding hobby.

It sounds like you've got a nice setup of machines. Hit the homegunsmith.com board, pick a project and get to work!

[Keith Wheeler]

You can make as many guns per year as you want. The "one gun per year" rule doesn't exist any where in the law.

What you cannot do is make guns with the intent to sell them or you have just become a firearms manufacturer. Making guns for personal use is a fun and rewarding hobby.

It sounds like you've got a nice setup of machines. Hit the homegunsmith.com board, pick a project and get to work!

A whole-hearted "I'll second that". Some of us are just natural born tinkering types. The cool thing is you can build neat, rare, interesting, and odd ball. I've been collecting parts for a project and will be filing a "Form 1" soon for a "short barreled rifle" semi-auto Sterling. Like the Mk6 carbine but with the short barrel from the Mk4/L2A3. If you do touch semi-autos, do things very right to keep from transgressing into NFA territory. For instance when I start my Sterling receiver (only after I get my approved Form 1 back) I will first weld in the blocking bars to prevent the SMG bolt and trigger pack from being inserted. Not counting my time and supplies I'll have a semi Sterling that legally looks like the SMG for under $1000.

One very popular home built project is the semi-auto variant of the Browning M1919A4. If you go that sort of direction, also be sure to keep copies of ATF approval letters, you'll find more about those if you research the topic. Oddball, different, and rare are often the name of the game. The parts sets have dried up but I really wanted to build a semi Vz61 Skorpion. Why? Well, that's one of those guns that is nearly non-existent here in the "free-est" country in the world.

Unless manufacturing an NFA item (like my "Short Barreled Rifle" project) you don't have to put a serial number on your guns, but it is a very good idea. Nothing like having a sterile gun on you to really tick off the cops. You can make up you own serial number, say your initials and a number or date code.

Some will say "save your time and effort and just buy and go shooting". Sure, that's fine. But I've built my own race cars, and just can't put down the tools. This isn't something you do for the "self defense" part of RKBA, but just because "guns are fun" and "because I can".

[HankB]

Hmmm . . . if I were a machinist, I'd look real hard at the "80%" receivers for ARs and FALs that are on the market.

[ShackleMeNot]

Hmmm . . . if I were a machinist, I'd look real hard at the "80%" receivers for ARs and FALs that are on the market.

For an 80% AR receiver you don't have to be a machinist. Several people have completed them with just hand tools and/or a Dremmel. It takes time and some research but it's very doable.

[rero360]

sounds like fun, I like to do my own gunsmithing, but I don't have the tools or skill to go beyond the simple stuff, have fun with it.

[Stinkyshoe]

I apologize for not getting the facts strait. That is what I was told when I was into the 80% thing.

[stealthmode]

i did not see any limit on how many you can make per year

[Kurush]

These are the rules as I understand them from reading various ATF letters:

* Nonlicensees can make guns for their personal use only.
* They can sell guns that they make for themselves, but they must then apply a serial number and their name to the receiver.
* They can not make more than 50% of their personal income from selling guns even if the sales are otherwise legitimate.

[Standing Wolf]

Where's it say all that in the Second Amendment?

[MuzzleBlast]

The ATF page is kinda vague

This is intentional. The ATF makes rules up as it goes along, and it is not in their interest for us to be totally clear on what the law actually is.

[MachIVshooter]

One very popular home built project is the semi-auto variant of the Browning M1919A4. If you go that sort of direction, also be sure to keep copies of ATF approval letters, you'll find more about those if you research the topic. Oddball, different, and rare are often the name of the game. The parts sets have dried up but I really wanted to build a semi Vz61 Skorpion. Why? Well, that's one of those guns that is nearly non-existent here in the "free-est" country in the world.



While I know parts kits can drastically simplify the equation, my intention is to manufacture the entire gun, less barrel and magazine. My projects will be autoloading handguns, mostly. Small parts like sear, firing pin, slide catch, etc. can be hardened with an acetylene torch and can of carbon powder. By using high-quality stainless steel stock, I should not need to harden any major components (slide/frame).

I won't be able to build such things as M1919 recievers due to the small size of the equipment. Largest component that I can realistically mill will be 12"x8"x6", and that's a stretch. It would take me months to mill out such a large piece. I can, however, build such things out of multiple pieces and then weld them together.

Thanks, everyone, for your input.