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Building a rifle ?

WCI
Just curious. How could someone build a rifle from scratch? If all guns are required to have a serial number I was curious if you could even legally build your self a rifle. Not that I have the machinery to fabricate all of the pieces needed but if you did would it be legal to do so?

Thanks
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • Nwcid
    Yes you can and people do it all the time. The 2 most common homebuilt guns that I have seen are the AK and 1919.

    Legally you do not need to have a serial number on it but the gun can only be used for your own use. There are some cases where you can sell the gun but there are some special rules you need to follow.
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  • cbxjeff
    Sure it's legal, but there is a catch. You need to do all the work yourself and it's yours forever. You can't sell it. I'm not sure of someone inherating it. The ATF suggests you asking for a S/N but it's not manditory.

    I might add that naturally it's required that you are legally able to own a firearm and we sure aren't talking about full auto here.
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  • WCI
    I appreciate your info. I was curious about the subject. I figured there where machinest in the country that had the basic knowledge but was unsure of its legality.
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  • Nwcid
    quote:Originally posted by WCI
    I appreciate your info. I was curious about the subject. I figured there where machinest in the country that had the basic knowledge but was unsure of its legality.


    To build a legal home built AK all it takes is having the parts kit, the receiver flat, and a few tools. In a matter of a couple hours you can have it assembled and ready to fire. I have not done one, but it is not that hard.

    You CAN legally sell/give them away but there were a couple catches to it. I tried to find the link to it but could not at the moment. If you want to know all the ins and outs of home built guns http://1919a4.com is a great source for legal info.


    What NN says is true. If you have a pile of metal you are trying to turn into a rifle it takes a lot of skill and tools. If you are building from a kit it is another story.
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  • nononsense
    WCI,

    You don't specify what type of firearm and the below is an assumption that it's a bolt action. Kit-type firearms are another story...

    Unless you have superb machining skills and a boatload of specialized knowledge along with some very specialized machinery, you're out of luck. It might look easy but I can guarantee you that it isn't. This is from personal experience and not just reading the internet or some books.

    There are some simple actions that minimize the complexities but it's still complicated. Shell holder bolts and lugs in cylinder with the bolt body help but the cams will put you on your knees.

    There are some books out there that attempt to make it sound simple. Look them up and do some reading.

    The ATF website has all the information about this process and all the rules. Go there are do your own reading.

    Best.
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  • leeblackman
    Its usually easier to build a rifle from a prebuilt kit. Kits aren't regulated and are readily available and regularly imported. Everything but the reciever. Many recievers can be made with sheet metal which is pretty easy. Some have to be fabricated from stock or investement casted, but there are unregulated and easily purchased partial completed recievers available, most that can be finished with a drill press, some threading, a bit of fitting, and coating. Funny thing is sometimes a complete reciever doesn't cost much more, just you have to have it shipped to an FFL holder.

    With the right tools and metal stock its reasonable that any machinest could manufacture a firearm. There isn't like some magical mystical thing about them. Its just standardized metals and tooling, and easily found and downloaded blueprints. Now some companies do have manufacturing trade secrets like Glocks tenifer finish which isn't readily done, but thats the exception.

    If you weren't all that experienced of a machinest the easiest gun to make from scratch would probably be some type of shotgun. Possibly even a .22lr thru a non-rifled barrel. A couple of sleeves of the right schedule of pipe, and a nail, and you have a single shot shotgun...
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  • iwannausername
    All of above are correct... however..

    You can do it. 2 big choices - receiver from scratch, or a commercial one.

    Commercial receiver, well, that is the gun, you buy it on a FFL transfer, so building one off a commercial receiver is no different than re-assembly. However, you do need to be aware of 922r compliance if you are building something that applies to - FAL, AK, etc.

    You can also make your own receiver - there are 80% ones out there that are still considered "self built" in the eyes of the ATF, but you must do the work yourself, or you could look at plans and maybe do a 100% from scratch build - if you do this, I'm sure a bolt or single shot would be easiest. No serial required, but only for you - you can't sell as stated above.


    So... whatcha lookin at making?
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  • iceracerx
    I think Nononsense and I are on the same page when it comes to "Building" a rifle. A few hundred thousand dollars in CNC tooling centers, grinders and the like, plus CAD training in addition to learning to use the tools, should put you in good stead to "build" a rifle (and make cam design a snap).

    Assembling a parts kit, well, as Nononsense said; that's "another story".
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