There are plenty of 3D printed guns that are good for more than one shot. The classic examples are 3D printed Glock-style frames and AR-15 lower receivers. As far as US gun laws are concerned, those parts are the firearm and the rest of the parts are uncontrolled. So you print those, buy barrels, triggers, magazines, etc to finish the build and voila, ghost gun.

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LorenPechtel 7 hours ago | parent [-]

You're making exactly the mistake I'm pointing out!

You do not print a lower receiver compatible with standard parts. The threat is a CNC milling machine cutting one from metal.

Ghost gun = key part made by sources other than a legal firearms manufacturer. Typically, this means CNC milling.

Printed guns are ghost guns, but the vast majority of ghost guns are not printed guns. Printing plastic has a very hard time confining the gunpowder. It's possible to print metal, but it's sintered (not nearly as strong) and the printers are still way beyond the home level.

	▲	wl an hour ago \| parent [-]
		> You do not print a lower receiver compatible with standard parts. I've personally seen 3d-printed polymer Glock frames and AR-15 lowers. I've personally seen them stand up to sustained automatic fire. You're not going to be printing with PLA and there's plenty of bad designs out there that can't take the stress, but good designs that are durable when printed with the appropriate filament or resin exist. > Printing plastic has a very hard time confining the gunpowder. Which is why printing Glock frames and AR-15 lowers works so well—they're the controlled part and they don't bear the pressure of the gunpowder combustion products. > Printed guns are ghost guns, but the vast majority of ghost guns are not printed guns Sure, you're probably seeing way more Polymer80 and aluminum 80% lowers than 3d printed ghost guns... but people aren't CNCing those at home, either. They were milling those out with special jigs and a drill press.