80% Pistol Lowers

Onward Allusion · January 18, 2020, 11:54 AM

Not that I need any more guns, but for grins and giggles, I'd picked one up to see if I could make a so-called "Ghost Gun". I was actually floored at how easy it is to do so with a Dremel and a hand drill and a table top vise. No, Ghost Gunner machine or Drill Press required.

So this got me thinking . . . How hard would it be for someone to design an investment cast mold for use with some kind of Epoxy mix? How would the guberment even try to regulate something like that?

riffraff · January 18, 2020, 12:48 PM

Or even a casting for metals, would not be as simple for the average person but for those inclined you could make some really rugged copies.

The issue I see with a resin system is potentially strength and accuracy. It takes a reinforcement to make such resins strong, adding such in can create rough details - total non issue on a boat part but on a moving part different story, no room for a slide surface to be a little chipped up for instance.

wild cat mccane · January 18, 2020, 12:55 PM

What do you think is being tracked exactly now?

Hopefully regulate it somehow. Seems like the expedition of a person up to no good...

T. O'Heir · January 18, 2020, 01:39 PM

Investment cast molding requires tools and more importantly a place to do it. Isn't a kitchen table thing.
A 3D printer will do it with a lot less fuss. Those printers are still pricey though. So is the plastic material.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 18, 2020, 03:10 PM

It's not metal, but y'all are aware that there are cast-your-own kits for AR-15 lowers available right now ... right?

Onward Allusion · January 18, 2020, 07:28 PM

^^^
Wow! No idea that they exist. Are these cast your own AR receivers poly or metal?

Nevermind...I'd just Googled it... Very interesting...Resin.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 18, 2020, 08:37 PM

Resin = polymer

Polymer = resin

kozak6 · January 19, 2020, 07:08 AM

Investment casting? That's not really an epoxy sort of thing.

"Fruity Ghost"? Who said that? What does that even mean? Why would anyone even Google that?!??

If you ask me, that sounds like some kind of particularly delightful breakfast cereal AND NOTHING ELSE.

Gary Gill · January 19, 2020, 08:10 AM

I don't see the point in ghost guns. Here in Indiana we can buy and sell guns among residents with no paperwork at all. Having a main stream gun without a paper trail to me seems the way to go. Maybe if I lived in non-free state I would think otherwise.

Tom-R2 · January 19, 2020, 06:23 PM

There is a YouTube video of a guy drinking a lot of beer, then after sobering up melts down lots of beer cans and casts his own AR15 lower receiver. It looked pretty rough, but he used a mill and drill press and it mated up to an upper and functioned. Lots of work.I think he did it just to see if he could.

Tom-R2 · January 19, 2020, 06:27 PM

One other point, especially with the 1911 frames, its an interesting project for those who are looking to create a pistol that they built. Its not something I believe most criminals would be inclined to do.

HisSoldier · January 21, 2020, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Seems like the expedition of a person up to no good...

Assuming gun registration makes a gun good or bad maybe, but 80% frames have been around for a while now and are totally legal unless made into guns to sell, for now anyway.

January 18, 2020, 11:54 AM	#1
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	80% Pistol Lowers Not that I need any more guns, but for grins and giggles, I'd picked one up to see if I could make a so-called "Ghost Gun". I was actually floored at how easy it is to do so with a Dremel and a hand drill and a table top vise. No, Ghost Gunner machine or Drill Press required. So this got me thinking . . . How hard would it be for someone to design an investment cast mold for use with some kind of Epoxy mix? How would the guberment even try to regulate something like that? __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

January 18, 2020, 01:39 PM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Investment cast molding requires tools and more importantly a place to do it. Isn't a kitchen table thing. A 3D printer will do it with a lot less fuss. Those printers are still pricey though. So is the plastic material. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 18, 2020, 03:10 PM	#5
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	It's not metal, but y'all are aware that there are cast-your-own kits for AR-15 lowers available right now ... right? __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

January 18, 2020, 07:28 PM	#6
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: Back in a Non-Free State Posts: 3,133	^^^ Wow! No idea that they exist. Are these cast your own AR receivers poly or metal? Nevermind...I'd just Googled it... Very interesting...Resin. __________________ Simple as ABC . . . Always Be Carrying

January 18, 2020, 08:37 PM	#7
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,459	Resin = polymer Polymer = resin __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

January 18, 2020, 12:48 PM	#2
riffraff Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2016 Posts: 629	Or even a casting for metals, would not be as simple for the average person but for those inclined you could make some really rugged copies. The issue I see with a resin system is potentially strength and accuracy. It takes a reinforcement to make such resins strong, adding such in can create rough details - total non issue on a boat part but on a moving part different story, no room for a slide surface to be a little chipped up for instance.

January 18, 2020, 12:55 PM	#3
wild cat mccane Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 3,623	What do you think is being tracked exactly now? Hopefully regulate it somehow. Seems like the expedition of a person up to no good...

January 19, 2020, 07:08 AM	#8
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Investment casting? That's not really an epoxy sort of thing. "Fruity Ghost"? Who said that? What does that even mean? Why would anyone even Google that?!?? If you ask me, that sounds like some kind of particularly delightful breakfast cereal AND NOTHING ELSE.

January 19, 2020, 08:10 AM	#9
Gary Gill Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Indy Posts: 61	I don't see the point in ghost guns. Here in Indiana we can buy and sell guns among residents with no paperwork at all. Having a main stream gun without a paper trail to me seems the way to go. Maybe if I lived in non-free state I would think otherwise. __________________ Gary

January 19, 2020, 06:23 PM	#10
Tom-R2 Member Join Date: January 16, 2017 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 90	There is a YouTube video of a guy drinking a lot of beer, then after sobering up melts down lots of beer cans and casts his own AR15 lower receiver. It looked pretty rough, but he used a mill and drill press and it mated up to an upper and functioned. Lots of work.I think he did it just to see if he could.

January 19, 2020, 06:27 PM	#11
Tom-R2 Member Join Date: January 16, 2017 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 90	One other point, especially with the 1911 frames, its an interesting project for those who are looking to create a pistol that they built. Its not something I believe most criminals would be inclined to do.