[Gunsmithing]Has anyone built their own firearm from scratch?

[bluewraith]

Like the title asks, I'm curious if anyone here has scratch-built a firearm. I'm not talking about zipguns or buying a bag of parts.

I have had a project in mind on the back burner for a year or so now. A 22LR single shot pistol. The only thing that I'll end up having to buy will be a length of barrel, as the only thing I don't have access to would be a gun-drill or rifling setup. Everything else can be fabbed at work without too much trouble.

And, when/if I get started, I'll make sure there's plenty of in-progress pictures for ya'll to make fun of.

 

[GunSlinger]

I'd love to see you chronicle your gun build.

 

[ScouT6a]

I build custom flintlock Pennsylvania long rifles. They are a mix of store bought and hand fabricated parts. That's as close as I've come. Can still end up with 60-70 hours in one of these builds fairly quickly.
Keep us posted. I am eager to see what you come up with.

 

[walt o]

This should help with your question . Many on this site have.
HomeGunsmith.com Welcome
look at all the headings and enjoy

 

[Seancass]

This should help with your question . Many on this site have.
HomeGunsmith.com Welcome
look at all the headings and enjoy

I Love this site! It's inspiring!

I havn't built my own, maybe someday. It'd be pretty crude, but i guess i could always try-try again!

I think my first attempt, atleast, would be a hybrid of parts loosly assembled to look a gun. Just make the chassis for factory parts.

 

[bluewraith]

This should help with your question . Many on this site have.
HomeGunsmith.com Welcome
look at all the headings and enjoy

Awesome link! Thank you very much! Rep+1

 

[BE Mike]

Don't you need a license to manufacture a firearm? Anyways, good luck. An international free pistol would be a great single-shot .22 LR project.

 

[Thegeek]

Does my ping-pong ball cannon count?

 

[bluewraith]

Don't you need a license to manufacture a firearm? Anyways, good luck. An international free pistol would be a great single-shot .22 LR project.

If you are manufacturing firearms for sale, then yes. You need their permission.

If you are making one for yourself, then no, there is no restriction (or limit!) other then comply with current NFA laws (No silencer, machine gun, etc without stamps)

 

[apfroggy0408]

I've been thinking about this too but would like to do it in my garage. Could you get away with just a drill press or would a mill be a better option?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Yes.

Class at Connor Praire.

Soooo, want to sign up for C&S 1911 class but I need the GD (Gunsmithing Disabled) class.

 

[bluewraith]

I've been thinking about this too but would like to do it in my garage. Could you get away with just a drill press or would a mill be a better option?

You can do it with nothing but a file and a hand drill. It just depends on how determined you are.

The plans I have are from 1944, and suggested tooling is a file, a vice, hack-saw, and a wood chisel. Naturally, I'll be using more modern machinery, but no CNC. That's just cheating.

 

[mikem1]

not going to tell but I watch all the build your own gun videos on U-TUBE and I will watch yours . can't wait.

 

[ctbreitwieser]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious if anything came from this. I've been kicking around the idea of a single shot .22 pistol that would still be small enough for a holster.

 

[bluewraith]

Not yet. We've been swamped at work this year and I've not even had a chance to finish the prints yet.


Although.. I do seem to have some free time today. Maybe I'll drag the prints back out and get a little work done on them.

 

[ctbreitwieser]

Not yet. We've been swamped at work this year and I've not even had a chance to finish the prints yet.


Although.. I do seem to have some free time today. Maybe I'll drag the prints back out and get a little work done on them.

Be sure keep us (or at least me) updated on this. I'm very interested in this, and have been brainstorming ideas for one for quite some time lately.

 

[freekforge]

I've been sketching out plans for a single shot bolt action .22 but havent got around to building it with all the black powder work I've been doing.

 

[1911ly]

I have thought about doing a 22lr single shot bolt action. I have a old 10-22 barrel to start with. It's on the bucket list! Weaponsguild.com has a great scrap yard builds section that I got a lot of great ideals from. Let's see some creativity people! If and when I do one I will document and post!

 

[ctbreitwieser]

I've got a couple spare 10/22 barrels as well, and all kinds of 4" sections of barrel from cutting 20" barrels to 16". I've got a savage mk ii action that I'd love to use, but as far as I know, it's still illegal to take a long gun to a pistol with an SBR/aow stamp. A chopped down savage rascal or T/C hot shot would be perfect for what I want.

What are the chances savage would sell a virgin receiver from a rascal or mk ii?

 

[1911ly]

I've got a couple spare 10/22 barrels as well, and all kinds of 4" sections of barrel from cutting 20" barrels to 16". I've got a savage mk ii action that I'd love to use, but as far as I know, it's still illegal to take a long gun to a pistol with an SBR/aow stamp. A chopped down savage rascal or T/C hot shot would be perfect for what I want.

What are the chances savage would sell a virgin receiver from a rascal or mk ii?

You could call but I doubt it. They would have to have the receiver approved by the BATF as a pistol. The SBR route is not that difficult. Eventually I am going to do that with one of my 10-22's and Sten's.