NRA Statement on 3-D Printers and Plastic Firearms

FAIRFAX, Va.— Chris W. Cox, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, released the following statement on Tuesday:

“Many anti-gun politicians and members of the media have wrongly claimed that 3-D printing technology will allow for the production and widespread proliferation of undetectable plastic firearms. Regardless of what a person may be able to publish on the Internet, undetectable plastic guns have been illegal for 30 years. Federal law passed in 1988, crafted with the NRA’s support, makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive an undetectable firearm.”

The barrel would almost certainly have to be metal. It might be possible to make a barrel out of some exotic ceramic material since we have knives now with ceramic blades but a barrel has to also withstand quite a bit of pressure.

Winchester Model 59 shotgun, circa 1960:

The Winchester Model 59 features technological advancements and innovations never seen before when it was released in 1960. A six-pound twelve gauge semi-automatic that is reliable and easy to clean proved it to be ahead of its time. There are no gas valves, inertia systems or complex mechanisms that make this gun function. A super-simple floating breach is the heart of the gun.

The floating breach consists of the chamber and forcing cone, however it is a separate piece from the barrel. Upon firing, the floating breach acts like a short piston and moves to the rear about 1/10 of an inch. That slight movement sets the bolt into rearward travel under its own momentum. A return spring pushes the bolt forward again where it picks up and feeds another cartridge.

The innovation does not stop there. The barrel is ultra light-weight. It is a metal tube that is wrapped in over 500 miles of fiber thread that fused and bonded. This process is similar to the carbon-fiber barrels that are increasingly popular on rifles.

It might also be possible to use a ceramic/glass composite inner *base tube* rather than metal. Composites and ceramics have come a mighty long way since 1960. Remember that early muzzleloading rifles used Damascus barrels made by forge-welding three bars of metal radially around a mandrel.

I remember seeing ads for the winchester mod 59. Interesting shotgun ahead of its time.

I recall reading somewhere the Army and Navy were interested in the concept of ceramic barrels for the big guns, 20mm and up.

I couldn't find any recent info on how the research was progressing but here's a couple of links on the subject:

APPROACHES FOR THE DESIGN OF CERAMIC GUN BARRELS

Advanced Ceramic Gun Barrel Materials & Processing Methods--Phase II

Eventually we'll see an exotic ceramic barrel, just a matter of time.

...Aluminum would burst. Ceramics will fracture and explode.

An aluminum barrel has been successfully used on at least one firearm: The Armalite AR-17 Shotgun

The Army and Navy are interested in ceramic barrels:

APPROACHES FOR THE DESIGN OF CERAMIC GUN BARRELS

Advanced Ceramic Gun Barrel Materials & Processing Methods--Phase II

Eventually we'll see an exotic ceramic barrel, just a matter of time.

“Well done. Also a good idea to post that on any youtube or twitter page where there are stories about Venezuelans or Iranians opposing their dictatorships. Especially the one shot Liberator pistol plans.”

Please do post it there, if you can. I have TRIED to post it, but it is erased within minutes!

“I didn’’t realize they were being erased. Will now bookmark when I post them and go back and check.”

Please do repost links to www.CodeIsFreeSpeech.com all over the internet, if you can. Help to fight FAKEBOOK, Twitter, Spotify, and Google CENSORSHIP!

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