Blog

New Releases

OPEN BOOMER, HW4, & GAL V3

The DEFCAD newsletter begins with notable releases in the world of DIY Defense, and this month's most notable would have to be the Open Boomer by JRoux1793. Rescued from the now defunct and deleted OK Boomer project, a two-year marathon of development failure, JRoux has released the first design for a nearly 100% printable M1911 frame.

 

Though you'll still need to acquire a 1911 parts kit and specialized rails, and though this is only an STL release, printable 1911 projects now have an open source starting point for more ambitious (and competent) developers. This project would also seem to be a rare win for FOSSCAD, since JRoux's Substack and methods seem entirely devoted to fighting the permanent closed betas and the abandoned projects that beleaguer our space and sap developer morale.

 

Our next release is a similar kind of resurrection of a popular project. Nopel, of M1337 fame, has released the HP4 Mega Pistol, a completed version of the Humphrey Drum Revolver, which had been around for years, just never as a DIY build. While Nopel's workflow typically only yields mesh files, he does include one of the best guides ever produced in DIY Defense. It's simply beautiful to see this integrated drum-fed .22 Short handgun come to the finish line. In the tradition of the designs of Imura and Hulk HoganHH, Nopel creates a new waypoint in the line of mostly-printable handguns, the purest form of our art.

 

"DIY Defense" is not just a name for the 3D printed firearms development space, but is more broadly a technical space for removing the limitations in acquiring the tools necessary for home and self-defense. If effective, affordable, and open source designs are widely available, then the strategic and tactical defense capabilities of the American Riflemen explode outwards. One of the most fascinating areas of recent technical innovation outside 3D guns as been in IR electronics, where we are already seeing the third iteration of laser assisted aiming devices with the GAL V3. Be sure to support Knack Tactical with a parts kit purchase and expand your tool box.

 

News

BIDEN HARRIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON 3D GUNS

To influence and overwrite the meaning of the upcoming decision in VanDerStok, whose oral arguments before the Supreme Court are less than nine days away in D.C., the Biden Harris Administration has announced an Executive Order and Task Force to deal with the problem of 3D guns.

Whatever could this mean?

On the first anniversay of its creation, would-be President Harris is flexing her White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, an office created just for Everytown and Giffords. After ninety days, this interagency Task Force will issue a report highlighting how Glock switch files may be intercepted by the Harris State Department, as everything else may be intercepted by her Department of Commerce.

But then again, the most informed and respected Second Amendment attorney in the country disagrees, so you probably shouldn't worry about it.

Sponsor

AMMO.COM

Defense Distributed and Ammo.com have worked together since 2015. They believe arming our fellow Americans – both physically and philosophically – helps them fulfill our Founding Fathers' intent with the Second Amendment: To serve as a check on state power.

Ammo.com has a sale on for 9mm ammunition, excellent for putting rounds through your new build or stress testing that new design. Sign up for their other, weekly deals, and get a $10 credit when a friend buys $200+ worth of ammo. Best of all, they'll save $15 on their first purchase as well!

Mods

URUTAU UPGRADES

The much anticipated Urutau, spiritual successor of the AP-9/FGC-9 series of 9mm PCCs, was an instant hit upon its release back in August. And it's no surprise we find a wealth of modifications released to take the gun's functions to the next level. Look what releasing open source parametric models can accomplish! When you care about other developers taking up the torch for your design, they will!

While some modifications, like the brass catcher, may seem modest, others are quite bold and boastful, like the new magnetic slap handle or full length handguard with integrated flashlight mount. The editors at DEFCAD are interested to see the remixes and deep modifications, such as changes to the magazine or fire control group, that will most likely be released in the coming months. To check out and download any of the mods for the Urutau, just go to its project page and scroll to the bottom.

New Releases

GGD STORE CUT CODE

DEFCAD is proud to present the first collection of GGD Store printable fixtures and cut code for the Ghost Gunner 3-S. The GG3-S is an open source CNC platform that can work with any GRBL/TinyG post-processed CAM. Since GG2, GGD Store has developed a variety of jigs, accessories, and cut code options for the Ghost Gunner ecosystem.

This first GGD collection contains nearly a dozen fixtures and jigs primarily meant for the AR platform, with complete step-by-step .DD files or operations ranging from skeletonizing, (both uppers and lowers) to multiple styles of AR lower codes that capture the gamut of the 80% market. Be sure to check the .nc code with g-code viewing software to see the operations at play.

Video

GUN DRONES IN UKRAINE

The Armourer's Bench, a classic firearms resource, just released a video on the gun drones in the Russo-Ukrainian War. The most fascinating part of any military conflict is how technical changes and ideology play out on the ground. While artillery is still the God of War, Russia's cheap Lancet drones and the humble, mass-produced quadcopter have been totally meanacing.

The video and attendant article discuss a long-prophesied development in 3D2A: an AK-47 attached directly to the main body of a drone. While using the drone itself as a guided munition is usually the more effective play, we're seeing some crazy experiments on the line of combat contact. RC RPGs? Drones throwing molten metal intro treelines? NATO's Ukraine War Files are even making their way onto DEFCAD. What a time to be dead.