The Guncad Digest

Issue #35: Suppressor Smorgasbord, Plissken’s Plinker, UMP-VO Detent Delay, Pistol Reset Trigger DMCAs, DIY Pimp Cane

Alyosha K. — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 01:21:18 GMT

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In today’s issue:

Suppressor Sunday:

New Releases:

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Glock Reset Trigger Designs Hit with DMCA Strikes

Other Links

Suppressor Smorgasbord Sunday:

By a nice coincidence, this newsletter drops on a Sunday, so we get to revive the old Suppressor Sunday verbiage for this roundup of new DIY suppressor releases - and there’s a lot of them!

Indeed, the NFA Day of Defeat has led to a truly astonishing amount of suppressor designs and remixes getting dropped. Here are some of them:

Tisha, FAUXWRX, FAUXDIE and More from “Z”

By pure volume, a developer known only as “Z” has released several suppressor designs across many different calibers. The most popular one looks to be the Tisha, so named because its outer design looks similar to the commercial product, which he has rapidly iterated up to V5.2. Also available are the FAUXWRX, designed after the HUBWRX, and the FAUXDIE, patterned after the Ridgeback Rhodie 6J.

The latter two seem to originate as FTN designs, while the Tisha appears to be original - in any case, all have been through several iterations as the devs tweaks and customizes them. Very cool!

Red Bull .22 from FTN Team

Next up is the Redbull22 Gen 2, an update to a design from about a year ago, which mounts .22LR baffles inside a Redbull can. This Gen2 update replaces the old internls with those from the FTN.6 Rimfire Elite, and includes a centerline version for rifle use. Nothing says DIY than an energy drink can on your gun!

EZ Cans Gets an Update

Kaewon’s EZ Cans got an update to version 1.4, adding FTN.6 baffles for .22LR and 9mm, along with a handful of other changes.

As a reminder, the EZ Can system is essentially a pack of printable baffles and cores meant to be installed in commercially available metal shells of various kinds. Lots of cool options here for folks not looking to go totally full DIY!

Saturn Suppressor Hose Clamp Update and More

We’re celebrating the NFA defeat by updating even the oldest designs! The Saturn Suppressor, released in 2021, is probably not the first printed suppressor, but it’s the earliest one I can remember. This update by Guns.4.U adds a hose clamp to help better secure it on your barrel.

New “EX1” Print-In-Place Suppressor from Grixxly

From GrixxlyPrints comes the EX1, a single-piece print-in-place suppressor design supporting 9mm, 5.56 and .22 calibers. The only assembly required is to install a thread adapter, otherwise it’s print-and-play.

This leans quite nicely into a concept I’ve been writing about, which is how the NFA defeat has made suppressors “disposable” - not in the sense of trash, or of having no longevity, but in the sense that suppressors are now so easy to print that you can genuinely print new ones after each range session without feeling bad about it.

Escape from Tarkov in Style with Fossprey 9

Finally, the Fossprey 9 from Kruscle again remixes an FTN design into having SilencerCo Osprey style aesthetics, which undoubtedly looks cool as fuck.

These are just some of the recent suppressor designs that have come out - there are many more! There was a time where it was almost impossible to get people to test suppressors, because who wants to spend $200 on a totally untested design? The world is very different now - if you see a design you like, grab it, print it, test it and report back!

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Plissken’s Plinker Puts Big PP In Your Hand

Fresh from the Bullpen comes a new entry in the Macs that Look Like Macs pantheon, and one that deliberately calls back to the halcyon days of the 1980s. The Plissken’s Plinker is a Mac-11 pistol lower that uses an OEM parts kit and Sten mags!

Also included is an FTN remix with a pic rail, so you can mount an optic on it, just like Snake!

Based on the credits I think this is an iteration of the old Gunny Mac design that first emerged from AWCY in 2021! I love seeing old projects get rescued.

Easy DIY Target Stand Base

Every so often a man gets an urge to shoot at an actual target, instead of dirt or trash. But target bases are expensive! No more, thanks to developer Ryan Hoff, who brings us the COPYCAT.

The idea is straightforward - two printed connectors allow you to mount common 1” x 2” furring strips into a target stand. It’s all held together with wing screws, making setup and takedown a breeze.

You can make a bunch of these for easy and cheap, allowing you to set up your own IPSC stage in your shooting bay. This means you all now have one fewer excuse to suck at competition. Get printing!

Loosen Tough Clogs with the BullPlunger

Another one for the “weird shit” file, in this case perhaps literally! Developer HeavyRainBuilds of Stience fame brings us the BullPlunger, which is best described as an airgun built around a pneumatic toilet plunger.

For those of you not as prone to record dumps, a pneumatic plunger uses compressed air to break up stubborn clogs. It is the unique genius of 3D2A that we see such a tool and think: what if I could shoot stuff with it instead?

HeavyRain didn’t release any media, but here’s a video by an other developer who built something similar. No ammo has yet been released either - this is left as an exercise for the reader to DIY.

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Hoffman Provides Comprehensive Guide to Troubleshooting Trigger Kicker

The Trigger Kicker has, from my point of view, been an unmitigated success. It spread across the gun world like wildfire and is now being resold at many quality vendors, and of course from Hoffman himself!

This popularity has of course led to Hoffman being deluged with troubleshooting requests - this video was made to help stem that flow. For 30 minutes our boy goes over every possible issue with the current Kicker design, and sprinkles in notes about future developments as well.

Give it a watch and remember to always, always support Hoffman!

SBR Your Decker with GBS Add-Ons

Most Deckers are built as pistols, but now that the NFA has been decisively cucked, you can officially build one as an SBR!

These add-ons from developer GBS give you all you need. GBS also developed the Decker Bolt-Thru, and it appears these mods are designed to be compatible with that.

As always, find Decker kits at 3D2A!

Printable Template for Menendez Mag v3 Feed Lips

This is a small release, but a cool one. It’s a printable tracing template to help you trace the right shape for DIY Menendez Mag v3 feed lips.

The bending jig is already included in the v3 release files, but prior to this release you had to figure out how to cut the blank yourself. Every little bit helps and it’s small releases like this that make the world more DIY.

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

UMP-VO Detent Delay Remix Enters Public Beta

We caught this one right as we went to press! After months of edging us, FoapsFiles has finally released his remix of the UMP-VO for open beta! What’s the story here?

There are two main additions: detent delay action and super safe compatibility. Detent delay is achieved through the now-familiar mechanism of spring-loaded ball detents interacting with the bolt, which provides a smoother shooting experience and reduces bolt bounce. This in turn allows safer super safe operation with a modified slip trip!

This has been extensively tested and is now ready for you to try it out yourself. Download today and get blasting!

Integral Suppressor Mod for Urutau Mk2

What’s better than a one stamp gun? That’s right, a no stamp gun, because the NFA is cucked (I’m not going to get tired of mentioning this).

This project by sortotte creates a suppressor for the Urutau Mk2, based off the Fossprey 9 mentioned above, which mounts to the gun’s frame instead of threads onto the muzzle. This extends the overall length of the gun by some amount, which looks cool, although the barrel remains the same ~9” length.

To reiterate, this is not a ported suppressor that slips over the barrel itself - it is integral in the sense of being integral to the gun’s frame. This doesn’t make it any less cool!

Another true beta, apparently the dev didn’t even test it lol. Give it a try report back!

FTN Core 556 Beta Opens Call for Testers

The FTN Team recently announced the FTN Core 556 project, which is a 5.56 can built for strength!

The design, as you can somewhat see above, uses a KVP XL linear comp as the blast baffle and chamber, with subsequent baffles built into the printed “shell”. The entire thing can also be sleeved into a carbon fiber tube for additional strength!

I’ve been doing a lot of suppressor research lately and it’s interesting how 5.56 suppressors have travelled a slightly different path compared to the (admittedly easier to design) 9mm and rimfire suppressors. The latter two have consistently gotten better on almost every metric with each FTN generation, but 5.56 suppressors are more complex. The move to print-in-place nylons have made these suppressors lighter and in some cases quieter, but not always necessarily stronger.

This was an intentional trade-off, but with projects like the Core 5.56 the pendulum is now swinging back the other way, towards modern 5.56 FTNs that last as long (or longer?) than the old FTN.4s did!

If you’re a tester looking for a cool suppressor project, this might be your jam. Ping the FTN team and get testing!

DB-zon Bizons Your DB Alloy

Now that the Bizon cherry has been popped, we’re seeing more designs adapting it to various platforms. The latest is the DB-zon, which adapts it for use with the famous DB Alloy!

What’s actually being adapted here is the DB Alloy frame, although there are some mods to the Bizon mag as well. Get printing and have fun!

Meowser - Cursed C96 Hits Open Beta

Well, it’s finally here - the Meowser by MostlyPrintedMachineShop has entered beta at Black Lotus Coalition.

In case you’ve forgotten, or blocked this one from your memory, this is a 1911 slide jammed atop a C96 lower frame. It’s most akin to the old 3011, using an AR FCG and OK Boomer rails. Currently supports only 9mm, just like a real Red 9!

I’ve semi-facetiously shit on this design in the past since I’m a C96 fanboy, but the truth is that this is way cool and I’m happy to see it advance. I’m even happier to hear that a trigger kicker model is “almost ready!”

Want to help test? Join BLC and get going!

Super Safe Trip for HAN-9

I don’t know much about this HAN-9 pistol, but I’ve heard it’s gotten fairly popular. Its aesthetics remind me of the King Cobra 9, which is cool!

Anyways, developer DannyDracs has given us a slip trip for the HAN-9 that can be used with a standard Hoffman super safety. He claims it can reach 1000 - 1300 RPM, yowza!

It’s listed as beta currently, which likely just means it’s only been tested by the dev itself. If you’ve got one of these HAN-9s, print this and report the results!

12ga DIY Sabot’d Flechette Ammunition

This is a very beta project, but what can I say, I have a soft spot for improvised ammo. This project from Lumberjk, called “Sticks from Chester”, has no documentation but appears to be a sabot’d flechette design that mounts inside a 12ga shell. Wild.

The actual metal projectile appears to simply be a cut length of steel rod epoxied into a printed fin. How does it perform? Does it perform at all? Only one way to find out! Someone please send me a video of this thing shooting.

3D Printed Remote Controlled Weapons System

I hardly know how to categorize this - it’s a rabbit hole of a project. In short, we have a DIY turret, designed to be mostly fabricated on an Ender 3 (or equivalent) and controlled with COTS electronics. Notably, this includes some 3D printed bearings! The system is able to visually track a target and “fire” projectiles at it using a belt-fed cannon. Videos demonstrate it actually functioning:

Its developer wildcard1719 presents it as a prototype and proof of concept. It also appears to be incomplete, with much of the documentation “lost”, and what is there is presented essentially as a STEP with little guidance on what is required to build it.

I suspect this project is best understood as akin to the DIY MANPADS project from earlier in the year - a combination of experimentation, inspiration and provocation.

There are certain technologies where the value is possession and not use. Something like an automatic turret is a threat to power not because it might be used against them, but because it is a sacred psychospace which the proles are not allowed to defile.

Yet that is what 3D2A does, again and again and again. We will explore, we will build, we will not stop.

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Hush Puzzle SCS Suppressor from DanishBulldog

Yep, more suppressors! The Hush Puzzle is a particularly cool design from the legendary DanishBulldog - it’s still coming soon so I can’t examine it, but it appears to be made from a series of laser-cut steel plates, likely interlocking, hence the name.

This could unlock an entirely new vein of DIY suppressor tech! DB says he’ll release it once he feels it’s adequately tested - keep an eye out!

Gremlin Break Action PCC

Coming soon from BigBore729, who I’m very happy to see still around, is a fascinating break-action single shot PCC design - the Gremlin!

The design is built around a pinned / glued 12ga shotgun reducer which acts as the chamber and initial section of barrel. As such, any caliber supported in one of these reducers can theoretically be run in the final Gremlin!

Bigbore mentions that the design will also be integrally suppressed, with no details on precisely what that means or how that will work - looking forward to learning more as the design develops!

MA40 Advancing

The MA40 project is still proceeding towards release! This week we got both an incredibly sexy build pic and a WIP pic of an FTN5.1 styled after a fictional suppressor for the gun.

I’m happy to report from inside the beta that the core gun has been done for a while and what’s being finalized now are all the electronics. I expect things will open up for a public beta once that’s finalized too. Once it opens, you’ll hear it here first!

Guncad Ain’t Easy - CANE15 Enters Closed Beta

Once you’ve made a 15mm launcher called the PEN15, where do you go from there? The answer is obviously to develop a fully DIY pimp cane launcher.

Developer PrintGunner unleashed this on the unsuspecting world last week and reports that it’s already entered closed beta. Soon you too can smack a hoe with a 15mm shell from across the block. (Editor’s note: don’t actually shoot a launcher at anyone, even if she is holding out on you.)

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Glock Reset Trigger Designs Hit with DMCA Strikes

In the last several weeks not one but three different creators have released selectable Glock reset trigger designs on Odysee, and all have been hit with DMCA takedown requests. These designs are:

The Glitch by randomredhead96, which we announced in our September 1st issue, currently taken down on Odysee at time of writing
Several designs by 144.1 Recoil Systems, including the 5mm Selectable Canik trigger, the 4mm version of the same trigger, and the Select Fire Glonk FRD. All the linked items are DMCA’d, although 144.1 has apparently uploaded new versions. These are live at time of writing, although they may be down by the time you read this!
The FRESS by Autonomy, covered in our last issue, but subsequently updated. This also received a DMCA takedown but has been subsequently restored.

Who is the source of these DMCAs? Both Autonomy and 144.1 identify the company G-Force CNC, inventor of the NEO Selectable FRD. I reached out to G-Force, and the owner confirmed that he is the origin of these DMCAs.

Having spoken to people on both sides of this issue, both are focusing on the technical details - what was produced when, whether the designs are meaningfully distinct, who lifted ideas from whom, etc. To my mind this is entirely beside the point. Instead of hair-splitting over technical details, I wish to argue against this use of IP law entirely.

The classic justification of IP law is that it promotes innovation - that absent legal protections against copying, nobody will be motivated to create innovation. I’m not entirely prepared to reject that universally, but I will note that 3D2A as actually practiced completely inverts this logic.

For almost a decade now, 3D2A creators have released tens of thousands of new inventions, many of which have genuinely advanced the firearms industry overall, as well as the broader political conversation around firearms. They have done this totally without IP protection. The longevity and productivity of the space proves that this trend is not an aberration - it is real, and all gun owners, American and worldwide, are the better for it.

Meanwhile, the actual uses of IP law within 3D2A have been universally destructive, resulting in file censorship at best and (attempted) destruction of creators at worst. These efforts seem particularly absurd to me in the space of reset triggers, given the legal precarity of these items. Shouldn’t a reset trigger manufacturer prefer a broad, thriving market to one in which they stand alone in the face of pending bans and regulation?

For comparison, see the world of DIY suppressors, which has successfully reshaped the entire suppressor market over the last few years. It is thanks to the incredibly widespread availability of these suppressors that American firearms owners were positioned to take such great advantage of the recent NFA legal victories.

Now imagine a world in which the FTN series and all other DIY suppressors had been censored by commercial suppressor makers. It would be a much different, much worse world for all of us.

I do respect G-Force’s position - he claims to have originated the technical idea, and he feeds his family with the money he makes from selling NEO-9s. The specter of putting tremendous work into a design, only to have it copied upon release and sold for peanuts, is a disturbing one.

My response is again an invitation to look at how 3D2A is actually practiced, with Hoffman as the prime example. Hoffman invented the Super Safety and committed it to the public domain, where it was immediately copied by anyone with access to an SLM machine. Yet when Hoffman himself tooled up to sell these parts, he received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of orders, even when there were less expensive alternatives easily available.

There are several reasons for this - Hoffman’s marketing indicated his SS design were tweaked and was made with higher quality materials - but perhaps more importantly, people liked Hoffman and wanted to support him. This love came in tremendous part from his decision to open source the SS.

This story indicates to me that the choice between between a broad, healthy, open source community and making money on your invention is no choice at all. You can have both.

That said, within the context of 3D2A, if you must choose one - choose community health. We are stronger together than separate, and there is nothing that weakens a community so much as frivolous, backbiting litigation.

To anyone reading this who is sitting on the next great idea - the next Super Safety, the next FTN - share that idea without restriction. Do not hamstring it with patents or copyrights, and for God’s sakes do not issue DMCAs or file lawsuits against your fellow developers.

Remember your forebearers

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

This issue was compiled and authored by Alyosha from 3D2A.com. We sell high quality parts kits for some of the best DIY guns available - if you’re looking for your next gun build, come check us out!

Issue #34: ATF Surrenders, Glock Reset Trigger, Dual Bizon Mag, SMP5K Mods

Alyosha K. — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:07:24 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

We’ve got a significant amount of news in today’s issue, so we’re starting with that! Here’s the full list of what we’re covering:

News:

New Releases:

Community Corner:

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

Other Links

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

ATF Surrenders: Select NFA Enforcement Halted Federally

I1 am proud to open this newsletter with the biggest recent news not just in the 3D2A space, but the firearms space generally. After a month and a half of waiting, the ATF has finally issued its “guidance” and FAQs for how it will interpret and comply with the Jensen ruling. Extraordinarily, this guidance goes further than the ruling itself, announcing that as of October 9th, 2026, the ATF will halt enforcement of the portions of the NFA impacted by the ruling nationwide.

In practical terms, this means that:

All American - not just the plaintiffs in Jensen / Silencer Shop, or their members and customers - can now build a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW without being required by ATF to submit a Form 1 and register their firearm.
All Americans can buy a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW without filing an ATF Form 4, requiring only a 4473.
All requirements to mark (serialize) suppressors, SBRs’, SBS’ and AOWs are also suspended.

For the 3D2A community, the primary effect is that there is now no federal threat to DIYing as many suppressors, SBRs, SBS’ and AOWs as you like.

This is precisely what I described and predicted in the NFA Day of Defeat Guide for Builders, which I recommend you reread. I have updated it with information from the new guidance - go check it out!

Now of course, there are caveats to what I just wrote above. The ATF themselves identify five major caveats, which are:

“In the business”: the NFA provisions relating to special taxes and fees for individuals “engaged in the business” of manufacturing and selling NFA items are still in effect. Practically, this means that you shouldn’t treat this development as an opportunity to start making and selling suppressors as a side gig without getting your FFL/SOT.
Machineguns / DDs: these items were not touched by the Silencer Shop / Jensen rulings. They are still regulated under the NFA, requiring approval and registration to make or transfer - and obviously, you still can’t make a machinegun without being an 07/02.
Gun Control Act: while suppressors, SBRs, SBS’ and AOWs are now no longer treated as “NFA items”, they are still firearms regulated under the Gun Control Act. For example, prohibited possessors still can’t own or make them, and 4473 / background check requirements remain in place.
Transportation of SBR / SBS: another untouched NFA provision is that having to do with transporting SBRs / SBS’ across state lines. Individuals wishing to do so must still fill out Form 20s.
State laws: this is the big one. Everything I have written here applies federally, but there is significant state level regulation of suppressors / SBRs / SBS’ / AOWs, and those regulations remain untouched.

I have written more about this in the updated NFA Day of Defeat Guide for Builders, which I entreat you to review. To sum it up: research your own state’s treatment of these items and follow those laws. Resources such as FFLSafe’s State-By-State guide can assist with this.

There is a sixth major point that is worth discussing on its own, which is this: this is a halt to enforcement. It is not a scrapping of the unenforced policies, nor is the ATF admitting that the unenforced policies are unconstitutional.

Despite not being enforced, the requirements to register and seek approval for these items remain on the books, and theoretically any NFA item you make is “contraband”, even if the ATF chooses not to prosecute it. In their FAQs, ATF describes several circumstances which could cause enforcement to resume, at which point “felony penalties and forfeitures” may apply retroactively to any conduct taking place during the nonenforcement period.

They mean this to sound scary, but I encourage you to consider making these items anyways. While the ATF does not acknowledge it, the court ruling does establish that the unenforced NFA provisions are unconstitutional. The court’s failure to enjoin the ATF nationwide does not change that fact, and ATF’s own decision to effectively extend this injunction through nonenforcement is a tacit admission thereof.

Repeat: we live in a world in which NFA provisions have been declared unconstitutional. Now that ATF has halted enforcement, it will be tremendously difficult for them to resume it and doing so improperly will expose them to significant legal risk. Far from a guarantee that enforcement will simply be “turned back on” under President Newsom, the ATF will be severely challenged to find a way to do so “correctly.”

And by using this “nonenforcement period” to dramatically expand ownership of these items, we can make this even more challenging for them. We have seen this episode before with several other issues, most notably marijuana or even more pertinent, pistol braces. “Nonenforcement” is not a honey trap, it is what precedes full victory.

Don’t mistake me - you must still be smart with what you choose to make. But never let the naysayers convince you that this is anything less than another massive step towards total NFA defeat.

Act accordingly!

POSTSCRIPT: an important point which I have not seen anyone else make is that while the ATF’s cessation of enforcement supplements the injunction, it does not override it. This means that if you are a plaintiff or customer / member of a plaintiff, the injunction still applies to you.

Even if ATF later changes their mind about ceasing enforcement, individuals protected by the injunction remain protected. Suppressors and other items made by said protected individuals are not “contraband” and prosecution of said individuals remains prohibited by the court order.

As such, membership in GOA or other plaintiff orgs remains recommended. Join today at gunowners.org, ccrkba.org or firearmspolicy.org.

California Sues Polymaker

I started with the good news of the fortnight - now I must move on to the bad. The State of California has sued Polymaker, LLC.

The complaint spends the first two pages of its introduction reviewing the California’s laws against evil ghost guns, which are illegal to build in California, and “digital firearm manufacturing code”, which is illegal to distribute in California. It then fails to accuse Polymaker of dealing in either of those things, because Polymaker doesn’t.

The accusation is instead that the filament sold by Polymaker is actually a scary “firearms precursor part.” How can this be? It seems that, because Polymaker has allegedly marketed their filament in ways relevant to the firearms community, said filament is magically transformed into a firearm before it even leaves the bag! Yes, this is the actual claim.

The actual list of marketing acts Polymaker is alleged to have committed is shockingly thin. Their strongest claim is Polymaker’s hiring of the 3D Print General as “Head of Customer Experience”, but beyond this, California’s attorneys are reduced to scraping old message boards and wiki pages for scraps of discussion about gun printing.

Far from the “comprehensive marketing strategy” California is alleging, this looks a lot more like Polymaker engaging with one of the many applications of 3D printing, which is, despite California’s histrionics, perfectly legal outside their regime.

And this is, ultimately, the real reason for this case. California sees which way the wind is blowing - 2A rights are gaining ground everywhere. Newsom may not be able to stop courts in Texas from recognizing that the 2nd Amendment protects the right to make a gun, but he can certainly try to intimidate private companies into refusing to engage with gunmaking.

The actual complaint can be read here. There has been as of yet no activity on the case since its filing on October 5th, but you can follow it by searching its case number (26CU052931C) in the San Diego’s Superior Court register of actions.

It remains to be seen how Polymaker will respond. God willing they will fight.

California Attempts Censorware, Passes Wet Fart

Speaking of California - we are unsurprised to report that AB-2047 has passed. This bill, like New York’s S. 9005 / A. 10005, mandates the installation of firmware meant to block gun printing on all 3D printers sold within the state.

This mandate is complicated by the fact that such technology does not exist. New York’s law confronted this problem too by mandating the creation of a “working group” to evaluate feasibility and create standards that putative blocking software must meet. Said group was mandated to meet within 90 days of the bill’s passage - so, August - yet I have found no news or announcements related to this group.

In any case, California’s law tackles the firmware problem a different way. AB-2047 mandates that California adopt standards and feasibility published by the international standards organization ASTM.

Notably it does not actually mandate or request ASTM to develop such standards - the law instead mandates that California DOJ simply check every quarter to see whether the organization has published anything.

ASTM themselves has announced that they had no involvement with the law, and have “not yet considered” developing the standards requested by the law - although they have announced an intention to host a consortium on the topic.

To summarize, ASTM is “intending” to host a “consortium” to “explore” the “feasibility” which CADOJ will then “consider” - all words indicating a profound lack of seriousness.

What happened, California? Is it possible that public outrage over this bill actually caused them to back down? Consider the fact that the ASTM provision was not present in the original bill, and was instead introduced by amendment.

Make no mistake, the law is still awful - but in the end its final form is a paper tiger. The exact same printers being sold before its passage are still being sold in California, censorware-free.

We will of course continue to monitor the situation - but don’t be surprise if the issue fades away, never to be heard from again. California is much more interested in threatening, posturing and suing innocent defendants vs. trying to actually pass effective legislation.

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

First Urutau Mk2 Remixes Appear

A good proxy for a design’s quality is how many remixes people make of it. As such, we’re happy to see the first remix for the Urutau Mk2 - the first of many!

This remix from deadcactus redoes almost every printed part, most noticeably the grip, but several others as well. The developer does note that he has not tested his remix, so proceed with care, but it doesn’t appear to deviate from the core Mk2 design, which has been significantly tested.

Grab some Urutau Mk2 kits at 3D2A! The BOM is the same for both the original and this remix.

Direct Mount FTN.5 for M11/9

The only thing cooler than a Mac that Looks Like Mac is a MLM with a suppressor. Don’t take my word for it. Snake Plisken agrees:

If your eyes went to the Mac first, I have bad news…

It’s easier than ever to mount a DIY suppressor on your Mac with this FTN.5 PCC remix from Uberclay! The remix replaces the normal FTN threads with 3/4x10, so you can thread the can directly onto your pistol.

Print it out of nylon standing up, then mount immediately. No post-processing required!

Star Z-70B DIY Build Releases

The Star Z-70B is one of the last remaining cheap parts kits, widely available but until recently lacking a printable receiver. But this has now changed!

Developer OldArchimedesOrdnance brings us the Star Z-70B Retrofit, which he insists consists entirely of visual reference models. This said, if one were to print the included files, and follow the included instructions, one might end up with a functional parts kit build…

There are two options - one which permanently modifies the gun to be semi-only, and one which maintains the original full-auto functionality, and therefore should only be performed by an 07/02.

It’s a cool looking project and I’m excited to see what comes of it!

Community Corner:

In this section, we’ll focus especially on a particular community-oriented subject. We’ll interview developers, review parts kits and help promote things I believe are deserving of your attention!

Guncad Index Gets Self-Hosting, Federation

Today’s Digest contains not just one but two major updates from the Guncad Index! Both are extremely important.

The first update, detailed here, is that the Guncad Index’s metadata can now be downloaded and imported into a self-hosted version of the Index. This effectively means that you can now recreate your own Index, with all the releases, tagging and other metadata of the main Index, on your own hosting platform.

To be clear, the Index still does not host any actual guncad files - it is and has always been a tracker. Your self-hosted Index, however, will still be able to point you to files in the following ways:

Via links to Odysee (or other platforms like Printables, etc.)
Via torrent files

…both of which are included in the database snapshot. But if you do want to download the entire corpus of guncad files, you can also do that using the “Seed Releases” button. This will bring all release torrent files into your torrent tracker and download them all, so you’ll always have a copy on your hard drive. Bonus - you’ll automatically be set up to seed them back to the rest of the world!

The goal here is to facilitate a network of self-hosted “Guncad Indices”, any one of which can serve as a backup in case the main Index should ever disappear. This is of course only one of many possible use cases - I’ll let you imagine others.

But there’s more! Shittinator hit us literally yesterday with a second major update, which allows an ecosystem of Indices to federate. Don’t let the “fed” scare you - “federation” refers to a situation in which multiple independent, self-hosted platforms can nevertheless share data and synchronize.

The idea here is that you set up peers can upload a release to your own self-hosted Index, and then the release will automatically share to all your federated peers. This again anticipates a world in which 1) Odysee has disappeared and 2) the main Index has also gone away.

It’s an eventuality that seems distant, and god willing it is - but god bless Shittinator for building this technology well before we need it.

PrintYour2A Celebrates 6 Years with Anniversary Sale

One of the OGs and best devs in the business, PrintYour2A, is celebrating six years of operation! It’s incredible to believe it’s been six years since the halcyon days of 2020.

To celebrate he has launched an anniversary sale - 10% off rails and reinforcement! Use code PY6A at checkout to apply the discount.

PY2A rails are my preferred type at the moment, so take this opportunity to grab some!

New Suppressor Mounts for Sale

Two recent vendors for suppressor mounts have popped up, just in time for the ATF’s surrender on the NFA! We’re happy to give them both a shoutout here.

First we have SMG Labs, who has released what I believe is the first FTN to HUB adapter. Thread the male end to your FTN suppressor, and attach the female end to any HUB mount. Also available is a FTN to Plan B adapter!

We also have a new vendor selling custom machined 1/2x28 to 3/4x16 thread adapters. This vendor is a 3D2A member and SOT, and he’s designed the adapter specifically to provide a nice wide surface for engraving. Toss him some support!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

SMP5K Mods a’ Poppin

The SMP5K released a few weeks back and the mods are already coming fast and hard! Let’s review what we’ve got.

The most interesting is the FRT Pack from FoapsFiles, which provides two different reset options for the SMP5K - a dedicated Kabuto, and a custom extended lever for the Super Safety. Between the two I’d go with the Kabuto as it seems to have more testing behind it (and doesn’t require a cam) but either should work! Make that SMP5K brrrt!

Foaps has been plenty busy with other SMP5K mods too. In no particular order, he’s released an endcap for a dedicated UMP brace / stock, an alternate K variant handguard, and a detent cut grip module.

That last one is worth some attention, as I’ve found installing the detent to be one of the most painful parts of the build - this mod simplifies it considerably.

Next in line is a mod to the charging handle which beefs it up and stops it rotating in its slot. I deeply appreciate this one too, as my own build has developed exactly this problem. I’ll be printing one of these!

Our final mod is a new barrel system for a CMMG-style dedicated .22LR BCG, created by developer TheFunk. The original SMP5K was designed to use the CMMG Bravo conversion bolt, with the .223 chamber adapter in the front; this new system modifies the barrel sleeve to properly seat and interface with the dedicated bolt’s barrel collar.

This does mean additional prep for the .22LR barrel liner - it will need to be chambered and a notch for the extractor must be cut. But if you’ve already got a dedicated bolt on hand, this will be a good option!

Given the popularity of the SMP5K I expect more mods to arrive for it. Keep an eye out!

Rebel-9 SD Barrel Retainer for AR9 Barrels

It’s a somewhat niche mod, but I’m including it because the Rebel-9 always deserves some attention. The Rebel-9 includes several barrel retainers, all originally designed for use with ECM barrels. Developer ImmortalRevolt also included two retainers sized for use with AR9 barrels, but the style was different from the (in my opinion, cooler) original retainers.

Developer ViperSoss fixes this by modding one of the cool retainers to fit an AR9 barrel. Go check it out!

With the ATF’s surrender (I’ll never get tired of calling it that) the Rebel and Rogue designs become even more interesting than they already are, as they are natively designed to be SBRs. We’ve got kits, and we just restocked the machined parts - come get them while they’re hot!

L.A.R.K. 4-Position Kabuto Gets Full Release!

I couldn’t be happier for this one! For a while we were seeing pretty regular updates on the LARK, but eventually activity died off, and I feared the project was dead. Quite the opposite - it looks like certain recent events have led the dev to begin releasing updates again.

In its current version the LARK is four position selector, providing safe / semi / burst / full semi functionality. Unsurprisingly this advanced functionality requires some special hardware, both purchased and fabricated, all of which is detailed in the Odysee description of the release. The developer also has several videos on his channel to explain fabrication and assembly in more detail.

It seems that the dev is trying to patent this - a confusing concept given that he has published it publicly. Regardless I appreciate that he has published, and I hope to see some further testing and refinement!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Glock FRESS (Force Reset Safety System) Enters Beta

Starting the beta section off with a doozy - we have here an open beta for a selectable forced reset system for Glocks! Per the developer this has been in a private alpha for some time, and it has now reached the point where he is comfortable opening it as a beta.

See it in action here! Note specifically the selector mounted in the trigger, similar to the Neo - extremely cool.

Often with a beta like this you must evaluate the quality and potential of the project based on the beta package. I’m happy to report that on this metric the FRESS is looking high quality indeed - the beta package is well organized, contains good documentation and even contains installation and function testing videos.

We haven’t seen footage of this actually shooting yet, so its true functionality and longevity remains to be seen. I’ll be watching with great interest!

Open Source Arms Drops Two More Parts

In our last issue we described the Open Source Arms project had published their first beta part, the trunnion. Since that time they have dropped two more components, the handguard and the all-important lower!

Like the trunnion, the handguard is mostly comprised of a series of laser-cut flats, some bent, held together with rivets. More interestingly for this crowd, the lower is mostly printed, with three possible options - “no metal”, “partial metal” and “full metal.”

The current beta releases don’t go into great detail, but the idea seems to be that for the metal-included versions, more laser cut reinforcing flats are inserted into the print during the print process itself, permanently embedding them - a super cool technique that I’m surprised I don’t see more often.

There’s still more to come - the upper hasn’t appeared yet, and the lower lacks a buffer tower. We are slowly piecing our way to completion - keep an eye out for future drops, and join the OSA email list to stay up to date!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Dual Bizon Magazine for the Decker 9

Gee Bill, how come your mom lets you have two Bizons?

In Issue 31 we shared a DIY Bizon mag by sticky for the Decker-9, and we thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. We could never have predicted what he’d do next…

See it in action! Stacking two helicals on top of each other like this gives you 128 rounds of 9mm. If you bought a thousand round box of 9mm, you could fill this mag no more than eight times. The mind boggles.

Currently accessible only to members of the Decker-9 room. If you’re interested, join BLC to gain access!

3DVL-10 - (Almost) Fully DIY DVL-10

Fans of Tarkov may recognize the DVL-10. The famous Russian boltgun is being developed as a printable 22LR, with all parts except the barrel and the extractor being DIY’d. Developer 44_ALL_Politicians calls it the 3DVL-10.

Notable features include a custom ergo grip, a strengthened hinge for the folding stock, and an FTN.5 Rimfire on the end.

This is actually the dev’s first project, and his Reddit post details the trials and tribulations he went through to get it working. Well done man! He says he’ll be releasing this as a beta following some final tweaking - I look forward to that!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nothing I write is legal advice, everything is my opinion, and you should get actual legal advice before taking action on anything you read here.

Issue #33: Urutau Mk2, 9x23 Stark, FTN6.1, Magazine-Fed Lever Action AR

Alyosha K. — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:17:21 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

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Apologies for the delay! We got so busy in September that we missed an issue, but we’re back with a massive mega-issue with double the normal content!

In today’s Digest:

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Urutau Mk2: Smaller, Sleeker, More Compact, Fully DIY

One of the most popular DIY guns just got a sequal! Developers Joseph the Parrot and rsmith28, in concert with Black Lotus Coalition, are proud to present the Urutau Mk2!

While Joseph himself was not involved in the final testing and release of the Mk2, it was more or less development-complete at the time of his unjust arrest. What’s new between this and the original Urutau Mk1?

The theme of the Mk2 is “compactness.” The original Urutau might be thought of as a full-sized rifle; the Mk2, by comparison, is designed and intended to be built as an SBR. It is smaller than the original FGC-9.

To be clear, at time of writing, the Mk2 can only be built as an SBR - there is no configuration sized for rifle length. Americans can easily get their $0 Form 1 (use this Reference Card to help) if desired, or they can take advantage of the Jensen ruling and go without.

There are a handful of other small usability / quality of life changes to the Mk2, but for the most part the design’s internals are the same as the proven Mk1 - just smaller. It is available now to download and build - kits are available at 3D2A.com!

Remember that Joseph remains in prison as his trial works its way through the Brazilian “justice” system. I encourage you to support his family and legal effort by donating to his official GiveSendGo.

NOTE: there is an individual on Odysee claiming to be giving away, or selling, Joseph’s designs. This includes full auto versions of the Urutau Mk2 and others. Be aware that any designs this person may have are outdated and have not been vetted / tested. STAY AWAY.

SMP5K Releases: Now I Have A (Sub)Machine Gun

Following a banger with a banger - Stubbs from Black Lotus Coalition, designer of such hits as the SMP40, has released the SMP5K, a 3D printable MP5K design!

The design is actually a remix of the Yippee Ki Yay from Kaewon, and reuses many of its parts. The major improvement is the adoption of a CMMG Bravo conversion bolt, instead of Kaewon’s fully DIY design. Fully DIY is cool, but hard to get running - the SMP5K, on the other hand, goes together like legos!

As with all Stubbs designs, there’s about a million variants and furniture options - his goal was apparently to allow you to build every MP5K variant ever produced, no matter how obscure.

Kits are available from 3D2A.com, as well as a Printing Guide to help source parts, and a build video. Grab these and get building!

This Printable Tavor Was Promised To Me 3000 Years Ago

Back in Issue 31 we mentioned a printable Tavor lower entering beta - since that time we have seen several more designs pop up, including from quite notable developers!

Today we’ll look at the PAr-21 from Nopel, a thoroughly documented printable receiver design. Included in his release package is a “semi-only” version of the receiver which contains denials to block the installation of an unmodified bolt. Instructions are provided for how to modify the bolt to force it into semi-only mode.

A NFA version of the receiver, lacking these denials, is also included in the build package for any SOTs wanting to play with it!

While we’re on the subject, we will also note the VA CTAR-21 receiver from Vanguard Arms, which is less a printable receiver and more a reference model for anyone developing Tavor parts and accessories. This will be of use to devs as we see more work done in this area!

Like the Nylaug, the Tavor is one of those dream guns that, until the advent of 3D printing, was relatively inaccessible. Imported parts kits and printable receivers are now making this dream a reality. Get building!

Sidewinder Stens Your RXM

Well that’s certainly a series of words. The Sidewinder RXM PDW from Sum One explores territory I never even considered. Like other printed PDWs it mounts a slide on a printed PDW chassis - it simply does so at a 90 degree angle, creating what is essentially a side-feed system.

It gets better! Optional 45 degree pic adapters allow you to mount your optic and brace such that neither are in line with the grip:

I hate it. I love it. It’s pure 3D2A. Requires an RXM chassis, a slide (Dagger recommended) and a high strength M4x40 bolt to act as a “firing pin adapter.”

I’d better start seeing these at local steel matches!

Stop FTN5 Baffle Strikes with the Unsounding Rod

We love the FTN series here at the Guncad Digest, but we also must admit that this series - particularly the FTN5 - is prone to baffle strikes, due to the difficulty of perfectly threading your metal adapter into the printed suppressor. But it sounds like this problem has been solved!

Developer Squirt Emporium aka ButtstufferMan recently released the Unsounding Rod, a tool to help you install your thread adapter perfectly. Place the adapter on the base of the rod, slide the rod into the suppressor such that it aligns with the bullet path, then work the threads into the printed plastic.

Now available for both 9mm and .22LR FTN5s!

GP9-SA - Ciwielab Design Updated and Simplified by DBFirearms

Somehow I haven’t yet written about the GP9, despite its surprising popularity - mea culpa! The design originates with the very prolific ciwielab, and is best described as a Glock chassis with B&T TP9 aesthetics.

The design got popular enough to merit a remix from DB Firearms, who transformed it into the GP9-SA. The main changes here are to simplify assembly, improve takedown, standardize grips, and introduce some aesthetic changes. I particular appreciate the replacement of all heatsets with captive square nuts - it’s 2026 guys, stop using heatsets!

The design is available to download and print now. Kits are available at DB’s website!

Cartridge Corner:

This ever-changing section focuses on whatever interesting subtopic I find notable this week. Due to some major DIY ammo releases, today’s theme is “Cartridge Corner”. Read on!

9x23 Stark: First Part of True DIY 9mm Project Enters Public Beta

The Urutau Mk2’s release is extremely exciting, but there’s an even more exciting element that we didn’t cover in our writeup above. This is the first public announcement of a DIY ammo design called the 9x23mm Stark.

A brief history lesson: the DIY gun movement as we today recognize it has its roots in the 90s. That same movement - and often the very same people - often concerned themselves with DIY ammunition as well. This is understandable - a DIY gun doesn’t do much good if you can’t feed it, and “ban the ammo” has been a common refrain by antigunners since time immemorial.

Luty attempted DIY ammo, and Aardvark Reloading has been working on DIY ammo projects for over a decade. Stark reactivated dummy 9mm rounds for his FGC-9 and published the ButWhatAbout guide. Yet none of these projects felt like “true” DIY ammo, that literally manufactured every part of the cartridge, including the powder and primer compound. Until now.

The 9x23mm Stark is the first project I’ve come across that truly seems to accomplish full DIY ammo in a realistic and accessible way. This project appears to have been in progress since 2020 and, at least at this time, is being led by developers White Rose and Optimus Synthesis. Its announcement in the Urutau Mk2 documentation was the first I’ve ever heard of it, and so I was thrilled when only a week later, the first beta version of the project was released as well.

The project’s fantastic document walks you through building everything for a 9mm round. 9x23 Stark uses a multipart system for its cartridge:

A brass sheet is drawn through successive DIY dies (made using shaft collars in printed holders) using a shop press to form the “main” shell
A similar approach is used to draw and shape the primer cup from brass sheet
The primer anvil is made using a staple and a printed bending
A drilled aluminum cylinder holds the primer cup and acts as the cartridge rear
A drilled screw connects the shell and aluminum cylinder together and acts as the flash hole
The projectile can be cast from lead and optionally electroplated, following instructions in the ButWhatAbout Volume 2 guide.

This process produces a cartridge that is a few mm longer than a standard 9mm round, but reportedly with comparable ballistic performance.

The same developers have created documentation for the energetics to load your round with: Vectorite smokeless powder and KFC-25 primer compound, both of which seem to be based on expired patents and both of which can be relatively easily DIY’d.

These projects are not, at time of writing, released yet. KFC-25 was briefly uploaded, but has since been removed - I suspect the team wants more time to polish it before full release.

As such, here is where we stand: the portion of the 9x23 Stark project related to fabricating the cartridge has been released, and is in open beta. In order to prime and load the cartridge, you’ll need to use factory pistol primers and commercial smokeless, until the DIY versions of those products are released as well.

I expect we’ll start to see performance reports over the next several months (and I certainly intend to contribute to that myself.) I strongly encourage anyone reading this to consider trying this project out. Having reviewed it, I believe this is the real deal, and if our community stands for anything, it is for the promotion of projects such as this.

We’ll continue to write updates in future issues about this project. Keep an eye out!

BLC Brings Printed Ammunition to Open Beta

Great minds think alike, and it seems by sheer coincidence, Black Lotus Coalition has also opened up the Printed Ammo Project beta for all to join. This project takes a fundamentally different approach to DIY ammunition, centered around printing the shell as a single unit and using commonly available items (fishing weights, etc.) as projectiles. Commercial primers and powder is required.

This project has its origins in the MrDeep Ammo Packs. Modeled cartridges include 7.35 Carcano, 30-40 Krag, 45LC, .45-70, .577-450 Martini Henry and more.

As you can surely tell, the use case here is a little different! The idea seems to be to make easily accessible plinking rounds for historic guns and uncommon cartridges. Testing does reveal that printed shells can produce lethal power, but their power will always be limited by the nature of the printed shell.

Unlike most BLC betas, you do not need to be a BLC member to join this one. It’s open to the world - so if you’ve got an old gun and you want to stop paying $5 a round, check this project out and help test!

.22LR Bullet Mold Mold (That’s Two Molds)

Wrapping up our Cartridge Corner is a printable “.22LR Bullet Maker” from developer B4SIK. This design shows quite nicely how to use 3D printing tech to help with casting.

It works as follows: you print the “mold former”, assemble it, and cast the bullet mold with gypsum. Once it sets, remove the printed PLA and pour molten lead into your gypsum mold. If done properly you’ll get a nice set of .22LR projectiles, ready to be loaded into nailgun blanks or whatever else!

I’d like to see a set of these for every caliber. Someone make a 9mm one for use with 9x23 Stark!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

FTN6 Updates to 6.1

It was somewhat ironic that the release of a printed suppressor was accompanied by so much noise. The drama around the FTN6 has thankfully died down, and a month later an update to the files has been released, the FTN6.1. What’s in the update?

Changes include:

Adding a new .22LR suppressor, the FTN.6 Rimfire Elite, which the documentation claims is now the quietest rimfire FTN in the entire series. As small as the FTN.5 Rimfire, but with better flow-through channels!
Improved insert files for the Lugnut blast shield.
Modification to the D Cell files, making them easier to print and install
Due to reported problems, the washer has been removed from the FTN5.5, FTN.6 Rifle Flow and BLackout.
All 5.56 baffles are switched to the FTN.4 design, which reportedly provides better longevity
New low profile lid added to the 9mm Boostered suppressor, allowing it to utilize a wider variety of screw head types.

The release document also includes a section addressing some common questions, concerns and feedback. My favorite part is a section addressing the misconception that the FTN.6 is meant to “replace” earlier versions - as the document notes, “The FTN series isn’t iterative”.

The last three generations are classified as follows (text taken straight from the doc, with my notes in bold):

FTN.4: Designed when tax stamps were $200 and most people were printing in PLA. It’s the most durable model by far. FTN.4s are optimized for durability.
FTN.5: Released when stamps dropped to $0 and PA-CF became the new standard. More upright prints and easier construction. Optimized for easier construction with nylons.
FTN.6: Released after the Jensen vs. ATF ruling, when PPA-CF became the new standard. Optimized for maximum sound reduction at a minimum weight.

Hopefully this clears some things up! Now go print a suppressor!

Return of the Pro Pipe

Once upon a time, a based dev named JP.Guncad released a large number of cool 37mm design. And then one day he deleted his accounts and disappeared. The end.

Or is it? Those files still exist out there, and occasionally they resurface, like this Halo Reach M319. As the name and image indicates, this is a 37mm launcher patterned after the grenade launcher from Halo Reach. A fine accompaniment to other in-development projects!

While there is a BOM, there’s no real assembly documentation to speak of - you’ll need to figure it out yourself using the included STEP. Have fun!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Paeonia Magazine Fed Lever Action AR from Black Lotus!

Starting off our beta section with a bang, it’s the Paeonia! This is a remix of the extremely popular TP Lever Action AR, converting it from an internal magazine to a removable box mag!

There’s several other modifications and improvements to the Paeonia which should actually make it quite a bit cheaper to build - it eliminates many of the most expensive parts and even uses a printed carrier instead of requiring you to modify a commercial one. Love it!

The magazine itself is a DIY single stack and will work with a variety of calibers, including 5.56, .300BLK and .350 Legend.

In beta now at Black Lotus Coalition! Join up and get printing!

DIY FMDA Rail Guide Releases

In our last issue we previewed a guide to building DIY FMDA rails - and now it’s released! From HiFiRadio comes the amusingly named ERRYBODYGOTRAILS V1 guide!

So what’s involved in building DIY rails? Turns out a lot less than you might expect! This design adopts a split rail design for both front and rear rails - we’ve seen the split rear rail before from Riptide, but I’ve never seen a split front design before. In any case, most of the work for both front and rear is cutting and filing parts to shape. The only bending required is to bend the top of the rear rails, which the guide covers in detail.

Do these rails work? It’s plausible, although no testing results are provided. If you end up building these, reach out and let me know how testing goes!

Super Safe Your 3DP90 - Available Now!

Yet another item last mentioned in our previous issue! Long awaited, the updated 3DP90SS has reached beta release! Now you can run your 3DP90 in full semiauto, just like O’Neil would want.

In order to get this running in your 3DP90 you’ll need to reprint the receiver, buttplate, a handful of internals, and you’ll need to remake / repour the bolt. The README also specifies some modifications to the laser cut bolt parts, but there’s nothing too radical here. The actual reset technology is based around an SS-type design, and deadblow weights are used to help reduce bolt bounce.

A hearty thanks to developer sillacsaurfang for getting this running! I’m going to get started on mine shortly.

New Modular Suppressor Beta from GrixxlyPrints

Now here’s an interesting new suppressor design - a fully modular 9mm suppressor made from a printed stack! Printed in PA6 or better, it looks like you simply print out the parts, epoxy in a thread adapter, and thread all the parts and baffles all together via the printed threads. Bam, instant suppressor!

The documentation specifies that the design is for fixed barrels, i.e. PCCs. That said, I’d be curious to see what happens if you try it on your Glock - just let us know what happens!

OSA-15 Publishes First Part, More to Follow

The Open Source Arms project, last mentioned in Issue 31, has released the first part in a rolling release schedule! This is the trunnion, a stack of laser cut plates held together with more plates, some bent. Despite the apparent complexity of the blueprint above, it’s actually a fairly simple design and likely a rock-solid one.

It sounds like the upper and lower betas will be released within the next few days as well. Join their email list to stay informed, and check out their Twitter for several videos and clips of parts and assembly!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Hoffman Shares Updates on Selective Trigger Kicker

The Trigger Kicker may be the most exciting release of the year. It has just one problem: unlike Hoffman’s prior invention, the Super Safety, the Kicker is two position (safe and fully semi-auto). Once installed, there’s no way to fire in single-shot mode.

To address this, Hoffman has been working on the Selective Kicker, an iteration that maintains the simplicity while adding standard three-position functionality. This has unsurprisingly required lots of iteration to get the geometry just right - but it sounds like a release candidate has been reached, requiring only small iterations to bring to fruition!

Hoffman promises more updates on this next month. Keep an eye on this space to learn more!

DIY Railguns Coming Soon

It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? Developer Karmas_the_bitch recently shared pics of a fully DIY railgun he’s putting together. What!

This is very much a prototype, and what you’re seeing isn’t even complete, but to give a sense for the scale of the thing:

When complete, Karmas_the_bitch estimates it will weigh 80+lbs, and will fire a 1.5g projectile at 250-300 meters per second. He describes it as a “ viable self defense option.” I could not agree more.

This is early days for this project, but you’d better believe that I’ll stay on top of it as it develops. Push the frontiers!

PrintYour2A Teases Cursed Mac / Glock Hybrid

The Mock isn’t real. The Glac can’t hurt you. At least not for now, but just wait until release…

Developer PrintYour2A is often brilliant, sometimes cursed, and never boring. To be honest, I’m somewhat amazed that nobody has done this before.

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

INMC Returns! Buy Kits and Get Launching!

A few years back, the one-stop shop for 3D printed launchers was INMC. They focused almost entirely on launchers and other signaling-type devices, providing high quality kits and fun merch. And then they went dark.

But you can’t stop the signal! INMC is back with a new website and several improvements. They’ve brought back the core kits, including the NT79, the Nameless, the Odin, the BALLS and more! (They also offer kits for the extremely cool PROOF airgun, which remains on my todo list).

In addition to bringing back the classics, they’re expanding, switching from steel fencepost barrels to aluminum seamless, selling aluminum shell hulls, commissioning wood furniture for kits such as the NT79, and expanding their merch section!

Check out their site and give their Instagram a follow while you’re at it! Tell ‘em Alyosha sent you!

SCS Cucks Out

I’ve been seeing rumors for a few weeks that the up-until-now beloved SendCutSend was rejecting orders for “parts designed similarly to firearms parts”, and regrettably it appears this is true. Several users have had orders cancelled, and have received the same anodyne email referring to the “updated terms of service.”

So that sucks. We have become increasingly dependent on SCS in the community, and I won’t pretend that losing them doesn’t hurt. What do we do now?

Option one is to use alternative services. A few have been recommended:

Reports so far indicate that none of these can offer quite as good pricing as SCS did, with OSH Cut apparently being the most expensive, but also potentially the most willing to work with our brand of parts. I expect the community will experiment with these services and settle on one over time.

Option two is to find a local manufacturer in your area with a laser or waterjet and ask them to do a small run. This requires talking to strangers, a difficult ask for internet denizens, but I encourage you to give it a try. Search for machine shops in your area and call them up - you may be surprised what you’ll find!

Option three is to bring cutting in house with the Rack Robo machines! The Betta Wire is a desktop sized 4-axis WEDM machine; the Wire EDM Starter Kit is an earlier version of the same project that attaches to a 3D printer’s motion system to perform 3-axis WEDM. Both come in kit form, meaning you must build it yourself, but both are highly accessible ways to bring custom flat cutting into your garage or apartment!

Some have used the loss of SCS to advocate for no longer using custom cut flats in 3D2A. My feelings on this are complicated. One of the core principles of 3D2A is DIYing as much as you can, and a design that can be fully DIY’d is always more interesting than one that relies on commercial parts.

Yet it is also the case that a released design is better than a design stuck in beta hell while we figure out how to DIY parts that could easily be provided commercially.

Furthermore, a built design is better than an unbuilt design, and it is simply a fact that more people will build an easy design vs. a hard design. The Rogue-9 / Rebel-9 is a great example of this - it has an incredibly cool fully DIY bolt, perhaps the best and most reliable of its sort. Yet virtually nobody builds it, and those that do usually do so with one of my machined bolts.

Above all else, the goal of 3D2A should be to get people building guns. Anything that promotes that, I am in favor of. As such, I hope that all designers will seriously consider exploring alternative, more DIY-friendly ways to add metal where it’s needed (Meccano?), but I also encourage those designers to not let the difficulty of such a feat hold them back from releasing.

In conclusion, RIP to SCS. You were a real one until they got to you. The community will continue without you. The signal will never be stopped.

Serialless Returns in Serial Form

Unlooked for, he returned! The Serialless / Roast / WeTalkShit show was a staple of the guncad community for some time. The show is over, but the brand has returned in magazine (or serial?) form!

Their first issue features an interview with the very based iPrintShit, designer of such bangers as the Glocknovsky, the Paragon-9, and the RPG-FE (which is on my shortlist to make a fully DIY version of someday). Several cool looking community builds are also featured.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue #32: M1337 Orbital Crank, DIY FMDA Rails, Super Safe 3DP90, 2nd Amendment Victory

Alyosha K. — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:12:16 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

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In today’s issue:

New Releases:

Updates:

Improved TURD Reset Trigger Design

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

M1337 V1.1 Update - Double Your Rate with Orbital Crank

The M1337, perhaps the pinnacle of 3D2A designs, received its first major update after its full release last year, and it’s a big one!

Nopel has developed an “orbital crank” which uses epicyclic gearing to increase the M1337’s rate of fire, improving the rate by between 2x and 3x - or in raw numbers, going from roughly 700 rounds / min to well in excess of 1500 rounds / min!

See the video below for a demonstration of this mechanical work of art:

The orbital crank delivers a true brrrt experience!

There are two parts to this update. The orbital crank itself is a standalone platform with its own BOM, and 3D2A.com offers an add-on kit just for the new crank.

The base M1337 platform has also been updated to V1.1, most of the changes for which improve the strength and durability of the design to better handle the higher forces involved with the new crank. 3D2A.com’s M1337 Complete Kit has similarly been upgraded to support the V1.1 changes.

For those who already have an M1337, it’s possible to upgrade it to V1.1 by reprinting and reinstalling several components. The orbital crank itself is essentially “drop-in” and replaces the existing crank quite cleanly. The hardware difference between V1.0 and V1.1 is quite minimal, requiring only three additional heatsets.

It’s a wonderful thing to see Nopel continuing to iterate on this platform - it’s the finest example of what 3D2A can accomplish. Well done!

NAG Dev Releases a New GH05T Gun

Ah, developer JU5T3NC4S3 - always fun to write about! He’s as controversial as he is prolific. Accusations fly of his designs being untested (untrue), undocumented (true) and unsafe (probably false.) He adamantly refuses to “do guncad” in the standard way, developing and testing his work in a “SimpleX group” instead of the standard Matrix platform. For some time he wasn’t even uploading his files to Odysee.

And yet he keeps releasing!

The latest release is his latest fully DIY .22LR Glock, called the GH05T. It incorporates the lessons learned from previous releases like the NULL and NAG. It seems like the major improvements in the GH05T are an improved locking mechanism, a DIY metal extractor and a functioning slidelock/LRBHO. He also notes that the new DIY slide requires no weight, making it the “lightest slide ever” - a claim I’m not sure should be celebrated uncritically.

See it in action!

A recent Reddit thread discusses the new design in more detail, and provides a nice breakdown of JIC’s design line.

Whatever else may be said, there’s sufficient evidence to believe that these projects do work. I continue to believe that these designs are begging for someone to fully understand and document them according to 3D2A best practices. Who will take on the task?

New 37mm Shell for 1” Mortar Fireworks

I’ve always felt that the launcher subcommunity was one of the most interesting parts of 3D2A, and it’s always nice to see some new work coming out of there! It appears that much fresh work has originated from DixieThumper, who brings us a new 37mm shell today.

The idea behind this new shell is to act as a sabot for standard 1” commercial fireworks mortar rounds. Included in the release package is a disk that supports and protects the bottom of the shell, to prevent premature detonation.

It’s a cool idea! Dixie’s got a nice Youtube channel with plenty of test videos and loading instructionals, which would make a good follow for anyone interested in DIY launchers.

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Improved TURD Reset Trigger Design

Back when the Kabuto / TURD first released, it received a tremendous amount of attention and led to several remixes. While it hasn’t quite attained the popularity of the Super Safety, it still has a huge following and every so often remixes get released. Here we have just such a remix from developer Lancelight.

Improvements include a limiter to better control the lever, tunings to the levers, reorientation on the printed pin to reduce breakage, and other small tweaks to improve performance and longevity.

This style of reset trigger is fully printed and drop-in, so why not print one just to try it out? Good luck have fun!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

VZ61 Go Brrt With New Reset Trigger

The VZ61 is the latest gun to fall victim to 3D2A’s neverending quest to Reset All The Things! This new design from justaguy appears to be the first public release of something he’s been iterating on for some time.

I’m classifying this as a beta because while the dev notes his own testing on several different receiver types (including ATRH, Czechpoint and Titus) it’s not clear it’s been “officially” beta’d, or how many others have tested it (at least one!)

See it in action!

Note that this build apparently does require an original bolt with certain characteristics, vs. new US-made bolts that eliminate those characteristics.

Glitch - New Glock Reset Trigger

Don’t mind me, just signal boosting a new Glock reset trigger design with no documentation, no testing history, and it doesn’t even appear on the Index. Why am I including this? Because I can, and because you never know when an unpolished stone will turn out to be a diamond.

The Glitch (or “Fidget?”) is a Glock reset trigger design that reminds me of the Gspot, but with some apparent differences. It is held together with M1 / M2 bolt and nuts (no lengths given lol) and while there are no instructions in the file package, I managed to dig some up nonetheless:

If you’re bored and brave, give it a try and report on the results! All designs have to start somewhere.

Last-minute update: now there’s an SCS version!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Super Safe 3DP90 Returns and Works!

Speaking of old projects! We reported on developer SillacSaurfang’s reset trigger design for the 3DP90 back in Issue 3. While this design was released as a prototype, it didn’t work very well and the developer considered the project shelved.

Happily, earlier this year Sillac had a breakthrough and reworked the project, finally achieving the functionality he wanted! The design is now running, and running well.

Before releasing, the dev will put the design through function testing and further refinement, but it seems that we now have a path to true release. How exciting! The 3DP90 is already one of the most popular DIY guns - imagine how much cooler it will be once we can fire in reset mode!

DIY FMDA Rails Expected Shortly

Well this is exciting! Developer yoyofagbro recently announced a project to DIY rear FMDA rails, which he claims requires “no precision jigs, no hydraulic press, no drill press.” Instead it apparently requires only simple hand tools!

Details beyond this are sparse. How are these claims possible? A September launch is promised, so we should find out within the month!

DIY PM63 RAK Proceeding with Testing

Last mentioned in Issue 17, the project to develop a printable frame for the PM63 RAK is still progressing! Developer Streetsweeper_Arms recently shared footage of a beta tester running his build.

The footage obviously shows the design firing full auto, which is traditionally the difficulty with these kits, being open bolt / full auto only. Existing methods to convert to semi requires pretty advanced metalworking skills.

Good news! Streetsweeper is working on a semi conversion that he believes will be much simpler than the traditional method. Once again, 3D2A delivers!

Maverick DIY Revolver Revived and Modernized

What’s old is new again - in this case, very old! The Maverick is one of the earliest DIY guns, with its first version originating in the FOSSCAD days. A cool writeup about the history of this line can be found here.

Its design characteristics indicate the context it originates in - fully printed 22LR “zig zag” revolvers were a common area of development at the time, and this design is probably the best of the lot. But six years have passed since then, and perhaps now it’s time for a refresher!

Enter developer bushworked711, one of the co-developers of the Modelo Polylactico, who is now working on a modernized Maverick. He demonstrates functionality in his video and notes in his description some of the changes: more common hardware components, increased barrel length, and a rechamber from .22 Short to .22LR.

Expect to see it launch once testing is finished!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

2nd Amendment Protects Right to Make a Gun

Given the tremendous amount of attention received by the recent NFA Day of Defeat, it is not surprising that another legal victory snuck by without a lot of attention from the 3D2A space. Yet this victory may be the most significant win that 3D2A has ever received.

The case is titled Defense Distributed v. Blanche, but is better known as the VanDerStok case. The actual details of the case are covered here in greater detail, but in short: a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that the ATF, in attempting to dramatically expand its power to regulate privately-manufactured firearms, violated both the 5th and 2nd Amendments.

The 5th Amendment win establishes that it is unconstitutional for the ATF to use the incredibly vague language and refusal to clarify that they are so fond of. That’s exciting enough, but the true victory is this: for the first time ever a United States court has found that the 2nd Amendment contains the right to make a firearm. As such, any law, statute or regulation which restricts or impedes an individual from making a firearm is now presumptively unconstitutional.

This astonishing win is worth reflecting on. How did we get here? Let us review some 2nd Amendment legal history.

It must be understood that, up until the last few decades, federal 2A victories were extremely uncommon. Prior to 2008’s Heller decision, no federal appellate court had ever invalidated a law for violating 2A; between 2008 and 2016, less than 10% of 2A-related cases were victories for the gun rights party.

2022’s Bruen decision changed the game entirely by forcing courts to treat 2A as a first-class right, in the vein of the traditional darlings 1st or 14th, requiring enhanced scrutiny vs. the intermediate scrutiny utilized previously to abdicate serious consideration of 2A challenges. Since that time we have seen an explosion of 2A victories, notably Platkin, Grisham and Hermani.

Grisham in particular established something virtually unheard of not just in 2A cases but modern conlaw cases generally1: the recognition of an ancillary right within an amendment. Grisham established that “keep and bear” includes the right to acquire a firearm. The recent Blanche ruling, in declaring that making a firearm is also a right necessary to fully exercise 2A, performs this feat again, and perhaps even more notably.

While 3D2A’s culture has always claimed that its practices are founded in the moral rights recognized by 2A, 3D2A legal work has since its initiation in 2015 focused more on grounding DIY gunmaking in 1A speech protections. Indeed, in many ways the earliest gun printers were motivated to pursue 3D printed firearms specifically to create a 1A constitutional challenge. The conduct had to be grounded outside 2A, because a direct 2A challenge was understood to be utterly futile.

2015 was seven years and two administrations before Bruen. The world looks very different now. Following Blanche, 3D2A has for the first time ever a black-letter constitutional grounding, and it is in the United States Second Amendment, which our hearts tell us is exactly where it belongs.

Doctrinally and legally, this victory achieves a major goal that 3D2A has been fighting for since its inception. This is worth celebrating, and I hope you’ll take the time to do so.

This said, from a practical perspective very little has changed. Most laws infringing on our right to build guns are still on the books - they will have to be challenged, piece by piece, in courts across the nation. But we can now claim that legally, not just morally, we have the US Constitution on our side.

This legal review helped me realize that we are riding a 2A legal wave - something that is hard to see in the moment, but is clearly true nonetheless. What a joy to be alive for such a time. What a privilege to be part of the community that has done so much to underpin this legal victory with the technology to consolidate it.

Never stop developing. Never stop building. Never stop the signal.

ATF Director Will “Respect The Ruling”

The firearms community is still settling in to the post-NFA Day of Defeat world and speculation is still flying in many quarters about whether this is too good to be true. Those who believe that victories can happen got a nice shot in the arm from an unexpected quarter, the ATF director Robert Cekada himself.

In his tweet, Cekada claimed that they will “respect the Court’s ruling and the rule of law”, and will “not take enforcement action against protected parties inconsistent with that ruling.” He also promises upcoming guidance. Of particular note, he alludes to his consideration of preventing “legal problems…under a future administration.”

Yes, I recognize the relative absurdity of saying we should trust the words of the literal ATF directory. But recall that he did not have to post this. The Trump admin is intentionally choosing to send a friendly message towards the firearms community; I interpret this tweet as further proof of my assertion that this state of play will persist for the remainder of Trump’s time in office.

We’ll see what the ATF guidance actually looks like, when it comes out. In the meantime, resist the urge to blackpill about this victory. Do not give in to blackpilling, but proceed even more strongly in spite of it.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

One reason that these sorts of “expansions” are so rare nowadays is because most other major amendments were expanded far earlier in the history of US jurisprudence. As detailed above, 2A has been treated as a redheaded stepchild for most of this country’s history - it’s due quite a bit of expansion.

Issue #31: NFA Unconstitutional, FTN.6, Urutau Mk2, Seraph Pistol

Alyosha K. — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 17:53:58 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In today’s issue:

NFA DAY OF DEFEAT

New Releases:

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

Other News:

Guncad Index Launches Contingency Plan for Odysee

Other Links

NFA DAY OF DEFEAT

It’s the biggest legal news in 2A since Bruen, and the biggest (positive) practical change for what Americans can make and buy since the AWB expired, occurred recently. We proudly start off with this fantastic news!

NFA Declared Unconstitutional for Suppressors, SBRs, SBS’

If you’re reading this newsletter, you already know this, but it’s worth repeating: on August 5th, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling declaring portions of the NFA applying to suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ unconstitutional.

The practical effect is that the ATF is enjoined from enforcing the unconstitutional provisions against beneficiaries of the ruling. For those beneficiaries, with appropriate provisos, they can now make and sell suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ without following certain NFA regulations.

It’s been over a week since the ruling, and while its implications are starting to settle, there’s plenty of confusion about the details. Major questions include:

Who is actually covered under this ruling?
What exactly can beneficiaries do?
What will the next legal event be in this drama?

I’ve already written extensively about the first two questions in the Guide to Builders, which you should absolutely read if you haven’t already. So let’s talk about the last question.

To me this victory is tremendous and is worth celebrating, so it’s a little surprising to see how many people are blackpilling about it. I’ve seen this in at least two forms:

The ruling is meaningless because it doesn’t cover everyone / apply nationwide / strike down the entire NFA / suck my dick and make me a sandwich.
The DOJ will appeal, the law will change, and when it does everyone buying or making the newly deregulated items will become felons.

To be honest I find the former reaction risibly obnoxious. I recognize that American gun owners are not used to winning, so difficulty celebrating a legitimate victory is forgivable. But I also detect more than a whiff of purity signaling in this behavior - of making the perfect the enemy of the good in pursuit of clout. To those trying to spoil this moment by making it about themselves, I can only say: not cool.

The latter reaction is worth discussing further, because it’s based on the understandable notion that this can’t possibly persist. Yet I am going to plant my flag here and say: yes it can.

I want you to reflect on the DOJ’s failure to appeal. The Texas judge gave DOJ an enormous opportunity to challenge this ruling before it took effect. They had plenty of time. They had the full resources of the US government. There was zero advantage to waiting, and several disadvantages. They still chose not to do so.

I believe that this obviously intentional decision, combined with signals from the administration, means that we will likely see this injunction persist for the remainder of the Trump presidency - two years.

That’s two years for makers and dealers to flood the market with previously-regulated products. Two years to make suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ ubiquitous. That’s seismic. That’s unprecedented.

I’m not going to pretend that the upcoming Harris / Newsom administration won’t try to undo this in some way. But I’m also not going to pretend that after two years of flooding that they’ll be able to simply turn off the tap.

At time of writing many FFLs are expressing serious hesitancy about abandoning Form 4s untie more clarification is provided. That’s fine and I don’t blame them. But I think that private makers should be bolder. All signals formal and informal tell me that you, maker, can now print suppressors, without pain or fear or guilt. Audentes fortuna iuvat.

If you feel inspired to take action, I have good news:

FTN.6 RELEASES - The Rest is Silence

When we needed them, they appeared. The FTN project reaches its ultimate conclusion, shepherded by the FTN Dev Group, who have carried on the FTN project in PLABoi’s absence. Right on time, they bequeath to us the FTN.6.

The release is tremendous not just in significance but in scale. It contains:

FTN.6 Rimfire, smaller than previous versions, closer to commercial cans
FTN.6 9mm, in two versions, one boostered and one boosterless, offering better performance and aesthetics than the FTN.5
FTN.6 Rifle, in several versions, again offering superior strength and performance to the FTN.5
FTN.6 Air, the lightest weight rifle-caliber FTN yet produced

Like the FTN.5, the series 6 embraces printing with nylons (PPA) and therefore requires no metal cans - these are for the most part fully printed designs.

This writeup is only an overview - to learn more, read the documentation in the release or the official statement by the FTN Dev Group.

NOTE: Guncad being guncad, this release was accompanied by some controversy and confusion. Rumors spread of the design being “stolen” from PLA.boi, or not being properly tested. These are false and have been addressed here.

This design was thoroughly tested by the same group of devs who tested previous iterations all the way back to the FTN.3. Its design choices were thoroughly discussed and considered by this group.

At least some of the rumors to the contrary seem to have been spread by a single malcontent. Don’t believe every salacious thing you read, anon.

We are told that this will be the final FTN release. Though no doubt others will pick up the baton and continue development of DIY suppressors, let me offer my sincerest admiration to those who brought the FTN project into existence - not just the printable artifacts themselves, but the philosophy, the ideology, the weltanschuung the project created.

You are one of the top three most significant figures in 3D2A, and one of the most important shapers of the 21st century firearms movement. Appare!

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Seraph Pistol - Bufferless Blicky Part 1

Be not afraid! Developed by CapnCuck and released by The Bullpen, the Seraph is a bufferless AR pistol that can be chambered in either 5.56 or .300BLK. And as the photo above demonstrates, it truly is a pistol!

Hardware required is a standard AR BCG and barrel. The bufferless magic works by chopping the BCG and attaching a sled made from custom-cut laser parts, an approach similar to (and inspired by) the Marsupial / Quokka.

See it in action! It’s an extremely cool bolter-style gun and another sign of how far guncad has come.

Parts kits are available at 3D2A.com!

BB15 - Bufferless Blicky Part 2

But wait, there’s more! The BB15 - whose acronym is the source for the term “bufferless blicky” - was created by Caliber / 8762e13 and tested by the same team at The Bullpen.

As can be seen, this is a bullpup rifle, not a pistol like the Seraph, more similar in role to something like the FAMAS or Aug. The BB15 might be thought of as an evolution of the Phantom Pup project, with its documentation noting that the biggest improvement is reduced cost and complexity in populating the lower parts kit. A compatible upper (FM15, BRN180, or generic upper with bufferless BCG) is required.

The design can be built for any upper / magazine sized for AR-15 footprints - so standard intermediate cartridges (5.56, .300BLK, etc.) but also with AR9 parts. Documentation is thorough.

Fine work!

Fair Deal v2 - S&W15-22 Magazine Releases

Announced as “coming soon” in Issue 30, the Fair Deal v2 hit release just two days after publication! That might be a record.

As can be seen, this is a printable S&W15-22 magazine, compatible with any design that accepts that mag (DIY or OEM). Capacities of 10, 15, 20 and 25 are available, all of which use different lengths of the same spring. It also features a LRBHO!

Developer General Custer clearly put a significant amount of care into this release. If you have a gun that takes this magazine, go check this release out!

Slap Ya Glock - MA-19 (Re)Releases

I actually missed this one when it first came out, but fortunately a re-release brought it back to my attention! The MA-19 from Macnay Arms is a printed Glock PDW with a very special feature: an MP5-style charging handle that reciprocates the slide and can be locked back - and more importantly, slapped open!

You can print it without the “slap” if you want, in which case it prints without the upper / brace and simply the foregrip (still a PDW.) But why would you want to do that?

Between this and the Daedalus, the Glock PDW world just keeps getting cooler!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Clapping Back on Smokeless Powder

The section we did on DIY smokeless powder in our last issue was intended to start a discussion, but it got more attention than I expected! In fact I think it was the most discussed portion of the entire newsletter.

Unsurprisingly, popular consensus was that the method presented was totally unsafe! I agree, but I also lack the chemistry knowledge to explain precisely why this is. Fear not - others do! This explanation on Reddit by Katrahaska_1939, and discussion in the comments of the same, do a great job of covering it.

The main thrust seems to be that the truly dangerous part of the Issue 30 writeup was its encouragement to create nitroglycerine (NG). Katrahaska points out that even commercial smokeless doesn’t use NG by itself, instead often combining it with nitrocellulose (NC), which is easier and safer to make and store.

The suggestion seems to be that the Issue 30 writeup could swap NG with NC and still work adequately for a DIY powder. Performance will not be as good, but if you’re making your own powder, are you really trying to count every Joule of energy, or simply create something that goes bang reliably?

I’m actually thrilled to see so many community members with chemistry knowledge willing to weigh in. What say you guys to pooling your knowledge and creating a proper guide?

HT-PLA Pro Initial Results are Promising

It’s been a few weeks since Polymaker dropped their new HT-PLA Pro filament, and results are starting to roll in! Encouragingly, the initial evaluation seems to be pretty good!

Developer lunaticrider209 describes an experiment in which he printed a Glock frame (in a very sexy color!), assembled it and left it in his car for several days, during which time temps reached over 130F, actually maxing out the thermometer he used (not great, not terrible.)

After removing the frame it was inspected and no warping or cracking was found. He then went on to fire 1,000 rounds of ammo through the build without issue.

That’s extraordinary! Perhaps even better than I might have expected. We’ll want to see continued testing and broad acceptance before truly accepting this new filament as a replacement for standard PLA Pro, but I like where things are going!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Carioca Redentor - Urutau Mk2 Enters Beta

We open this beta section with major news that was as much a surprise to me as it was to all of you - the Urutau Mk2 has entered beta at Black Lotus Coalition.

It seems that, while Joseph the Parrot’s utterly unjust prosecution works its way through the Brazilian legal system, other developers have picked up the Urutau project and continued work. Now that work has reached completeness, requiring only a semi-public beta test to validate it before release.

The largest difference between the Mk2 and the original Urutau is its size - the Mk2, while still chambered in 9mm, has been shrunk considerably with the goal of making it as compact as the FGC-9. The most important consequence of this resizing is that the gun is now, by default, an SBR - but recent news shows that this may not be as much an issue as initially imagined!

A handful of other improvements are being introduced (a popular one will be its slappable charging handle) and many elements are in place for further improvements in future iterations, most notably the use of a DIY cartridge called the “9x23mm Stark” - currently in closed development, but further details to be revealed.

This is more than just a new beta - it’s a reminder that a dream never dies. You can jail the man but not the idea. The signal will never be stopped.

Join the beta at Black Lotus Coalition!

Jaçanā Also Enters Beta - Unbullpupped Urutau

A second beta has hit the community! As if to prove my point above - we’re not just improving released Parrot designs, we’re resurrecting unreleased ones!

The Jaçanã might best be described as an “unbullpupped Urutau” - it moves the magazine in front of the trigger, eliminating the trigger linkage, allowing the use of a standard AR FCG. The bolt is still weight-forward, so it’s bufferless, allowing it to be easily configured as a pistol.

While this design has been alpha’d privately, it is not as mature as the Mk2 and so is in a more private, selective beta process, also at Black Lotus. Greater building experience is required. If you’ve got what it takes to help, reach out to BLC and request access!

PWC2.0 with Twitch V3 Immanentizes my Mac Dream

I’ve become a self-parody at this point with my constant harping on Macs that Look Like Macs, but that’s how we all end up isn’t it? In any case, my dream to dual wield full auto Mac pistols remains unfulfilled - but it’s pretty damn close at this point.

Based dev nightalliance has made updates to the original PWC-9 primarily to add support for the Twitch V3 Mac reset trigger. Both components (the frame and the Twitch) are released as beta projects, so you can download them and try them out now!

Like the original PWC-9, this is compatible with standard Velocity-style Mac uppers but still requires an MPA lower parts kit.

See it in action here!

Decker 9 Beta Produces Bizon Wonders

There is a certain formula in 3D2A: popular design + long running beta = insane mods. The Decker 9 is the finest example of this moment.

This design is functionally complete and is slowly working its way towards release configuration. This leaves many beta participants with lots of time on their hands. Developer sticky filled that time by adapting the KP9 Bizon for use with the Decker. See it running here!

The design has been released privately to the Decker beta room, which can be found at Black Lotus. Join up to help test it, and the Decker 9 project generally - help bring it to release!

Partisan-9 Extractor Mod Unexpectedly Drops

I can’t say I was expecting this. The Partisan-9, released in 2023, is an iteration of the FGC-9 that improved the design in several ways, most notably by using square bolt stock instead of round, and introducing a method to port the barrel for integral supression. Its designer ImmortalRevolt incorporated these improvements in his later Rogue-9 and Rebel-9 releases.

Given the Partisan’s age I’m surprised to see a mod for it, and yet here it is! Developer LFOD has released a bolt mod which incorporates a Rogue/Rebel-style extractor. The lack of an extractor is arguably one of the greatest weaknesses of many fully DIY guns, so I’m quite pleased to see this technology being backported.

Could it be backported further onto the FGC-9? Onto the Urutau? Anything is possible!

Printable Tavor Lower Enters Beta

What we have here is a printable lower for the “CTAR21”. What is that? Perhaps you know it better as the Tavor?

(Yes, technically this is for the compact version, hence the C)

This project by PekingDuck has apparently been in development for some time in anticipation of more Tavor parts kits entering the US. COD fans rejoice! Grab a kit and come help test.

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

MA40 Internal Beta Continues, Nears Open Beta

The printable MA-40 project, announced in Issue 16, is getting very close to opening up for public beta! We got a nice teaser for this project from tester XxWHITE-RICExX, who couldn’t have a more appropriate username for testing a Halo gun.

It seems like the final work before release is getting the electronics package set up, and that’s pretty close too! Here’s a pic:

The dream of slaying aliens with a MA40 is within Reach! Stay tuned, Spartan.

Super Safe Every UMP

In our last issue we shared a project to create a reset trigger for the UMP 11/9. Soon, thanks to developer FoapsFiles, you’ll be able to shoot your UMP-VO in super semi too!

This is not quite ready for release, Foap says he wants to refine it more, but hopefully we can expect it after not too long. Keep it coming!

Open Source Arms Presents Slick Website, Slicker DIY AR-15

A novice asks the master: why does 3D2A keep reinventing the AR-15? The master responds: “柳は緑、花は紅”. The novice was enlightened.

A new group called Open Source Arms has arrived with a new AR-15 design, and more interestingly a very slick website. Details on this design are scarce but what’s been revealed is quite interesting - it seems like while the lower is 3D printed, the upper will be made from bent sheet metal and rivets. I’ve always been a fan of incorporating bent flats into more designs, so this pleases me!

It sounds like the beta will drop on September 30th, and you can sign up at the website to be notified. We’ll report it here too of course!

Other News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Guncad Index Launches Contingency Plan for Odysee

The Shittinator

Contingency Plans for GunCAD

On July 14th 2026, Julian Chandra — now-former CEO of Odysee — posted this…

3 months ago · 1 like · The Shittinator

The fact that the tremendous changes made recently at the Guncad Index are not the biggest news in 3D2A only evinces the sheer scale of recent events. Yet they are absolutely worth covering.

Many readers will be aware that the former CEO of Odysee recently stepped down and, in a public tweet following his departure, sent signals that the Odysee platform may not last much longer.

That sounds very scary, and it is. Further communication with Odysee people have led me to believe that an Odysee shut down is not imminent, or even inevitable, but regardless it is something that must be accounted and prepared for.

We were not found wanting. Well before any actual crisis emerged, a solution was implemented. As of now, a viable alternative for file uploads and downloads, based on torrent technology, has been developed and deployed at the Guncad Index.

The Index’ operator and developer The Shittinator has written extensively about the this solution and its context at his own Substack. I highly recommend you read it (and subscribe while you’re there!)

Shittinator’s article tells you all you need to know about the technical details, so I’d instead like to comment on the infrastructural context. Because of the tremendous work performed by Shittinator and others, we were not caught flat-footed by this announcement. All the pieces were in place to get a second option implemented.

This is not to say that the work involved was trivial - it sounds like Shittinator worked for several days on end to get it built as quickly as possible. But it was his earlier work over the last year of building the Index in the first place, and positioning it in the community, that made this current work possible.

Let it never be said that there are not Great Men in history. You may sleep easily in your bed tonight, knowing that guncad will not die if Odysee fails, thanks to men like Shittinator. My hat is off to you!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

NFA DAY OF DEFEAT - Guide for Builders

Alyosha K. — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:04:47 GMT

Introductory caveat: we are not lawyers, this is not legal advice, everything you read here is my opinion.

Introduction

On August 5th, 2026, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling applying to two related cases, Silencer Co. v ATF and Jensen v. ATF. Both cases challenged the constitutionality of the NFA’s regulation of suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and short-barreled shotguns (SBS’). The ruling issued was for the plaintiffs in both cases - finding that many provisions of the NFA could not constitutionally apply to these firearms1.

In short, this ruling means that suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ are not subject to many NFA regulations, that the ATF may not require tax stamps, registrations or other approvals for an individual to acquire these items.

The ATF chose not to appeal this decision, and later issued guidance and FAQs indicating their intent to not only comply with the injunction, but cease enforcement of the relevant provisions nationwide. The practical effect is that NFA requirements for suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ are now paused at the federal level.

Much of the commentary I have seen in gun circles has been related to how beneficiaries of this ruling can now purchase suppressors, SBRs, etc. I’ve seen comparatively less discussion about how builders can make their own suppressors, SBRs and SBS’.

This guide will provide information about how, right now, you can DIY these items. Read on!

Cui Bono?

Prior to the issuance of the ATF’s guidance on October 9th, 2026, there was significant confusion related to who could actually benefit from this ruling.

The guidance clears this up somewhat, and the current state of affairs is as follows:

This ruling enjoins the ATF from enforcing NFA regulations against the plaintiffs in this case, and plaintiffs’ customers and members.
The ATF has chosen to cease enforcement nationwide of the same provisions they are enjoined from enforcing against plaintiffs

The practical effect, at time of writing, is that every American can now benefit from this state of affairs, but the way in which they benefit, and the risk they undertake, differs slightly depending on whether they are a plaintiff beneficiary or not.

Let us begin by considering three types of beneficiaries:

Commercial Manufacturers:

The first set are commercial manufacturers / sellers of suppressors. These plaintiffs are:

This ruling allows these plaintiffs, and only these plaintiffs, to manufacture suppressors without requiring a Form 1 registration, and to sell these items without requiring a Form 4 transfer.

Simply being a customer of one of these companies does not extend the injunction to you. There’s been a lot of confusion around this. If you bought a random accessory from PSA in 2022, this alone does not extend the injunction to cover you.

The “customer” provision of the injunction applies to these plaintiffs only for people purchasing items that would otherwise be require NFA registration - e.g. buying a suppressor from Silencer Shop - and only for that transaction.

NFA’s cessation of enforcement means that any manufacturer / vendor of these items, not just those listed above, can now make or sell these items without registration / Form 3 / Form 4, and not risk ATF prosecution. As a practical matter, this means that you can visit any vendor and buy a suppressor with only a 4473.

But we’re not really here to talk about buying things, are we?

Gun Rights Orgs and Members:

The second set of plaintiffs are gun rights organizations / policy advocates. These are:

The ruling enjoins the ATF from prosecuting current and future members of these orgs from making suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ without registering a Form 1. From a practical perspective, this removes the totality of the NFA requirement for anyone wishing (solely) to build these items for their own personal use.

I’ll repeat that, because there was a lot of confusion about this early on. The only ATF regulation relevant to a DIYer whose intent is solely to build a suppressor, SBR or SBS for their own personal use, is the Form 1. Form 3s and 4s are for vendors only, and individual builders are not required to pay any special taxes.

Prior to the ATF guidance, it was speculated that while Form 1s were no longer required for beneficiaries, serialization requirements were still in effect - you still had to physically place a serial number on the firearm, even though you didn’t have to actually register that serial number anywhere. Yet the guidance includes serialization requirement in general as part of the cessation of enforcement.

This simplifies things considerably. The ATF is enjoined from requiring Form 1s for any beneficiary of the injunction. These beneficiaries may now legally make as many unserialized, unregistered suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ for personal use without fear of ATF prosecution.

Everyone Else:

There was considerable consternation in the wake of the ruling that it had created a “two-tier justice scheme”, requiring Americans to pay a fee (to a gun rights org) to exercise rights that the court had itself declared constitutionally protected.

Perhaps in recognition of the complexity created by this situation, ATF issued guidance on October 9th ceasing the enforcement of all enjoined NFA provisions nationwide. This in effect creates a class of “indirect beneficiaries”, consisting of “everyone else” not covered as either a plaintiff customer or member of a gun rights org.

This “everyone else” class still benefits from the ruling, but not in the same way. We will discuss this in more depth later - for now, understand that in a practical sense, everyone else too can now make unserialized, unregistered suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ for personal use without (realistic) fear of ATF prosecution.

All this being said, many other laws still apply. We will discuss this further in the next section.

Other Laws Still Apply

We have been very careful with our language up to this point, because despite the tremendous significance of this ruling, there are still significant limitations.

In their guidance, ATF describes five “caveats” to the situation:

The ruling does not allow unregulated sales / business formation
Despite the new NFA posture, suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ are all considered Title 1 firearms and this ruling does not change that. Any regulation applicable to these Title 1 firearms that was present prior to this ruling, except the NFA registration requirement, is still in effect.

One major way that this applies is that if these designs are being sold in a commercial context, standard FFL rules / 4473 requirements still apply. This ruling does not allow private individuals to begin printing and selling FTNs at scale.
Non-NFA prohibitions also still apply
Any prohibition on these items not part of the NFA’s registration scheme is also still intact.

For example, it is still illegal for felons and other prohibited possessors to make or acquire these items.
This ruling does not affect other NFA items outside of suppressors, SBRs, SBS’.
The ruling is limited in its scope. The NFA as a whole remains on the books and is not “dead.” Other items regulated under the NFA - including machineguns and destructive devices - still require registration and tax stamps.

It should go without saying, but prohibitions on the creation of machineguns is doubly untouched - the relevant NFA provisions are not part of the ruling in any case, and furthermore the Hughes Amendment still separately prohibits possession of newly manufactured machineguns by anyone except a licensed 07/02.
Transportation of SBR / SBS still requires notification:
Another untouched NFA provision is that having to do with transporting SBRs / SBS’ across state lines. Individuals wishing to do so must still fill out Form 20s to notify ATF.
State laws: this is the big one. Everything I have written here applies federally, but there is significant state level regulation of suppressors / SBRs / SBS’ / AOWs, and those regulations remain untouched.
Many states and localities have their own regs controlling these items. If your state made it illegal to own a suppressor, this ruling does not change that. While you may not get fucked by the ATF, you may still get fucked by your state.

We’ll talk about state laws more in a moment, but let’s first talk about a sixth “caveat” noted by ATF.

Regarding Cessation and Contraband

ATF concludes its guidance, and reiterates in its FAQs, that their cessation in enforcement does not mean that the relevant regulations no longer apply.

Their assertion is that even if ATF chooses not to enforce a Form 1 requirement against a DIYer, that DIYer is still theoretically in violation of the requirement, and subject to “felony penalties and forfeitures”. Their product - the actual unregistered suppressor, SBR or SBS - remains “contraband” even under the nonenforcement scheme.

ATF specifically anticipates many ways that the current legal state of affairs may change, leading to a resumption of the registration scheme. And they assert that while an amnesty / grandfathering scheme is possible, “[f]ederal law does not generally permit subsequent registration of unregistered NFA items”.

I have two things to say about this:

I think there are practical reasons to interpret these statements as threats, shade-throwing - ultimately, FUDD. The overall state of affairs strongly suggests to me that there will be no return to the NFA registration scheme as we understand it.

This does not mean that a new scheme won’t come into effect, but it does mean that a world in which things simply “revert”, and everyone is hauled off to jail, is a statist wet dream. I write more about this in Issue 34 of the Guncad Digest.
There is a more practical point that I have seen almost nobody make: the cessation in enforcement does not override the injunction.

We listed above three classes of protected citizens. As a reminder, the first two classes - plaintiff beneficiaries - were created by the injunction, and practically speaking covers all members of the gun rights orgs. The third class was created by the ATF’s guidance, and covers everyone else.

When the ATF threatens that “they may change their minds” about cessation of enforcement, this applies solely to the third class. The ATF can’t change their minds about the plaintiff beneficiaries - per the court order, ATF can never enforce the existing registration scheme against said beneficiaries. It is unconstitutional.

As such, I still recommend that all Americans become members of one of these plaintiff orgs. Membership brings you into the first class and strongly improves your legal position, should the ATF attempt enforcement in the future.

Join today at gunowners.org, ccrkba.org or firearmspolicy.org.

Regarding State Laws

While the situation regarding these items is fairly clear federally, there remains significant confusion about the situation locally, within the individual states. Some states prohibit suppressors, SBRs or SBS’ outright, even if they are legal federally. Even more confusingly, many states allow these items, but tie them in some way to the NFA’s registration scheme.

There are many websites are trying to create summaries of the situation. I’ll be using FFLSafe’s attempt at this in my own discussion, but be aware that other resources may offer different interpretations, and in any case you are ultimately responsible for researching your own state’s laws.

For simplicity, we can divide the states into three categories:

Unrestricted States: these are states where these items are clearly untouched by state level registration. These states are colored green in the chart above.
Ban states: these are states with explicit registration banning or otherwise prohibiting the ownership of these items, regardless of the federal scheme. These states are colored red in the chart above
“NFA tied” states: these are the confusing ones. These states have schemes which in some way tie possession, manufacture, etc. of these items to federal registration or federal laws generally. These states are orange or yellow in the chart above.

What does “tied” mean? There’s two common examples I have seen:

States allow possession, manufacture, etc. if the item is registered with NFA
States allow possession, manufacture, etc. if the item is in compliance with federal law

These are subtly different, and the difference matters in how you cure the issue. Recall the classes of citizens - the two types of plaintiff beneficiaries and everyone else.

If you live in a state that requires compliance with federal law, then you can theoretically comply with state law by being a plaintiff beneficiary. No registration required (though registration will also cure in this scenario.)

On the other hand, if your state explicitly requires NFA registration, only registration can protect you. This creates the strange situation where you must register with an agency that itself is not enforcing registration requirements.

I can’t tell you what to do here, but I will make two notes:

Form 1s are apparently returning at record rates, sometimes within 48 hours.
Unless you live in a state like California, New York, etc., your state likely has far fewer resources or interest in prosecuting state-level NFA item violations, particularly when the law is in flux.

Those are the facts as I see them. I encourage you to research your own local laws and make sure you understand them, and then do what you will.

Summary: What To Do As A Builder

We’ve covered the situation pretty extensively. Let’s wrap it up with a few recommendations I make - which are, again, purely based on my opinion.

Research your local / state laws to understand their pertinent requirements
Use websites like FFLSafe to help, but in the end, do your own reading, or even better, speak to a local attorney.
Join a gun rights organization like GOA, CCRKBA or FPC
ATF’s guidance indicates that they will not enforce their regulations against anyone, not only plaintiff beneficiaries - but you improve your position tremendously if you join one of these orgs.

Plus, these orgs are in large part responsible for getting us here. They do tremendous good. That alone is reason to lend them your support.

Join today at gunowners.org, ccrkba.org or firearmspolicy.org.
WHATEVER ELSE, BUILD A FUCKING SUPPRESSOR / SBR / SBS
I’ve attempted to mostly confine myself to discussing the law in this post. But let’s briefly pull the camera back and discuss the broader situation.

At this moment, all the winds are blowing in our direction. For at least the next two years, suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ can be made without realistic fear of federal prosecution.

The position of these items in the overall legal scheme is not determined by the law alone. It is determined by their cultural prevalence, their place in the national conversation, and their sheer, raw numbers.

The more of these you make, the more owners created over the next two years, the stronger our position becomes. We have seen this happen over and over again with other goods and schemes - banned items become legal not when the feds declare them legal, but when it becomes hopelessly impossible for the feds to regulate them.

We saw it with marijuana. We saw it with gay marriage. We saw it with pistol braces. Take this opportunity to make this happen with suppressors, SBRs and SBS’ as well.

Subject to Revision

I have updated this post several times as things have developed around this subject. While the ATF’s guidance publication seems to have put a period at the end of this sentence, nevertheless we should expect further developments over time, and I’ll continue to revise and update the post.

As such, I suggest that anyone planning a build should revisit the post immediately prior to clicking “print”. Read it again in full. Make sure no changes have occurred that would affect your plans.

We’re all in this together, and I’ll do all I can to bring you the best info I can. Stay frosty.

Issue #30: DIY Glock Trigger Housing, DIY Mac Uppers, High Temp PLA Pro, Smokeless Powder

Alyosha K. — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:02:01 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

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It appears that the last two weeks in guncad were sparse in new releases but very active in betas and “coming soon” announcements! Read on to find out what’s coming in the next few months:

New Releases:

Updates:

M1337 Meshes Getting STEP Conversions

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Commercial Corner:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Printed Glock Trigger Housing from PrintYour2A

The mission to DIY every part of the Glock progresses! Based developer PrintYour2A recently released a printed version of the Glock trigger housing. This is not just a STL version of a reference model - several geometric changes were made to facilitate printing, as can be seen in the photo.

PrintYour2A notes that this particular model is designed to fit in Gen 4 and Gen 5 frames, but uses Gen 3 trigger parts. One imagines that it could easily be adapted to fit Gen 3 frames as well.

There’s no shortage of printable triggers, the other major plastic part in the Glock FCG, so the next step will be to create bending jigs for some or all of the trigger bar components. Actually, that already partially exists! The technology is within reach!

Calibrate Your Printer Perfectly with PerfectFit

The words “Calibrate Your Printer” should be burned into the eyelids of every new gun printer. Taking the time to ensure your prints are clean and accurate will resolve so many of the issues you’ll encounter.

Fortunately we live in a Bambu world, where these printers are calibrated fresh out of the box. Good riddance to spending weeks tweaking your Ender before you could get a halfway decent print!

Still, you can make your Bambu (or Qidi, Elegoo, Prusa, etc.) even better with some basic calibration steps - and the recently-released PerfectFit project from tayloraaron078-tech may be the next best thing for performing those steps.

The PerfectFit software provides a wizard that guides you through each step of calibrating a printer for a particular filament - starting with nozzle temp and flow, hitting speed and retraction, and verifying accuracy.

The actual tests being performed are the same tests we’ve performed for years now - what PerfectFit does is present them in an incredibly convenient and clean step-by-step format. It also automatically generates a profile for your chosen slicer (either Orca or Bambu) for you to import and start using.

Printers wishing to supercharge their printers should definitely check this project out! I expect to refer to it in some upcoming education :)

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

M1337 Meshes Getting STEP Conversions

The M1337 is legendary, that goes without saying. Even more legendary is the fact that it was designed in Blender of all things. An impressive feat, but that also means that the source files are meshes - there are no STEPs. Until now!

Several community members have taken it upon themselves to convert the M1337 into STEPs. This is not as simple as running it through a converter - often it involves partially or even fully entirely re-modeling the part. It’s a lot of work, and the devs involved are doing it for free.

Nopel has created a page on his website to collect these converted parts, so that everyone can benefit. A large number have already been modeled, and the page includes a form for you to submit your own re-modeled parts to add to the list.

Fantastic work guys!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Twitch V3.0 - Reset Trigger for MPA Defender

So we’ve got Mac reset triggers, but for the most part, these are only for PCC-style Macs using AR FCGs. But the people (i.e. me) want to reset trigger a pistol Mac (i.e. a Mac that Looks Like Mac™)!

Developer Toadlicker556 comes to the rescue with his Twitch v3.0, a reset trigger design for the MPA Defender. In his notes he claims that this enables a cyclic rate of 1,300 RPM - perfect for fighting in a phone booth! 2-position and 3-position versions are both available.

This is the third iteration of this beta, so it’s certainly coming along - but it’s still a beta. If you’ve got a Defender, download and help test!

DIY Your Own Smokeless Powder, With Only a Small Chance of Death

Sometimes I argue with myself about whether I should include stuff like this in the Digest. What we have here is a guide to DIYing smokeless powder, which in practice means DIYing nitroglycerine from battery acid, drain cleaner and other fun chemicals. Nitroglycerine, once synthesized, is highly unstable and can detonate simply by looking at it funny. The process of synthesis also produces caustic fumes which can kill you, or make you wish you were dead. DIY chemistry is not a joke.

And yet - there was a time where we all thought that printing your own gun was a guaranteed way to lose your fingers, or your life. There was a time where we thought that ECM byproducts would poison you. We found ways to make them acceptably safe. I believe we can do the same with stuff like this as well.

So I’ll share this information - not because I think it’s ready for prime time, but because I believe that there is at least one person out there who possesses the knowledge and skill to take the process described here, and further refine it. And that iteration, over time, will produce a process that we may someday take for granted, just as we take the concept of squirting a gun from plastic for granted today.

Are you the person who will take on this project? This is your call to action!

New Pistol Betas from UberClay

Another day, another build for bizarre and obscure pistol parts kits. Developer Uberclay has taken up the mantle for popping these out, and he’s got two new ones for us! They are:

The R345, a Recession Ruger frame that accepts the Ruger P97 and P345 models, both in .45ACP
The Stoeger STR-9, a standard (non-PCC) frame for the Stoeger STR-9 9mm

They’re both in open beta, so grab a parts kit from EGP and come help test!

Look at the sexy Peacemaker grip on that R345!

Active Reset P320???

We’re just full of great ideas today, aren’t we?

Duality Arms Co, manufacturer of the “Rapid Assist Tactical Load-Reset Trigger” for the Kriss Vector, has been working on a side project which he calls the Mamba. It’s a drop-in reset device for the (in)famous P320, allowing you to shoot your own leg at rates never before seen!

Okay, jokes aside. I think most people are coming around to the idea that the P320’s “danger” is quite overblown, and that its awful reputation is due far more to Sig’s disastrous PR strategy than its actual technical merit. A highly litigious gun company that relies on lawsuits to gain market share - where have we heard this before?

As such, a resettable P320 could actually be quite cool. What’s cooler is the fact that Duality Arms is releasing this device as a “community project” - while their company developed it in-house, they were not able to bring it to the point where they feel it’s releasable as a product. As such, they gift it to the community to iterate and play with. I think that’s fantastic! They’ve even provided a video to demonstrate installation.

If you’ve got a P320 sitting around, why not try this out? And if you don’t have one - I hear they’re pretty cheap nowadays!

Open Beta for Kel-Tec CP33

Developer WmHerrin recently reminded us that he developed a DIY FCU for the Kel-Tec CP33, and it’s in open beta, ready for your testing!

It appears that the Kel-Tec adopts a FCU chassis design that serves as the serialized firearm, similar to the P320. It’s a neat experiment, although it’s unclear how common parts kits for the CP33 are. Regardless, any DIY gun is a good DIY gun!

Reset Your UMP 11/9

We’ve got lots of UMP-related stuff in today’s issue! Starting off with this project from MSRPatton80, a modification to the UMP 11/9 to allow the use of either the RAD or the U-DIS reset devices in this build.

This is noted to be in an alpha state, and documentation notes that while it has been tested for functionality, it has not been tested for longevity. If you’ve built an UMP 11/9, print this out, give it a try and report back!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

UMP-VO Gets Detent Delay!

The UMP-VO, one of three popular UMP builds (the others being the UMP 11/9 and the UMforthePoors), is getting a remix to add detent delay functionality!

Like other detent delay mods, like the Holdup or Maelstrom, the Detent-Delayed UMP-VO appears to be using ball bearings mounted in the upper to delay the bolt. I love to see a good idea spread around!

This mod does increase the charge weight, leading developer FoapsFiles to recommend an OEM EVO charging handle for extra strength.

The video included in the Reddit post is apparently the first production test of the design - hell of a first test lol. Hopefully we’re not too far out from release!

PWC DIY Dropping Soon, in PCC and Pistol Configurations

Time for a check-in on the PWC DIY project! Last mentioned in Issue 18, this project is dedicated to creating a DIY Mac upper that, unlike other options, requires no custom trunnion. So what’s new?

Quite a lot! The standard PWC DIY, configured as a PCC, has adopted detent delay - we keep seeing that in this issue! - and appears to be quickly progressing towards open beta. Even more exciting for me, a pistol version has been developed, allowing you to create - say it with me - a Mac that Looks Like a Mac™!

I spoke with developer nightalliance about the PWMP DIY, and he told me that it will have both the same detent delay as the PWC DIY, and will have a super safe functionality! I’m in love.

Both projects are in closed beta at the moment. Can’t wait to see more updates!

Fair Deal V2 Printed S&W15-22 Mag Coming Soon

The Fair Deal, released in 2024 by GeneralCuster75, is a printable magazine for the S&W15-22. Two years later, the same developer is releasing an V2 of this design!

From his commentary, the V2 will address several issues that could manifest in the original V1, including “rimlock, double feeding, nose diving cartridges, binding followers, and aesthetics.”

It sounds like actual CAD work is complete and the remaining work involves documentation and media. Expected release date is August 3rd - just a few days away from when this newsletter drops!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

FossMG9 Voted as Next Design for World of Guns

Well that was fast! Back in Issue 27 we reported that the FossMG9 was put on the ballot for the popular gun-building game World of Guns.

We solicited for votes, and you answered! It very quickly rocketed to the top of the ballot, and has now been officially selected for inclusion in the game. Incredible!

The next steps are for the WOG team to model and animate the design, so it isn’t going to drop in immediately, but it won’t be long now. Stay tuned!

Polymaker Releases HT-PLA Pro

If you’re even tangentially present in online 3D2A spaces you’ve likely heard this news already - Polymaker, the preferred 3D2A-friendly filament manufacturer, has launched a new PLA formula called “HT-PLA Pro.” Why’s everyone so excited? Because this new filament advertises significant improvements over normal PLA Pro!

The two numbers everyone is noting is 2x impact strength and heat resistance up to 150C. What do these claims actually mean, and can they be trusted?

Examining the TDS’ for PLA Pro and HT-PLA Pro reveal interesting numbers. Regarding strength - across many tests, these two filaments appear to be in the neighborhood, but the Charpy test for impact resistance shows that HT-PLA Pro is significantly worse than PLA Pro.

How does this square with the marketing claim? Polymaker’s launch video goes into detail about their tests, and claims that the “better impact strength” claim comes from a combination of real-world impact factors which the individual Charpy test doesn’t represent. The TDS and related marketing also notes that the mechanical properties improve dramatically after annealing at 100C for 30 minutes.

As for temperature resistance, the 150C claim may come from the “Vicat softening temp” number, which tests when a plastic begins to soften to a sufficient degree that may cause warping, bending or sagging. Standard PLA Pro has a Vicat softening temp of less than half of HT-PLA Pro.

Discussion abounds on what to make of this new filament. If it works as claimed, then we’re getting a material near the cost of PLA Pro, as easy to print, with similar (or better?) mechanical properties and far more heat resistance. That’s exciting!

But only time will tell if the claims hold true. We’ll keep an eye on real-world test results as they roll in.

Commercial Corner:

This ever-changing section focuses on a particular subject of interest. Today’s focus are some new product options from our friends in the community! Go check them out!

Maelstrom Pro Delayed Blowback Mac-11 Uppers Released!

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Long awaited and teased, our friends at Riptide Rails have launched their Maelstrom Pro series of Mac-11 uppers! They’re sleek, they’re sexy, but most importantly they introduce a detent-delayed blowback function!

This delay function is provided solely by the upper itself - the Mac bolt (not included) requires no modification to function in delayed mode. Very cool!

Beyond this cool functionality, the Maelstrom Pro series offers several other upgrades compared to a traditional Mac upper. Maelstroms are monolithic, milled from a single block of metal instead of produced via bent sheet steel. They offer a continuous pic rail and a folding, non-reciprocating charging handle.

Two options are available: a 5.5” version and an 8” version. Both appear to be out of stock at time of writing - I think they sold fast when they were dropped. Join the waitlist to grab them when they come back in stock!

Mid State Firearms Relaunches Breek Castle Muzzle Device

The Breek Castle Blast Shield by Breek Arms was and is the recommended method for mounting a FTN suppressor to a barrel - this is the case in the FTN3, FTN4 and FTN5.

This is a two part system: a muzzle device threads onto your barrel’s threading and provides a 13/16 threaded mount point, and the “Castle Blast Shield” screws onto the 13/16 threads. The FTN uses this by embedding the Blast Shield into the suppressor, creating a very secure metal-on-metal mounting system.

Bad news: Breek Arms discontinued these parts in 2025. Good news: Mid State Firearms has relaunched the product, making this excellent mounting system available again!

Remember that you’ll need to get both a mounting device compatible with your barrel and the Blast Shield itself. Grab one and go build a suppressor!

Quartermaster Arms Offers Engraved FTN Washers

Speaking of FTN suppressors - the $0 tax stamp has created a significant demand for products related to serialization, and many businesses are pivoting to fulfill this demand.

One such business is community member and FFL/SOT Quartermaster Arms, who reached out to the Digest to let us know he is selling laser-engraved washers for FTN suppressors! Price is $20 per washer.

He’s located in Virginia and ships nationwide. If you’re looking to serialize your FTN in this manner, consider hitting him up!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue #29: .22LR Beltfed Enters Beta, DIY Tommy Gun, BLC Pistols, Glock Survey

Alyosha K. — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:27:11 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In today’s issue:

New Releases:

Community Corner:

Take the 2026 DIY Glock-Style Survey!

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

BLC Saturday Night Special Extravaganza

The fine folks at Black Lotus Coalition have been busy beavers! On 4th of July they released not one, not two, but four different printable pistol frames to help you reactivate cheapo parts kits. The frames are:

The Lurkin L380, a frame for Lorcin L380 parts kits, developed by FreedomWare
The Jedi 22, a frame for Jennings 22 parts kits, developed by Here2printeverything
The Raven MP25, a frame for the gun of the same name. They claim development was initiated by Frytech but confusingly I see no magnets.
The Mini Deagle, a frame for Phoenix Arms HP22 / HP25 kits and styled after the Desert Eagle. Development by Miami4quad

At times I’ve poked fun at the tendency of guncad devs to want to create frames for every pot metal pistol under the sun. It was pointed out some time ago to me however that these projects help arm people who may not otherwise be able to afford higher quality designs - and further, these are also excellent first projects for up-and-coming guncad devs.

As such, while you may hear sarcasm when I discuss these frames, you won’t hear condemnation. Let’s keep them coming boys!

CETME-C / G3 Collection from Kaewon

An underappreciated / underdiscussed aspect of 3D2A is printing tooling to facilitate creating guns in a more traditional manner. An example might be using a printed jig to help mark parts to cut out of a Sten tube; another example would be jigs that help you with bending and welding CETME / G3 flats.

This collection from Kaewon pulls together several different CETME / G3 related projects - not just bending and welding jigs, but also several pieces of printed furniture, and even a tutorial from WeaponsGuild. Some of these have been remixed by Kaewon.

Want to get into more flat bending projects? PrintYour2A has tooling to help you bend an AK flat!

MMMIIT - New DIY Housing for Analog NVG Tube

Fresh from DecimalDot comes the first DIY NVG project I’ve seen for a while! Many previous DIY NVGs like the BPNVG have used digital image intensifiers, but the MMMIIT uses an analog Mx9644 tube!

The actual project here is a printed housing for these tubes, with options for an integrated vs. external battery pack, plus different mounting options (helmet, tripod, etc.) There’s an option for every use case!

A quick search reveals that these tubes can be found for $300 - $400, which is pretty affordable for an analog tube. Another fine resource!

Community Corner:

Take the 2026 DIY Glock-Style Survey!

3D2A.com is running a survey on printed Glock-style handguns, and we’d like you to participate! Have you ever printed a Glock-style handgun? If so, fill out our survey!

This survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. We’re curious about which designs you have built, and what your experience was with building them.

All submissions will be entered for a chance to win one of ten discount codes for 3D2A.com. Multiple submissions are accepted, one per build, so prolific builders are encouraged to enter!

Help us learn more about the community’s experience with these DIY handguns. Take the survey today!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

TP Lever Action AR Gets Full Length Handguard

I’m not ashamed to admit it - I like full length handguards. Seeing even an inch of bare barrel sticking out sends me into a fit of rage. The SMLE is one of my favorite WW1 rifles for this reason.

As such, I never really loved the sporterized look of the original TP Lever Action AR (whose original name is trademarked by Q LLC, yow!). To the rescue comes AvieAtrix, original dev of the TP, with a full length handguard (well, almost full, I still see barrel!)

This design also removes the fixed iron sights and extends a pic rail all the way across the top. Sexy! It’s on my printer as we speak.

C96 Dysfunction 15mm Launcher from Sticky

Speaking of WW1 guns, here’s a pretty little remix from developer Sticky of the Projectile Dysfunction. It’s called the C96 Dysfunction, and as you can see it mimics the aesthetic and broomhandle grip of the famous Mauser C96.

I support anything that reminds me of the C96 (well, almost anything). Does anyone dare create a printable clone of the actual C96, or do I have to do it myself?

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

BFG22: Fully DIY .22LR Beltfed Enters Public Beta

This is a really big one boys! We’ve previewed the BFG22 from developer Tinker2A before, and I am now happy to announce that it has entered public beta!

This is the first public look we’re getting at the build, and there’s much to tell. It’s fully DIY, utilizing a fully DIY bolt, fully printed feed system, even printed disintegrating belt links. The only gun parts are an AR FCG and a .22LR barrel liner.

It’s a beltfed so of course it is FRT capable! This is enabled by a super safety with a custom lever. The SS is optional, but why wouldn’t you want one?

Again, this is available now as an open beta. Even better, kits are available from yours truly :)

This beta is one of the best I’ve been part of for some time - many of the greatest devs from BLC are there. Come join us!

PH4NTOM DIY .22LR Enters Open Beta

I guess our appeal in Issue 27 worked, because the PH4NTOM fully DIY .22LR rifle from stillhaze is now in open beta! It’s a semiauto rifle and from the pics I can see that the only gun parts appear to be an AR FCG and a barrel liner.

It’s interesting how fully DIY .22LRs are almost commonplace nowadays, but that shouldn’t detract whatsoever from their notability.

It’s a cool looking gun, so if you like it, go join the beta!

Airsoft M203 37mm Conversion

It’s interesting that despite the obvious popularity of the M203 launcher, nobody has yet released a 37mm launcher that works quite like it. Plenty of break actions and swing-opens, but no telescoping / pump action for loading. Perhaps there is something fundamentally difficult about DIYing such a design.

Enter developer EHZ with his M203 project, which tackles this problem by starting with an airsoft version of the M203 and modifying it to fire 37mm shells. This requires a variety of SCS parts and some surplus parts from real M203s (some optional, other required).

I like this approach! Unfortunately this project is not “complete”, which is why I’m listing it as a beta - as EHZ notes, there are gaps in the documentation. He’s releasing it to encourage others to take up the baton. Surely there’s some launcher bros who would want to see a DIY M203 become a reality!

Stallion Thigh - Lever Action

Lever-action is the new hotness in 2026 - first the TP Lever Action AR, now the Stallion Thigh.

As described by developer Chev, this build uses a modified Biden’s Bane upper and Monopoly lower, the latter of which is adapted to install a lever. Like the TP, the bolt for build is an AR bolt head riding in a printed carrier, a modified version of the Dissent BCG.

It’s not clear the degree to which any of this is tested - the dev says he can’t test where he lives. Print accordingly.

This might be the most l-lewd thumbnail we’ve ever published on the Digest. Ara ara~

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

DIY Thompson from Black Lotus Coalition

The Thompson submachine gun. It’s one of the most famous SMGs ever built. And soon, thanks to Black Lotus Coalition and developer BAM76, you can build one of your own!

Announced recently on /r/3D2A, the first prototype has been built and, as the video demonstrates, successfully fires with an FRT. The demo piece is chambered in 9mm and uses an AR9 barrel, but plans are to upgrade it to .45ACP, as God and Gen. Thompson intended.

Let’s talk about the bolt. The current prototype design uses a CNC’d bolt, and it is likely that the released version will support this as well. But we are 3D2A and we do DIY here, so a DIY bolt is in the works as well! This bolt will use a combination of printed parts and SCS parts.

This will beta at BLC, so join up there if you haven’t already to be prepped for the beta to open. This will absolutely be huge once it releases - can’t wait!

Champi .380 Fully DIY PCC Proceeds

We’ve mentioned this one before as well, but it has a name now and some proof of life - it’s the Champi .380ACP! Apparently “Champi” is Quechua for “Mace”, which is badass.

Developer Admirable_Scholar_36 has showed off some new media and a demonstration of the FCG. Always good to get updates on projects like this!

Seraph AR Pistol Firing .300BLK

One of the best parts of guncad is watching a good idea get introduced and then adopted by others. Case in point: the “bolt sled” technique used in the Marsupial and Quokka to convert an AR-15 bolt to bufferless operation.

This technique is powering the Seraph by developer Cap’n Cuck, producing a beautifully Bolter-esque AR pistol. And yes, that’s .300BLK it’s firing!

Commentary from the developer himself notes that, while there is no hard release date as of yet, he expects that it will be coming sooner rather than later. Keep your eyes peeled!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

SPECIAL ISSUE: Independence Day 2026 Sales

Alyosha K. — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:24:47 GMT

3D2A’s favorite holiday is here again, and with it, holiday sales! Many of the vendors supporting the DIY gun community are offering fantastic sales this holiday weekend. The Guncad Digest has gathered these sales into this special issue for your convenience.

This list consists of trusted vendors who responded to my inquiries about their sales. If you know of sales that should be on here, please reach out!

This list will update throughout the sale week.

Sale List:

3D2A.com:

17.76% Off Different Kits Each Day
17.76% Off Launchers, 50% Off Launcher Build Course
Other Sales Sitewide!

Starting off with a bang - we’re going all out this year for Independence Day. The main feature of our sale will be Daily Deals, where for each day we’ll be marking down one of our most popular kits by an eye-popping 17.76%. See below for the sale schedule:

We want to really promote signal launchers for this sale, and so we’ll be doing a 17.76% discount on all signal launchers.

More excitingly, we recently released a Launcher Build Class to teach you everything you need to know about building launchers and loading your own rounds. We’ve discounted that by 50% for this sale!

Aside from these doorbusters, every other kit on our site is also discounted for this sale. The 250th anniversary only comes once, so we’re going all out!

Sale Highlights:

M1337 Complete Kit - we’re restocking these for the sale, and they will be our July 4th Daily Deal. This will be the absolute best price for a M1337 Gatling Gun ever - don’t miss it!
Geneva Breacher / DannyMeatball Pump n’ Dump / PEN15: we’ve got a launcher for each caliber, and they’re all marked down by 17.76%. Take this opportunity to build your first launcher at a premium price! Sign up for the Launcher Build Class to ensure your build goes smoothly!
TP Lever Action AR: we’ve got all our other kits marked down for the sale too. The TP is perhaps the most popular kit of 2026, and they always sell out fast - grab one while stocks last!

FTW Arms:

20% Off Sitewide w/ Code FREEDOM250

The boys at FTW Arms - formerly Print-A-22 - have, in collaboration with major 3D suppressor devs, engineered a suppressor designed from the ground up to be printed in PPA-CF, and are selling it for a highly affordable price.

They’re also continuing to support several of the .22LR kits from their Print-A-22 days. They were and remain the go-to supplier of .22LR kits!

For Independence Day they are offering a 20% discount sitewide, likely the best deal you’ll ever get on one of their suppressors. Use code FREEDOM250 and grab one while they last!

Sale Highlights:

FTW OG Suppressor: FTW’s premiere product is their printed .22LR suppressor, designed in collaboration with the FTN’s developer and utilizing a hybrid reinforced design. This suppressor offers commercial performance at a fraction of the price.
Yippee Ki Yay Hardware Kit: one of the most interesting and popular .22LR kits available, the Yippee Ki Yay is a fully DIY .22LR MP5 by Kaewon. FTW’s kit provides everything you need to build out the design, and several different configurations are available!
.22LR Chambered Barrel Liner: virtually every fully DIY .22LR design uses a .22LR barrel liner, which requires cutting and chambering. It’s easy to mess this up - let FTW do it for you! They offer chambered liners in a wide variety of lengths for any design.

Middleton Made:

Mac n’ Cheese v3.1 Launch
Code “GunCADSavesBucks” to Save 15% Off Sitewide*!

Middleton Made continues to be one of the finest gentlemen in 3D2A, pushing the bar with the highest quality designs for popular platforms such as the Mac and the TX22.

This year for the 4th he’s doing a 15% off sale on all first party products! The sale is live now, use code GunCADSavesBucks to get the discount. This is a special code just for Digest readers - thanks Middleton!

* Code will exclude partnered items

Sale Highlights:

Mac 11 SLS Double Feed Jigs: dual-feed Macs are all becoming the next big thing - several platforms, including the upcoming Mac n’ Cheese v3.1, will support dual feed mags like MP5 and Evo. Middleton developed some jigs to help you cut your OEM upper to fit these mags, and he’s offering high quality SLS prints of those jigs. Did you know they allow you to cut your upper to support the Yeet Sheet as well?
TX22 “Jelly Filling” Slide Insert: the TX22 is easily FRT’d and is chambered in super cheap .22LR, making it a highly popular handgun for magdumps. But too many magdumps will wear down certain parts of your gun. What do? These “Jelly Filling” inserts can be installed to hold replaceable metal wear surfaces. Just drop it in and run!
D2 Push Button Super Safety Kit: you know what this is. It’s made in D2 tool steel, which will keep you magdumping for some time.

Riptide Rails:

20% Off July 3rd - 5th

Riptide Rails is my favorite rail vendor, and they do far more than just FMDA rails. They also have a host of machined Nylaug parts, and are increasingly supporting Mac parts too. For Independence Day they are doing a sitewide sale, 20% off from July 3rd - 5th. Grab some goods while supplies last!

Sale Highlights:

DD17.2 Rail Kit w/ Locking Block: obviously I’m going to feature Riptide’s primary product! I chose the 17.2, but of course he offers 19.2, 26.2, 43.1 and all other FMDA rails you might want. All are on sale!
Nylaug Machined Picatinny Rail: this is a machined pic rail that you can install on your Nylaug’s printed receiver! This opens up a world of upgrades for your Nylaug, including Riptide’s own CQC Handguard!
Riptide Charging Handle: a custom-machined charging handle usable on both the Triton-9 and the Ark. The original handles for the Ark were weird commercial items that aren’t really available any longer - Riptide came through with his replacement!

Parts Dispensed

17.76% Off Sitewide

The boys at Parts Dispensed have long sold a wide variety of parts kits great and small. They continue to support many of the older designs - never forget your heritage! They’ve got a familiar discount, 17.76% off sitewide - applied automatically at cart! Go snag something and get building.

Sale Highlights:

Triton-9 Parts Kit: the Triton-9 might be thought of as a commercial FGC-9, taking the form factor and aesthetics while replacing the troublesome bolt with a commercial equivalent. PD’s kit will give you all the standard hardware at an affordable price!
Marsupial Mk18 Parts Kit: I believe the Marsupial was the first DIY bufferless AR upper, utilizing a custom sled design that rides on top of the bolt. Parts Dispensed’s kit provides the SCS parts you’ll need for that sled and all other parts as well.
Orca Complete Build Kit: the Orca is remains the classic example of a mostly-DIY AR-15. Grab this complete kit and build your own!

Pembleton and Sons

25% Off Sitewide

If Thompson was a gonzo journalist, Pembie is a gonzo guncad dev. He’s responsible for several of the most wild reset triggers out there, and he continues to defy the haters by refusing to quit. What a guy! For the 4th he’s doing 25% off sitewide, by far the deepest discount of the lot.

Sale Highlights:

PEMBIE-5: his most recent release, the PEMBIE-5 is a drop-in cassette for your OEM MP5 lower that allows the installation of a super safety. No need to print your own lower, now you can just drop and go!
GSPOT Active Reset Trigger: I hear people have trouble finding this. Couldn’t be me, but if you have, here it is! Make your Glock shoot fast with this CNC’d trigger kit.
Dillinger 1911/2011 FRT: we’re FRTing guns that I never thought possible. When I saw this on the front page I knew I had to feature it. Buy this and rip through 7+1 with ease!

DB Designworks:

17.76% Off Sitewide - Use Code JULY4!

DB Firearms is one of the OG guncad developers and I’m happy to see him doing a sale! This one’s nice and straightforward, 17.76% off all hardware kits. Use JULY4 at checkout to get the discount!

Sale Highlights:

DB9 Alloy Hardware Kit: obviously we must feature DB’s most famous design! The DB Alloy is one of the most widely recommended Mac builds out there, and now you can get a hardware kit for it at a discount.
Triton-9 Hardware Kit: the Triton-9 is a 9mm PCC built around a machined Riptide bolt. DB will sell you a hardware kit consisting of all the nuts and bolts required to go with the design!
Daedalus Hardware Kit: they made the meme real! Show off your bullpup Glock with one of DB’s hardware kits.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

This issue was compiled and authored by Alyosha from 3D Print Freedom / 3D2A. We sell high quality parts kits for some of the best DIY guns available - if you’re looking for your next gun build, come check us out!

Issue 28: Mac n' Cheese v3.1, AWCY Printable HiPoint, Black Lotus Betas, Virginia Law Injunction

Alyosha K. — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:20:48 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Domain

New Releases:

Black Lotus Corner:

BLC Betas On the March
Black Lotus Discord Returns

Updates:

2011Maxxing Now Supports More Magazines

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Virginia Enjoined from Enforcing Gun Bans

Other Links

New Domain:

Did you notice? I finally got around to getting a proper domain! Our official URL is now https://guncaddigest.com.

The old https://guncad.substack.com URL will continue to work, but now when you recommend the Digest to your friends, it’s not as much of a mouthful.

You are recommending us to everyone you know, aren’t you?

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

EBT-9 / 380 Releases - Printable Hi-Point for Modern 3D2A

Those who know their guncad history know that one of the earliest popular printed guns was the LoPoint, released by Gatalog back when they went by Deterrence Dispensed. That release did a lot of things - it drew attention to the hobby, it generated lots of discussion and memes. One thing it didn’t do is function very well, but it was a different time, prior to modern release standards, and this can be forgiven.

Nearly seven years later, AWCY has finally given 3D2A a printed HiPoint that runs well - surprisingly well, actually, perhaps better than the original HiPoint itself! It’s the EBT-9/380 and it’s ready for download today. As the name implies, the included frames are compatible with both 9mm and .380ACP HiPoint parts kits.

These parts kits are notorious for being most easily found at EveryGunPart, who in turn source them from evidence lockers. Your EBT will have a pedigree! They’re insanely affordable, often less than $100.

I genuinely hope to see people build some of these and run them in competition. I actually think an EBT-9 could be competitive at your local steel match. Anyone who does so, make sure to send me videos of your run!

Proof1447 Releases DIY Bipod

Every so often developer Proof1447, creator of the famous P.R.O.O.F. airgun and the Defiance Lower, pops his head up to drop some cool shit. The latest example of this is the RandT DIY Bipod.

There are surprisingly few DIY bipods floating around, so Proof’s design is a welcome addition! It uses a dead simple set of hardware - a few screws and some elastic cord. It’s low profile, low weight, and won’t get in the way.

There’s only one problem - no documentation on how to build the damn thing. You’re better than this, Proof! It’s not too hard to figure out fortunately - the elastic cord is run through the leg holes in the base, each end of the cord is run down the two legs, out the holes in the middle of the legs, and the ends are tied together. This photo helps show how it’s tied:

When stowed, the legs slot into an MLOK rail to help store it in place. Nifty!

Sten Eleven Side-Feeding Mac Releases!

We teased it several times, and now the Sten Eleven from SkeleTim Productions is released! As you can see, it’s a side-feeding build that uses a Mac bolt and an AR fire control group. How does the Mac bolt feed from the side? By turning the bolt 90 degrees!

Notice also how casually SkeleTim drops a release using a Mac bolt in a fully DIY upper. There was a time where entire projects were dedicated to DIYing a Mac upper, and now it’s become almost commonplace - but no less remarkable!

Between the Decker and the Sten Eleven, we’re seeing a side-feeding renaissance. This is a good thing. We need more sideloaders in the world!

CVABuck Releases Serializable Frame / Receiver Collection

Bad stuff has been happening in Virginia. In April they passed a law requiring serialization of DIY firearms, and in May they more famously passed a law banning “assault firearms.”

The latter law has an effective date of July 1st. In response to this, CVABuck released this Emergency File Drop in an attempt to help as many Virginians as possible grandfather in printed frames before the deadline.

Inside the pack are a variety of frames and receivers that may be considered “assault firearms” under the Virginia law, along with DXFs for serialization plates and negative models to help embed the plates in the frames prior to printing. Buck includes instructions on how to handle the serialization process.

The good news is that, after releasing his pack, Virginia was enjoined from enforcing the “assault firearm” ban - see our news section for more details! That said, as best I can tell, they are not enjoined from enforcing the serialization requirement - that is still in effect.

As such, this pack is a useful resource for Virginians, and for anyone else in a state with serialization requirements. At some point I’ll do a philosophical dive into the concept of complying with serialization laws - for now I’ll simply thank Buck for his work.

Double Barrel Projectile Dysfunction Launches

Two barrels are better than one! Just in time for Independence Day, now you can double your 15mm launching capacity with the Double Dysfunction from Sticky.

As you can see it’s pretty much two Projectile Dysfunctions pasted together - two charging handles, two independent triggers, etc. This means you can fire each barrel independently, or you can be a real man and pull both triggers at once!

Black Lotus Corner:

Black Lotus Coalition has been very busy lately - so busy that it’s worth dedicating a corner of the Digest just to their activities alone. I believe that this is where much of the most interesting work in 3D2A is being performed - read this section, and then join BLC if you haven’t already!

BLC Betas On the March

ModeratorGage has been a busy boy lately! As part of BLC’s return to public activity, Gage has been promoting all of their active betas. This is a good opportunity to review some of my favorites:

The Dirte Dozen, a fully DIY, break action double-barrel shotgun. Fully DIY means fully DIY - this build contains zero firearms parts!
The XMTD-21, another fully DIY design, even more so than the Dirte Dozen, because it uses DIY ammunition! This is a single-shot gun loaded using a trapdoor mechanism, firing a DIY flechette round, loaded with black powder.

This design disappeared for a while, I’m very happy to see it back on track. All it needs to release is testers!
The Nutty Hoe, a project to DIY a Harlot .22LR barrel using large hex bolt. This replaces the barrel liner in the Harlot, making it truly (say it with me) fully DIY! Components of the project include tooling to help drill the bolt, and to ECM rifling and chamber it for .22LR.
The Harlot Modular Rifle System (HMRS), continuing the Harlot theme. This project converts the derringer-style Harlot to larger centerfire calibers, including .380ACP and 9mm, and supports this by converting the tiny frame into a larger, modular rifle style.

I love seeing an idea get expanded in as many interesting directions as possible.
The Carl Gustaf, an 84mm recoilless launcher firing either fully printed or hybrid metal projectiles. An extremely cool experiment into just how far we can push 3D2A. This is a Form 1 design, which has limited testing - any readers willing to get the right licenses to test, check in!
The 3D Printed Beltfed, which we’ve reported on many times before as one of the most exciting projects in guncad. It’s still under development, and it’s reached a point where it is running - we just need testers to drive it towards release!

This isn’t even all of the cool projects BLC has been working on. There’s plenty more that have been promoted lately, with even more to come.

Summer is here, so if you’re looking for a summer project, you’ve got your pick of them here! Get to it!

Black Lotus Discord Returns

Black Lotus lost their Discord server back during the Great Discord Purge. Don’t tell anyone, but it’s back! Currently it’s being used as an onboarding / Q&A server, with development work still taking place primarily on their Matrix.

Join up so you can keep an eye on all the interesting work that’s happening!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

2011Maxxing Now Supports More Magazines

Back at the beginning of June, the long-awaited 2011Maxxing from nightalliance released - but only for one of its three planned magazines! Worry not - nighalliance has now released the other two magazine models, so you can 2011max to your heart’s content.

The first newly released model, pictured above, uses Para mags. The other, pictured below, uses STI Staccato mags. Both support 9mm and .45ACP build kits!

With the release, nighalliance finally achieves a goal that the 3D2A community has been pursuing since almost the beginning - a functioning, well-tested, well-documented 1911 / 2011 build. It took a lot of attempts to get here, and this release no doubt stands on the shoulders of giants - still, major congrats to nighalliance for accomplishment!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

MiddletonMade Releases Mac n’ Cheese v3.1 Beta!

The Mac n’ Cheese from MiddletonMade has long been one of the most popular Mac-11 lowers available. Long awaited, eagerly anticipated, the next generation of this design is here! After months of internal testing, Middleton has released it as an open beta.

We’ve got plenty of exciting new things in the v3.1 beta:

Support for a wide variety of magazines, including MP5, Evo and Sten
DB Alloy-esque reinforcing side plates
Compatibility with all common commercial uppers, including Velocity and Masterpiece Arms!
An MLOK-style mount on the bottom of the receiver

Middleton has authorized me to mention a few of the exciting features still cooking for the full release, but not in this open beta. They include:

Full LRBHO support
Support for the Yeet Sheet
Additional magazine support - P320, PPS43, Glock
A grip-feed (aka “Mac that Looks Like Mac”) version - be still my heart!

Be the first kid on your block with the new Mac n’ Cheese - join the beta today!

Full Metal Czard from MPMS Enters Beta

The VZ-61 remains a perennial favorite platform to build printed PDWs on, second only to the Mac! MostlyPeacefulMachineShop contributes to its fame by dropping a beta for the Full Metal Czard, a remix of the SSSCzar!

Like the SSSCzar it is super safe; it adds on top of that several SCS reinforcement plates, a dovetail mount for the OEM wire folding stock, and an optic mount so you can miss accurately during super safe operation.

MPMS also modified the lower so it could accept, in addition to .32ACP VZ-61 surplus kits, .22LR conversion uppers, quote, “because holy fuck .32ACP is expensive.” Good move!

The design is meant to be built as an SBR, although you can avoid doing so by not installing the wire brace. But with $0 tax stamps, why wouldn’t you?

Semi-Auto 26.5mm Launcher Pre-Release from DannyMeatball

It’s always a good day when you see a DannyMeatball drop. It’s even more exciting when you see it’s a new semiauto launcher, the first 26.5mm semi since the Sm.A.L.L.S.

Temper your excitement somewhat, because this is a “pre-release.” This design has apparently been in private beta for some time, and never quite reached the point where it could be reliably built by all testers. This is perhaps not surprising given the finicky nature of semiautos.

In proper open source fashion, Danny is releasing it anyways. Successful builds have been achieved by many testers, so those interested should still try their hands at it. In the documentation, Danny recommends trying the base design and, upon encountering problems, attempting your own modifications.

I’m a fan of this approach. Better for an incomplete beta to release with provisos than die in obscurity. Who will take up the mantle of seeing this project to completion?

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

BumBata - DIY “Plumbata” Modernizes Ancient Roman Darts

Time for a history lesson! Back before God blessed us with firearms, piercing your enemies with flying metal required a bit more creativity. One clever implement is the plumbata, a dart with a large weight towards the front. This weight allows for the dart to be thrown by hand in a stable flight over very long distances, comparable to bowshot in some circumstances.

Inspired by the wisdom of the ancients, the tastefully-named ButtstufferMan is developing a modern DIY version called the BumBata. It uses a printed shaft and printed fletching, reinforced with steel rods and weighted with large fender washers.

A steel broadhead can be mounted on the tip, because this is America and you can do what you want! The Butt Stuffer claims that this design could legitimately take out a deer, and I think I believe him.

He’ll be releasing a test video, and the files, soon!

DannyMeatball Teases Miniaturized Pump n’ Dump

The DannyMeatball 26.5mm Pump n’ Dump is one of my favorite launcher designs. It’s elegant, it’s got a cool locking system, and it works. But Danny has never been the kind of guy to let a design sit unimproved.

He recently teased pics of a miniaturized version, “less than 30% the footprint of the full sized.” It boasts a collapsible stock, and replaces the pump with a straight-pull charging handle. This reduction in size apparently makes it suitable to be mounted underbarrel, which is cool!

I suspect this is being tested privately at the moment. Hopefully we’ll see a release before the year is out!

RiptideRails Teases their Delayed Blowback Maelstrom

Based engineer and vendor RiptideRails has been doing a lot of teasing on their Twitter lately, indicating that the release date for their Maelstrom delayed blowback Mac upper will be dropping very soon!

We covered this design back in Issue 23. For those who missed it, it’s a new Mac upper that should fit on most existing designs, which introduces an upper-mounted bearing delay system requiring no modifications to the underlying bolt.

July 4th is approaching - perhaps we’ll get a release on the holiday? Let’s see!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Virginia Enjoined from Enforcing Gun Bans

As described above, Virginia passed two antigun bills in recent months. SB323 bans the “manufacture, assembly, importation” or “possess[ion]” of unserialized firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, and “plastic guns”; SB749 bans “assault firearms” of any sort, along with “high” (standard) capacity magazines.

Reviewing SB323 reveals that the “plastic gun” ban is essentially a restatement of the federal UFA, banning any firearm lacking 3.7oz of detectable metal. In practice this applies to virtually no actually existing firearms, with the possible exception of Liberators and Harlots.

The bill would therefore appear to allow printed guns, so long as this gun is serialized by an FFL. That’s awful and unconstitutional, but it’s not quite as bad as sometimes presented.

SB749 however is far worse, which is why it’s attracted national attention. The bill bans AR-15s and many other commonly available semiautomatic rifles, PDWs, threaded barrels, and a whole host of other items.

The good news: on June 25th the GOA announced that Virginia was enjoined from enforcing SB749, thanks to the GOA-backed Crump v. Katz lawsuit. The text of the preliminary injunction can be found here, which notes that it will last through the end of 2026 - very good news for Virginians.

A PI is usually a sign of which way the case will ultimately go, which means that we may actually see the law get struck down. In any case, Virginians now have six more months to acquire these commonly available firearms.

To be clear, SB323 is unaffected by the injunction and remains in effect. Serialization remains a requirement for all DIY guns in the state of Virginia.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue 27: Hoffman Trigger Kicker, Stubbs MP5K, DIY Laser Sight, FOSSMG9 in World of Guns

Alyosha K. — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:05:26 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Logo

New Releases:

Cool Shit Corner:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Logo:

Our logo contest was a success! You may have already noticed the new logo, but if not, here it is in all its glory:

We got so many good submissions, but this one took the winner’s spot. I think you’ll agree, once you read the story behind it, from its designer:

I was inspired by the enormous challenge we face in 3D2A against states like New York and their surveillance. The eye is their dumb but powerful cyclops. The cursor arrow is the spear or wooden stake by which we rebel and blind them.

When they scream out, we say we are nobody!

There’s something powerful, chthonic, at work here. I feel as if the logo adopted me, and not the other way around, and it is now my duty to live up to it.

Thanks as well to everybody else who participated in the contest! All participants will be receiving a discount code as a thanks for your submission - if you sent a submission, check your inbox!

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Hoffman Does It Again - Trigger Kicker Released

Once is happenstance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times can only mean we have a bonafide genius on our hands - but we already knew that!

After being hauled into court by the vexatious Rare Breed, Hoffman does not give in but proceeds even stronger by releasing his third original Active Reset Trigger design, his simplest one yet - the Trigger Kicker.

Watch the video:

Here’s the tech specs: the Trigger Kicker is a single piece of metal that replaces your AR-15 disconnector (and disconnector spring). The current version, when installed, provides two-position functionality: safe and active reset.

It is compatible with milspec AR-15 bolts and milspec semiauto AR-15 triggers and, and none else - but Hoffman assures us that the design can be adapted to any platform, and that more versions are coming.

Of course you want one! You can buy them at Hoffman’s website, though they sell out almost instantly with every restock.

Let’s confront the obvious: this design would be very easy to clone, and at some point I expect Hoffman will release files to allow DIYing a Trigger Kicker. In the current moment however, the 3D2A community has shown true solidarity by adopting the position that nobody should clone this, that everyone should buy from Hoffman. I endorse this as well. Support Hoffman.

It cannot be overstated how masterful a stroke this release is. It performs several legal functions all at once. To list them would undermine them, so I won’t, but I invite you to reflect on the implications.

Bravo, Hoffman. Bravo.

Printed Armor Piercing Impact Grenade Releases

The prolific Munitions Group has been dropping quite a few improvised explosive designs over the last months, one of the most interesting ones is this surprisingly large javelin-style grenade.

Not javelin as in missile, javelin as in a literal spear. It’s meant to be thrown like a spear and detonate on impact. A shotgun shell is used to power the actual detonation, and you can judge the size of the thing by comparing it to the shotgun shell in the photo above.

These can also be modified to be dropped by drone. It would be highly illegal to do any of this of course (without proper licensing), but it’s not illegal to read about it, and I encourage you to do so. Knowledge is power.

LOCKJAW - Low-Profile Adjustable Stock from Skum

Developer Skum, one half of the team who released the FOSSMG9, has been dropping accessories lately, most recently the LOCKJAW stock!

The name of the game here is simplicity and low-profile. It’s small, it’s solid, it does what it needs to do, and otherwise it stays out of the way.

I like it! If you’re in need of a stock, give this one a consideration.

Black Lotus Coalition Launches New Website

Black Lotus Coalition, like the rest of the 3D2A space, has had a rough go in the last year. Their Twitter account was purged, and as was their Discord.

Despite these attacks they have not stopped developing or releasing. Mighty things are brewing at BLC. The first of them is the official relaunch of their website, and a beautiful thing it is.

The site lists provides an easy way to view all BLC projects, and to sort by whether the project is released, in beta, etc. And of course, it also provides a very easy link to join BLC.

The target audience for this website is not people already in guncad, but new people entering it. I get people all the time asking me how they can “join guncad” - this website provides the perfect starting point.

Great work gentlemen!

Cool Shit Corner:

There’s a lot of stuff that cross my desk recently that involve guns and 3D printing, but which seem to reflect personal hobbies or experimentation more than the development of a release package. To reflect that, today’s Community Corner has transformed into Cool Shit Corner, where we’ll cover these sorts of projects!

Spread Democracy With This Helldivers AR-23 Liberator

How about a nice cup of Liber-tea? I recently discovered developer BanishedBuilds, whose channel focuses on building functional replicas of guns from popular video games such as Helldivers and Apex Legends. His most recent project: an AR-23 Liberator!

The version in Banished’s video is chambered in .22LR, but he notes he is working on a version in real man’s 5.56 as well. More interesting, and covered at length in the video, is his attention to detail, including attempting to perfectly scale the gun to its in-game size!

Unfortunately Banished doesn’t plan to release his designs, but it’s still cool to see it running! Props to him for the project!

Printed Flechette Penetrates Metal Plate

Developer AndyThingsIDo has an air cannon. He also has a 3/4” aluminum plate. The next step is obvious.

His approach is to take commonly available metal items - nails, punches, drill and router bits - and sheathe them in printed fins and sabots so they can be launched from the air cannon. The engineering here comes in the design of the fins and sabots, and the selection of the metal core.

And he succeeded! The winning combination was a long 1/4” drive phillips-head impact driver bit - giving a new meaning to the term “impact bit.” It was mounted in a printed cone for stabilization, reminding us that 3D2A should involve plastic where you can, metal where you must.

Despite his victory he’s not done, continuing to fine-tune the sabots and fins. Never stop experimenting!

The Flintglock

3D2A has produced true marvels of engineering, true works of art. And then there’s this thing.

The Flintglock is a marriage of old and new. It apparently started as a Traditions Flintlock kit, which provided the barrel and action, but instead of a wooden “stock”, developer Vulpinaut modified a Glock 17 printed frame to mount and hold these items. And then he put a Chinesium red dot and flashlight on it.

And yes, it works.

I always try to find the bright side in things. Truth be told I’ve long thought that we should see attempts at DIY flintlock or percussion lock firearms, as an experiment if nothing else. This isn’t quite that, but it reminds us of this possibility!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Stubbs SMP5K Enters Beta!

After months of teasing on X by Stubbs, the SMP5K has entered beta! This is Stubbs’ remix of the Yippee-Ki-Yay by Kaewon, the major difference being that Stubbs’ version uses a CMMG bolt instead of a fully DIY one (aww) which makes it far easier to introduce forced reset functionality (yay!)

Unlike the YKY, the current SMP5K beta, as its name implies, only supports the “K” variant currently. That said, Stubbs being Stubbs, the beta package comes with a plethora of recreated obscure furniture and features, so you truly can build your SMP5K as you see fit!

I’m happy to report that I’m in this beta personally. Can’t wait to share my progress as it develops! I’ll keep you posted.

PH4NT0M Needs Devs, Testers!

More video game guns! The PH4NT0M by developer stillhazey is a fully DIY .22LR semiauto rifle, based on a gun of the same name from the game Valorant. It’s working, but stillhazey wants to refine the exterior and is seeking help to do so.

Any devs / Valorant fans out there who wants to try their hand, hit up the dev and help bring this to release!

G17 Pillager Enters Beta

When we last heard from the Pillager, this chassis - originally developed for the TX22 - was adapted for use with the G19. Its adaptations continue with a new beta for the G17 (and 34!)

Developer Ballistic3DSolutions notes that this is entering into beta without extensive alpha testing, but given that the Pillager is twice proven it likely doesn’t require quite as much testing as a totally fresh design.

The Pillager may be the modern Invader - and now that I think of it, perhaps that’s where the name comes from!

Stience 24 Bigpack Brings New DIY Derringer!

We first encountered the Stience design back in Issue 7 at which time we declared it an interesting little fully DIY handgun. Its developer HeavyRainBuilds has continued iterating on it since its first release, and has now put together what he calls his Stience Bigpack.

Originally supporting only DIY ammo in the form of a “12ga liner” (see the Issue 7 writeup for details), the Bigpack begins to introduce a more traditional barrel to support .22LR liners. This brings the design into territory to compete with the Harlot - or Gambino!

I’ll never say no to new DIY derringer designs, and from the sounds of it yet more versions are coming from the developer. Keep it up!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

9V Broke Laser - DIY Laser Sight

Ever wonder why you can get a basic laser pointer off Amazon for a few bucks, but a handgun laser often costs half a benjamin? Developer thewayoftoday wondered this too, and the result was his 9V Broke Laser project!

The concept is pretty simple - mount the laser pointer guts inside the printed chassis, solder in a resistor and switch, attach a battery, and you have Laser At Home!

As is often the case, this design could have been made by anyone in the past several years, yet it took thewayoftoday to step up and actually do it. Great work! Looking forward to seeing it set sail.

MinimAR - Bolt Action Lightweight AR-15

Developer BKO2 has been a busy boy! Among the many projects he’s working on, the MinimAR stood out to me as what appears to me to be an attempt to make the most minimal functioning AR platform possible.

In doing so he has converted it to a single shot design, apparently with no magazine, meaning rounds must be loaded into the breech - very historic! Early in development it used a straight pull bolt, now apparently switched to a more “traditional” rotating bolt.

The AR platform is endlessly versatile, powering everything from breechloaders to beltfeds. I love it!

Binary Mac From “Cheesyparts”

Developer Cheesyparts, formerly known as chuckycheesetouchedme (wonder why he changed it) has been working on a mod to his Popillia Mac-11 frame, called the Fromage Deux. Aside from being a Mac That Looks Like A Mac™, this design is special because it supports binary trigger operation, which Cheesyparts has neva been done before!

It’s going out to private beta testers now. I’m excited to see how it goes!

While researching this item I learned that Cheesyparts has a website where you can buy parts for his builds. Go check it out and throw him some love!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

New York Bans Printing

Back in Issue 20 we covered the full-court press by blue states against 3D2A. Some of the bills mentioned in that issue have since died, but some have passed, most notably New York’s S. 9005 / A. 10005. This bill does three things relevant to us:

#1: Mandates the installation of censorware on all machines capable of additive and subtractive manufacturing - all machines. Not just 3D printers but CNC mills, CNC lathes, wire EDM machines, etc.
#2: Copies Washington and California by criminalizing the possession and distribution of 3D printed gun files.
#3: Expands language around banning the sale of firearms components into New York

What does the mandated censorware actually do? We don’t know! The bill was passed without the technology actually existing, instead providing a rough description of “something that blocks people from making guns” and ordering the creation of a working group to define standards that putative software should meet. Until that group provides their report, we won’t know how they plan to technically enforce the ban.

The inimitable LoyalMoses breaks it down, and it’s worth watching:

This bill is obviously bad and I’m not going to pretend it’s not. But I’m also not going to throw up my hands and farm fearclicks just yet. This is for two reasons:

No matter what the working group recommends, the technology won’t stop people who are determined to make a gun. This is technologically impossible. As we’ve seen since time immemorial, laws of this nature only encourage the development of clever workarounds.
The purpose of this law, like all laws, is narrative. The goal is to dispirit you, and there’s a sense in which Moses’ video is precisely what New York wants to see. The idea isn’t that you can ignore the narrative and the law will go away - it won’t. But by accepting the New York frame, you accomplish at least half of New York’s goal for them. And you simply don’t need to do that.

As such, for now the move is to wait and see what the working group comes out with. Stand by for more.

Rare Breed Files Lawsuit Over Kabuto

However much you thought you hated Rare Breed, it’s not enough. At the beginning of June they filed yet another intellectual property lawsuit against a reset trigger merchant, this time against a company called 144.1 Recoil Systems.

As per the usual they claim the Super Safety violates their patents, but for the first time that I’ve seen are now making the same claim about the Kabuto reset trigger. Does it violate their patents? Does the Super Safety? Are patents valid? Is intellectual property real? That’s for the judge to decide.

Case number is 5:26-cv-00156-AW-MJF if you want to check it out. Keep an eye out, and make sure you make backup copies.

World of Guns Puts FOSSMG9 To Vote!

I expect that many of my readers will have played World of Guns before, but for those who haven’t, it’s a simulation game that allows you to disassemble, assemble, and simulate operation of a tremendous number of firearms. It’s a great way to learn how guns work, and I actually find it quite relaxing!

Up until now they’ve stuck to commercial firearms, but I am overjoyed to announce that they are branching into 3D2A by adding the FOSSMG9 to the game!

Well, it’s not added quite yet :) New guns are added to the game through a voting process. The highest voted guns get added sooner. That said: the FOSSMG9 was listed at the beginning of June, and it’s already shot to the top of the vote list, so I expect it will be one of the next designs added!

You should show your support for the design by voting for it as well! Voting can only be done from within the game itself, but it’s free to play on Steam, so you can install it at any time.

Seeing 3D2A designs show up in places like World of Guns is a fantastic sign for our hobby. I hope we’ll see even more designs added, and after seeing how well the FOSSMG9 is performing, that seems likely indeed!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue #26: Fully DIY .380 Pistol, Quokka-15, 4-Axis Desktop Wire EDM, Gun Maker's Match

Alyosha K. — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:24:31 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In today’s issue:

New Releases:

Updates:

DIY Kriss Vector Ejecting! Beta Coming Soon!

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Quokka-15 Releases - Simplified DIY Bufferless AR Upper

A quokka is a small, adorable marsupial, about the size of a housecat, that lives almost exclusively on a single island off the coast of western Australia. It’s also the name for Wade Robinson’s new release, the Quokka-15!

Like its predecessor, the Marsupial, the Quokka-15 is a DIY bufferless AR system, using a modified AR bolt carrier inside a printed upper. Notably, while the Marsupial required a custom lower, the Quokka-15 will fit on any milspec lower, dramatically expanding its versatility!

The design uses several laser-cut metal parts for the trunnion, bolt and charging handle. DXFs are included so you can get these made yourself, or you can order a parts kit from CipherParts!

It’s extraordinary to reflect on how a DIY AR upper, once considered a dream, is now an accepted reality. This hobby never ceases to amaze.

Maxxed and Sigpilled - 2011 Sigger Edition Releases!

After weeks and weeks of teasing, the printed 2011 from Nightalliance is here! USPSA shooters everywhere, rejoice!

This is actually the first of several planned releases for this project, with each one supporting a different magazine. This is the Sigger edition, because it supports the P320 mag - Para Ordnance and Dawson 2011 mags will also be supported. For those two, the frame will support both 9mm and 45ACP versions, but poor Siggers only get the 9mm option.

Other required parts for the build are a 1911 lower parts kit, a complete 1911 slide, a 2011 trigger and some OK Boomer rails.

Go build one so you can be the coolest kid in the upcoming world war!

Fluted Chamber ECM for 9mm!

Delayed blowback is becoming more and more common in the DIY space - perhaps in light of this, developer Ju5t3nc4s3 has released a new 9mm ECM mandrel that flutes the chamber in addition to cutting the rifling!

This would seem to require chambering the barrel prior to doing the rifling, which is different from standard ECM practice. In any case, it’s an interesting take and I hope to see someone try it out!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

DIY Kriss Vector Ejecting! Beta Coming Soon!

The DIY Kriss Vector is solidly at the top of my list of designs I am excited for, and it progresses ever closer to beta! Developer EfficientRabbit7377 is back with a new update showing the design fully cycling, reporting 10 rounds in a row without a stovepipe.

It sounds like he wants to do one more revision before opening up a beta for it. I’m eagerly standing by!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

ORCBOLG - DIY .380ACP Pistol Enters Beta

I could not be more excited to announce that the ORCBOLG DIY pistol has entered open beta!

This is a fully DIY pistol, much like the SY22 (which it is based on), but with a notable difference: instead of rimfire, this is chambered in a centerfire .380ACP cartridge. This makes the ORCBOLG the very first fully DIY pistol chambered in centerfire, a serious leap forward.

It uses an ECM barrel and a piece of square steel tubing to reinforce the slide. Detailed instructions and several printable jigs and templates are included to assist with building.

I see this design as a leap forward in the same vein as the FGC-9, and its release will be just as significant. Help drive it towards release - join the beta! I’ve already started printing mine!

No Supports, No Hardware - Kabuto K15 Lower Open for Beta

Kabuto Filearms brought a fresh and innovative take to the FRT space with his Reset Assist Device. He now does the same with his newly released K15 Lower Receiver, a new AR lower design that looks quite interesting.

The design is fully printed, and I do mean fully printed - many of the commercial parts, such as the magazine catch, safety selector and safety detent are printed, not just for convenience but for necessity to match this design’s geometry.

More interestingly, the high-stress areas (buffer tower, front pivot) are also fully printed, requiring no external metal reinforcement like U-bolt or hose clamp. The plates meant to reinforce these areas are printable, and while the documentation does note that these can be made from metal, their design seems to clearly indicate that printing was not just contemplated but intended.

Several interesting design elements abound, including a slide-on grip and a trigger cassette. Also, the entire thing can be printed without supports!

The design is fascinating and I look forward to seeing people print it. Let’s see how it performs!

Double Stack Your Mac - Middleton Open Beta

The world eagerly awaits the release of the Mac ‘n Cheese v3, which I am assured is coming very soon! One of the most exciting elements of this platform will be its support for a variety of magazines, including double-feed mags. This will require an upper that differs in a few ways from the standard Mac-11 upper design, and to this end Middleton Made will be releasing a commercial upper.

That said, Middleton has also released printable jigs to help you modify your existing Mac-11 upper, if you so choose. Those who just can’t wait can print them today and get their upper ready!

Middleton wryly notes that by releasing this he’s theoretically undercutting his own profits - but in true FOSS fashion, he’s making the information available regardless. Gentlemen, support this man! He’s one of the best people in guncad.

Yeet Sheet Beta - New Mac FRT Trip from NightAlliance

Speaking of Macs! The prodigious NightAlliance has released his YeetSheet Mac trip as a beta. This trip is a thin shim, inserted between a Mac upper and lower, which interacts with an installed Super Safety to allow FRT functionality. By all appearances, this design is stouter and easier to make than previous trip designs.

You start by getting the laser cut sheet from the usual places, and then bending the two tabs to 90 degrees. You’ll need to cut your Mac upper as well - some instruction and images are provided in the release package, but not enough, and it’s likely you’ll need to check out the Matrix room for guidance.

Documentation confirms that this trip can be used on both DB Alloy SS lowers and the PWC Full Retard 9mm edition, and it will also be compatible with the Mac ‘n Cheese v3!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Betta Wire 4 Axis Desktop Wire EDM Nears Release

3D2A often focuses heavily on 3D printing, and understandably so, but it is not limited to this technology! Any tech that brings industrial manufacturing capability into the home in a way that is affordable and accessible belongs in 3D2A. This includes ECM, casting, and others - and thanks to Rack Robotics, this will soon include wire EDM!

For those unfamiliar, wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) involves cutting parts out of a block of metal using a thin wire. The wire and part are submerged in a fluid and electrified, and the wire is slowly drawn through the metal, cutting as it goes - see the video above. Using this technique, arbitrary shapes can be cut in the metal stock.

The Betta Wire is a four-axis machine that can be assembled, submerged in a tank, and programmed to perform wire EDM cuts at home. It is four axis because it can not only move the wire in the X and Y dimensions, but it can also skew / angle the wire to create angled or tapered cuts.

This allows not only SCS at home, but possibly even more than what SCS can easily provide. This is a very exciting contribution!

If you’d like to add this to your workbench, preorders are live on the Rack Robotics website. This kit contains all the metal parts required - you’ll have to print the printed parts, assemble, and dunk the whole thing in a fishtank for use.

This is extremely cutting edge stuff, and I’ll admit that it’s not for everyone. But those whom it is for will find great value in it, and will drive the technology forward. We may be on the cusp of something great here, gentlement.

Project Gargoyle - New Production Metal VZ-61 Lowers

Developer Metalhead Twink continues to stay busy with his VZ-61 work! Not satisfied with only doing a printed VZ lower, he has struck a deal with a manufacturer to make the first new-production metal VZ lowers we’ve seen since, well, ever!

Dubbed Project Gargoyle, these lowers will be compatible with standard VZ parts kits, but will use an AR-15 FCG just like the printed ones. He’s expecting them to cost a few hundred once they hit the market.

One of the most exciting things for me is when a developer is able to successfully bring a product to market. Major congratulations to Metalhead Twink, I look forward to seeing this project hit shelves!

If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It - Predator Laser Project Incoming

What the hell are you? That’s what the fudds at the range will be asking when they see this laser mounted on your gun. It uses the guts of three laser pointers to create a Predator-style laser pattern, which is way cooler than it has any right to be. It fits on standard G19 frames, but of course could be adapted to many other designs.

Developer thewayoftoday expects to have a final build ready soon, so keep a close eye out! Hopefully you see it before it sees you…

BB15 Bullpup Bufferless AR Lower Coming Soon

It’s beautiful. I’ve been staring at this picture for hours. This incredibly clean print is the BB15, shared by sistrum666 aka guttercheese!

I’m less familiar with this but from the pic and commentary around it, it’s a bullpup AR lower meant for bufferless uppers - primarily the BRN-180, but also the Foxtrot Mike FM15 and any AR upper compatible with a handful of bufferless bolts.

We are assured that this will release soon, so keep an eye out!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Gun Maker’s Match 6 Wrapped!

Easily the most important news in the last two weeks - or perhaps the entire year? - is the Gun Maker’s Match! Shot on May 16th / 17th, this was the sixth iteration of the match and it is still going strong.

The match was shot across six stages, with divisions for printed / kit pistol, PCC and rifle. Overall match winner was Pembleton - congratulations!

Another major winner of the match was the Decker 9, which took the People’s Choice award, indicating hopefully a release in the near future!

You may see a familiar sponsor in the photos below :)

If you didn’t attend, you missed out! The next Maker’s Match is already being planned for 2027 - join the email list to stay up to date on it, or watch this newsletter for announcements!

Hoffman Super Safety Lawsuit Update

We haven’t written about the Rare Breed v. Hoffman suit for a while, but that doesn’t mean it has stopped. Hoffman recently shared a video sharing his experiences in and theory of the case. Go watch it!

One of the most interesting updates is the fact that the case was moved out of Tennessee to the Eastern District of Texas, where it was merged with several other of Rare Breed’s lawsuits. As Hoffman notes, this may actually be a good thing as it gets the case away from the obviously biased Tennessee judge.

We’ve seen little action in the new Texas docket to tell us where things might be going. Merging it into a multi-district suit will slow things down considerably, but we’ll keep an eye on it nonetheless.

Rare Breed Sues Pembie

Speaking of Rare Breed: in a move that is somehow shocking and unsurprising, this company continues to terrorize the gun community by filing yet another lawsuit, this time against Pembleton and Sons.

The charges are patent infringement due to Super Safety sales, which is bad enough. Even worse is the charge that, by calling one or more of his products an “FRT”, Pembleton is infringing on Rare Breed’s trademarks.

To be clear, they are claiming ownership of the very term “FRT.”

Note how the base “FRT” trademark was not registered until March 2026, well after Pembleton launched several of his products

By my count, Rare Breed has in the last two years filed patent suits against no less than 27 different companies. It is clear that they are attempting, through patent trolling lawfare, to gain a monopoly in the FRT space. Not just a monopoly in sales, but a monopoly on ideas - they claim ownership of the very idea of an FRT.

Pembleton has opened a GoFundMe to raise money for his defense, which I gladly share.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue #25: XM5.7, New Kabuto FRT, DIY Body Armor, Belt-Fed .22LR, FTW Arms

Alyosha K. — Fri, 15 May 2026 14:52:07 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Releases:

Cyclic Corner:

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

(Good) News:

(Bad) News:

Dugan Ashley Arrested

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

XM5.7 - Printable XM8 from AWCY Releases!

Tactical Tuna incoming! In a surprise drop with almost no buildup, AWCY developer RustyShackleford777 has released the XM5.7, a printable 5.7x28mm rifle styled after the famous XM8.

Internally this design is very similar to AWCY’s 3DP90, using a fully DIY bolt consisting of a printed shell filled with a low-temp melt metal called cerrosafe, then sandwiched between laser cut steel plates. The extractor and firing pin are also made from laser cut plates, making it fully DIY yet still very easy to assemble!

The design looks incredibly cool and has a lot of configurations, most excitingly an underbarrel 37mm Nameless launcher. The release package and documentation is very well put together, as expected from AWCY.

Complete kits are available from 3D2A.com, including prepoured bolts! Let’s start seeing some fish guns at the range!

DAEDALUS: Fuck You, Bullups Your Glock

The madman actually did it! After years of memes, DB Firearms has made bullpup Glocks real. It’s called the DAEDALUS and it’s available for download now!

It uses a single-piece printable trigger / trigger bar in the front to manipulate a custom trigger shoe, providing a surprisingly effective bullpup experience. Several blast shields are included to help protect your fingies from the spicy air while firing.

Of course within a day of release, someone has already released an FRT for it. Too damn cool. Yeah, I’m probably going to build this one.

Careless Whisper - Integrally Suppressed Lever Action AR!

Shhhhhh - don’t make a sound. One Careless Whisper can cause quite a stir…

From AvieAtrix, the developer of the incredibly popular “TP” Lever Action AR design, comes the Careless Whisper! It’s an integrally suppressed version of the lever action design, featuring a total suppression length of 16”!

The actual suppressor design is taken from a the FTN4.5; instructions and guidance is provided for drilling gas ports in your barrel to increase suppression and lower velocity.

This is a Form 1 suppressor, so Americans will want to register it. Remember, loose lips sink ships!

SendCutSumac - DIY Mac Upper

Whenever I see a release from ArmThyRightHand I always get excited, because I know it’s going to be both very interesting, and very thorough. He’s got a real doozy for us today!

The SendCutSumac is best described as a complete resource for fabricating your own Mac upper from steel plates. That’s right, this is a fully DIY metal Mac upper!

ATRH provides two methods for this: bending a flat, and welding individual flats together. For the latter, he provides guidance on how to properly weld, and for the former, he provides jigs and plenty of information for how to use a press brake to bend your flat into shape.

But that’s not all! These uppers also come with optional add-ons, including a metal magwell, and a sled for FRT operation! There’s also two different versions of everything - one for an OEM-style upper, and one for a DB Alloy style.

Like the Super Swanky, this project is cool for what it produces, but it’s even cooler for the techniques it pioneers. Imagine what we could do if bended or welded flats became a widely accessible skill in guncad? Well, why shouldn’t it be?

DeCBAR-22 - Bullpup DeAR22

I’m a bit baffled by the fact that I’ve never talked about the DeAR22 in the Digest, given that it may be the most popular .22LR project out there, at least if the number of threads about it on /r/3D2A are anything to go by. It’s a rock-solid AR-22 lower with about a million remixes, so no wonder it’s so popular!

That said, the recently-released DeCBAR-22 is the first bullpup DeAR remix I’ve seen, and it looks damn cool! It’s got solid documentation and comes with easy printable templates for creating the direct linkage trigger system.

If you’re looking for a fun .22LR build without too much complexity, this is a good option!

Printable Battle Belt and Mag Carriers

Attention all IDPA gamers! Rob Leatham needs your help. His belt broke and he needs you to print him a new one!

From developer Glockenkemper comes a modular printable IPDA-style belt, so you can look cool at the competition without spending $$$. Print out each link, pin them together, attach a ratcheting system, and you’ve built your own gear!

The same developer has also released some magnetic magazine pouches for both pistol and PCC mags, requiring only a Teklok connector to attach to the belt. Way cool!

Here’s the truth guys: competition shooting is one of the best ways to improve your shooting skills. “But it’s a game, it’s not real combat!” True, which is why you should also attend force-on-force classes - but if you want to get gud at pure shooting, you should be attending comps.

It’s also a fantastic way to spread the signal! Despite what 3D2A fuddlore claims, most shooters are fascinated to see printed guns and gear running on a stage. You have no excuses - go compete!

Cyclic Corner:

Today’s Community Corner has changed into Cyclic Corner, because we are focusing on some new FRT drops from the past few weeks!

R.A.D. - Reset Assist Device from the Kabuto Developer

He returns! Those with long memories will recall that the developer of the famous Kabuto / “T.U.R.D.” trigger reset device pulled his own copy down shortly after upload, feeling that it was unsuitable for release. Every Kabuto iteration out there currently originates with those files, but was modded by other developers.

But now, the OG developer himself has uploaded his own iteration! Now called the R.A.D. (Reset Assist Device), this design simplifies the original Kabuto into a single-pin, three piece drop-in. It can be paired with a two-position AR safety for safe-FRT mode, or a three-position safety for safe-semi-FRT operation.

The documentation is straightforward, simple and clean. I predict this will become a new standard in DIY FRT development, and indeed we’re already starting to see mods of the R.A.D., including one for a CMMG AR22. Expect more to come!

UDIS - Universal Drop In Kabuto

But that’s not all! While the R.A.D. may be the next Kabuto iteration, the original Kabuto has been remixed and remixed again to the point of being its own separate line. We now see the next step in that line with the Universal Drop In Kabuto!

The idea here is to take the Kabuto design and create a true drop-in that will work with all sorts of setups - milspec AR15, aftermarkets, M16 triggers - without requiring any cuts or modifications to your FCG hardware. The release package is essentially a “build a bear” for Kabutos, allowing you to customize it to your particular setup!

The thing about these Kabutos is that they’re fully printable and therefore there’s no reason not to print one of each type and see what works best for you. Give it a try!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Glarpion - Glock Fed Scz0rpion

Developer SkeleTim continues to iterate on the famous AWCY Scz0rpion, bringing us now a Glock mag-fed, AR15 FCG version called the Glarpion!

This work is being done in pursuit of requiring fewer and fewer hard-to-find CZ components. At this rate, eventually all components will be replaced, at which point we’ll call it the AR9.

Kidding, of course. Nice work, keep it coming!

Reach Around - FossMG9 Updates

Even after release the FOSSMG9 continues to be iterated on! These remixes from ON3251CC introduce several changes, including a modified rear shroud, arch and knob, a more extended mag release, an easier-to-print stock lock, and a carry handle with a pic rail. The primary goal appears to be quality of life improvements.

If you’ve already built a FOSSMG9, consider upgrading it with these remixes! And if you don’t yet have one, consider one of our kits :)

Lever Action AR in Straightwall .350 Legend!

Apparently there are some ~~cucked~~ not very nice states that disallow hunting with normal rounds, instead requiring bizarre straight-wall calibers like .350 Legend? That’s not a problem where I live, but if it is one for you, now you can build a lever action AR modded to work in this straight-wall caliber!

Primary changes are to the magwell, to adapt it to the different round. .350 Legend still uses a standard AR bolt head, so you’re good there, but this release does provide a printed carrier along with a few other quality of life upgrades to the overall design.

We’re seeing a lot of these quality of life upgrades. I’d like to see them rolled into a V2 for this design - we’ll see!

Notachi DIY Revolver Updates!

It’s still alive! Developer clearview4851 has posted some updates on his Notachi DIY revolver project.

What’s new? One of the primary updates has to do with testing a new spring design which ultimately wasn’t adopted. I like updates like this - it’s often just as important to know what not to do. Aside from that, we have a simplified hammer and other small quality of life updates. This produces a revolver which “strikes all primers [clearview] has”.

The updates are available for anyone who would like to try them out!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Chimera VZ-61 Early Release!

Last announced in Issue 20, the Chimera VZ6 from Metalhead Twink has now entered its pre-release phase! This design is a new printable VZ61 lower, with an integrated grip, utilizing an AR FCG. It also features a dovetail mount for the surplus folding stock, which is pretty cool!

Its developer has released this early for “personal circumstances.” Wishing him all the best - stay safe man.

DIY Body Armor Project from BoozeAndBullets

Yep, we’re DIYing body armor now! This release from BoozeAndBullets provides support and instructions for creating handgun-rated soft plates from welding blanket and resin.

How does it work? You cut out pieces of the blanket, place them in the printable mold, fill with a layer of resin, then put another layer on and repeat. Eventually the mold is full, at which point you clamp it as shown in the photo and let it cure.

Should you trust your life to DIY body armor? Probably not - but you should learn about it, you should try it, and you should iterate on it! Modern 3D2A came from people working on stuff like this years ago. Imagine where this could be in a few years time with similar effort!

“X” - Laser-Cut 9x19 Upper Project

I’ve mentioned in the past that, every so often, I like to feature something that is apparently totally untested, just out of sheer novelty and to keep things fresh and interesting. This is one such thing.

This design, apparently called simply the “X”, by developer rolantikush, was recently released in three iterations - V1, V2, V3. Each is a Professor Parabellum-esque design featuring a metal upper paired with a printed lower. Each metal upper - and its bolt - is made from laser cut metal plates, tack welded or otherwise fastened together.

No documentation, no build proof, no testing, no idea if it can work. What I do know is that I virtually never see designs like this, and I’m not sure there’s a good reason why that is. The potential is there guys! We’re just waiting for someone to take it up!

Laser-Cut DIY AR FCG

Testing a totally unknown DIY gun a bridge too far for you? How about an AR FCG? The same developer as above, rolantikush, has released a design for an AR FCG also made from laser cut parts.

Some might argue that laser-cut plates aren’t true DIY, since they rely on a third party service. But with projects like the Betta from RackRobo, the ability to cut metal flats to arbitrary shapes is within reach. Projects like this FCG are worthy ways to explore the potential of this technology.

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

BFG .22 - Belt Fed Primarily DIY .22LR Coming Soon

We are getting a .22LR Beltfed! The BFG .22 by HammerHead1911 was recently announced and as you can see he’s got a full model built! We’ve also got shooting footage!

He has described the design as “primarily DIY”, with a “hybrid metal / printed bolt”, 50 round ammo box, and FRT compatibility. I am erect.

HammerHead notes that an open beta is coming very soon. I’ll absolutely be jumping into this one as soon as it’s live, and so should you! Keep an eye out!

DIY Kriss Vector Cycling!

The DIY Kriss Vector project continues! As developer EfficientRabbit7377’s latest video shows, it is now cycling. The video shows one complete cycle and one partial cycle, which fails to eject. That’s major progress!

Just from the video it doesn’t seem like the ejection problem will be too hard to overcome - it’s not a fundamental design problem, it’s just about creating a clear ejection path. Once that’s done, I expect this design will enter into open beta!

You know I’ll be all over this one. See you all there!

Halo Magnum Approaching Drop

The Halo Magnum remix, first announced back in Issue 18, is almost ready to drop! Developer Helpful_Spell_5896 notes that he’s got his final prints complete and will be finishing up his own livefire testing. Assuming all goes well, he’ll package it with a README and release it!

As a reminder, this is more or less a Glock 19 mod, so it will be a pretty simple build with familiar parts kits. I’m eagerly awaiting its release!

Has there ever been a good, canon explanation for why would Captain Keyes didn’t keep his gun loaded?

GB11 - Abomination from MPMS Enters Alpha

I have to write about this, and you have to read it, but don’t worry, we’ll get through it together. M-P-M-S’s “GB11” is entering alpha testing. So what is it?

This project started as a C96-looking remix, and I got excited. Now it’s mutated into…god knows what. That’s a 1911 slide on top, hence the “11” in the name, but it also has a sliding brace. And a pic rail for an optic mount.

Knowing you degenerates, this will probably become the most popular design in 3D2A. Well, who am I to stand in the way of progress? Expect to see it drop soon!

Fully DIY .380 PCC with Integral Suppression

Here we have another Prof. Parabellum-esque design, like the “X” design described above! It’s a fully DIY PCC, chambered in .380ACP, using a metal square tube upper and printed components.

This project has some maturity on it, as we’ve actually got shooting footage! Its developer Admirable_Scholar_36 notes that the project can be configured as both an open and a closed bolt. He’s testing it internally right now, but intends to release once he feels it’s ready!

There needs to be a better name for these sorts of designs, that more closely integrate home-DIY metal parts with printed plastic. I like “hybrid”, but that term has been used before in various contexts. I’ll continue to think on the matter.

Upcoming SMGs from Stubbs

My best boy Stubbs, in his ongoing quest to make DIY versions of every SMG ever, has teased three of his upcoming designs! We have, from left to right:

The SMPL / SMPK, a DIY design based on the Walther MP, which uses an AR FCG and optional drop-in FRT
The SMP.44, a true plumber’s pipe gun based on the German EMP44 “Primitiv-Waffen” design. Stubbs notes that his version will be super-safe compatible, and will have versions not just in 9mm but also 10mm, .22TCM, 7.62x25 and “.960”, whatever that is.
The SMP5K, a fully DIY MP5 clone in .22LR, which as with the others will be FRT compatible! There will be four versions of this, each replicating a famous MP5 variant.

It’s a safe bet that all of these will use common Stubbs design characteristics of an internal metal pipe housing a commercial AR9 or AR22 bolt, making them fairly straightforward builds. I’m excited to see them start to enter beta!

(Good) News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space. It’s all good news in this section!

Print-A-22 Evolves into FTW Arms!

What? Print-A-22, the premier parts kit supplier for .22LR designs, is evolving! A few days ago the fantastic folks running Print-A-22 launched FTW Arms, a new venture focused on developing and selling affordable Form 4 polymer suppressors.

These suppressors are designed in conjunction with the team behind the famous FTN series, and in fact are an evolution of that series! Unlike the fully printed FTN, the FTW suppressor is a hybrid reinforced design, using internal metal reinforcement. While these suppressors are still consumable, they will last quite a bit longer than a fully printed design. This all allows the FTW to be offered at a very affordable price compared to other commercial designs, while still delivering comparable levels of quality!

At time of writing they are offering their first design - the FTW OG Founder’s Edition .22LR direct-thread suppressor, at an easily accessible $99! This Founder’s Edition design will also come with a unique “Founder’s” reserved serial number, to mark you as a true OG. Only 100 will be sold, and they’re going fast, so go grab one while you can!

What’s going to happen to the Print-A-22 website? It will continue to exist as a reference guide, but its products will be cleaned up and migrated over to the FTW Arms website, which is also where new .22LR kits will be posted as well.

Major congratulations to our friends for their exciting new journey! I’ll follow you with great interest.

PS: shout out to FTW’s lovely wife, who has helped tremendously with bringing this project to its fruition, including building their amazing new website! You can feel good knowing these designs are made with care from a dynamic husband-wife duo!

Convert STLs to STEPs with 2STEP Converter

How many times have you wanted to remix a design, only to find that the dev didn’t release his STEP files? Your best bet is to either do your remix in an STL editor like Tinkercad (ew) or to convert the mesh to a STEP in Fusion, which tends to result in an ugly “solid” comprised of a billion triangles.

Developer YaneonY has a solution! He has developed software to perform a better conversion, not simply creating a solid but properly restoring its original STEP characteristics. This can also run in batch, so you don’t have to convert these things one at a time!

You can download the software from YaneonY’s Github, which also contains thorough documentation for how to use it. See further discussion the matter as well.

NOTE: this is not an excuse for you to not release your STEPs. Every release should include STEPs - that’s the ethos of this community!

Guncad Index 1.10 Adds Advanced Search

The Guncad Index continues to grow even more useful! Developer Shittinator just pushed a new update with two major changes: boolean filters in search, and a new tag page!

The boolean filters allow you to use Google-like text in your tags to filter for specific results - for example, “glock -tag:9x19mm” to show all releases with the word “glock” tagged with the 9x19mm tag. This dramatically improves your ability to find very specific items! Full documentation can be found here.

Paired with this is a tags page, which helpfully shows a full, easily browsable list of all tags on the platform. Use it to browse directly, or copy them into your searchbar for use with the boolean operators.

See a full writeup for this Index update here!

Browsing this tags page floors me for just how much this community has produced over the years. It’s a beautiful thing we’ve built, gentlemen. Major props forever to Shittinator for his continuing work on the invaulable Index!

Guncad Digest Newsletter Contest!

We’re two weeks into the contest to improve the Guncad Digest logo! I need a new logo to celebrate one year of the Digest, but unfortunately graphic design is not one of my strong suits.

Readers: help me design a new logo! I’ll be accepting submissions for new logos through the month of May. At the end of the month I’ll either hold a popularity contest or select my favorites, depending on what we get.

Please email your design to: customersupport@3dprintfreedom.com (or DM them to me here on Substack!) Winners will get the privilege of seeing their logo on the Substack - oh, and any1 free hardware kit you want from 3D2A.com :)

(Bad) News:

I have grown frustrated with the practice of compiling a bunch of bad news in the Digest, especially when it gets mixed in with legitimate good news that should be celebrated. Yet some bad news is worth sharing nonetheless. To this end I have separated the news section into two parts, for this issue at least.

Dugan Ashley Arrested

Terrible news. Dugan Ashley, one of the OG Guntubers, and one of the progenitors of the DIY movement, has been criminally charged by the US DOJ.

The charges originate from Dugan’s videos related to the manufacture of explosives. The feds claim that a terrorist used these videos to build IEDs used in an attempted 2025 attack. As such, Ashley is charged with “distributing information related to the manufacture of explosives.”

That sharing information is a crime in any circumstances is disgusting. Other commentators have noted that the crime requires intent for the information to be used in a violent attack, and foreknowledge thereof, which Dugan certainly did not and could not have possessed.

Beyond this he is charged with unlicensed manufacturing and possession of explosive devices. All in all, it’s bad.

A GiveSendGo campaign has been created to support Dugan’s defense. Please donate. Dugan is a hero to us all - don’t let him slip away into the darkness without a fight.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Excluding the M1337 Complete Kit - sorry - but including the M1337 Advanced Kit!

Issue 24: One Year of Guncad Digest

Alyosha K. — Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:33 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

The Guncad Digest Turns 1!

Can you believe it, it’s our 24th issue! At two issues per month, that’s means we’ve done one year’s worth of publication.

To celebrate, this anniversary issue will review some of the biggest hits of the last year, as well as rounding up all the designs that I’m excited to see come out in the year ahead! We’ll also review some of the major ways the 3D2A signal grew in the last year.

Reviewing everything we’ve covered in the last 24 issues has reminded me how far we’ve come in just one year. 3D2A is not just growing, it’s exploding. The signal cannot, will not, be stopped.

Make sure to read to the very end - we’re announcing a contest at the end of this issue!

Best Releases Of The Year:

M1337 - Printable Gatling Gun
SMP40 - Printable MP40 SMG
Unseenkiller’s “Mac That Looks Like A Mac”
DIY Lever Action AR
Defiance AR-15 Lower
FOSSMG9 - Folding 9mm PDW
DIY Super Safeties
Kabuto / TURD FRT
L.A.R.K. Printable Multi-Position Selector
DIY Collimator Sights
Yippie Ki Yay - Mostly-DIY .22LR MP5
Menendez Mag V3
DIY Suppressors - FTN5 and OpenPew Series
DIY Claymore and Reference Guide
DIY MANPADS

Upcoming Releases:

In Progress Designs:

Staaker - SCS Bolts and Square Steel Upper .22LR Pistol
DIY Ammunition Counter
Printable Uzi
ORCBOLG - Fully DIY .380ACP Pistol
.22LR ECM
Yamato 20 DIY Shotgun
Printed M3 Grease Gun
Printed Frame for PM-63 RAK
Berd Ninjetics Flamethrower!
DIY MG42
TISM - Printable Artillery

Spreading the Signal - Top Events of the Last Year

Rise of the Guncad Index
New Communities - /r/3D2A and Guncad Index Forum
$0 Form 1s
Flashforge Bends the Knee
3D2A.TV
Gun Maker’s Match

What’s Next for Guncad Digest?

Guncad Digest Logo Contest

Best Releases Of The Year:

In this special section, we’ll review what I think are the best and most exciting releases in the last year.

M1337 - Printable Gatling Gun

There’s no real question what the coolest release in the last 12 months has been - it’s the M1337 Gatling Gun from Nopel! A fully functioning Gatling gun, hand cranked, firing .223 from a printed belt? A fully functioning delinker using entirely printed clockwork? It’s an accomplishment par excellence and it’s the kind of project that breaks out of 3D2A to a wider audience.

Completing one of these builds will truly earn you distinction as a home builder. 3D2A.com sells complete kits to help you with that build, removing a lot of the difficulty but none of the fun :) We’ll be restocking soon, so make sure to join the waitlist!

SMP40 - Printable MP40 SMG

What an exciting release this was! This design from Stubbs allows you to build an MP40 clone gun using an AR9 bolt, an AR9 barrel, and an AR FCG. The upper and all other parts are DIY’d. If you’ve always dreamed of having a cool (and FRT-compatible) MP40, this is the best way to do it!

The fun doesn’t stop with the base SMP40 - shortly after release, Stubbs released several variants if you want to make your SMP40 look like a historic variety of the MP40, like the MP38 and MP41.

We sell kits for this design, including a DLC add-on that allows you to build any variant you desire. We also made a build video, below!

It’s worth noting that aside from the inherent coolness of building your own MP40 clone, this design also introduced a Stubbs design element that I call the “bolt tube.” At the core of the design is an aluminum tube, with sections and notches cut out, but which contains the AR9 bolt. An approach like this could be highly useful for other sorts of designs, and I hope to see more of that in the coming year!

Unseenkiller’s “Mac That Looks Like A Mac”

Longtime readers will recall my interest in “Macs that Look Like Macs” - there’s just something so special and aesthetic about a single-handed Mac-11 design, very Miami Vice. But so few Macs used this design - until this year!

Unseenkiller first released the PWC 5.7 in the single-handled format, followed by the PWC-9 in a much more common and accessible caliber! This was followed with a DLC pack to expand magazine compatibility, because no Unseenkiller design would be complete without a million variants.

God bless the man. God bless America.

DIY Lever Action AR

When this design dropped, I knew it would be popular, but I don’t think I could have predicted just how popular it would get! Since its release, 3D2A has been embracing its inner cowboy and showing off dozens of remixes and beautiful builds.

And indeed, what’s not to love? Reject modernity, return to cowboy. Print a lever action today - grab one of our kits to make it easy!

Defiance AR-15 Lower

Developer Proof was already well respected due to his airgun, but I’m not sure anyone expected him to come out of nowhere and drop an AR lower that is a serious contender for “best lower in 3D2A.” And yet he did, with his Defiance Lower!

The Defiance Lower requires no U-bolt, no hose clamp, just a printed buffer tower oriented for maximum strength. Does it “replace” the Hoffman Super Lower? Not necessarily, but it’s increasingly the lower that I recommend to anyone who asks.

FOSSMG9 - Folding 9mm PDW

One of the most anticipated 3D2A releases ever, and one of my personal favorites, it’s the FOSSMG9! The folding suitcase PDW that we’ve dreamed of ever since Magpul previewed their version in 2008, developers GreenWhiskey and Skum succeeded where Magpul failed.

At its core it’s a Glock 19 riding on familiar FMDA rails, so the build is actually pretty straightforward. Grab one of our kits to make it even easier and go live out your cyberpunk dreams!

DIY Super Safeties

The Super Safety is not just one of the greatest innovations in 3D2A of the last several years, but one of the greatest inventions in the firearms space generally. It wasn’t the first FRT, but it’s by far the most popular, and rightfully so.

Up until recently most Super Safety users have bought their SS cams from various suppliers. But what happens if those suppliers disappear? A few innovators have developed DIY versions of the Super Safety cam.

The No-Drill SCSS uses laser-cut parts for the most wear-prone parts of the super safety cam, and is printed otherwise - a great option for a cheap, easy to build cam. I fully recommend this design as your first DIY SS cam.

The Super Swanky on the other hand is a different beast altogether - this super-detailed release package describes how you can cast your own cam using a backyard forge setup costing no more than a few hundred dollars. With this project, not only will you gain a very solid DIY cam, you’ll also gain a lot of knowledge, which is always the underlying goal of guncad. Learn more in the official video!

Kabuto / TURD FRT

Another design that came somewhat out of nowhere when it dropped, the Kabuto / TURD is a DIY FRT design that functions on a totally different principle from the Super Safety. Since its initial drop, it’s been remixed and iterated dozens of times, which only indicates just how interesting a design it is.

Current state-of-the-art would appear to be the sqweee variant, although given the disparate branch of development it’s hard to keep track. I’d imagine in the coming year one of the many different designs will be selected as the standard, but until then interested developers should play with a few of the remixes and see which ones work best. Very exciting!

L.A.R.K. Printable Multi-Position Selector

In January a three-round safety called the CARL released, and my first question was: how long until 3D2A finds a way to DIY this? Not very long it seems! By the time of the very next issue, the L.A.R.K. had its first release. This design is a four position modification of the aforementioned Kabuto, which supports not not just semi and super-safe, but three-round super safe. Wow!

The design has since had a series of updates, including one as recent as April 20th, working its way towards its final form. 3D2A always provides!

DIY Collimator Sights

For a brief moment in fall 2025, collimator sights took over 3D2A. A “collimator sight” is basically an optic with a bright piece of fiber acting as the “dot”, but with no actual window to look through - to use it, you keep both eyes open and superimpose the dot on your target.

I like these designs because they are represent DIY optics, an area of 3D2A that is crucially neglected. Every gun should have a proper optic - print a collimator so you don’t need to spend money on one! These sights are available in both rifle optic and pistol optic form factors.

Yippie Ki Yay - Mostly-DIY .22LR MP5

When this first came out I knew it would be popular, but it wasn’t obvious to me just how popular it would be come. The Yippie Ki Yay by kaewon is a gun with an MP5-inspired aesthtic, and while it’s still technically in beta, I see new builds of this design several times a week.

Join in the fun, print one and get the fun experience of a fully DIY build! Or, make it a little easier on yourself and buy the hardware kit from Print-A-22.

Menendez Mag V3

This Gatalog release takes me back to the early days of guncad, when we were innovating with printed mags. The biggest problem with printed mags - a major factor in why they seemed to have died off - was the inherent weakness of printed feed lips. This problem was solved in the Menendez Mag v3, which uses a DIYable bent metal insert to reinforce the lips!

You really should DIY these feed lips, because that’s a cool thing to do and will expand your skillset - but in case you can’t, Riptide Rails sells them premade / prebent as well. Go get some and celebrate Bob Menendez’ prison sentence!

DIY Suppressors - FTN5 and OpenPew Series

One of the most notable news events in the last 12 months is $0 tax stamps for suppressor, a subject we’ll cover more later. What we’re focusing on here is one of the most exciting consequences of that legal change, which is PLABoi’s temporary return and release of the FTN5 series!

The FTN is not just a printable silencer - it led the movement to promote mass printing of suppressors, making them so common as to be impossible to ban.

As of today the FTN5 is considered the premier DIY suppressor for rifle calibers. The OpenPew series, released around the same time, is considered to be a competitive or even better option for pistol calibers.

If you haven’t printed one of these yet, the time will never be better - so get to it!

DIY Claymore and Reference Guide

“So you want people to print their own guns? What, do you want them to build their own landmines too?” Absolutely.

And now I can, with the DIY Claymore project from Remnants! As noted in our initial release, this is far more than just a printed Claymore body - it’s a complete guide to the history, theory and use of the famous Claymore mine. It gives you the resources to build the design, but it also shows you how to do so legally.

I’m so proud to see this project release. It’s one of the best examples of guncad all year.

DIY MANPADS

“Okay, fine, landmines, but surely you don’t support 3D printed missiles?!” Boy do I have bad news for you.

If you haven’t already, you should absolutely check out the “Experimental Counter-UAS Interception Platform” from Machinic Desire. This project consists of a a DIY launcher, a DIY rocket, DIY guidance boards, and a DIY vision system to help triangulate the guidance. Review our writeup on the matter to really dig into the project.

To be clear, this project is not “complete” in the sense that the FGC-9 was “complete” upon its first release - it is much closer to a proof of concept combined with a political statement. But that is how all great things start - with one voice demonstrating that it can be done. In terms of spirit, I can think of nothing more 3D2A.

Upcoming Releases:

Above we listed some of our favorite projects that released in the last 12 months. Next we’ll list many of the projects that we promoted in the last 12 months which have not yet released.

We call these “Upcoming Releases” because we’re fairly confident they will reach a release state - either because they’re being developed by a known developer or dev group with a good release track record, or because they’re nearly done already!

We promote them here to build hype and solicit testers. Keep an eye out for them and join the betas if you can!

“Dirte Dozen” JD12 Shotgun

I continue to feel that there aren’t enough 3D printed shotguns. JoeDirt from Black Lotus Coalition is helping to fill that gap with the fully DIY Dirte Dozen! It’s a single shot break action and the beta is going on now - join the BLC Matrix space to help teste!

Speakeasy - DIY Thompson from AWCY

AreWeCoolYet continues to plug away at their designs, and the Speakeasy from Sheridan is one of the most interesting ones to my mind. Obviously it’s a DIY Thompson, but it also is nearly fully DIY, using a totally custom stacked plate bolt reminiscent of the 3DP90.

The beta is being run in the AWCY Matrix space - message the mods if you want to join in!

Halo Assault Rifle and Magnum

Every man dreams of traveling the stars and xenociding aliens. These designs bring that dream a little closer to reality!

First, the printed MA40, pictured above, is a visual and functional clone of Halo’s famous assault rifle, even incorporating its ammo counter! The cool factor is enough to make me overlook the fact that it’s .22LR.

A different developer has also been hard at work building a Glock 19 mod to turn it into Halo’s famous magnum pistol!

Neither of these projects have reached beta stage yet, but their developers have been promoting them with regular posts long enough that I’m confident they’ll make it to release. I need a weapon indeed!

STGV - Updated Sturmgewehr 556

The Sturmgewehr 556 was quite a hit when it released, and why not - just look at it! Its possible downside was its relatively weak printed upper, but this is solved in the in-beta STGV! This design adopts the aluminum “bolt tube” used in the SMP40 to dramatically improve strength and performance.

I’m helping with this beta, so you know it will release! We’re targeting fall 2026, so stay tuned!

VSG2 - Updated VolkStubbsGewehr

As with the STG, so with the VSG! Stubbs has also been working on several improvements to the popular VolkStubbsGewehr printed bolt-action rifle which will make it stronger, safer and easier to build. Stay tuned for the beta!

Decker 9 - Fully DIY 9mm Carbine

Among Black Lotus Coalition’s pending designs, this one may be the most anticipated. The Decker .380 was an overwhelming hit when it first released, and rightfully so, being a radically simple yet strong and reliable fully DIY design.

The only complaint about the original Decker is its .380ACP ammo, and that is resolved with the 9mm-chambered Decker 9. It’s in active beta as we speak, so if you’d like to help test, volunteer and join in!

EBT-9/380 - Printed Hipoint That Works

What’s old is new again! The EBT-9/380 is a printed frame for the Hipoint C380 / C90 kits, and it doesn’t suck! Somehow these kits are still going for affordable prices, and once this design drops you’ll want to be stocked up.

It’s being beta’d at AWCY - jump on and join in the fun!

PWC DIY from Unseenkiller

There was a time when Mac upper assemblies were unobtainable. That time has passed, and yet the pursuit of DIY continues. Here we have unseenkiller and friends developing a fully printed Mac upper, eliminating one of the bottleneck items.

You’ll still need a commecial bolt, but all DIY is good DIY! Really looking forward to seeing this one drop.

Super Safe PWC by NightAlliance

Speaking of the PWC, developer nightalliance has been making steady progress towards a new and improved trip to super safe your Mac! The internal design consists of a metal flat bent into the proper shape, which anyone can do!

NightAlliance 2011 Frame

Muh two world wars! If you’re building a 1911 in 2026, you should probably build a 2011, which is far more popular than the original 1911. Thanks to nightalliance, you’ll soon be able to print a 2011 as well!

nightalliance has been teasing this design hard, so I expect it’s pretty close to release. Count the days!

DIY Kriss Vector

I am perhaps unreasonably excited for this one, but just look at it! It’s a nearly fully DIY Kriss Vector, being developed before our very eyes! Its internals are either printed or SCS’d, and the only firearms part is the barrel.

The developer is inching towards reliable functionality, at which point he’ll open the beta. Stay tuned!

Modelo Polylactico Factory Calibers

The Modelo Polylactico is a very cool platform, but it’s the ammo that matters with this project! The design was originally released supporting only its .43R DIY caliber, but developer bushworked711 has been continuing to plan out and adapt the design to factory calibers like .327 magnum or even shotshells!

His latest update mentioned a “precision caliber” that he’s working on - once that’s ready, expect a new release pronto!

PROOF Fully DIY AR FCG

Announced only a few weeks back, this nonetheless shot up to the top of my list of interests! Despite earlier attempts like the CSGCG, a reliable and widely adopted DIY AR FCG remains an unachieved feat.

Proof’s drop-in approach to this challenge appears new and fresh - perhaps it could be the DIY FCG we’re looking for? I’m eagerly standing by for more!

Black Lotus 5.56 Beltfed

I’ve saved the best for last. BLC has been working for nearly a year now on a DIY beltfed design in 5.56! It’ll feed from printed belt links and at this point has had its first shots fired through it!

This is in active beta at Black Lotus, although it’s not clear they’re accepting new testers. When this project drops, it will make a huge impact - I’m deeply anticipating it!

In Progress Designs:

Having covered the Upcoming Designs, we will now look at more designs that we promoted over the last year that I’m excited about. I call these “In Progress Designs” because, while they were being worked on at one time, I haven’t seen updates on them in a while and I’m less sure about their path to release.

Will they release someday? I hope so, and by including them here I hope to draw attention back to them! Reader, if one of these designs is yours, please reach out to me and let’s discuss it!

Staaker - SCS Bolts and Square Steel Upper .22LR Pistol

Starting with one of our earliest issues, the Staaker is a printed .22LR pistol similar in form to the VZ61, with an upper cut from square steel tube and a bolt made of stacked SCS plates, and using more SCS cuts for the extractor and firing pin.

We were getting regular reports on this design for a while, most of which were lost with FOSSCAD. Where does the design sit now? I hope to see it, or something like it, someday!

DIY Ammunition Counter

Running low on ammo during a firefight is inconvenient, so an ammo counter would be a useful concept - plus they look really cool! This design provides a display tied to some electrical engineering magic to count rounds as they are fired. It’s advertised as being for the SF5, but is also noted to be generic and adaptable to other designs too.

Unlike some of the other “In Progress” designs, this ammo counter actually got a beta release, but its developer notes that he’s pausing the project for a while. Might anyone want to come in and revive it?

Printable Uzi

Printable. Uzi. It’s a printable Uzi! The concept sells itself. It was originally developed by StolenBoiStudios who, perhaps understandably, did not finish it - but fortunately its in-progress files were posted for someone else to take up.

So far nobody else has. Might that change? The power is in your hands, developers!

ORCBOLG - Fully DIY .380ACP Pistol

I really want this one. We’ve seen several fully DIY pistol designs, like the NULL-22, but they’re all .22s - not uninteresting, but it’s been done before! A DIY .380 pistol on the other hand, now that’s something new!

It looks like it’s actually only been two months since the last update, so perhaps this project is still being worked on? The developer can be found on the Guncad Index forums - if you’re reading this, friend, please let me know where this project stands!

.22LR ECM

ECM for 9mm is well established, but ECM for .22LR has not really solidified. There are a few attempts at it, but none that I understand to be definitive. Everyone who wants something like this ends up buying a barrel liner.

The last attempt was by R_Weapon, and despite its release I have seen very little about it. Let’s see some movement on this, gentlemen!

Yamato 20 DIY Shotgun

This is another design that I was really excited for. It’s a fully DIY pump action shotgun using a combination of printed and SCS parts, plus it’s got a cool name - what’s not to love?

There was an upload for it, still visible on the Index, but now inaccessible. Has the Yamato, like its battleship predecessor, sunk beneath the waves? Or might we still see it emerge from the mists someday? We can only hope!

Printed M3 Grease Gun

While I’ve rarely seen public commentary on it, I’m aware of at least two attempts at making a printed M3 Grease Gun, both by devs associated with BLC. Neither has seen the light of day yet, but I feel it’s surely only a matter of time before one of these projects, or a yet undreamed third one, reaches release.

Printed Frame for PM-63 RAK

The DIY PM-63 RAK was making great progress for a while, but updates seem to have slowed. I recognize it’s a challenging design, but I’d love to see some updates on it someday!

Parts kits for this design are plentiful and cheap - it’d be a sin not to reactivate them!

Berd Ninjetics Flamethrower!

Black Lotus has been working towards a printable flamethrower almost since their inception. For very understandable reasons, this has proved a challenge, and up until recently the beta room for this project has been inactive.

Yet I’ve got good news! No more than a few days ago, activity picked back up in that room, and the problem is being tackled once again. The eternal human dream of not needing to walk up to something to set it on fire remains viable - stay tuned!

DIY MG42

This is another concept that sells itself. We’ve already mentioned a DIY beltfed above, but what about a DIY MG42?

Its developer is active on the Guncad Index, and the project does have an initial model, but in order to make this dream come true I’ll want to see more updates and a bigger testing pool. The power is in your hands, people! Get to it!

TISM - Printable Artillery

Look at this beauty. It is a printed. 37mm. Artillery piece. When completed, it would be roughly the size of a motorcycle. You’d need a full size pickup just to haul it to the range. It’s beautiful.

The dev group for this design is still around, but I’m sorry to say I’ve seen little activity there recently. Perhaps it’s waiting for you - yes, you, reader! - to join and get to testing?

Spreading the Signal - Top Events of the Last Year

That’s quite a collection of designs! But there’s still more I want to review - namely, the major news and events of the previous year.

There’s no doubt that the last year had some bad news, but it’s far too easy to focus on that and not the tremendous amount of good news that happened as well. For today, we’ll only focus on the good stuff - now celebrate with me the incredible advances made in 3D2A!

Rise of the Guncad Index

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Guncad Index is the most important thing to happen to 3D2A since 2020. This is not just a resource, it is the resource for 3D printed guns, and it’s hard to imagine 3D2A without it - especially in a post-/r/fosscad world.

The index is, as of writing, tracking nearly 12,000 releases with a fantastic search and sort functionality. Project lead and main developer Shittinator (who you should subscribe to on Substack) also maintains the Guncad Mirror, software that allows you to run your own LBRY node and support the file hosting infrastructure.

You can also download the entire Index using another bit of third party software!

I’ve listed above the many big ways that the Index has built the community, but there’s uncountable small things about the Index worth celebrating as well, with more being added all the time. Shittinator, from one 3D2A guy to another - thank you for all you’ve done.

New Communities - /r/3D2A and Guncad Index Forum

Yes, we lost /r/fosscad in 2025, and this was a sore blow. But looking back, the story there is not that we lost a community - it’s that we rebuilt so quickly. The subreddit /r/3D2A is just as active, if not more, than the original /r/fosscad - proving once again that trying to mute the signal only makes it stronger.

The loss of /r/fosscad also motivated us to diversify off Reddit, and once again Shittinator came to the rescue with the Guncad Index Forums, hosted on Lemmy, which now serves as a home for all the more interesting stuff that Reddit is afraid of.

Speaking of Lemmy, another major victory this year was reproducing all /r/fosscad posts on that platform. The years of knowledge that the fosscad sub represented was preserved, thanks to the dedicated efforts of hogleg and others.

All readers of this newsletter had better be subscribed to these communities! I aggregate this stuff, but we need participation too!

$0 Form 1s

Yes, I already included this image in this issue. It’s important enough to post again.

Surely the biggest news in the last 12 months was the removal of the fee for Form 1 tax stamp for suppressors and SBRs. This was accompanied by a massive flood of applications, and it is now apparent that the number of Form 1 holders in this country has multiplied severalfold!

3D2A contributed tremendously to this, since we’re the only ones offering these items in a manner that is affordable and accessible to everyone. I don’t know how many of the newly registered suppressors are DIY’d, but I know it’s not a small number.

If you still haven’t made one yourself, what are you even doing? Get on it!

Flashforge Bends the Knee

While at the time this event looked bad, we can look back on it now as one of our finest hours. For those who don’t recall, back in November Flashforge posted the threatening image above to their social media. We speculated at the time what their motivation was, but in retrospect the most interesting part of this story is the reaction.

Long story short, Flashforge lost this battle dramatically. The 3D printing community - not just 3D2A, but the community at large - exploded in opposition, destroying them on every social media front. Within days - hours! - they walked back their statement, and we haven’t heard a thing from it since.

Sometimes it feels like there’s no way to fight the forces arrayed against us. When I feel that way, I remember events like this, and know that we are not powerless. You should too.

3D2A.TV

The health of its community can often be inferred by its media and cultural production, and by that standard, 3D2A is doing just fine. Aside from the already-mentioned items, another new production in the last year is 3D2A.tv, a monthly variety show covering new builds, news, interviews, roasts and much more!

They’ve done four episodes so far, all of which are available on Odysee. The next episode is coming on May 24th, and it’s sponsored by yours truly :) Make sure to tune in!

Gun Maker’s Match

Given its proximity, I’m happy to wrap up this section by once again promoting the Gun Maker’s Match, returning in just a few weeks for its sixth time!

The Maker’s Match is now the longest-running guncad meetup. All the cool kids are there, so if you’re not, what does that make you? You’ve still got time to sign up!

What’s Next for Guncad Digest?

This is the part of the newsletter where we switch from reflecting on the past to planning for the future. But the truth is - I think what we’re doing right now is exactly what we should be doing, and I don’t really intend to change it!

My commitment to you is that I will keep rounding up all the interesting designs I see and all the newsworthy events that you should know about, publishing them every two weeks. I’ll promote things that are worth promoting, and I’ll contribute back in all the ways I feel I can.

Well, there is one thing I’d like to change - I’d like to engage in a broader spectrum of educational content. Not just “what are the new guns this week”, but perhaps “what are the best guns of this particular type”, or even “how should I get into printing these designs?” Education is what grew this community, and more education will help it grow more.

If, in May 2027, If I can look back on the upcoming year and feel that I helped add to our educational resources, then I think I’ll feel like I did my job well.

That’s my plan. Keep watching this space!

Guncad Digest Logo Contest

I wish I could claim there was some great story behind the Digest’s Oregon Trail logo, but the truth is that back when I started this newsletter, it said I needed a log, so I grabbed the meme out of my 3D guns meme folder without really thinking about it. Now that we’re a year in, I think it’s finally time for something better.

Start designing!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Excluding the M1337 Complete Kit - sorry - but including the M1337 Advanced Kit!

Issue 23: DIY Claymore, Suppressor Tests, DIY AR FCG, New Bambu

Alyosha K. — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:15:37 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Releases:

Community Corner:

Updates:

Crank Up the Noise - Nopel Developing M1337 Planetary Gear

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Front Towards Enemy - DIY Claymore Releases

3D2A, at its best, is about sharing information. Part of that means providing a good release package for a specific build, but some of the truly great releases - the AR-15 Reference Model, the BLC Reference Project - provide a wealth of information that goes well beyond just “here’s a new printed gun.”

The DIY M18A1 Claymore from developer Remnants is a release in the vein I’m describing. To be clear - this is a DIY Claymore mine. Excellent documentation is provided to build every component - the mine itself, the M57 firing device (the “clacker”), an M81 mechanical igniter, and even an M40 circuit test unit. The only guidance not provided is how to create the C4 explosive (and wouldn’t you know it, this newsletter contains a separate resource even for that) and the blasting cap.

But this is more than just a DIY mine. What Remnants has created may be the most complete reference guide to the Claymore mine, its construction and its use, ever compiled. The documentation is 67 pages long!

This is an excellent release and I’m very happy it’s seen the light of day. Fantastic work!

New 15mm Launcher - Baby 203

We’re a few months out from Independence Day, which means you need to start building your launchers and ammo now. With that in mind, gunder_mifflin’s new release, the Baby203, arrives just in time!

The Baby203 is a remix of the PEN15 launcher that switches from a screw-in barrel to a sliding one evocative of the famous M203. That’s damn cool aesthetic!

Gunder has chosen to release this design in an interesting way - the “reference model” can be found on Odysee, and this contains the STEP, the documentation, the README - everything except the STLs. Those STLs can instead be found on Makerworld - or you can just export them from the STEP.

This design is the first iteration of the Baby203, but is presumably not the last! On his Makerworld, Gunder shares a gif showing a breechloading version being loaded with a self-contained cartridge version of a 15mm shell, a feature not included in this initial release, which only supports muzzleloading barrels.

Hopefully the cartridge version - and the cartridges to support it - will be released soon! In the meantime, you’d better start prepping for your 4th of July fireworks show!

Hybrid Shells and Metal Barrels for 15mm Rounds

Speaking of 15mm rounds, here is a release that expands the functionality of these shells considerably! From developer GrixxlyPrints comes a pack of 15mm Mini Shells and Barrels. What’s inside?

The main purpose of the pack is the introduction of a traditional cased ammunition for 15mm, just like what we’ve had for 37mm and 26.5mm since forever. These new 15mm rounds have a case in which a 209 primer is mounted, and a pusher / nosecone to serve as the actual projectile. There are both fully printed shells and a hybrid version using an aluminum tube!

Speaking of tubes, this release also includes barrels for the most popular 15mm launchers (PEN15, Baby Nameless, Projectile Dysfunction) to support these cased shells.

Also included is a metal barrel for the Projectile Dysfunction! Is this necessary, given that we’re not using lift charges for these 15mm shells anyways? Maybe not, but since when was any of this about necessity?

These are more great candidates for your 4th of July extravaganza, so get on it!

Beecher Tactical Releases Printable Kit

Here is another example of a theme I often return to: the most interesting releases in guncad often aren’t guns at all. From a practical point of view, accessories and kit are often where DIY makes the most sense!

Beecher Tactical appears to have been founded with this in mind. Their Printables store lists three products available so far - a pistol mag pouch, a rifle mag pouch and a trauma kit pouch. Of course what caught my attention is an upcoming design, a printable plate carrier, pictured above!

Beecher’s business model appears to be selling prints (along with files to print more) on his webstore, while making the files alone available for sale on Printables. I wonder if, over time, he might consider open sourcing some of these designs, as new ones come out?

He’s also got a Patreon, which appears to grant full access to all models. If you like this kind of thing, consider signing up!

Nearly-Complete Ragnar Benson Collection

You young whippersnappers grew up in a world where DIY gun instructions are a few clicks away. Back in the 90s it wasn’t so easy! You had to buy them, physical books, either in person from scruffy Vietnam vets at your local gun show, or through a mail order form in the back of Soldier of Fortune. How things have changed!

One of primary authors of these old school DIY guides was Ragnar Benson, a pseudonymous survivalist who wrote nearly 40 works on subjects from homemade C4 to fake IDs to wilderness medicine, and everything in between. @PiZLe has gathered 35 of these books, plus some media, into one convenient package.

Are Ragnar’s works still relevant today? Were they any good back then? Who knows, man - all I can say is they’ve stuck around when many other goofy works in the same vein have disappeared into the trash heap. Glance over them and see what catches your fancy - you might learn something.

Community Corner:

Open Pew Project Dives Deep into Sound Levels

How well do printed suppressors actually work? I don’t mean, how well do they hold up - we know they do - but how much do they actually suppress noise? How good are they compared to commercial suppressors?

Our boy OpenPew has finally done the hard work of diving into this subject scientifically, and has produced a fantastically written article detailing his process, using the FTN5.1 as a testbed. You should go read it!

What’s the conclusion? By the numbers, the FTN5.1 performs similarly to mid-tier cans that are 20 times more expensive - quite a conclusion! OpenPew notes that this does not mean that the FTN5.1 is “hearing safe”, and still recommends hearing protection when shooting them - but again, that’s true even of commercial cans.

It’s an impressive result, but also an impressive methodology that OpenPew intends to keep using for future tests. Want to support his testing? He’s taking donations to fund more work!

MetallicFOSS Explores Desktop CNC, Cuts Slide

Have you been following MetallicFOSS over at the Guncad Index Forum? If not, you should be - he’s been doing some very impressive work with desktop metal CNC!

The basic problem of at-home CNC is the same problem we had with desktop printing before the advent of the Ender, which is finding a machine that is affordable, reliable and accessible.

The Ender (and later the Bambu) solved this problem for printers; MetallicFOSS believes he may have found a similar solution for CNC with the Anolex 3030. On both the GCI Forum and his Youtube channel he’s been demonstrating this mill by cutting an LCP slide out of 17-4 stainless steel!

MetallicFOSS’ goal isn’t just to prove it can be done - it’s to develop awareness, education and resources so that others can do it as well. He’s been working consistently towards this, so I think his work is definitely worth a follow! I’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Crank Up the Noise - Nopel Developing M1337 Planetary Gear

When most people see an M1337, their first thought is: that’s fucking awesome. Their second thought is inevitably: how do I make it shoot EVEN FASTER? (Either that, or something to with drills.)

Nopel, developer of the M1337 and one of the best guys in guncad, provides! He’s developing a new kind of planetary gear crank that increase rate of fire by 2x to 2.5x, by his calculation. Here’s a video showing more details, and firing tests - look at that thing brrrt!

This isn’t actually released yet, but once it is it will theoretically be a drop-in replacement on an existing build, although Nopel suggests some parts may require reinforcement to handle the awesome power this upgrade will provide.

Obviously this will be featured in the newsletter once released, so keep an eye out!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

MP5 Mag DB Alloy Enters Beta

Our man DBFirearms moves so damn fast. We announced the DB Alloy MP, a DB Alloy that could take MP5 mags, back in Issue 20; just a few weeks later, it’s already in beta!

As noted in our initial announcement, you’ll need to modify your Mac upper to accommodate the wider double-stack MP5 mag, but otherwise this should be just like building a normal Alloy!

There’s a dedicated Matrix space for the beta, so check that out if you want to participate.

Careless Whisper - Integrally Suppressed Levergun Enters Beta

AvieAtrix, developer of a certain DIY levergun that we all know and love, is working on an integrally suppressed version called the Careless Whisper! Avie has shared a video showing the design shooting.

We announced the Whisper back in Issue 19, and are now happy to announce that the design is open for beta testing. This will require a stamp, but they’re $0, so you have no excuse!

DM AvieAtrix at the Gatalog Rocketchat if you want to join the party!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Maelstrom - Delayed Blowback Mac-11 Upper from Riptide Rails

The Mac platform is the gift that keeps on giving! Riptide Rails, one of the premiere manufacturers of metal 3D2A parts, has announced a new Mac-11 upper called the Maelstrom, which will feature a bearing delay system!

As detailed in the tweet comments, the upper will be available in both 5.5” and 8” barrel configurations, and in both 9mm and 5.7x28mm calibers (with 9mm to release first.) While not explicitly stated, I assume that the upper will be compatible with all standard Mac builds, including the DB Alloy, Mac n Cheese, PWC-9 and more!

Notably, the bearing delay feature is handled entirely by the upper, with no modification required for the bolt - meaning you can use your existing bolt in the new upper!

Pricing will be $400 for the 5.5” version, $500 for the 8” version. It’s expected to drop in May, so jump on the waitlist and get notified when it releases!

100% Printed AR FCG by Proof1447

For all that we DIY, one gun part that continues to pop up everywhere is an AR FCG - and no wonder, it’s fantastically versatile and reliable. But it’s still a gun part!

Every so often someone takes a stab at DIYing one, but none have really caught on as a true replacement yet. Developer Proof1447, of the P.R.O.O.F. airgun and Defiance Lower fame, is now attempting his own take on it!

Unlike previous attempts, this one is uses a drop-in format, and apparently uses only a single extension spring. The video shows it working dry, so the next question will be how it performs in a real build!

This design has tremendous potential and I’m deeply excited for it. Stand by for more!

SSCZAR SBR Remix by MostlyPeacefulMachineShop Coming Soon!

The SSCZAR is, as the name implies, a super safe remix of the CZAR. Developer MostlyPeacefulMachineShop is now teasing an SBR remix of the SSCZAR - which appears to mean in practice modifying the printed tower to accept the surplus wire stock, and reinforcing it with a metal plate!

MPMS notes that it’s been resized to allow the stock to rotate up and over the upper for storage, just like the real thing, which could not be cooler. Once it releases, I’ll print one - or perhaps two?

DIY Kriss Vector Achieves First Shots

This issue’s “Coming Soon” section is incredible, and we’ve saved what may be the best for last. The DIY Kriss Vector, last mentioned in Issue 19, has achieved its first shot!

Unfortunately it didn’t cycle, but developer EfficientRabbit7377 notes that this is just a matter of adjusting slider weight and geometry.

As a reminder, this is meant to require zero Kriss parts. The image above appears to show a commercial AR9 barrel and Glock mag, both of which are commonly available - if these are the only commercial parts required, then this will be a very accessible design!

All other parts are intended to be printed or SCS’d. The current bolt design is milled, but is intended to be replaced with an SCS version before launch.

Keep an eye out for this guy to enter beta! I’ll be one of the first testers in there.

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Bambu X2D - Dual Nozzle Heated Chamber for $649 $629!

Let’s start off with some good news! Bambu appears to have just released their next flagship product, the Bambu X2D, at a starting price of just $649! This is being advertised as the successor to the Bambu X1C, which for many years was the best consumer printer available. How does the X2D compare?

This new printer offers several very exciting upgrades:

Let’s hit the most exciting up front: it features a dual nozzle system, allowing you easily perform dual-filament prints without constant flushing / reloading. Use cases include multi-color prints, but also multimaterial prints, such as printing the main part with one filament while printing the supports in another.

I’ve never seen a dual nozzle system anywhere close this price point before. That alone makes it exciting, but there’s more!
The X2D features a heated chamber, critical to achieving reliable nylon prints without warping. Its build plate can also heat to 120 degrees, higher than their previous midline printers. This is clearly a printer intended for nylon work.
Bambu advertises several other hardware changes, including a servo extruder for smoother feeding into the main nozzle, dual intake cooling to better help maintain chamber temperature, and several other calibration and print monitoring improvements for better part quality.

With this feature list it’s hard to believe the X2D is only $649. Or is it $629? Because we love you so much, you can purchase the printer from 3D2A.com for a slight discount. :)

Go get printing!

Details and Updates on Ze Carioca Arrest

Image credit: @vega_holdings

We announced the arrest of Ze Carioca, developer of the Urutau, in Issue 21, about a month back. At the time the news was fresh and information was scarce, but since then a whole host of details have emerged.

Carioca’s lawyer, @victorcmarsico, has posted updates on Twitter about the situation. His update is worth a read for those looking to familiarize themselves with the case. For those too lazy to read, a summary:

The three major charges are “illegal firearms trade”, “money laundering” and “participation in a criminal organization”
The only identified “illegal arms trade” identified by prosecution so far is the sale of “firearm accessories”, apparently primarily 30 round Glock magazines.

In other words, despite the videos released when the arrests were reported showing several firearms, including Urutaus and other Carioca designs, the allegations do not claim that Carioca sold any firearms.
Marsico argues that the magazines were legal to possess and sell, and further argues that the other charges are frivolous elaborations on innocuous behavior

Many of the claims by Marsico paint a nefarious picture of the prosecution - the most notable being the claim that a doctored photo was provided by the prosecution team.

It is heartening to feel that Carioca, a well-respected member of the community, is not guilty of the crimes he is accused of. Yet this should perhaps make us feel even worse, as it confirms an innocent man is being railroaded by a corrupt, antigun regime.

Marsico has shared donation information for those who would like to support Carioca’s family. If you can, consider donating, and follow @victorcmarsico for further updates.

California Sets Hearing for Preliminary Injunction in Gatalog Case

California is advancing its lawsuit against The Gatalog, scheduling a hearing for a preliminary injunction against the defendants.

If the PI is granted, Gatalog would be required to cease “distributi[on], or causing to be distributed” all “digital firearms manufacturing code”, as well as “aiding, abetting, promoting, or facilitating the unlawful manufacture of firearms.”

Gatalog naturally opposed the scheduling of the PI hearing, arguing that the court lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendants, and that in any case the State’s delay in moving for a PI and lack of evidence that the defendants’ action caused or is causing irreparable harm defeat the PI.

These arguments were unsuccessful - the PI hearing was set for July 28th, later continued to August 14th to present time for further briefing.

It is hard to offer commentary on the likelihood of success or failure at this hearing. Our previous news item discusses a corrupt, third-world state acting extralegally in pursuit of a political agenda - one cannot help but notice that California’s actions here can be described in exactly the same way.

Maker’s Match One Month Away

The Sixth Annual Gun Maker’s Match is almost exactly one month away! This match, hosted by Guns for Everyone, is now the main yearly meetup for the guncad community.

It’s also your chance to show off how the builds you work so hard on all year perform! Surely you aren’t just building the guns and then stashing them in a safe, right maker?

Tickets are $75 for the first division and $50 for each additional division, plus $25 more if you want to run the 22LR side match. Divisions include Pistol, PCC and Rifle.

Never attended a shooting match before? This is a great way to get started! Go register now!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue 22: Fully DIY .22LR Bolt Action, Halo AR Update, DIY MANPADS Launcher

Alyosha K. — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:10:55 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Releases:

Community Corner:

Updates:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

SR-722 Fully DIY Bolt-Action Rifle

Mr. Snark, the author of the popular SY22 is back with a new release! The SR-722 is a a bolt action rifle chambered in .22LR, and like its handgun predecessor it is fully DIY!

Every part of the SR-722’s bolt is DIY - the firing pin, the bolt body, the breech face, and optionally some sheet metal reinforcements to strengthen it. The barrel is intended to be a liner, which is common for these fully DIY builds, but I have seen discussion about remixing it to use 12mm tube!

Reports are that this design is surprisingly accurate for a fully DIY build - it’d make a great varmint gun. If you’re a .22LR fan, go get building! And as usual for all things .22LR, kits are available at Print-A-22!

DIY MANPADS - First Iteration Releases

This certainly caused a stir. Back in early March, developer Alisher Khojayev / MachinicDesire released a video demonstrating a DIY guided rocket, launched from a man-portable launcher and built using entirely off-the-shelf consumer electronics and 3D printed parts. Even the rocket motor itself is DIY’d from a mixture built and poured at home.

The video describes the basis of the guidance technology. The launcher, and two ancillary camera nodes, identify and triangulate a target and deliver its data to the rocket, which corrects its flight path to intersect with the target. Each of these elements - the tracking system, the guidance system, the rocket body itself - was DIY’d by MachinicDesire, which is simply extraordinary.

The project is intentionally political. The project website contains a manifesto (his label) describing his goal as “diffusion of strategic power”, and his video contains imagery of government tyranny at Waco and elsewhere. Its low cost (quoted at $97) and accessibility (using only commonly available electronics and 3D printed parts) were chosen specifically to this political end.

As soon as it was released, the debate started: is this legal? The claim is that 18 US 2332g explicitly criminalizes the construction or possession of any rocket capable of being guided to an aircraft. A counterclaim is offered that there is an exception for rockets not designed to be weapons; the response is that the developer’s website explicitly describes the project as “counter-UAS.”

You can find the project on Github, backed up to Odysee, and you can support the developer on Patreon. Amazingly, these resources have not yet been taken down - for now.

This is pretty heavy stuff. For a palate cleanser, learn more about how rocket guidance works here.

Scz0rpion and Bullpup Mac from SkeleTim

We’ve got a somewhat new developer on the scene making some interesting work! SkeleTim Productions began releasing mods for the CZ Scorpion about a month ago, but dropped his first two designs within the last week.

First up is the Ez Scz0rpion, a mod for the classic AWCY Scz0rpion that replaces the Evo fire control group with an AR fire control group and knocks about $225 off the build price. The scarcity of parts was always the difficulty with building the Scz0rpion, so it’s great to see an iteration that improves that situation!

In addition to that we have the S R Who?, a bullpup M11 frame. What the fuck? Yes, really - although regrettably, this only fits a preban open bolt .380ACP Mac upper from RPB Industries. Who’s going to be the first one to adapt this for Velocity uppers?

It’s always good to see new designers pumping out extra designs. Keep it up!

Purge the Unclean with the Imperium Bolter Receiver

I’m shocked that I’ve reached 22 issues and still haven’t mentioned Laffs Dynamics yet. Let’s correct that now by covering his Imperium Bolter Mac 11 lower!

This is a remix of the old M20 Torrent lower from ProSpaceDog, with an awesomely blocky WH40K bolter aesthetic applied. Like the Torrent, this takes Sten mags, or printed variants such as the Sten Tor.

+Thought For The Day+: an open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and its walls unguarded.

DIY Chamber Heater Mod for Bambus

I love Bambu printers, and regularly recommend the P2S as being capable of printing nylon out of the box. And it can! But not all nylons are the same - PPA-CF benefits tremendously from a heated chamber, which the less expensive Bambus do not have.

But now they can! MediocrePugilist has developed a mount to attach a cheap Chitu heater to your Bambu printer and heat the chamber to nylon-friendly temperatures. You will need to drill some holes in the side of your printer, but other than that it’s a pretty simple upgrade. Well done!

Community Corner:

Filament Matrix - Reference Guide for New Printers

Tired of endless questions about filament choice? Sick of seeing people print their Glock frames in Silk PLA? Send them to the Gun Print Matrix!

This community resource from Alen Knight provides a useful table for new printers - or really, anyone who wants to experiment - for what materials are useful for what parts. He even included a section on suppressors - very nice!

BRB, putting this in the sidebar on /r/3D2A.

WeTalkShit Show Returns April 10th!

The OGs are coming back! Serialless / WeTalkShit has been a mainstay in the 3D2A space for years now, and after a break they are returning in April! Tune in to see some builds get roasted - submit your own, if you are brave enough!

First guest of the return will be P80Ralph. Oh boy. Tune in anyways!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

FossMG9 Gets Picatinny Carry Handle

The extremely cool FOSSMG9 comes by default with an iron sight built into its carry handle, and it’s adjustable for both windage and elevation. But wait a minute, iron sights? What year is it, 1990?

Get with the times with this picatinny rail carry handle from ViperSoss. Put a red dot on your suitcase gun and embrace the cyberpunk aesthetic!

Trash Panda Cheek Riser Remix Adds TPU Buttpad

The Trash Panda genuinely feels like a precision gun to me, so it deserves some precision parts. It already ships with an adjustable cheek riser, but what if you don’t want to scratch your delicate face on hard PLA?

Developer ano has risen to the challenge and split the riser into two parts, to allow you to use a TPU pad. Nice and comfy!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

.43R DIY Ammo Update In the Works

The Modelo Polylactico from BLC is an extremely cool, fully DIY rifle, and is the first design to utilize the .43R DIY ammo round!

Co-developer bushworked711 has not been idle since releasing the gun - he’s continued to work on variants of the .43R. He recently showed these off and described two new slugs - one, a precision load made using .177” BBs, the other an anti-wasp round firing 50 grains of white rice (!?!).

He claims to have achieved consecutive hits on steel at 100 yards using the high velocity slugs! DIY ammo is advancing all the time - if you want to help, it could really use some testers. Sign up at Black Lotus!

MA-40 Assault Rifle Continues Development

We announced this back in Issue 16, and it’s still going! The MA-40 is a .22LR rifle styled after the Halo gun by the same name, and in his latest update mamahler tells us that the firearm portions themselves are working very well!

What remains is to fine tune the electronics, which will consist of a flashlight (cool) and an ammo counter (WAY cool!) Once those are ready, I hope he will contact me first, because I’ll be beta tester #1.

“Lament” Mac PDW from Skum In Development

Now that’s a teaser! Developer skum, notable for codeveloping the FOSSMG9, has teased a “Mac-based PDW” called the “Lament”.

What does it look like? What will it do? Nobody knows! I DM’d skum to learn more but he’s playing it pretty close to the chest so far. Normally I don’t promote designs this early, but I’m so impressed by skum’s work on the FOSSMG9 that I think we can trust this to be a good one.

Keep your eyes peeled!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Guncad Index 1.7.0 Releases!

It’s been a while since I’ve written up a Guncad Index update, but that doesn’t mean Shittinator has been idle! We’ve had consistent updates since then, but the latest 1.7.0 update is a real doozy.

Why is it so exciting? We’re ingesting more than just Odysee now! 1.7.0 adds support to index other websites, and Printables.com is the first. While adding support for other sites may sound easy, a tremendous amount of effort went into decoupling the Index from Odysee / LBRY - reaching this point is truly something to be proud of.

Want to learn more? Guncad Index now has their own Substack! Go subscribe and read about it in far greater detail.

Washington Bans 3D Printed Guns

Back in Issue 20 we listed out all the anti-3D2A bills that we were tracking. Of these, the one we thought most likely to pass was Washington’s HB-2320, and mournfully it has done so.

HB-2320 bans not the distribution of 3D printed gun files into Washington state, but the possession of these files “with an intent to distribute…[or] to manufacture.” Blatantly unconstitutional, yes - but who will stand up and fight it?

Not all news is bad. Washington’s HB-2321, which would have forced 3D printers to implement antigun malware, is dead - perhaps allowed to die given the passage of its sister bill.

Interestingly, Colorado’s HB26-1144 has been modified to remove language that bans the possession or distribution of 3D printed gun files, apparently to avoid a veto by the Democrat governor Jared Polis. Perhaps he fears a 1A challenge in a way that Washington does not? The bill still bans making a 3D printed firearm, so this isn’t much of a victory, but it is interesting nonetheless.

All other bills being tracked remain unpassed and in committee. Situation continues to be monitored.

Another Free / Open Source EFT Generator

We are several months into the world of $0 suppressors and SBRs, and the tools for this are only getting better! We previously noted the Open Pew EFT tool, which we can still recommend, but another one has popped up and we want to share that too!

The EFT Generator by cryptopig takes a scanned FD-258 card and generates an EFT file right in the browser, for free. It’s entirely open source, a major plus!

There’s some further discussion of tools like these on Reddit, so go check that out if you want to learn more.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue 21: FossMG9 Release, GhostBolt Update, Printable MG42, 10,000 Guncad Releases

Alyosha K. — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:42:26 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In today’s issue:

New Releases:

Updates:

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Accessory Corner:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

FossMG9 - Folding Suitcase Gun Releases!

Starting off with what may be the most exciting release of 2026 - the FossMG9 by GreenWhiskey and Skum has released!

People have been attempting a DIY version of the FMG9 pretty much since the beginning of guncad. I can recall at least two prior attempts that failed to exit beta - and of course, I must tip my hat to Unseenkiller’s UFG9.

That said, the FossMG9 is the first proper realization of the folding gun idea to actually reach release, and it works! It uses easily available Glock parts and FMDA rails, and the build process is well documented and straightforward. There’s even a build video!

You should build one of these! Of course 3DPrintFreedom is offering complete hardware kits - make it easy on yourself and grab one. :)

Major congratulations to GreenWhiskey and Skum for this incredible 3D2A achievement!

VS-22 - New .22LR Semiauto with DIY Bolt

Following in the footsteps of notable designs such as the HD22 or the MP22K (or pretty much any Kaewon design), the VS-22 from Liberty3DPrinted is a .22LR semiauto with a DIY bolt. The only commercial gun part is a Rossi RS22 barrel.

This design is interesting to me because it was developed outside of the standard channels - I saw most of the development and discussion of this design on Facebook! The developer claims it has been in development for many months and has gone through 12 revisions to reach release. For this reason I’m comfortable listing it as a New Release.

It’s a cool looking design and I’m always in favor of more DIY. Now let’s see some of these get printed!

Reload your Trash Panda Fast with this Speedloader

The Trash Panda is extraordinarily cool, but it has one potential downside - like a true lever action gun, you have to load rounds one at a time. Or at least, you used to, but not anymore thanks to this Trash Panda speedloader from @TheArtithrifter!

The functionality is self-evident from the picture above, but I’ll explain it anyways - load up the speedloader, insert it into the loading gate of the Trash Panda, then press in the pusher to load up your mag all in one go!

A DIY solution to a DIY gun. I love it.

Hook Tuah - Print On That Thang

The second I saw this I knew I had to feature it in the Digest. It’s a 3D printed fishhook from Pembleton!

There was actually a small debate over whether this counts as 3D2A, but to me it’s quite obvious. 3D2A is not solely about guns - it’s about making useful tools for defense, sport and recreation. Humans have been making fishhooks for thousands of years, so of course we should explore printing one!

Will it work? I don’t know, let’s find out! If someone actually catches a fish with this thing, you’d better send me a picture. Triple bonus points if you are wearing this shirt in the photo.

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

Yet Another L.A.R.K. Update

I hope you like L.A.R.K. updates, because we’ve got another one! In previous issues we’ve discussed how this design appears to require an M16-style trigger with two disconnector slots. Developer StealthTheUnknown has now released a version that does not require this unusual trigger, instead using a takedown pin detent spring to trigger the second disconnector.

This will make the design much more accessible to most developers - so what are you waiting for? Go print and test!

GhostBolt Hits Version 2.0

The GhostBolt has been around for quite a while now, and I’ve always been surprised it doesn’t get more attention. Like the Apple Pie and Monarch, this project allows you to make a DIY straight-pull AR-15 upper, although unlike those projects the GhostBolt is designed to be mated with any milspec upper or lower, DIY or commercial.

What’s new in version two? As noted by the developer, the charging handle is now directly connected to the bolt, and there is now a left-handed version for all you sinners out there.

Nice to see this project continue! Never stop developing.

SFFA V3 - DIY Machinegun AR FCG Goes Gold

Here’s another project that’s been around for some time - from S3igu2, it’s the Select Fire Full Auto v3 fire control group! Long in beta, it’s now reached release status, with a final version ready for download.

S3igu2 is at pains to note that this is a machinegun and should be treated as such. It provides strong and reliable three-position operation in any milspec AR lower, without requiring modification to any trigger parts.

S3igu2 is one of the undisputed kings of full auto. Very cool work man!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

Printable MG3 / MG42 Entering Beta

I was serious when I said previously that 2026 is going to be the year of the beltfed. Another very interesting DIY beltfed project is entering beta - it’s an MG3 / MG42 design from developer Nope!

Now this is confusing, so stay with me - Nope and Nopel are two different people, despite both working in the field of DIY mounted beltfeds. The actual design is at a very early stage but is soliciting beta testers - if you want to check it out, DM Nope on the Guncad Index forum!

DB Alloy MP Enters Beta

My man DB Firearms moves so fast - we only just announced that this design was being worked on, and already it is entering public beta. Excellent work!

For those who missed it, this is a lower for the DB Alloy that allows the use of MP5 mags. This is interesting because Mac uppers were designed for single feed mags - adapting the upper for double-feed MP5 mags is an impressive feat!

I’m firmly in the camp that prefers the MP5 mag aesthetic to Glock mags, so this beta particularly has me excited. If you’re interested too, jump in and test!

FrictionLock Beta - Collet-Based Suppressor Mounting System

Suppressors remain one of the major focuses of 3D2A lately - years of ideas are flooding out now that the tax stamp is zero. This is one such idea - a new way to mount a suppressor on a barrel without threading it!

How does it work? Developer michael-lenz explains that it uses an ER25 collet to mount a base for a muzzle device like a suppressor directly onto the barrel. Cool!

No “official” beta has started yet on any of the platforms, but Michael is seeking collaborators and asking them to email him. His email address is in the description of this thread, so if you want to help out, here’s your chance!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

M249 FRTs On The Way!

Everyone should know about the M240 FRT project being developed by the aptly-named @M240 FRT Dev. One of the most common questions in reaction to this project is - what about the M249?

Happy news - he’s started work on an FRT for that platform as well! Both projects will run simultaneously, and I look forward to watching both!

This is a good opportunity to mention that an apparently separate dev has also released his own take on a 249 FRT. No idea on the testing status of this, but if you’ve got a 249 and feel like playing around, consider trying it out!

Super Safe PWC Mac from NightAlliance

The PWC platform continues to bear beautiful fruit! Friend of guncad Nightalliance has demonstrated a new trip of his own design to enable super safe functionality on the PWC.

Nightalliance confirmed to me that this design uses a sliding trip that is cut and bent from metal, but which is more robust and easier to make and tune than the ealier SS Mac designs we discussed way back in Issue 2. That sounds like progress to me!

More details will be revealed with time, so keep an eye out!

Sten Eleven Test Fire Coming Soon

I am perhaps unreasonably excited about this design, but what can I say, I love Stens! The Sten Eleven design that we announced in Issue 20 is near to test fire status.

We learn some interesting things in this Reddit thread, including the fact that the developer intends to include a spicy version. Are we talking full spicy or super safe spicy? We’ll find out!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Ze Carioca Arrested

We open with bad news yet again. Ze Carioca, developer of the Urutau, was arrested in Brazil as part of a nationwide enforcement action against the “production and sale of weapons manufactured with 3D printers.”

People on Twitter are digging deep into how this may have happened and what’s going to happen to him next - go check it out there if you want to learn more. It breaks my heart that he was arrested, but at the very least I’m glad he’s still alive.

It’s tempting to offer lessons in the aftermath of something like this, but for me at least, it’s too new and fresh to do that yet. Others have offered commentary to this effect that I don’t disagree with, and I may add my own thoughts on it later. For now, pray for Ze, and for all other international 3D2A devs. Stay safe guys.

DIY Chassis Developer Hit with Flux C&D

Moving back domestically, the antigun fight against 3D2A is proceeding not solely through government-led efforts (though they do their best) but also through backbiting intellectual property disputes.

Everybody knows about Rare Breed’s suit against Hoffman; not to be outdone, now Flux Defense has threatened suit against developer SumOne for a printable Glock-style chassis, claiming it violates their Raider design.

This has not yet transformed into an actual suit, but a threat is a threat - one Flux can withdraw. Addressing Flux: your reputation is, compared to Rare Breed, relatively undamaged. You can preserve it by simply not proceeding with this idiotic, destructive IP suit. The choice is yours.

Guncad Index Tracks 10,000 Releases

Can we finish up with some good news? The Guncad Index is now tracking 10,000 3D2A releases! (Actually more now - 10,023 at time of writing!)

Every time I write up bad news for the Digest it depresses me, and it probably depresses you to read it. But stats like this really help me look at things in a different way.

Despite it all, we’re putting out more releases than ever. The genie is permanently out of the bottle and the signal cannot be stopped. With every release you put out, that becomes even more true. Never stop developing, friends.

Accessory Corner:

This corner has pretty much turned into a space where I can yammer about whatever subject I want that doesn’t fit anywhere else. Today’s theme is accessories - they’re a few steps removed from being a defensive tool, but they support these tools in various ways!

Printable Taco AR-15 Mag Pouch

Printable guns are cool, but if we focus too much on just the “gun” in guncad, then we miss out on a tremendous amount of potential - and actual - other cool DIY Defense related projects. Case in point - here is a printable taco-style mag pouch for AR-15 mags by developer QwermMakes.

These cost over $40 commercially, whereas with this you can print enough to fill an entire battle belt for $10 in materials. I’m no economist but that makes sense to me!

Printable Portable Target Stands

If you’re lucky enough to have land to shoot on (this meme made by #WesternStatesGang) then these will be of interest to you. These are printable bases for 1” x 2” furring strip. You can hang a single cardboard target on one, or a double up with two - why not because, once again, when you DIY them you can make as many as you want!

Speaking of cardboard targets, how about a printable stencil so you can spray paint your targets with various details?

Rattler Innovations Mini Camouflage Stencils

Speaking of spray paint, I’ve been following Rattler Innovations for some time now - they are true friends of 3D2A, sponsoring the Guncad Index and now offering miniature versions of their printable camouflage stencils for free download!

The idea behind these is that you can place each stencil on top of your project - a gun, a magazine, whatever - and hit it with the right color spray paint. For multilayer camouflage designs, multiple stencils are included for each layer!

Rattler sells full-sized versions of these stencils on their website, and I think it’s cool that they are offering a free sample version to help get people interested. Nice work guys!

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

This issue was compiled and authored by Alyosha from 3D2A / 3D Print Freedom. We sell high quality parts kits for some of the best DIY guns available - if you’re looking for your next gun build, come check us out!

Issue 20: New DD19.2 Chassis, DIY RPG, Side-Feeding Mac, Anti-3D2A Bills

Alyosha K. — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:47:08 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In this issue:

New Releases:

Updates:

L.A.R.K. Gets Updates

New Betas:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

Pillager Chassis for DD19.2 Releases

In Issue 18 we shared a TX22 chassis called the Pillager and noted that a version for the DD19.2 was in the works. That version is now released!

The creatively-named DD19.2 Pillager Chassis from Ballistic 3D Solutions gives you a cool new option for turning your Glock into a PDW, complete with a sliding brace and spare mag holder / foregrip. Kits are available at the developer’s webstore!

There was a time in guncad that these sorts of chasses were fairly popular (the most famous being the Invader) but they’ve somewhat died down. It’s nice to see the Pillager come in and revitalize this space.

DS27 Pull Tab for your Belt Fed

Beltfed designs are becoming more popular with the release of stuff like the LimaSix beltfed upper or the eagerly anticipated Black Lotus DIY beltfed. As such, we’re starting to see cool accessories to work with these guns!

Today’s find is a printable pull tab that you can clip onto a belt to assist you in pulling it into the loading port. This allows you to avoid opening the top cover, so if you really really need to swap that belt super fast, you’ll be covered!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

L.A.R.K. Gets Updates

In the last issue we discussed the L.A.R.K. fire control system, which introduces three-round super safe functionality and in general is really fucking cool. It’s got some updates available!

First we have the L.A.R.K. Simplex, a three-position version of the L.A.R.K. (safe, 3-round and full) which functions with a standard single-slot trigger. This is likely the more accessible version of the L.A.R.K. for most people, so if you haven’t tried building one yet, this is where you should start.

We also got a 2-Round Cam for any L.A.R.K. variant which reduces your burst from three to two. Why? Why not? Apparently the dev is thinking about making a 5-round cam as well - obviously I’ll feature it if he does.

I feel like I should be seeing more discussion of this than I am. Let’s get on it guys!

New Betas:

In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!

RPM-85 85MM Launcher Enters Beta

We’ve featured developer PracticalTactical before, but this design takes the cake! It’s an electrically-fired rocket-fired 85mm launcher. Wow!

PracticalTactical notes that the projectile is sized to be used with a 29mm rocket motor. The printed parts sleeve over a length of 85mm ID steel tube (available from McMaster) and the entire thing is wired up to fire via pushbutton.

This project is a true beta and does not appear to actually be complete yet - from the current release I don’t see any details about how to actually ignite the rocket motor (if I’m wrong, please correct me!) Interested parties should join on and build along, adding on new parts as they release.

Note that, if it wasn’t already obvious, there are legal complications with building this project, so make sure you’re aware of that!

.410 Kurt-Go-Bang Shell Enters Beta

DIY ammo always gets a shoutout from me, and that is certainly the case here. Our boy Booze and Bullets has modified the Kurt-Go-Bang printable shotgun shell for .410 gauge.

The description notes that the projectile can be either a .308 bullet or a ball bearing. Remember that this is a beta, so if you do play with it, start with small powder loads and work your way up.

Project Chimera (Modernized CZAR) Enters Beta!

I like it when a project graduates from Coming Soon to Beta - it’s like watching a child grow up. For those who missed it the first time, Project Chimera is a printable lower and chassis for a VZ61 by developer Metalhead Twink.

Aside from the coolness of a new VZ61 project, the developer for this project has intimated that he plans to take it further all the way to a DIY VZ61 upper, which would really be a step forward! I will watch this with great interest.

If you want to check this out, join Metalhead Twink’s Matrix space at the link in the forum post!

“AR-9 RU” - Fully DIY AR9 from the Motherland

Every so often I feel like I should include something in the Digest that’s totally out of left field, just to keep things interesting. That is certainly the case for this design.

The designer, modestly titled “The Best Handmade Guns Channel Ever”, has recently been releasing a series of fully DIY designs for various platforms. This AR9 RU design is the latest of those. Yes, it features printed parts, but it also leans very heavily on metalwork, lathe work and other fairly advanced operations. It reminds me of Professor Parabellum’s work, which is a good thing.

This is not just an alpha but a pre-alpha - despite that it actually has some fairly decent documentation. I would genuinely like to see more developments of this sort, and not just because any new designs are good designs. Imagine a world in which metalworking skill was made as ubiquitous as printing and CAD skill? What could we accomplish in such a world?

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Feed Your DB Alloy with MP5 Mags

DB Firearms reminds us why he’s king of Mac designs with yet another new DB Alloy mod - this one is a lower which allows the use of metal MP5 magazines, which are universally accepted as far cooler looking than Glock mags. Yes, DB has found a way to use the single-feed Mac bolt to feed a double-feed MP5 mag.

This “DB Alloy MP” will require modifying the Mac upper somewhat, so be prepared for that. An open beta is coming soon - keep an eye out!

Bullpup MP5 Design On Its Way!

The Twink delivers! Continuing the 2026 theme of “bullpup everything”, Metalhead Twink has announced a Bullpup MP5 lower is in progress.

Details are scarce but it looks damn cool. If you want to learn more and participate in development once he opens it up, join the Matrix space in his forum post!

Sten Your Mac - Side-Feeding Mac 11

Gentlemen, take notice: this is what guncad is all about. From developer SkeleTim561 comes a side-feeding, bottom-ejecting Mac-11 that takes Sten mags and uses an AR FCG. Fucking. Cool.

This is all pretty new so nothing has been revealed, but even money is that he’s simply turned the Mac bolt 90 degrees. Longtime readers know I’m a sucker for weird shit like this so I fully support it and will almost certainly print one once it releases. Nice work!

Orcbolg Fully DIY .380 Pistol Gets a Refresh

We first promoted this design back in Issue 11, and I’m happy to see that it’s still going! According to the developer, he’s overhauling the design and hopes to have a new version ready within a couple of weeks, at which point he’ll open the beta back up.

This is a fairly novel leap, as we haven’t seen a fully DIY semiauto pistol in .380 yet - as such I’m not surprised that we had to go back to the drawing board. It’s still proceeding and that’s what matters! I look forward to seeing more.

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Anti-3D2A Bills on the March

As predicted, following the introduction of California’s AB-1263, several other states have followed suit, introducing their own bills meant to combat 3D2A. It is worth our attention to review them, so here is a roundup of all the bad bills working their way towards passage:

California AB-1263: the first of these bills to be introduced, this is the bill that bans distributing 3D printed gun files in California as well as “facilitating” the manufacture of an unserialized firearm. This bill is passed and is what the Gatalog is being sued under.

California AB-2047: mirrors Washington’s HB-2321, requires 3D printers install gun blocking technologies in order to be sold within the state. This bill has been introduced but has not advanced anywhere.

Colorado HB26-1144: similar to many of the other bills here, prohibits printing or milling a firearm by non-FFL holders, and prohibits possession of CAD files. Also prohibits distribution of CAD files. This bill has passed the Colorado house.

Minnesota HF-3407 / SF 33661: bans all firearms manufacture by non-FFLs, full stop (no ability to make your own and serialize). Bans the distribution of CAD files / STLs / gcode that “may be used to…manufacture a ghost gun” - a mirror of California’s AB-1263. Also bans the possession of any unserialized firearm. This bill is in committee.

New Jersey S-3894: this may be the worst of the batch. This bill makes it a third degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, to simply possess a 3D printed gun file. Those with long memories will recall that New Jersey was the first state to introduce legislation to ban distribution of 3D printed gun files (New Jersey S-2465); it is this statute that Defense Distributed sued New Jersey over. As such it is not surprising that NJ is leading the way with the worst bill. This bill has been introduced but has not advanced anywhere.

New York S. 9005 / A. 10005: copies Washington HB-2321 and California AB-2047 by requiring 3D printers install malware to detect and block firearm prints. This bill is under review and is accepting public comment.

Washington HB-2320: mirrors California’s AB-1263 by banning the distribution of 3D gun files and the “facilitation” of making a firearm by an unlicensed person. Goes one step further and bans the possession of 3D printed gun files “with an intent to distribute the code…[or] to manufacture a firearm”. This bill has passed the House and the Senate and is on its way to being signed.

Washington HB-2321: the famous bill that requires malware to be installed on a 3D printer to block gun prints, in order for that printer to be sold in Washington. Currently in committee.

That’s the roundup. What can men do against such reckless hate?

It should be noted that many of these bills may not pass. Those who advanced them are riding a wave established by California’s passage of AB-1263; but many of these states have introduced similar bills before, which went nowhere. It is not guaranteed that these will all pass either.

Still, it is likely some of them will. We can only advise what we always advise - turn to technical solutions. Create technical workarounds. Fight on, and remember your forefathers - in Germany, in Brazil - who built guncad in far worse circumstances.

The Great Discord Purge of 2026

With all the sturm und drang in our last issue, we somehow completely forgot to mention yet another crackdown - Discord went on a binge and purged two of the largest 3D2A Discord servers, Black Lotus Coalition’s server and Guncademy.

The purge seems to have abated, and FOSSCAD’s server seems to have survived. Still, backups and alternates are being established, which you should pay attention to:

Guncademy has been reproduced on Matrix
Black Lotus Coalition recommends joining their public Matrix space
FOSSCAD, despite not actually being banned, still set up their own Matrix space as well.

For every head you cut off, we’ll grow two more.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

Issue 19: Three-Round Super Safe LARK, FTN5.1 Update, Legal Future of 3D Guns

Alyosha K. — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:08:14 GMT

Welcome to the Guncad Digest! This newsletter will regularly round up the best and most interesting 3D2A releases, betas and news.

If you want the Guncad Digest delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe to this Substack.

Subscribe now

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Reddit, where we’ll post notifications when a new issue of the Digest is live!

In today’s issue:

New Releases:

Updates:

Coming Soon:

News:

Other Links

New Releases:

In this section, we cover new file releases that we find notable. If something catches your interest, go download and start printing!

L.A.R.K. - Four (!) Position Selector w/ 3-Round Super Safe

No sooner did we announce the CARL three-round super safety in our last issue did someone DIY it. Developer Stealth The Unknown has released the L.A.R.K. - Limited Assisted Reset Kabuto - a modification of the Kabuto FRT.

In addition to the expected safe, semi and super safe positions, the L.A.R.K. also supports a three-round super safe mode! As demonstrated in the video below, the selector for this mode sits in an interesting 45 degree position between the semi and super safe modes.

The three-round super safe functionality uses an interesting ratcheting pawl design which requires some custom fabricated springs. Details on how to make these springs are in the Odysee description (move them into the included documentation please!) as well as a video.

This Odysee description also notes certain special requirements for the AR FCG, namely a trigger with two disconnector slots and apparently two disconnectors. This is a characteristic of milspec M16 triggers, but it’s unclear to me if this is exactly what is required, and if so what parts. If anyone knows, ping me so I can update this!

If you want to have the most accurate Vietnam larp, a three-position (safe / semi / three-round super safe) model also exists. I’d love to see some of these get printed!

FULL-NULL - Stripped Down NULL-22

The terse and mysterious ju5t3nc4s3 has released an iteration on his earlier NULL-22 design, which he calls the FULL-NULL.

As per the usual there’s no documentation, which is frustrating and I wish it would change. The description indicates that this is a simplified and beefed up version of the NULL, which sounds cool. Just please tell us how to build it!

Updates:

In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.

FTN5.1 Update - New Options, Improvements, Baffle Coating

PLA+boi returns with what will sadly be his final update to the FTN series - the FTN5.1 update. So what’s new?

Readers will remember that the original FTN released not entirely untested, but perhaps less tested than otherwise preferred. The 5.1 release consists primarily of adjustments from testing performed post-releases. These include adjustments to several models, correcting some small CAD errors and a few useful models.

A particularly interesting addition is instructions for a baffle coating process. In a writeup, PLA+Boi notes that while his baffles are designed to resist permanent deformation (heat resistance), no design can totally resist erosion forever. But, by coating the baffles with a heat-resistant enamel, erosion can be significantly reduced. Check the writeup to learn more!

PLA+boi notes that this will be his final writeup and that he is stepping away again, having completed what he set out to do. We wish him the best in his future endeavors!

M4gery Gets an Update

It’s always nice to call attention to a kaewon design. The M4gery, first released in 2024, received an update recently to add a Mk18-style barrel with special threads to allow direct mount of the FTN.5. Very good!

Want to build one of these? Print-A-22 has you covered!

3DP90 Shortened Stock End - P90s that Look Like P90s

I love the 3DP90 (and I sell kits for them!) but 300blkFDE makes a good point when he notes that the 3DP90 is way longer than a real P90. This mod fixes that by shortening the stock end.

Interesting theme we have here with mods that make guns look more like their real-life counterparts. May it continue!

Coming Soon:

This section lists announcements or previews for projects that have not yet hit open beta. Keep an eye out for further news about these projects!

Careless Whisper - Integrally Suppressed Trash Panda

Careless talk kills, and so does this remix from TheAvieAtrix - silently and precisely. It’s an integrally suppressed Trash Panda!

Avie is waiting on his Form 1 to come in to finish out the build, but she expects that an open beta should follow pretty quickly upon receiving it. The Trash Panda has been a pretty popular build, and this will only make it cooler!

3DP Kriss Vector In Progress!

We’re working towards another one! From developer EfficientRabbit7377 comes a DIY Kriss Vector that appears to be almost fully DIY!

Details are very scarce but the dev notes that it uses SCS parts for rails and slider, as well as a custom bolt which he intends to make DIY. Now you particularly have my attention!

This has apparently been in progress for 8 months now and is “almost ready.” I’m staying tuned!

News:

In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.

Today’s news is all bad and I’ve spent considerable time thinking about how to present it (this is why this issue is late.) My dilemma: is it better to speak optimistically to maintain community morale, or to speak realistically?

I’ve decided to be realistic. We should face the coming threats with open eyes and proceed in spite of them. Read on.

The Legal Future of 3D Guns: One Case Closes, Another Opens

Let’s discuss two legal events from the last two weeks. The first, from New Jersey, ends an old case. The other, from California, begins a new one. The two suits cover the same subject: the state’s ability to control the distribution of 3D gun files online.

The California case alleges that the major players of the Gatalog are civilly liable for violations of California’s anti-ghost-gun laws. Matt Larosiere (Fuddbusters), a defendant in the case and the main counsel, estimates the fines California is seeking against the defendants amount to $8 million.

Online reaction in the 2A community has been tremendously supportive of the Gatalog, and a victory is assumed. But the arguments for this victory are that California can’t sue out of state defendants, that the suit is “harassment”, that “code is free speech”, and that California’s laws obviously violate the First and Second Amendments.

I’ll be blunt here: the first two points are the legal equivalent of “plastic guns always blow up.” These are cliches adopted in order to avoid engaging with the reality of the situation. States regularly sue out of state defendants, and lawsuit are by definition “harassing”. Comforting ourselves with these cliches will not protect us from this reality.

The latter two points are closer to genuine legal arguments, and here we come to the New Jersey ruling. This Third Circuit ruling terminates a suit brought by Defense Distributed almost ten years ago. DD used the same legal arguments being cited here, and in the court’s final opinion they are definitively rejected.

The more painful and thorough rejection is of the 1A argument. The Third Circuit reviews the history of “code is free speech” cases and sidesteps them all. 3D gun files are suggested to be functional and not expressive, and purely functional “communication” is not 1A protected.

The Third Circuit ruling was timed to perfection to cut the legs out from a meaningful defense in the Gatalog suit, before it can even get off the ground. This is not a coincidence. It becomes more evident by the day that we are witnessing the resumption of the multi-state efforts to attack your ability to build your own firearms.

Fuddbusters has not yet answered the California complaint, electing instead to countersue in Florida. I don’t know how he ultimately will answer the California suit, but the Third Circuit opinion shows what won’t work. Will he come up with a better argument that will win the day? We can hope, but we cannot assume that he will win.

Once again being blunt: it is very likely that no lawyer, no argument, no matter how good, can win this one. California will do what California will do, which will result in some form of limitation on distribution of files via the clearnet. Websites dedicated to listing file links will be similarly restricted. These are the minimum consequences for the community, and they may be worse.

And so we must prepare. Resources must be created to help inform and direct those behind enemy lines. Accessible file collections must be uploaded and shared to places which cannot be touched by California tyranny. Culture must be built to support these efforts.

It may be that, despite my cynicism (for that is what we call realism that turns out to be incorrect), we will win this case. If we do, I’ll celebrate with everyone else. But in the event that my realism (for that is what we call cynicism that turns out to be correct) proves prophetic - let us be prepared.

Hoffman Loses PI, Court Heavily Sides with Rare Breed

The bad news continues with an update on Hoffman’s Super Safety case. We had hoped that the long three-day PI hearing meant that the court was deeply considering Hoffman’s argument - instead, they seem to have fully accepted Rare Breed’s position, and they have granted the preliminary injunction.

The court claims that Hoffman “failed to raise a substantial question of either infringement or validity of the asserted patents”, and insofar as he did raise questions of infringement, he “mischaracterized the…784 Patent and how the claimed inventions operate.” Hoffman is no dummy, so I don’t believe this, but the judge does and that’s what matters.

The judge also happily repeats the ATF’s arguments about Hoffman “t[aking] no precautions to prevent the export of the files to China”, and fully accepting the ATF argument that granting the PI will limit the use of FRTs “in service of the public interest.”

We can only shake our heads in bitter disbelief when Rare Breed admits that they profit $350 to $425 per FRT sold, for a product that retails at $450 to $525. With margins like these, the court notes that Hoffman’s gross will not cover Rare Breed’s lost profit.

Overall, this is about as bad as it can be. Hoffman has created a GiveSendGo fundraising page which has, as of writing, raised nearly $100,000 - a tremendous outpouring of community support, and a good proxy for the ubiquity of the Super Safety. This support will allow Hoffman to fight - but once again, we would be naive to assume that he will win.

The Super Safety has been mirrored a million times, but as noted before, nobody is making these in their garage. Super Safety cams are universally purchased from vendors that will soon begin shutting down. What will we do in their absence?

I suggest that the community begin investigating and iterating on underserved projects like the SCSSS or the Super Swanky, which do provide effective ways to make your own Super Safety cam at home. Develop them, perfect them, get them out there.

Ten years of legal battles have demonstrated that the courts are simply not a good venue to advance our cause. On the other hand, in that time we have made extraordinary progress by simply making things. I suggest the lesson of today’s news is to continue, and to redouble, this approach.

About the Guncad Digest:

Thank you for reading this issue of the Guncad Digest! Please send us your feedback and suggestions for improvements on the issue.

The Guncad Digest is sourced using the very excellent Guncad Index, from /r/3D2A, and from readers like you. If you know of a project you think should be featured, send it our way!

SPECIAL ISSUE: State of California v. Gatalog

Alyosha K. — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 18:22:23 GMT

NOTE: this is a breaking story. Additional details will be added as they become available.

The Facts

On February 6th, 2026, the state of California filed suit against the Gatalog, accusing them of violations of California’s Civil Code 3273.61 and 3273.625, with an additional alleged violation of California’s business and professions code.

These Civil Codes, recently amended in California’s AB-1263, prohibit both “distribut[ing]…any digital firearm manufacturing code to any other person in this state who is not a federally licensed firearms manufacturer” and “knowingly, willfully, or recklessly aid[ing], abet[ting], promot[ing] or facilitat[ing] the unlawful manufacture of firearms”.

The specific defendants of this suit are Matthew Larosiere, IvanTheTroll and CtrlPew, as well as their corporations Gatalog Foundation and CtrlPew LLC, which California identifies as the collective leadership / owners of The Gatalog. Particularly concerning is the additional naming of 100 “John Doe” defendants, meant to serve as placeholders for other members / agents of The Gatalog.1

The specific plaintiff is “The People of the State of California”, represented by the California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. It is highly likely that “The People” should be read as Giffords, who is the usual originator of these sorts of suits.

The relief sought by California seems focused primarily on enjoining The Gatalog from distributing 3D printed gun files to California persons via the Gatalog website and the CtrlPew website, along with penalties and fees adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Commentary

This suit represents the resumption of a state-run2 legal offensive against the unrestricted distribution of 3D printed gun files that was last meaningfully fought around Defcad in 2018 / 2019.

Since that time we have seen enforcement efforts against specific individuals accused of illegally printing guns (the source of the frequent “evidence table” Twitter threads) but virtually no meaningful large attempts to ban the actual distribution of files. With California’s suit against the Gatalog, this interregnum has come to an end.

Why is the Gatalog the main target here? The complaint makes it clear that the Gatalog has been under investigation by California since at least June 2024, and likely earlier. Any commentary about their selection as the target of this suit would be speculation on my part, but I suspect it is a combination of their popularly perceived preeminence in the 3D gun space, and their relatively advanced organization (viz. the Gatalog Foundation).

Perhaps more puzzling is the absence of Odysee, the actual file distribution platform, as a defendant. I interpret California’s decision not to name Odysee as an indicator of the true purpose of the suit. This is not really an attempt to stop the distribution of 3D gun files into California - it is instead an attempt to “cut the head off” of online 3D2A culture.

For me the most troubling aspect of the suit is the identification of the Gatalog and CtrlPew homepages as violating websites. These places do not offer guns for download - they instead offer links to Odysee. Yet this is sufficient for California to identify them as “facilitating” the production of firearms in California.

This presents a very concerning precedent, should California succeed on that argument.

What Next?

Defendants must now select counsel and respond to the complaint. Online commentary has unsurprisingly identified Larosiere as the likely counsel for the defense, although this is complicated by him being a named defendant.

California’s first act will almost certainly be to move for a TRO, which will likely take the form of blocking Gatalog files from download in the state of California. It is unclear how this can be accomplished without removing them from Odysee entirely, which again is likely the actual intent.

This state-led approach to controlling files allows for significant flexibility and experimentation - they may act as “laboratories of tyranny.” This means that, should California gain traction with this suit, we should expect to see other states replicate their laws and participate in similar actions. We may even see several other states join this action.

It is disconcerting, to say the least, to imagine a California victory here. But I invite you to remember that the desire to demoralize you underlies everything else in this action.

California wants you to fear this action, but consider also that California can also lose. Every challenge is an opportunity, and this action also represents the first bite at the legal apple 3D2A has had since 2019.

From the greatest challenges come the greatest victories.

Defeat is never guaranteed.

Never despair. Never surrender. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.

The number 100 here is likely not intended to literally mean 100 defendants, but instead serve as a placeholder for the entire Gatalog membership, whatever California thinks that means.

The state-run offensives represented a transition from the federal actions against 3D printed gun distribution online, which ended with Defcad’s 2018 settlement with the US State Department, and have not meaningfully resumed as of this writing.

The Guncad Digest

Issue #35: Suppressor Smorgasbord, Plissken’s Plinker, UMP-VO Detent Delay, Pistol Reset Trigger DMCAs, DIY Pimp Cane

Suppressor Smorgasbord Sunday:

Tisha, FAUXWRX, FAUXDIE and More from “Z”

Red Bull .22 from FTN Team

EZ Cans Gets an Update

Saturn Suppressor Hose Clamp Update and More

New “EX1” Print-In-Place Suppressor from Grixxly

Escape from Tarkov in Style with Fossprey 9

New Releases:

Plissken’s Plinker Puts Big PP In Your Hand

Easy DIY Target Stand Base

Loosen Tough Clogs with the BullPlunger

Updates:

Hoffman Provides Comprehensive Guide to Troubleshooting Trigger Kicker

SBR Your Decker with GBS Add-Ons

Printable Template for Menendez Mag v3 Feed Lips

New Betas:

UMP-VO Detent Delay Remix Enters Public Beta

Integral Suppressor Mod for Urutau Mk2

FTN Core 556 Beta Opens Call for Testers

DB-zon Bizons Your DB Alloy

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Super Safe Trip for HAN-9

12ga DIY Sabot’d Flechette Ammunition

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Hush Puzzle SCS Suppressor from DanishBulldog

Gremlin Break Action PCC

MA40 Advancing

Guncad Ain’t Easy - CANE15 Enters Closed Beta

News:

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Other Links:

About the Guncad Digest:

Issue #34: ATF Surrenders, Glock Reset Trigger, Dual Bizon Mag, SMP5K Mods

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ATF Surrenders: Select NFA Enforcement Halted Federally

California Sues Polymaker

California Attempts Censorware, Passes Wet Fart

New Releases:

First Urutau Mk2 Remixes Appear

Direct Mount FTN.5 for M11/9

Star Z-70B DIY Build Releases

Community Corner:

Guncad Index Gets Self-Hosting, Federation

PrintYour2A Celebrates 6 Years with Anniversary Sale

New Suppressor Mounts for Sale

Updates:

SMP5K Mods a’ Poppin

Rebel-9 SD Barrel Retainer for AR9 Barrels

L.A.R.K. 4-Position Kabuto Gets Full Release!

New Betas:

Glock FRESS (Force Reset Safety System) Enters Beta

Open Source Arms Drops Two More Parts

Coming Soon:

Dual Bizon Magazine for the Decker 9

3DVL-10 - (Almost) Fully DIY DVL-10

Other Links:

About the Guncad Digest:

Issue #33: Urutau Mk2, 9x23 Stark, FTN6.1, Magazine-Fed Lever Action AR

New Releases:

Urutau Mk2: Smaller, Sleeker, More Compact, Fully DIY

SMP5K Releases: Now I Have A (Sub)Machine Gun

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Sidewinder Stens Your RXM

Stop FTN5 Baffle Strikes with the Unsounding Rod

GP9-SA - Ciwielab Design Updated and Simplified by DBFirearms

Cartridge Corner:

9x23 Stark: First Part of True DIY 9mm Project Enters Public Beta

BLC Brings Printed Ammunition to Open Beta

.22LR Bullet Mold Mold (That’s Two Molds)

Updates:

FTN6 Updates to 6.1

Return of the Pro Pipe

New Betas:

Paeonia Magazine Fed Lever Action AR from Black Lotus!

DIY FMDA Rail Guide Releases

Super Safe Your 3DP90 - Available Now!

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