Issue #29: .22LR Beltfed Enters Beta, DIY Tommy Gun, BLC Pistols, Glock Survey
Here I am, here I remain
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In today’s issue:
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:
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!
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!
Other Links:
This section will collect any other links I find interesting. These may be older designs I want to share, releases I find notable but don’t have much commentary on, or anything else that catches my eye.
Everyone is excited about the $0 Form 1 law for suppressors, but what gets discussed a little less is the ability to get $0 SBRs. Now you can build designs like the SMP40 as they were truly intended, with an 11” barrel and a folding stock!
You’ll still have to get your form approved of course. Stubbs provides with a guide and reference image to assist you with this. Just drop this in your form to help get it expedited.
This is a cool idea and I’d be interested to see other guncad devs provide similar things for their designs.Two issues ago we mentioned BrewBoy and his capgun-powered DIY ammo. He’s back with a really slick looking V2. See it operating here!
DIY ammo devs should look seriously into this approach!
About the Guncad Digest:
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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!