Issue #18: Lever-Action AR Release, DIY Mac Uppers, Three-Round Burst Super Safety, Hoffman Update
This might be our biggest issue by volume yet, you maniacs
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In this 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!
“Trash Panda” Lever-Action AR-15 is Live!
Saddle up! Developer AvieAtrix has released the long-anticipated Trash Panda, a printable lever-action rifle composed of AR-15 parts. It supports multiple intermediate calibers, including 5.56, .300BLK and more!
At its core is a modified AR-15 bolt that has been chopped in half and tapped to connect the lever. The lever itself is printed but is reinforced with custom-cut carbon plates. Ammunition is stored in an internal box magazine, loaded through the ejection port. What a cool approach!
I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. Want to build your own? 3D Print Freedom has complete kits available - go snag one!
Open Pew Project Goes Gold - OP9 / OP22 Release
After a year in beta, the OP9 and OP22 DIY suppressors have released, adding another fantastic suppressor design to the ecosystem!
The design philosophy behind the OP9/22 emphasizes simplicity and lighter weight. As the name implies, these are designed primarily for pistol and PCC use - they require no booster and they cycle regularly.
How do they compare to the FTN series? Developer OpenPew notes that their simplicity and lighter weight may be preferable for pistols, whereas for rifles FTN remains the preferred option.
Tax stamps are $0, so I expect all of you to build one of these. The same developer built a very useful Form 1 EFT tool, so you have no excuse not to build one. Get on it!
PDW Your TX22 with the Pillager
We teased this in Issue 14, and now it’s live! The Pillager Chassis from Ballistic 3D Solutions allows you to turn your TX22 pistol into an Invader-style PDW, with a dual spring-assist brace deploy, a tower for an optic and a foregrip / spare mag holder.
Interested? The developer sells complete kits on his website!
New Signal Launcher! 38DD Introduces New Ammo Spec
Like a flashbang in the night, this came out of nowhere! Developer HDL_Werx just dropped a new break-action signaling device, the 38DD.
He describes his goal with this project to “bring 40mm hi/lo performance to the 37mm smoothbore community.” As such, the 38DD is designed to withstand the pressure of military 40mm rounds, and the developer claims to have proof tested it as such.
Another notable innovation is the rejection of the classic 1-5/8” fencepost barrel in favor of a 41mm OD seamless tube, meant to provide an easier build experience (no need to sand off a weld) and a tighter gas seal. HDL_Werx has released a new kind of launcher round, the 38HDL, to fully take advantage of this new seamless tube.
This is a neat design and I expect to see further discussion and development of it in the next several months! Keep your eyes peeled!
DPX-9 - DIY Mac Upper Carbine Releases!
Back in 2023 / 2024, several people were working on DIY uppers for Macs - a project which, if successfully realized, would be a big step towards DIYing Mac designs. The Carbon Alloy released in 2024 but since then these projects have all stalled - until now!
From durbanpoisonpew comes the DPX-9, a Mac PCC with a printed upper! It uses SCS plates to help secure upper / trunnion to the printed lower, and threaded rods to reinforce the unit sufficiently for use. Regrettably it’s not fully DIY, utilizing a Velocity trunnion, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
The 9mm version is available now, but I am told that a .45ACP version is in the works, as well as a non-PCC “Mac that Looks Like Mac” design! I am deeply excited to see this platform develop further - to support this kind of work, print this out and give feedback!
Download the Signal - Guncad Index Bulk Downloader Available
Wrapping up our New Releases, we have here a highly useful piece of software by developer ThePaulestPaul that allows you to download the entire Guncad Index to your local hard drive!
This is more than just an Odysee scraper: this system uses the Index’s tags to help organize the files into a comprehensible folder structure, as demonstrated in the screenshot above. It also produces an “Excel Master Index”, a spreadsheet representation of the downloaded files, allowing you to easily search for a particular design.
The software even allows you to re-run to catch new releases, to retry failed downloads and more!
Data preservation is critical for our hobby, and this software is a fantastic tool to that end. Fantastic work!
Commercial Corner:
What happened to the Community Corner? It’s taking a break in favor of the Commercial Corner, a section for me to talk about products of a less DIY and more commercial nature.
No, I’m not turning into a gunslop newsletter, but there are some items I wanted to mention that I couldn’t fit anywhere else.
CARL - Three-Round Burst Super Safety Available Now
Is the quartermaster riding your ass about grunts wasting too much ammo? Now there’s a solution! The CARL from Stuff and Things dropped during SHOT show and helped me realize just how badly I needed three-round burst in my life.
What’s the story? The CARL parts interface with a Super Safety (either traditional Hoffman pushbutton design or an AS Designs ARC-FIRE system) and provides three-round burst functionality - more specifically, it cuts off super safe functionality after three rounds until the trigger is reset.
Naturally these sold out instantly, but there’s a waitlist for the next batch. Of course this also has me thinking - could this be DIY’d? Who is brave enough?
M240 Super Safety Functionality Demonstrated!
Followers of gun twitter likely know that the aptly-named M240 SS Dev has been developing a Super Safety for the M240 for some time. As the video above shows, he’s got it functional and running!
To be clear, the part being developed here is the super safety - there is no DIY M240 (yet!), so you’ll require an Ohio Ordinance Works M240-SLR to use this design. The hefty price tag on that limits this SS to a fairly small audience - but that doesn’t make it any less cool! I’ll continue to watch this with interest.
Training Grenade Using Firecrackers and Capgun Caps
This was posted on Reddit shortly before publication and I found it interesting enough to include. This is a printed training grenade that uses a capgun cap and a firecracker to simulate detonation. The intent seems to be to use this in law enforcement / military style training scenarios such as room clearing.
The grenades themselves are being sold at the developer’s website. Photos make it clear that the grenades are printed, but it’s not clear whether he intends to release design files for them or not. I hope he does!
Updates:
In this section we will mention updates to major releases - fixes, new variants, etc.
Yippee Ki Yay Gets Suppressors
The Yippee Ki Yay DIY .22LR MP5 beta is screaming along - this is one of the most popular betas I’ve seen in a while. Developer kaewon just gave it an update, adding an FTN.5-based suppressor along with some other improvements.
As always, you can find kits for the YKY (and any other printed .22) at Print-A-22.com. Grab a kit and join the fun!
Three-Position Kabuto “Sqweee” FRT Updates
The Kabuto TURD variants continue! This one from developer @Sqweeeeeeee (hope I got the number of “e”s right) is a remix of work from @Fl-Eggs’s work, utilizing SCS plates and a three-position safety.
Functionality was recently demonstrated on Reddit. This design may become increasingly pertinent depending on the results of the Rare Breed lawsuit, so I’m glad to see development continue.
Yuna 4.4 Update - 100% Printable TURD
Speaking of TURDs, here’s another update on a different design. This one, the Yuna by herpy derpy derp, is advertised as the “strongest 100% printable FRT on the market for the AR-15”.
The latest update improves its functionality with nylons. Give it a try!
MP5 Flat Bending Jig
Developer @Forbidden_Code has remixed a bending jig for the CETME into one compatible with MP5 flats! You can refer to the original CETME jig documentation for details on how to use this.
Stuff like this has always struck me as a fundamental but neglected aspect of 3D2A. Bending jigs are useful not just for stamping receivers, but many other parts - rails, magazine feedlips and more!
New Betas:
In this section we round up recently opened betas. Help support development by joining these betas and testing!
EBT-9/380 - Printed Hipoint that Works!
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one - AWCY’s LukeWarmDesigns is building a new printed frame for the Hipoint, and as his video shows, it works!
The original LoPoint is notable for being not just the first printed Hipoint but one of the earliest printed guns ever. Having noted its significance, I’m also comfortable saying that as printed guns go, it’s pretty bad by modern standards.
As such, the humorously-named EBT-9/380 is a welcome retake on the printed Hipoint. Its tolerances and fittings are improved, it adopts modern safety standards, and it runs well. Join the beta at AWCY!
The Twitch - MPA Defender Mac-10/11 FRT Beta
Macs that Look Like Macs™ fans keep winning - there’s an FRT for us now! Or at least partially - The Twitch from ToadLicker556 is a beta FRT for the Masterpiece Arms Defender series.
This is a true beta - not only is the design not fully tested, it has known issues, including OOB detonations and poor longevity. The Toad Licker is releasing this to hopefully allow someone else to finish it up while he steps away, and in his README he details his ideas for improving it.
I’d love to see this become the first step towards FRTs for other MLM designs, like the PWC and the Scarab! Who’s willing to make my dreams come true?
SuomAR - AR9 Magwell for Suomi Drum
It’s a good day when you see zer0fux pop up to drop some CAD! Here we have an AR9 upper and lower that allows the use of a Suomi drum magazine, which makes any build approximately 3x cooler.
This is another true beta - zer0 notes that he hasn’t personally tested this design (though another person has) and simply wants to release it for someone else to work with. Hopefully someone will finnish it up! (See what I did there?)
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!
Unseenkiller Developing DIY PWC Upper
There must be something in the air, because we’re covering not just one but two DIY Mac uppers in this issue! Unseenkiller is extending the PWC platform to incorporate a DIY upper, requiring no custom trunnion.
Unseen’s design is currently in closed beta, which you can join by messaging him. The more DIY uppers, the better!
Printed 2011 Frame from nightalliance
I’m not sure how I haven’t yet written about this, given that nightalliance has been posting about it nonstop - but his posts are well earned! What you are looking at is a a printed 2011 frame, with options available for both 9mm and .45ACP.
At this time he is stacking rounds and completing private testing. No word yet when it should drop, but I’m certain that you’ll hear about it on Reddit!
Halo Magnum Glock-19 Project Resumes
I’m pretty excited for the printed MA40 and I’m not the only one. Developer Helpful_Spell_5896 stopped work on his Magnum G19 last year, but after seeing the MA40 he decided to pick it back up!
He’s hoping to complete the project in the next few months. I hope so as well!
Remix of the Maverick Fully DIY Pistol
Old hands will recall the PilotGeek Maverick, a relatively early fully DIY .22 short pistol in the style of the Washbear. What’s old is new again - developer akw76 is remixing and modernizing the design!
Little info is available at this time, but I’m excited to see more!
News:
In this section we’ll review major news events either originating in the 3D2A space, or particularly pertinent to this space.
ATF Weighs In on Rare Breed v. Hoffman
The Rare Breed v. Hoffman patent lawsuit (technically ABC IP, LLC et al v. Hoffman, case number 1:2025cv00389) carries on. The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Hoffman was extended, and the Preliminary Injunction (PI) hearing has dragged on for three days. The length of this PI hearing is intriguing to me, indicating that the judge may be considering the controversy more seriously than I had expected.
The more interesting update is that, prior to the PI hearing, federal attorneys acting on behalf of the ATF filed a Statement of Interest on Behalf of the USA, throwing their weight behind Rare Breed and advocating for the PI. It is worth reading the Statement of Interest in full.
In what is nominally a civil case regarding patent infringement, the ATF’s attorneys baldly state that they have “an interest in limiting the sale and distribution of FRTs” and portraying ATF’s settlement with Rare Breed as being motivated by and structured toward this particular end.
This is of course a longstanding theory regarding the Rare Breed settlement - that it was an intentional choice by ATF to get Rare Breed to limit FRTs on ATF’s behalf. A counterpoint to this theory is that ATF would not have settled if they felt they could have won outright, meaning that any settlement would have been negotiated from a position of some weakness.
In any case, ATF makes it clear that their desired outcome in this case is a Rare Breed victory, which they believe will stop not just the sale of Super Safeties but also the “intentional distribution of infringing 3D print files to encourage widespread copying, distribution, [and] experimentation…of the design by the public”.
While such a victory could never truly scrub FRT files from the internet, it would be disastrous for the space nonetheless - it is not inconceivable that it would destroy the major public SS communities on Odysee, Reddit and elsewhere. It is to be expected that this is what ATF wants, but Rare Breed’s behavior in the case so far does nothing to indicate that their goals are any less terrible.
At times, Rare Breed has tried to portray themselves as simple capitalists trying to protect their intellectual property, but otherwise being on the side of gun owners, having fought valiantly against the ATF in their own suits. If there is any truth to this, it is time for them to prove it. ATF is trying to swerve this case towards disasterous ends. Rare Breed has the power to stop this.
How to Support Super Safety Vendors?
This is the question on everyone’s mind, including mine. I was recently alerted to one such option, a Super Safety Legal Defense Fund running on GoFundMe.
I do think this fund is a worthy place to donate, but it’s also worth being clear what this is. Hoffman is not involved in this fund, and none of the proceeds are (at this time) going to him. Instead, this fund is being preemptively set up by a coalition of other SS vendors (like Stark80 or Z3 Productions) for future litigation involving their products.
At time of writing there remains no official way to support Hoffman in this suit. If an avenue to support him arises, I’ll do a special issue on the matter, so please keep an eye on your inbox.
3DP Professor Breaks Down Washington 3D Printer Malware Bill
You may have heard about the recent Washington state bill HB2321, which attempts to require any 3D printer sold in Washington State to install “blocking technologies” to prevent them from printing 3D printed guns.
We wrote about the dubiousness of these “blocking technologies” previously, and the 3D Printing Professor has made a video weighing in on the same subject. He makes many of the same points we did, along with some new ones. I particularly like the point about how, even if this technology did work, it could be trivially defeated by simply putting a vase over your design.
At the moment the correct reaction to HB2321, which remains in committee, is what we always counsel - to laugh at its absurdity, and to ignore it. These sorts of bills are narrative fights, not factual or legal ones. The purpose is for its sponsors to claim they are “doing something”; if the bill passes, they can campaign on it, and if it fails, they can campaign on its failure. The winning move is not to play.
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.
In our last issue we mentioned a printed powder trickler, which has now been upgraded to support using a stepper motor to automatically dispense powder. Cool!
Want to thread your own barrel at home? Use this printable wrench combined with a 1/2-28 die to help!
Above I promoted the Pillager chassis for the TX22, and I’m happy to announce that the same developer is creating a variant for the DD19.2!
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!
Man the ATF is sure dedicated to extralegal activity. Almost as if it was just a political entity with dreams of power.
Imagine the hubbub if one state just decided to fund every single lawsuit against another state for the express purpose of harming it.
I'll just say this, rare breed can kiss my ass.