The internet, or at least the parts of it that deal with guns, is aflame in recent days about an ATF decision to defer prosecution against one Joseph Roh. But who is Joseph Roh? Why does his deferred prosecution matter? Did the ATF actually shake federal gun law to its core? To answer that question immediately – maybe. If this were some sort of claim/fact rating article, I’d rate the claim “this is a big deal” as half-true.

Our friend Sebastian Unger (aka homegunsmithunger), inventor of the innovative “ Topside Takedown 10/22 Receiver” has been working hard to find a manufacturing partner for his unique twist on a classic firearm design. In the middle of his prototyping phase, he has designed something equally unique: a 3D Printed Receiver for Ruger 10/22 style rimfire rifles.

Walther have launched a conversion kit which can turn any of their standard PPQ line of pistols into a Q5 Match pistol ready for the local 3-gun match. The Q5 Match was first introduced back in 2016, with a steel framed version announced earlier this year. The kit comes with a new slide, a 5 inch barrel with polygonal rifling and recoil assembly.

As a minor point of order, most of the below-listed suggestions are not dedicated gunsmithing tools – they are simply excellent hand tools that are most commonly used for weapon maintenance and upgrades. So when you aren’t switching barrels or swapping handguards, go ahead and use them to assemble that IKEA crib that will last you one to three seasons. These top tools are obvious picks – torque wrenches/drivers, brass punches, a solid vise – and shouldn’t need any explanations. Instead, let’s go through some guidance on how to protect your new, and costly, investments.

One heavily home gunsmithed Mosin-Nagant takes the cake of home gunsmithing. Bubba would be very happy. Us Australians have to get creative after all.

Most shooters don’t really care where their stuff comes from or how it was made as long as it performs up to their standards.  If this is you don’t waste your time reading this entire article, you just need to know that Preferred Barrel Blanks, out of Hurricane Utah, makes some darn good prefit/variable shoulder barrels at a reasonable price and with short turnaround times.  Now, if you are like me, getting into the weeds is a past time, and you know the details make the difference. That is why the opportunity to see how these match grade barrels are made was such an interesting experience.  

No this isn’t an edition of Austin’s Hot Gat or Fudd Crap series and I don’t think it was Bubba which got to this particular Short, Magazine, Lee-Enfield. No, this Obrez SMLE is probably a little more legitimate. I came across this rifle in a UK MoD collection and it was too unusual not to take a look at.

Back in March 2017, I reported on a proof of concept attempt to create rifling grooves, essential to ensure stabilization of bullet, in a length of steel tubing using a process known as Electrochemical Machining (ECM). This was achieved using a simple jig designed using a 3D printer combined with copper wire laid into the ‘mirrored’ groove channels through which salt water is continuously passed through using an inexpensive electric pump and bucket set up. Essentially this process is the reverse of electroplating, instead eroding away an exposed surface, in this case, a series of shallow channels usually produced using a rifling cutting tool or by having a ‘button’ forced through.

With the increasing popularity of 3D printed firearms, its no surprise someone has managed to finally print a working AR-15 upper. While 3D printed lowers are a somewhat common sight these days, uppers pose their own set of risks and engineering hurdles.