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Posted: 6/9/2005 1:03:52 AM EDT
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I was wondering if there are any instructions on how to build your own rifle from scratch (i.e. Hardware store) available? Recently the idea has really caught me after seeing a Sten in person along with recalling the infamous "pipe-rifle" from a game called Fallout 2 (post nuclear war game). Pipe rifle, was just that a rifle built out of a pipe and some other odds and ends firing a 10mm pistol round, single shot. Any way, just looking around, seeing a Sten is an open bolt weapon, which makes it illegal. |
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The hard part is rifling the barrel. There are a couple of books on constructing submachine guns from scratch. But it's for machinists who know what they're doing and how to read plans. Even then, the achielles heel of the book is rifling the barrel. The books basically says "Get someone to rifle it for you". |
Full auto and under 16" barrel is what makes it illegal, not the open bolt. |
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Believe it or not, unless it is a machine gun, there are no restrictions at all. You still have to fill out a Form 1 if it falls under any other NFA category, but that’s about it. You still have to engrave your name, city and state where you live, caliber and some serial number on the receiver. What is engraved on any other firearm in your collection would still have to be engraved on any firearm you build yourself. And unless I’m mistaken you cannot sell the finished firearm to anybody else. This last comes under the FFL Manufacturers section of laws. If you aren’t an FFL Manufacturer you cannot sell to others. |
Open bolt also makes it illegal. ETA that an open bolt weapon is also WAY easier to make from scratch. Consequently, it is also much easier to convert to full auto, hence the open bolt restrictions. If open bolt was allowed, you would see a whole lot of new production open bolt guns out there. They don't exist for a reason. The feds don't allow them anymore. And you really don't NEED a rifled barrel. I mean it would work as a smoothbore. |
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It's kinda' obscure. I think that I recall that at one time semi auto mac-9's and 10's were produced as open bolt weapons. The feds put a stop to that and I do believe that the guns that were sold had to be returned or registered as machineguns. Even as semi auto weapons. Just because they COULD be easily converted to full auto with some minor modifications. Wouldn't want to trust the peons, ya' know. Lots of machine guns were open bolt simply because it was easier and cheaper to machine/build. |
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The closed bolt semi auto STEN guns are made by several different companies. I'm just guessing but none seem to have been too successful/ popular. Used to be made by Catco as a complete gun and as a kit. AFAIK they are currently made by Valkerie Arms as a complete weapon. And there is a company out there that makes a kit to convert demilled STEN kits to closed bolt/semi auto configuration. I think that it's semiautostenkits.com. There may be others. AWWWW, the link sucks. Hit google, there's a bunch out there now. I have the Catco kit gun which converted a demilled MkII STEN kit to a closed bolt semi auto. I do not believe that these are available anymore. This particular kit used various parts from the original gun in conjunction with a new receiver, a new bolt with floating firing pin and some other new made parts that I can't remember right now. The new receiver is the same outside diameter but is a different inside diameter to prevent you from using the original fixed firing pin open bolt. Yes, you COULD convert it to open bolt if you really wanted to, but it doesn't make much sense to. On the kit that I got, the original barrel is utilized after welding on an outer "barrel sleeve" or extension to bring it to a legal 16". (Kind of like the 11.5" with a 5.5" flash hider permanently mounted seen on XM177 clones.) Using an original 8" barrel is possible, but could get you in some real trouble without the proper taxes being paid. But it could very easily be done and swapped very quickly. STEN barrels change out quickly. I love STENS. They are ugly, even uglier with a 16" barrel, but very cool. Simple, reliable with some tweaking of the mags. And not too common. I have never seen one at any range in CA yet. |
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Yeah, for a weapon that was so massproduced and so cheap to make they are not a very common one. Last gun show I was at guys was selling pre-cut tubes and piles of parts to make FULL AUTO kits.. he said its perfectly legal to make your own F/A gun so long as its for personal usage. Yeah.. sure it is. 
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Getting back on track with the original question... The main issue with making high power firearms at home from hardware store materials is the lack of suitable material. You won't find tubes of 4140 steel at the hardware store. You will likely find plumbing tubing and conduit which would be lucky to be strong enough to work with a light black powder charge. Kent |
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First you need to locate a Barnes and Noble (or other book store) and get a copy of the latest Home Shop Machinist it has listings of steel suppliers that specialize in low volume-no min order spec steels and stuff.From them you could get your DOM ChroMo tubing. Your barrels could be had used from the web or Shotgun News and Gun List (if you dont just use a smooth piece of tubing. Meanwhile you get a current issue of Paladin Press' catalouge. (or go on the website?) it lists all those neet dangerous titled books on improvised weapons. Nice thing about Paladin is that it gives you the ISBN #  With this you go back to Barnes and Noble,give them the #,and have them order it .ETA: give them an alias and you DONT have a phone #When it comes in you look at it,if its what you like,you buy it,if not ....you dont....no prob with them. The half dozen or so Ive ordered were the same $$ as Paladin.....before my 10% discount and no shipping......AND....... BONUS!!- With the book store ordering it.........no 'big brother' watching where that copy of Improvised weapons of the American Underground went to!  Another good sourse is Rodeus's Home Gunsmithing site........ HERE Pay the $20 (IIRC) and you have accses to dozens of PDF files on bluprints that include makeshift/guerrilla style subguns ETA: IIRC you wont see the file library until you have a subscriptionHave fun and shoot safe!! |
Yeh I know..............and I payed with a credit card for a few too. But anything kinda 'rebelious' gets bought cash ,no card, no readers club, no phone #, and under an alias. My tin-foil hat is double layered 
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Only if you are a licensed manufacturer or if you ever transfer it. The BATF strongly encourages doing so, but has stated that there is no legal requirement to do so. If you ever want to transfer it, however, then it will need a serial number. Sure enough, there is verbage to that effect in federal regulations but it only appears in the context of a licensed manufacturer. Still, sticking on your own serial # is a good idea if for no other reason than not being hassled by a LEO or Conservation Officer. |
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First thing, I recommend going here Link, there is a link to the forums on the sidebar. There are books with plans (never bought any, so I can't recommend) and if you look hard enough you'll find some online also. The barrel doesn't have to be rifled unless it's for a pistol. You could rifle it yourself if you were so inclined to do so. Not positive on this one... but, you can't make a pistol that fires a shotgun shell. It would be considered a destructive device. You don't need a serial number but, the BATFE would appreciate it if you did put one on it. The open bolt problem is that it can be converted to full-auto easily... So if you REALLY want a open bolt firearm I would suggest making it a single shot. To avoid problems with the BATFE, you should leave out the magazine and mag-well OR the extractor, ejector, feed ramp, and the bolt should not be designed to feed a round either. That way they can't say you are in violation, as the firearm can not possibly fire a second round without the operator inserting a fresh round by hand. There is a line between a legal firearm and a zip-gun... Do more research and once you know what you can and can not do, you can begin building. |
Searching. All I can find are some vague references to a 1982 BATF ruling that changed the legal status of the open bolt MAC10 and 11's from semi auto to a machine gun due to the ease of conversion to full auto. |
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Certain MAC's were grandfather all others are no no's. Putting a serial number etc.. is not law but some states require it if you build it yourself. You need to bone up on state and Fed law before you build anything. You can make a one shot sten set up, that has no trigger, no mag well. In other words you pull it back insert round and let the bolt drop. This is an R&D setup, it should fall under nothing as a firearm. A firearm needs to have a trigger, also, you could just buy a Shark bangstick. |
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