3D Printing of Magazines Used by Kel-Tec for Three Years

3D printed magazines have been successfully used by Kel-Tec for three years, I discovered at the NSSF Shot Show in Las Vegas yesterday. I talked to Tobias Obermeit, Lead Design Engineer at Kel-Tec, one of the most innovative firearms manufacturers in the United States. Mr. Obermeit said that "Without 3D printing, the PMR-30 would not have been developed, especially the magazine." Mr. Obermeit informed me that a prototype magazine would be printed and then be used for 100 to 150 rounds, when they would develop cracks. The magazine would then be discarded and another magazine printed.

Tobias Obermeit holding a PMR-30 and a normal capacity magazine. The magazine holds 30 .22WMR cartridges.

I asked Mr. Obermeit if the printer used to prototype the magazines was a special, industrial grade machine. He said no, it was basically the same machine used by hobbyists today, using the same basic materials.

This is important information for the debate on banning detachable magazines in the United States. If anyone who wishes can print out magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds, then it makes no sense to ban them from the general population.

The PMR-30 is one of Kel-Tec's popular designs, using the .22 WMR round, a rimfire cartridge. The standard PMR-30 magazine holds 30 rounds.

In related events, Congressman Steve Israel has called for strict control over 3-D printers to prevent magazines from being printed.

Dean Weingarten

Congressman Israel Link

Defence Distributed Demonstrates 3D Printed "High Capacity" AR15 Magazine on youtube

Technology is making the desire to keep detachable magazines out of the hands of rampage shooters an impossibility. It has always been possible for people to make magazines of more than 10 rounds in home workshops. Magazines for AR15 rifles were made in jungle workshops by the Viet Cong. But in today's digital society, especially among young, hip, technologically advanced adults, nothing catches the attention like the ability to print working magazines for modern rifles by pressing a button on a 3D printer.

Defence distributed has now released digital files that enable people to print magazines for their AR15 rifle at home on their own 3D printer. Printing magazines is far easier than printing entire rifles; magazines are, in effect, only a box with a spring, and 3D printers make getting the dimensions correct as easy as pressing a button.

In the video, the magazine is demonstrated not only firing on semi-auto, but also on fully auto.

Have you decided that we must now have 3D printer control? That is rather difficult, as many of the latest at home 3D printers are capable of duplicating themselves. They are currently available for less than $1000, and the price is dropping.

If your buddy needs a 3D printer, it may take a week or so to print and assemble his, but it can be done without ordering it from a retail store or off of the net.

It appears that magazine control now makes less sense than outlawing kitchen knives.

Demonstration Video Link

Dean Weingarten

Here is a link to the source of the data files:

Defcad 30 round AR15 Magazine Link

Printed AR-15 Magazine data now free for all

Defense Distributed has created a website that is the "island of misfit (firearms) objects" that others have censored from the web. Chief among these are the data to print a complete, functional AR15 magazine, including the spring.

The current data is limited to a five round design, but it appears that it could easily be altered to a 10, 20, or 30 round design, especially if the maker is willing to add cheap and reliable steel springs.

The necessary springs can be hand made from wire, if desired.

Defcad AR-15 Magazine Link

Dean Weingarten

Nobody "Needs" Detachable Magazines

Nobody needs 24/7 media coverage of mass killings. It leads to the copycat effect where unbalanced people are given an incentive to kill masses of innocents in order to become famous.

Nobody needs to go to the church of their choice. One state sponsored church is plenty.

Nobody needs to refuse police questions. What have you got to hide? This practice allows child killers to roam the streets.

Nobody needs to assemble in large groups. It is dangerous and leads to riots. Small children are trampled to death.

Nobody needs Automobiles. Mass transit is more efficient and safes the lives of children.

Nobody needs to videotape police. It hinders investigations and police efficiency.

Nobody needs alcohol. That did not work out so well last time.

Nobody needs marijuana. That is not working out well at present.

Nobody needs unsupervised Internet access. It leads to misinformation and political unrest. People would have access to dangerous information.

Nobody needs twitter or text messaging. Look at all the trouble it caused in Libya, Egypt, and Syria.

Nobody needs meat. People have to kill animals to get it.

Nobody needs more than one bathroom per house. Anything more wastes water.

Nobody needs swimming pools. Hundreds of children drown in them every year.

Our society is not based on the Marxist concept of “to each according to their needs”. Our society is based on the rights of the individual. Rights are protected by the Constitution, and are not subject to majority vote.

Banning a box with a spring that can be produced in any home workshop, when there are hundreds of millions already in circulation, would do nothing to stop mass murders. Even given the unlikely possibility that it could do a very little good, it would certainly do great harm. While you may not see the “need” for such a device, tens of millions of your fellow citizens vehemently disagree, as indicated by the millions that are being sold every month. They will resist such a law with more moral certainty than anyone resisted prohibition. Many lives will be lost trying to enforce such a provision. Either jails will be filled to overcrowding, or the provision will only be given lip service. Neither result advances the public good.

There is a reason that these provisions are pushed in the heat of an emotional response. They cannot stand reasoned reflection.

Dean Weingarten

David Gregory Makes Himself Unavailable for Police Investigation on AR15 Magazine

The rules for us do not apply to the media elite.

NBC's David Gregory, the subject of a now-popular police investigation, is on vacation and will not host this Sunday's edition of "Meet The Press."

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation this week into whether Gregory and NBC violated city laws when he displayed what appeared to be a gun magazine on last week's show. Today, the police issued a statement, saying NBC had been told before last Sunday's show that it was “not permissible” to show a high-capacity gun magazine on air.

Politico