3D-printed firearm

A 3D-printed firearm is a firearm that is partially or primarily produced with a 3D printer. While plastic printed firearms are associated with improvised firearms, or the politics of gun control, digitally-produced metal firearms are more associated with commercial manufacturing or experiments in traditional firearms design. Although it is possible to create fully printed plastic firearms and silencers, these tend to have short operating lives. 3D-printed gun culture is built around the printing of open-source firearm frames and receivers, the use of standard, metal commercial components (such as an action and barrel), and other parts that can be made or purchased in a parts kit. While 3D-printed parts are made in the development and production of conventional firearms, they are more commonly associated with homemade firearms and the 3D2A movement in American gun politics. 3D-printed parts complicate the debates regarding high-capacity magazine and assault weapon bans, as well as federal regulations, such as the ATF's pistol brace rule.