What is a Zip Gun? Do You Need One?

The technology of 3D printing has made it possible to make firearms at home, but the humble zip gun is still a classic example of 2A rights. It is a single-shot design that uses a primitive locking mechanism and simple firing mechanism. It is obvious that not all homemade firearms can be made equal. An AR assembled at home, an AR built from a kit, and a 1911 pistol hand-fitted to match tolerances are all homemade. A crude amalgamation from scrap metal could make a Sten gun look just like the Mona Lisa. His homemade firearm was used as an assassination weapon by Shinzo Abe, former Japanese Prime Minister. It was made with water pipes to make barrels and batteries to power an electronic ignition. A zip gun is an improvised single shot firearm that can be made from parts found at Home Depot or on a scrap pile. We have determined that zip guns are cheaper than 3D printed guns and 80 percent firearms. They are usually single-shot, made from common household items, and often cheap. However, there are many firearms that are built or nearly built from the ground up. 3D printed firearms are now some of the most well-known. Contrary to the zip gun the firearms are more complex and require special manufacturing equipment. 3D printed guns are made from, you guessed, a 3D printer. A receiver or an entire firearm are made by stacking microscopic pieces of polymer together until they are made. A 3D printed revolver. Photo from Wikipedia. To create one, however you will need the plans just as you would if you were to make a part using a CNC machine. The files can be found online or you can create them yourself with computer-aided drawing (CAD) software. 80 Percent FirearmsThese firearms are not finished. The basic shape of the lower receiver (in the case an AR-or frame in the case a handgun) is there. The material is still there, but it does not conform to the ATF’s definition. You, the kitchen-table gunsmith will remove the material to finish the component. For pistol frames, you will need a jig as well as a drill to finish it. The AR receiver at 80 percent requires actual milling if you want to make it right. Most firearms that were produced in the centuries after the invention of gunpowder-based weapons were made from scratch. Before the industrial revolution and standardization of parts, the only thing that unified gun designs was their operating principles. The first guns were fire lances from medieval China, which were bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder and filled by whatever the soldier could get as shots. These were single-shot weapons that could be used in battery. Photo: Wikipedia. As firearm technology improved, so did the skills needed to make them. The first fire lances evolved into metal-cast cannons that required blacksmithing skills to make. These were replaced by smoothbore muskets with more complicated ignition mechanisms. This is evident in the zip gun. This is not legal advice. We are simply providing an overview of publicly available information on laws. If you want to make sure that what you are doing is legal, you should consult an attorney. A Boston police officer with a zip gun. Photo: Wikipedia. Federal law, specifically the Gun Control Acts (1934 and 1968), doesn’t prohibit anyone from making a firearm for their own personal use. Federal law doesn’t require registration, serial numbering, background checks, or any other requirements. The only requirements are that the firearm must be detectable with a metal detector and that it is not sold. Any firearm that looks like a gun or a cane gun is considered an “Any Other Weapon” under the NFA. AOWs are Title II firearms that require Federal paperwork and a tax stamp. A homemade shotgun disguised to be a cane. This weapon was used in the 2003 “Pizza Bomber” case. Photo: Wikipedia. That’s it…as far the law is concerned. The way federal and state agencies interpret, enforce and enforce the law is another matter. The ATF’s new rule on Buy, Build, and Shoot KitsThe Biden administration made gun regulation a priority. In April 2022, it announced a new rule that would allow “buy, construct, and shoot” kits to be purchased, built, and then fired. Any kit or collection of parts that can assembled into a firearm is considered a firearm by the Fed. It must also have a serial number and be subject to a background check before purchasing. The rule change was made in April 2022 and will take effect in August 2022. It sounds like 80 percent kits, including jigs and slides, require serialization. Foggy areas are the stand-alone 80 per cent lowers. Some legal experts claim they are exempted, while others say they aren’t. This is a sticky situation that gun owners will likely hear more about. California, Connecticut and Maryland have passed laws banning homemade firearms that are not serialized. This language is similar to that of the ATF’s ruling regarding “buy, build and shoot” kits. A Polymer80 kit that you can buy, build, and shoot. It contains everything needed to build a Glock-like pistol. This ordinance was also adopted by the city of Denver. Colorado has abolished its state preemption laws regarding firearms. This allows municipalities and jurisdictions (think parks departments) to enact their firearms laws. Colorado’s gun laws are more restrictive in Denver, Vail, and other cities than the rest of the state. The new federal policy is likely to be overreaching and will have a significant impact on legal gun owners. It will take time to see how it will play out. Because of their spontaneity, zip guns can be difficult to classify into “classes”. Because of their impromptu nature, it is difficult to group them into “classes”. These designs only allow cartridges to fit within the body of a pen. Zip gun enthusiasts tend to prefer lower-pressure options due to the fact that most pipes are sensitive to pressure. This is combined with the high power and availability of shotgun shells which means that shotgun pipe guns are the most popular. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.Firing Mechinism Rock Island Auction Company.Firing mechinism The Richardson Philippine slam-fire shotgun, pictured above, is an example of the former. Other zip guns use mechanical tension to light, such as springs or rubber bands. A nail or another similar object is usually used as the firing pin. Although the sophistication of the lock mechanism can vary widely, the best examples may have a stock or pistol grip. Covert Zip GunsZip guns have been used by intelligence agencies and spies in the past. They are usually small-caliber weapons, often disguised as common items such as cameras, cell phones, and pens. A gun disguised in a pack of cigarettes. Photo: Wikipedia. There are many designs of zip guns, and it is easy to make one. You should make sure you are not violating any laws. You should consult your state’s laws about homemade firearms. Next, you will need to add a firing mechanism and possibly a way to keep the gun in place. A slam-fire pipe gun is the simplest type of zip gun. It uses a common pipe with a threaded ends and a pipe cap. Tap a hole in center of the pipe cap, then insert a nail. Common pen gun designs include cutting an L-shaped hole in pen barrel and then using the barrel from a door latch to attach a bolt. The pen barrel is fitted with springs that compress as the bolt is pulled back. A typical pen gun design. The L-shaped cut is obvious. Photo: Wikipedia. Add a piece of nail to make a firing rod, and then cut a hole in your end cap. The end cap is where the cartridge is loaded. It’s usually.22LR or even.22 Long. Push the bolt out of its locking recess, and the spring will push it forward hitting the firing pin. There were also other more elaborate “pen gun” designs such as the Braverman Stinger. A Braverman Stinger in .25 ACP. This factory-made pen gun is unique because it is not classified as an AOW due to the fact that it must be folded into a pistol shape before it can fire.However, be aware any “pen gun” or homemade firearm made to look like anything other than a gun is–as mentioned–classified as “Any Other Weapon” by the National Firearms Act. It is a Title II firearm, which requires a tax stamp to be made or owned. There are many other designs available, including those with springs, crude hammers, and sear designs. But you get the idea. Add a tube to hold the cartridge, and a way for it to hit the primer. It is a very unique zip gun, which was renamed the Smith & Methson by those who took it. Photo: Meskwaki National Police Department. You’re dealing with a lot pressure (thousands upon one inch). If something goes wrong, pressure and bits and pieces of metal and other materials could end up in your hands – if you’re fortunate. It’s not a good idea if you have never had any mechanical aptitude. You shouldn’t make homemade firearms if they are illegal in your state, or if you don’t have the legal right to possess a firearm. Kits for Zip Guns Other Than Zip GunsIf your state prohibits you from making homemade firearms, or if you are not allowed to legally possess a firearm at all, you can get the Pop-A410 kit from Runway Sub Caliber. It is available through many online retailers. After being completed, the Pop A-.410 slam pipe shotgun kit is now available. The kit includes everything you need to make a zip gun that fires.410 boreshells. Although it functions in a similar way to the Richardson slam-fire guerilla shotgun, it uses more common parts. You will need some pipe elbows, pipe nipples and pipe caps in addition to the firing components. According to OffGridWeb you can expect to spend around $40 on parts to complete the build. The gun is assembled by slamming it into the frame. The firing pin is inserted into the primer, and the cartridge is detonated. This kit is a great way to get started if you want to learn how to build your own gun. You can also find more DIY stuff:DIY Guns: RECOIL Magazine’s Guide to Homebuilt Suppressors and 80 Percent Lowers.Building a 1911Blue-Collar AR-DMR Build.Building a portable precision rifle.NEXT STEP – Download your Storm Tactical Printable Target Package62 Printable MOA Targets. Rifle Range in Yards. This impressive target pack is from Storm Tactical. It contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun ranges. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Get Free Targets