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There’s a damn good reason why we keep harping on 3D printing as the biggest thing to happen to firearms design since the CNC machine became cheap enough to put in every machine shop in America — namely, that cool stuff like this is now possible. This is a prototype (found on Reddit last night) of an AR-15 receiver with a P-90 style stock called the Charon. 3D printing means that anyone with an idea can make their dream happen, even if it’s in the form of this unholy union.

UPDATE: Want to print it yourself? Here are the files. How about if you want to improve it? Download the source files and edit to your heart’s content.

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72 COMMENTS

  2. I believe thumb hole stocks are not counted as pistol grips. But I could be wrong, I do not live in a communism state. (and why people willfully live there is beyond me)

    – D

      • Yup, the CT statute is pretty clearly written to anticipate this. We need an AR lower with a “traditional” rifle grip like a Mini-14. I would think it’s doable with a piston gun, but not a true AR D.I. system because you can’t exactly bend the buffer tube. Hopefully Stag Arms or Mossberg or someone else stuck here behind enemy lines comes up with a new kick-ass design.

        Of course, my Tavor dreams are dead.

        • Thanks – that’s fugly as hell, but better than a limp noodle. I’m actually ok in the pre-new-ban AR lower department, but what I’m really pissed about is the other cool rifles that I can’t own now, starting with the Tavor. Unless someone comes up with a way to fix the mag to the Tavor, and then allow one to load no more than 10 rounds by opening the bottom of the mag, I can’t see how it can be made legal in CT.

    • You REALLY need to find out the difference between Fascism and Communism; more folks might take you more seriously.

      If corporations weren’t involved in our domination, you’d be correct. But YOU CANNOT ARGUE that corporations aren’t directing this, in part.

      • Yes American Corporate structure lead to our economic domination of the civilized world. YOU CANNOT AGRUE against the good in that. Rising tide lifts all boats.

        Lasted until we allowed the left to surrender to your Marxists.

    • In general, folks will need to band together to acquire one; be careful who you associate with, and keep your mouths shut.

      • Agreed. The most difficult thing for the current USA culture to do: “Keep Your Mouth Shut”. They just can’t do it. About anything.

    • I’m glad you like my design.

      Keep in mind that you’re going to need a printer with a working envelope of at least 6x6x4″ in order to be able to print each section in a complete piece.

    • If it wasn’t a printed lower I’d jump all over it, if someone had a forged or machined version I’d jump all over it for a 9mm SBR.

  6. sweet, the best thing about this is it will solve the issue of the back where the buffer tube screws in cracking in standard lower designs.

  7. I really like this design, I can see how this could solve the problems that defense distributed was having with the buffer tube area cracking and breaking. I’m also a big P90 fan anyway.

  8. Does something like this already exist as a retail lower? I’d love to add a lower like this to my lego collection. It would be a head-scratcher at the range for sure. 😀

  9. This is brilliant. Reduction in the number of moving parts. Allows for a smaller, more compact package.

    • How is this a reduction in # of moveable parts (minus collapsible stock)? You still need a buffer spring.

      • Stock, buffer tube, pistol grip, trigger guard. Thats a pretty substantial savings in parts there. Maybe $70 if you go for plain LE type stuff. Makes me wonder about the selector switch spring thats above the pistol grip. Guess it drops in from the top on that one.

  10. I want this but I want it in a metal frame and an adjustable length of pull. This looks freakin cool.

    • Well since its being printed have it printed to a good length for you. That’s what I was thinking I like the p90 but I’m a big guy this would help in that…

    • It has an adjustable LOP via a spacer system in the butt cover. Minimum LOP is 11.8-ish inches, and each spacer adds 10mm. You can make it to your desired length.

      • I believe you mean, “provided you don’t build them with the intent to sell them” there is a difference. If you make it for yourself and one day get tire of it and sell it, no big deal, but if you make 20 in one week, post them on armslist for 200 bucks each, and the ATF get wind of it, you might have an issue

  13. I’d rather have a regular PG and collapsible stock, but it is cool. Would be great for areas where adjustable stocks are restricted.

  15. Oooh this give me hope that someone will create the Magpul PDR “drop in” kit for an AR… Please do this someone…

    • Working on it my friend. It’ll require a bufferless upper like the RRA LAR-PDS carbine or the ARAK-21, but it is coming.

  16. Interesting name, “Charon,” named after the ferryman who takes souls to Hades.

    Might present an image problem taken advantage of by the grabbers.

    • The grabbers would take issue with it, no matter what the name.

      Although it would be amusing to name it America.

      So when inevitably they rant and rave about it you to get ask them: “Why do you hate America?”

      lulz

    • I named it the Charon because the myth behind him was that he was a neutral party. He did not care if you were evil or good, a sinner or a saint, he was simply there to convey the dead to their resting place.

      Just as he was neutral, so is the firearm. It does not care one way or the other.

      I could have named it something else, a prototype designation or some such, but no matter what the name, those that are against guns will be against this.

      • WarFairy – If I recall correctly, a penny for the ferryman, that’s all it took.

        Thank you for explaining your rationale. Well thought out. Look forward to hearing about more of your products and the stories behind them.

        Bob

  18. That’s a neat little thumbhole stock lower design!

    I’d like to see a bullpup kit executed on lower like this!

    -D

  19. OOOOH, look – there goes another genie out of the bottle!! The ‘Bamster’s bureaucrats better jump on this one quick! Ooops, too late.

    Maybe the Prez can issue an Exec order banning independent thought.

  21. One question:

    Abiding by our civil liberties we can make as many firearns for ourselves as we want providing we never sell them. Otherwise we would have to serialize them & submit their numbers to the ATF.

    That being said, what if;

    Lets say someone has one of these 3d printers, has the materials, software, computer etc.

    If he/she allows someone to use these things to make themselves one for themselves, are they “really* making it themselves?

    To phrase it another way;
    Does simply pressing the “Enter” button yourself make it “your” gun?

    I would say yes if you supply your own materials for said object…

    • current law yes, as long as you are the one pressing the button to start the process you made it. there are CNC shops that sell you the 80% AR lower and have you press the button to finish machining it

    • I will pay for time and materials, but load the file from my drive and start it up. There are no laws against renting manufacturing equipment that I know of.

    • we can make as many firearns for ourselves as we want providing we never sell them

      Your state laws may provide otherwise. Federal laws provide no state law immunity.

  23. Interesting idea but this would have to be made from polymer otherwise it’d be too damn heavy using aluminum.

      • Yea, Id love to see a SEAL Team running magnesium guns, they wouldnt make it off the sub alive. Magnesium is reactive to water and burns a very bright hot flame. I used to hate fighting car fires on old VW’s because they used to have it in their steering colums.

        • I’ve seen magnesium burn in old car fires. The fires were bright enough to burn out your retinas. It’s seriously bad stuff.

        • It doesn’t catch fire when water gets on it though. Magnesium is damn hard to light. Just look a racing wheels and how much heat they take.

        • According to wikipedia all that happens when it comes in to contact with water, is that it generates small amounts hydrogen gas. It does react exothermically with strong acids, but so does aluminum.

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