DIY AR-15 Lower Self Contained CNC Machine (Pre-orders This Week)

Authors Rifles S.H. Blannelberry

(Editor Note: This is a promotional video for a self contained CNC machine to finish 80% AR-15 lowers. It is called the Ghost Gunner, referring to an oft political definition for guns that are made at home, “ghost guns.” By federal law it is legal to make your own gun at home for your own use. This $1200 machine is meant to make the task easier.)

Pre-order (12 left as of this writing):
https://ghostgunner.net/preorder.html
FAQ Page:
https://ghostgunner.net/faq.html

When I hear the name Cody Wilson one word comes to mind: Freedom.

What he stands for is total, complete, unassailable freedom. That is, freedom from onerous laws, freedom from feckless politicians, freedom from the tyranny of government.

Firearms exist. It’s Wilson’s mission to make sure that citizens of this Constitutional Republic have direct access to them despite efforts by the government to restrict and limit ownership.  He is the guy that fights to keep the genie out of the proverbially bottle.

It started with his printable firearm, the liberator, a downloadable handgun that could be constructed with a 3-D printer. Now, the next step in his movement to make firearms universally available to the public is the ‘Ghost Gunner,’ a CNC mill that gives one the ability to make a metal AR-15 lower receiver with ease. It’s home gunsmithing for the average joe.

As Wilson told Wired.com, “Typically this has been the realm of gunsmiths, not the casual user. This is where digital manufacturing, the maker movement, changes things. We developed something that’s very cheap, that makes traditional gunsmithing affordable. You can do it at home.”

From DD's website: "Ghost Gunner is a miniature CNC machine designed to automatically manufacture publicy created designs with nearly zero user interaction. No prior CNC knowledge or experience is required to manufacture from design files. Defense Distributed's first design is the venerable AR-15 lower receiver. Ghost Gunner automatically finds and aligns your 80% lower receiver to the machine, with simple installation instructions, point and click software and all required tools. Just follow a few simple instructions to mount your 80% lower receiver, tighten a couple screws (with simple tools we provide), and on day one, Ghost Gunner can help you legally manufacture unserialized firearms in the comfort of your own home." (Photo: Defense Distributed)

From DD’s website: “Ghost Gunner is a miniature CNC machine designed to automatically manufacture publicy created designs with nearly zero user interaction. No prior CNC knowledge or experience is required to manufacture from design files. Defense Distributed’s first design is the venerable AR-15 lower receiver. Ghost Gunner automatically finds and aligns your 80% lower receiver to the machine, with simple installation instructions, point and click software and all required tools. Just follow a few simple instructions to mount your 80% lower receiver, tighten a couple screws (with simple tools we provide), and on day one, Ghost Gunner can help you legally manufacture unserialized firearms in the comfort of your own home.” (Photo: Defense Distributed)

The price point of the Ghost Gunner is relatively cheap, coming in at $1,200.

For Wilson, the notion that every house in America could obtain his Ghost Gunner and make a lower receiver without a background check, without having to register it, without a serial number, without a waiting period sends a clear message to pro-gun control lawmakers.

“This is a way to jab at the bleeding hearts of these total statists,” said Wilson. “It’s about humiliating the power that wants to humiliate you.”

“3-D printing [guns] was about signaling the future. This is about the present,” he continued. “You can use this machine today to create something to the standards you’re used to…The gold standard of the gun community is metal.”

The Ghost Gunner is designed primarily for 80 percent lowers, that is receivers that are 80 percent completed and just need minor but not easy-to-do tweaks to become fully operation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sets the limit at 80 percent complete, after which a receiver becomes regulated by law.

With its diminutive size (one foot by one foot), the machine isn’t built for heavy duty milling but can cut an aluminum 80 percent lower in about an hour.

“3-D printing [guns] was about signaling the future. This is about the present,” said Wilson. “You can use this machine today to create something to the standards you’re used to…The gold standard of the gun community is metal.”

Visit the Defense Distributed website to learn more about the Ghost Gunner. You can pre-order one today!

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  • Robert Smith October 17, 2016, 10:00 pm

    The GG is a great idea but what if millions of people really did start using them. An anti-gun Congress could easily change the law to ban the upper parts. You could make lowers all day and never be able to shoot them.

  • Lance March 18, 2016, 6:47 am

    Why is it people are so gung ho about beating the government but will turn around on a public forum and ask if it’s legal for a group of people to get together and buy one? First of all, don’t post it on any internet site period! Second, get the friends together and talk about it amongst YOURSELVES! Thirdly, just do it and don’t say anything to anyone or let anyone in your group take pictures and post them on fakebook. Pretty easy to do and you don’t even need permission! Quit being so scared like somebody is going to come knocking on your door any minute now and start living a little. What the hell is wrong with some of you people? Did you get a permission slip to have kids? I wonder if it’s legal to post this or not? Oh well! Lol! Get the point?

  • Gary July 7, 2015, 6:41 pm

    Add me to the list

  • Ryan June 1, 2015, 10:29 pm

    I’ve been waiting for mine going on 8 months. Paid the $1299 up front. Probably bought Mr. Wilson part of a nice home. WTF????

    • Felix September 25, 2015, 12:56 pm

      Just wondering if you ever received the item and if so, how did it work out for you.

      • ggl205 October 5, 2015, 7:06 pm

        Mine took about one year to get but I was one of the first to order. Anything new runs into refinement problems and GG was no different. What DD sent me runs perfectly when you carefully follow prompted instructions. I guess you can use jigs and a router or drill press but the end result will look like crap. My GG milled receivers look factory, just the way I like them to look.

  • Max Grimes March 17, 2015, 12:41 am

    Please add me to your mailing list.

  • Ray Windisch January 6, 2015, 10:16 am

    Add me to your email list – thanks.

    And have a Happy New Year.

  • Cameron January 4, 2015, 9:34 pm

    If it machined AR10 as well as AR15 I would be sold.

    • ggl205 October 5, 2015, 7:11 pm

      Most AR15 receivers will have to shave around .005″ off the threaded buffer tube part of the receiver otherwise it will not fit in the machine. Software will have to be written to make the spindle home position the same as or very close to the mag well touch off points. If that can be done, you can machine an 80% AR10 receiver just as easily.

    • ggl205 October 5, 2015, 7:14 pm

      Make that AR10 receiver. No way to edit after you push “submitt”.

  • David169 January 4, 2015, 4:36 pm

    I think the government’s plan to pick up or confiscate the firearms in the US has been thwarted by Obama. Since he became the frontrunner for the Donks in 2008 millions more rifles, pistols and shotguns have been purchased and so much ammunition has been stockpiled by citizens they could fight a war and still have a lot left. I saw an article that stated the American citizens own more guns than the rest of the world combined. If 90% of the firearms were confiscated we would still have over 30,000,000 firearms remaining in citizens hands. And I seriously doubt they could find or beat 90% of them from the people. Who would do it? Secondly the push from the dark side against the citizenry has brought three key cases to the SCOTUS which have defined the rights of the people. There will be one more case going to the SCOTUS soon which will finish the gun grabbers attempts and very well may nullify the majority of firearms regulations and laws.

    • Chris Baker February 8, 2016, 5:24 pm

      2nd Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

      The second amendment is pretty simple and the wording is pretty darned absolute. No wiggle room. No allowance for ANY restrictions by any government body. It’s not like the first amendment that says “Congress shall pass no laws…”. The phrase “shall not be infringed” doesn’t have any exceptions. Not by the feds, not by the states, not by the counties, not by the cities. NONE!

      So how did we get so many gun control laws when they are so blatantly unconstitutional? If you have to ask permission to buy an arm, how is that not an infringement? If you can’t buy or build the kind of arm you want, how is that not an infringement? If you can’t carry it where ever you want or however you want, how is that not an infringement.

      Of all the myriad gun control laws on the books in various jurisdictions how many of them are not violations of your God given right to self defense? The only legal and constitutional laws about guns or other weapons (the term is arms, not firearms) are the laws that make it illegal to assault someone with one if that someone is not attacking you or another innocent.

      “We the people” have been woefully lax in reining in our politicians who pass laws “for our own good” that are anything but.

  • sh68137 January 4, 2015, 3:32 pm
    • Chris Baker February 8, 2016, 5:34 pm

      Whew! Just waded through that tangled web of malarkey. If a club is formed for the express purpose of pooling resources and does not charge a fee to use the equipment you should still be fine. You would need to check with a lawyer though since I am definitely not one. My mind isn’t sufficiently twisted and devious enough by far. I didn’t see anything that looked like it might stop a club where the people pool their resources and elect the officers and they buy a machine with club dues and just like I did in the astronomy club I was a member of, check out the machine to use at my own home and at my own leisure before returning it to the club after a preset period of time. No fees to use it, you just have to be a member. Anyone see anything wrong with that idea?

  • TREX January 4, 2015, 2:33 pm

    There are many ways to move around the system as it is currently regulated…however the noose continues to tighten and at some point all weapons will be accounted for whether by confiscation or registration. As it stands you can purchase a weapon..claim you sold it to some no name and then simply take the serial numbers off…Feds do it all the time for many reasons….you can figure most of them out. Individuals owning unregistered firearms is not a new thing, nor should it be threatening in a society where ownership of firearms is a constitutional right. The only threat of unregistered firearms is to those who would seek to limit or revoke the constitutional rights…and those seeking to do so could only be enemies of the constitution and this nation. I would suggest that regulations be focused upon those who have forfeited their rights in the process of committing crimes against the law abiding taxpayers of this nation whom without there would be no nation to quarrel over. The fact that our current treasonous form of leadership is fanning the flames of anarchy indicates a push toward a smack down. In such an event you certainly do not want to be caught off guard….as the criminals will certainly have guns thanks to this pack of thieves at the rat house in DC…..the founders knew what they were doing…now we need to understand also. Bottom line…if it is a threat to the current administrations attempt to fracture this nation then it is a needed threat for liberty and the defense of our constitution which happens to be a sworn oath by all who have and continue to serve…which begs the question about the sworn oaths of our President and Attorney General…that is a bigger issue than serial numbers. Which is not being addressed by our Congress….so what is up with that ? Bigger fish to fry than serial number issues..

    • Chris Baker February 8, 2016, 5:42 pm

      Yep, I swore to protect and defend the constitution and the country from all enemies foreign and domestic back a long time ago when I enlisted in the service. I took it again when I reenlisted and I took it again when I went to work for the federal government. Nowhere and at no time did I ever un-take my oath. My oath stands, I will not break it voluntarily. The people who’ve been elected take substantially the same oath and most of them break it without days if not hours of assuming the office they were elected to. The democrats and the progressives in both, all(?) of the parties with the probable exception of The Constitution Party and maybe the libertarian party usually have broken the intent of the oath while making their campaign speeches and yet we elect them anyway.

      Why?

  • duh January 4, 2015, 1:16 pm

    Don’t think for a minute that any transactions to buy this are not already being monitored by the US govt. If we are hacking the presidents’ personal cell phones of our closest international allies, don’t you think you already are “made” by even communicating or buying this machine? 3D printing has better protections. Anyone can make a firearm for personal use with no serial number. How you do that has many options but painting yourself by participating in expressing interest for this machine when it’s already on the ATF radar is just stupid.

  • Todd Masterson January 4, 2015, 10:57 am

    Who is Cody Wilson?

  • joe January 4, 2015, 10:46 am

    80% complete, still need minor but not easy to do tweaks to be fully operational. What does this mean? What are the minor but not easy to do tweaks?

  • Terrible2 January 4, 2015, 9:26 am

    Everyone who believes this machine is not worth its idea and cost just need to look to the past. Nations that disarmed their people before committing GENOCIDE. AN ARMED PEOPLE TRULY WIELD THE POWER TO KEEP THIER FREEDOM. Anyone who does not heed the past is doomed to repeat it! You may trust your government to take care of you but remember GOVERNMENTS CONTROL, its what they do. Just ask any Abenaki, Apache, Sioux, Cherokee, or any other First Nations people how well the government took care of them. If you disagree that’s your right but even Duct Tape can’t fix STUPID.

  • Roger January 4, 2015, 7:47 am

    The problem with people who are making comments about avoiding the government scrutiny by buying machines like this, and other counter-measures that protect them from government being overbearing and taking away rights is this: You are all taking the wrong approach. You fear the government is going after your rights and possessions, but you keep letting them. You think you are being slick by buying a machine that makes one type of firearm component, while you should be attacking the government by being vocal, write letters to congressman and other elected officials, and most importantly, vote, and tell others to vote against tyranny and corruption. Do that and you can keep the rights you fear of losing, and you can go on living in relatively comfortable conditions and without fear. The gun culture needs to be strong and vocal against people who know nothing about guns, but who want to take guns away from us who do know about guns.

    • Mark January 4, 2015, 9:30 am

      Roger, I agree with you; be active in the process of changing our government to what it originally intended-to keep the populace safe and to allow them to go about their own business as they wished. It takes a lot of work to change the direction of the ship of state, but it can be done. In the meantime, buy the machine and start making your own lowers, sell it when you feel you have enough of them to suit your needs to another of like mind. Sell it at a discount if that is your desire, or whatever the market will bear, but sell it. Set aside your fully finished lowers and complete them as and when you can. Stock up on ammunition to fit it and be ready…

  • Bry January 4, 2015, 7:46 am

    I think everyone should have the right to do this if they want to our government wants to control everything we do in out live already . The founding father of our country founded this country to keep a group from controlling us . If someone wants gun they don’t care if it has a number on it and I don’t think the government should control what we own . Most people know write from wrong but if some really want to do wrong there going to do it no matter how many laws there are .

  • Johnny Reb December 30, 2014, 8:49 pm

    Will. You add me to your mailing list. Looks very interesting.

  • Johnny Reb December 30, 2014, 8:47 pm

    Will. You add me to your mailing list

  • bobby October 7, 2014, 9:37 pm

    tom,no its not going to save anyone,just common sense says ? you take it from there.!

    • EvilBlackGun January 4, 2015, 5:46 am

      Hey, Bob, “commonsense”(a term that pro big government/anti gunners LOVE to use… not saying you are… just saying…) but uh, sounds to me that Tom IS using “commonsense”… well, I guess that depends on who’s definition of “commonsense” your using. Eh hum, pro big gov… troll, I meant, Bobby.

    • EvilBlackGun January 4, 2015, 5:49 am

      Hey, Bobby, “commonsense”(a term that pro big government/anti gunners LOVE to use… not saying you are… just saying…) but uh, sounds to me that Tom IS using “commonsense”… well, I guess that depends on who’s definition of “commonsense” your using. Eh hum, pro big gov… troll, I meant, Bobby.

  • bobby October 6, 2014, 10:10 pm

    i agree with all the comments.everyone is entitelled to there opinion.BUT what about the wrong type of people,group,or organization utilizing this for use against US.not u.s.a.us as in you and i.??

    • tom October 7, 2014, 5:23 pm

      bobby, how would a serial number protect you? It’s already illegal to harm someone, shoot someone, kill someone. Do you think a serial number on a hunk of metal is more compelling to a criminal than all the laws on the books.

  • Russ October 6, 2014, 12:01 pm

    Thank you S.H. Blannelberry for introducing us to DD and the GG CNC machine.
    You just made the top 5 in my view of GunsAmerica articles.
    HOME RUN!
    Very useful info.

  • bob h October 6, 2014, 11:35 am

    Anarcho-capitalist my foot! He’s nothing but a huckster capitalizing on the fears of a very small number of gun owners that believe black helicopters are watching them, the government wants to confiscate their guns and has the ability to do so and who have pleasant dreams at night of a total breakdown in society. I can buy a complete AR lower assembly for between $100 and $300 so what is the selling point of his product? NO SERIAL NUMBER. Whoop de effing do!

    • Russ October 6, 2014, 12:07 pm

      Eyes & ears Bob.
      I mean that in the nicest way possible.

    • Methadras October 6, 2014, 7:28 pm

      Clearly you fall in the ‘Well, I’ve got nothing to hide’ camp and have relegated your responsibility of freedom and liberty to the states beneficence towards you. That is until they decide to stop being beneficent. I’ve got nothing to hide, but I don’t need to let government know what my business is, with who, and what I buy. Especially if it’s legal weaponry. It isn’t paranoia, but rather a founding principal of freedom and liberty. Sure, you can buy 3 or 4 lower assemblies for the cost of one of these machines, but once you have it and realize you no longer have to bow at the footstool of government to acknowledge your 2nd amendment right, then in my mind, it’s a small price to pay. But I also think you are free to spend your money however you please, but don’t disparage others for doing so either.

    • Commiefornia October 9, 2014, 10:01 am

      The ones who are paranoid are the elitists/statists like Diane Feinstein, Barack Obama, Gabrielle Giffords, etc. who believe that just because you own an AR15 or AK47 you are, by default, up to no good.

      • Mike January 4, 2015, 2:43 pm

        You absolutely correct, but you left someone out. Obviously, bob h. also feels that we who would buy such a thing must be up to no good. His inane tirade wasn’t about you or me wasting our money. He sees those who truly cherish freedom as a threat to the prevailing “peace.”

    • Al October 10, 2014, 3:59 pm

      If you think that the government doesn’t want to take you guns and any other rights they think they can get away with, I have some lovely maybe soon to be ocean front property in Arizona to sell you. Get you head out of the sand and look around

    • had2 January 4, 2015, 4:27 pm

      It is a big effing deal in New York. Il Duce Cuomo and his goose steppers in Albany have completely BANNED the AR 15 in this State and many other “assault” type guns. So please think before you post ignorant comments. There are other states not much dissimilar to The Peoples’ Republic of New York, and there are probably more, many more, to come if the Bloombergs of the world can spend enough money to make that happen.

    • Tony T January 6, 2015, 9:52 pm

      Gun registration was used to confiscate legally owned guns in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and is now being used in New York to confiscate guns inherited from deceased family members if they aren’t re-registered in 10 days after the owners death. So, don’t believe that gun registration won’t lead to confiscation.

  • Justin October 6, 2014, 9:09 am

    Cody Wilson, who is an Anarcho-capitalist is a young man that has the potential to change the world with his ideas, and bring about a new era of freedom amongst humanity. That freedom, is one which has no state. Nothing made me happier than seeing these mills sell out. First, it shows that people are willing to sidestep the illegitimate claims of authority by the state and its actors. Second, it funds Mr. Wilson to further destroy the state. If you were thinking about purchasing this mill, understand that you are helping to rid humanity of the chains of the state, and I can see no more honorable and more noble actions we can do for future generations.

    Taxation is theft.

    • Roger October 6, 2014, 9:35 am

      You certainly are correct about taxation: It’s theft. What makes it worse is, it’s legalized theft.

  • Mal October 6, 2014, 7:50 am

    I wonder if it is still legal for three or four friends could go together to by one and then more it from one home to another, or rent out to other people?

    • Al October 6, 2014, 1:07 pm

      If you come over and use my milling machine for an hour or go rent one from Mike’s Milling Machine Rentals what’s the difference? Who’s to know anything? Who’s going to say anything?

    • Jim January 4, 2015, 11:55 am

      Has anyone thought about putting this into a trust (wouldn’t have to be NFA trust) if it would work you could list multiple people.

    • Bruce January 4, 2015, 4:47 pm

      Yes. It is legal for a non-prohibited firearms possesor to make his own firearm. It is even legal for someone who lives in an anti-gun state to come to your pro-gun state and make his own firearm and store it outside of his anti-gun state. This is just a tool that can be lent or rented out to whomever (as in a legal firearms possesor). Beware of renting and getting busted, search and seizure because you didn’t pay your business taxes etc. That is one way to come after you, even in the most allegedly conservative state.

    • Lance March 18, 2016, 6:52 am

      Maybe you should just stay home and hang out with your mom while your friends go play. Quit being such a chicken shit and not fucking worry about it?

  • Muhjesbude October 6, 2014, 6:39 am

    In all solemn humility, you just gotta love the American way. There’s no place else in the world like it. If there’s a 2nd Amendment Hall of Fame anywhere, this guy should be in it. Or if they ever get serious about Nobel ‘peace’ prizes, and quit doling them out to Nazis, and make them Nobel Liberty and Privacy Prizes, instead, Cody should win it!

    Don’t really need this, but think i’ll buy one just for the spirit of it.

  • Alex October 6, 2014, 4:45 am

    Now if they could make one that would do AR10’s that would rock, perhaps include hole for those unwanted emergency pins too.

  • Rich October 6, 2014, 4:15 am

    You can buy a Chinese bench-top mini mill (Sieg X2) and convert it to CNC for less than what this costs, and it will be more versatile. Only drawback is you have to learn g-code to run it, but anybody with a modicum of intelligence can do that.

    • jukk0u October 6, 2014, 7:21 am

      Your penchant for saving a nickle, by buying Chinese, is going to come back to take a dollar out of your hide. Buy U.S.!

      • Russ October 6, 2014, 11:51 am

        Nice quote

    • Methadras October 6, 2014, 7:22 pm

      Don’t be a penny wise and a pound foolish in this case. Buy the system. It works. Save yourself the grief and ask yourself how much your time is worth.

    • Old Toolmaker January 4, 2015, 9:57 am

      Chinese machines are noted for lack of heated treat, plastic parts and low quality metals. The end result is problems.

      • Chris Baker February 8, 2016, 6:19 pm

        My father bought a chinese lathe from Harbor Freight and it could not be made to drill a hole in the center of a piece of metal. Nothing lined up properly.

  • Shane Harris October 3, 2014, 9:41 pm

    Will. You add me to your mailing list

    Thank you

  • Shane Harris October 3, 2014, 9:41 pm

    Will. You add me to your mailing list

    Thank you

    • Wiley Cloud January 4, 2015, 3:01 pm

      Please put me on your email list.
      Thanks

    • Scott January 21, 2015, 8:34 am

      Add me to your list.

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