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Originally Posted by Inner Dirt
It will kind of work, ONCE. Currently even the 3D printer capable of printing with powdered metal produces an item incapable of tolerating any measurable stress. A bullet is actually larger than the gun barrel, when fired the bullet expands into the voids left by the rifling so it can pass through. A 3D printed barrel would not tolerate that stress and either fly apart or peel away like a peeled banana. The barrel coming apart will send a low velocity bullet that could go anywhere. The safest place to stand around someone shooting a 3D printed gun would probably be a few feet directly in front of it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FantasticDan
I appreciate your knowledge on the topic. 
But as Ralph says, probably sooner than later they'll see advances in functionality.
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Then do me a favor and tell people to stop spreading misleading information about guns.
As for advances, I am sure there will be some, although the process will always have limitations, due to the physics of metallurgy. What you have is a method that isn't even as strong as casting. Anyone with even a simple knowledge of tools knows a forged tool is stronger that a cast one and one machined from solid (How they make real modern guns) is stronger than that.
I think the limitation for 3D printing a gun barrel that could be somewhat durable would be one for a shotgun or a muzzle loader (where the bullet will roll down the barrel).
