same old stan

[Stede Bonnet]

smash polymers on a glock with a hammer
do the same for 3d printed guns
the manufacturing process is totally different
firing with a polymer that absorbs shock is different than 3d plastics that shock leaves microscopic cracks in to create failures over time
a combination of a print with a polymer layer on top might ve functional long term but whats the point lol

I can take some gas pipe a cap a nail and a shotgun shell and have fun
a little time some steel and again having fun

no way I'm playing with a 3d printer
the story of the guy who started it and and overcame arrest and lawfare to keep sharing it for free and building them legal
is the only part of that hobby I agree with

Maybe 10 years ago, but most modern printers can print glass filled nylon, the same material used in Glock frames-- or many other materials. There definitely are differences as a result of the manufacturing processes, injection molding is going to produce more resilient parts than additive manufacturing. But we're even seeing a lot of gun companies use 3d printing for developmental stages of new designs, because it significantly speeds up iteration times and reduces costs.

Even with all that said, if I had a choice, I'd choose a traditionally made firearm. I just really don't like this pretty pervasive idea that 3d printed guns are just bad, that they don't work, and they're unreliable. I'm sure people said the same thing about Glock's when they came around. "You can't trust that darn plastic, it'll get you killed. I only carry my steel-framed 1911, won two world wars! And it's in god's caliber .45, not that wimpy 9mm. So what if it's twice the weight has less than half the capacity? If you can't finish em' with 7, you deserved to get killed."

Sorry if I come off as a bit a**pained I just think 3d printed guns are really cool.

[Meliva]

sure, as time goes on 3d printed stuff will improve, but any new innovation or tech is going to have problems. It's also not like the glock was just made in a night and didn't require tons of work and testing.

The biggest issue with 3d printing, is that if you are doing it for yourself, then it's limited by your knowledge, and skill. I can believe 3d printing could maybe make a decent gun, if you have the material and knowledge to do it. If you don't, you're liable to just make a gun that will blow up in your hand rather then fire a bullet. Or won't fire at all. Or break easy. There's no regulation, no guidelines other then what you yourself set.

With actual firearms made by professionals, you can normally trust that it's a solid product that won't fail on you. It's like homemade alcohol. During prohbition lots of folks tried making the stuff, lots of people went blind or died. Being able to make something doesn't mean you can make it properly.

[Lachlan]

Ukraine has done as well as it has for a few reasons.

1- It's a very large country land wise. It's a lot harder to take and hold a large area of land, then a small area. That's why so many invasions against Russia have failed. Further in you go, harder it is to keep your supply lines up. Easier it is for enemies to get behind you.

2- Wars tend to have a slight advantage to defenders. You need to fight people who are probably entrenched, in defensive positions, all while you need to get a foot hold.

3-I think Russia seriously underestimate how much a fight they were going to put and made a few nasty blunders.

4- probably the most important reason, Ukraine isn't holding them off alone. They have received hundreds of billions of dollars of aid, while Russia has been hit with sanctions. If no aid was given to Ukraine at all, and nothing was done to try to punish Russia, Ukraine probably would have fallen by now.

Even with all this support, Ukraine is just holding on, but the longer it goes on, the worse it will be for them. Unless other countries are willing to put boots on the ground, Ukraine will slowly be worn down to nothing- and even if they do manage to fend off Russia, their population is going to be decimated.

There is an allegation from Tucker Carlson that Ukraine has been selling some of our provided weapons on the black market
I want to see how that accusation turns out
I mean it is obvious Zedumsky wants the money to keep coming in but selling our aid on the market could lead to some nasty stuff

Seriously you believe stuff that puppet says? He is so pro-Russian he is willing to make a multitude of false statements regarding Ukraine while only saying good things about Russia. There is a reason why he is one of a dwindling number of western journalists inside Russia. He's a Putin ally. I'm also sad that you buy into the conspiracy theory that there were secret labs in Ukraine. It shocks me to see Americans like you who at least from most of your comments seem to support Russia (more) a country who invaded one if it's neighbors and started one of the most major wars since WW2 compared to Ukraine the country that was actually invaded in 2014 and then again in 2022.

[Meliva]

Eh, governments all over do shady crap all the time. I could see Ukraine selling some American weapons or having secret labs. I just sort of assume, any government or nation has nasty skeletons in its closet somewhere. Goodness knows America has done a lot of underhanded or nasty stuff over the years.

Now whether it's actually true or not, dunno. I won't just flat out believe it without evidence, but I won't just dismiss it outright either. It's not like it's that crazy of a theory. A government selling things they shouldn't, and having secret labs? A lot more believable then a squeaky-clean government with no skeletons in its' closet.

I don't really support Russia or Ukraine. At this point, we've given more than enough support to them, and they can either finish on their own, or get help elsewhere. We got too many problems of our own to be worrying about the problems of a nation that's halfway across the world from us.

[Meliva]

Side note, for those who think we should keep helping them, here's an analogy I made to help explain it.

Imagine a father/mother in a home where they provide for their family. Their neighbors children are starving, and the father's own children are starving, and they have the means to feed one or the other. Don't you agree, that it would be for the best for them to feed their own children first, before feeding the neighbors? If their neighbors house is falling apart, and their house is falling apart, should they be fixing the neighbors house first, and neglect their own? What if both neighbors are suffering?

Charity should only be given, when your own affairs are in order. Don't feed other people, if you and your family are going hungry. Don't fix other people's problems when you're drowning in your own. Same with nations. Why should the US be helping other nations when we are trillions in debt, have homeless vets, and other issues that need solving? I don't see other nations breaking their backs to help with any of that do any of you?

[Leo]

As much as I despise the US's involvement in other countries where we have no business, I don't think withdrawing from Ukraine is a good idea unless peace can be made with Russia first. Ukraine is one of our allies and Russia could easily chew them up and spit them out 17 times before doing it again for lunch. We are needed there until a ceasefire and/or treaty can be reached. I don't think that means we continue to pay for them, I think it means that we need to urge peace be made. Everybody wins then. No one dies in Ukraine or Russia and we don't have to keep spending our tax dollars on them.

[Most Lee Harmless]

Right now folk in Europe are looking at current events and reaching the same conclusion : the USA can not be trusted. Trump negotiates a trade treaty, telling everyone how wonderful it is and five years later tears it up as 'unfair' and asks which fool agreed it : and we watched as not a single soul in the room coughed and said 'You did'. We watch as Trump demands a soveriegn nation, an ally no less, bend the knee and become subjects. We watch as Trump demands Greenland be handed over to the US : and, in both cases, Canada and Greenland are told to either roll-over or be forced to comply. And when asked he refuses to rule out military action. Austria and Czech Republic must shudder as they recall the 1930's.

We watch as he now carves up Ukraine as part of jis 'peace deal' : apparently Ukraine does not need to be involved as He and Putin decide which lands, resources and power stations go to who. Poland must shudder as it watches 1939 replayed.

Putin must be dancing in the Kremlin as Trump, in a mere few weeks has gutted NATO : only a fool would now rely on the USA in any conflict. Evidence is that the only aid Trump would send is negotiators to divvy up the spoils.

The USA spends its dollars on bases in Europe because that is the cheaper option : fixed airfields are always cheaper than carrier groups : pre-positioned stores are always cheaper than flying in kit or waiting weeks for sea-borne equipment. Here's a deal : take all your airfields and bases and listening posts and radars and go home. Watch your own borders from your own soil. Provision your mighty navy from your own ports. Don't ask for our help when you next need a 'Coalition' for some foreign policy stunt. Don't ask us to defend or assist US interests. You ain't interested in defending or supporting ours so fairs fair. Just piss off home and worry about your own affairs.

[Meliva]

And when and if the next world war comes up, and Russia starts conquering all of you after we pull our assets or some other power over there starts causing trouble, can you promise us no one will come asking for help? Actually leave us outta it this time? Cause it seems like every time we try to avoid sending soldiers and weaposn over there, someone over in Europe or Asia decides to come along and drag us into the mess. Happened both times in the world wars so far. Why not make it a third at this point.

I'm all for pulling outta all these foreign countries. Sad part is, I just know that it's only a matter of time before someone ends up dragging us back in.

[Most Lee Harmless]

If I recall correctly, it was not Europe that brought the USA into WW2 : the US stayed out until Japan pulled it in. Incidentally, Canada consequently declared war on Japan before the USA responded likewise.

Prior to that, the USA was arming both sides : and before you jump up to shout that's a lie go google US businesses operating in Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe. Ford, Coca Cola, assorted oil and chemical companies, etc. Indeed, once war was declared on the USA by Germany, there was a hurried re-arranging of stocks and shares to obscure ownership. Google the history of Fanta, still a Coca Cola brand.

The UK shipped all its gold reserves to the US to pay for arms supplies. Lend-Lease was a later method of funding arms supplies. Incidentally, the UK eventually repaid ALL its war loans from the USA in the 1970's.

There is a case to be made that the USA was only militarily ready for its entry into WW2 because the UK had already financed a big chunk of the necessary arms infrastructure and development over the preceding three years.

You're welcome.

As for pulling you into any future conflict : that is my point : Trump is showing us what such involvement will lead to : an enforced abject surrender whilst he and Putin 'negotiate' who gets what from the spoils.

The USA can not now be trusted as a trade partner. It can not now be trusted as a neighbour. It can not now be trusted as an ally. It can not now be trusted economically, militarily or politically.

Frankly, if Europe has to fight Russia then I think we will do better on our own than inviting a bunch of greedy back-stabbing vultures to 'help' us. Better that Russia grabs it all than have Trump and Putin decide who our new masters are. Or maybe we will simply nuke the lot and feck you both off.

And if Putins builds his glorious Russian Empire upon the ruins of Europe, hey, you get to be next.

[Mack]

I think we should let Europe do Europe.. when or if Russia wants war with us then we shall oblige but for right now they want business deals