M249 Carrier to STANAG Magazine Well Adapter

Fightlite: Respectfully fuck yourselves.

M249 Carrier to STANAG Magazine Well Adapter.  Has a built-in single-shot sled adapter, compatible with Ares, Fightlite MCR, Tribe Tactical and other beltfed uppers.  Can utilize plastic FN ammo carriers or the cloth "nutsack" ammo carriers.

Remember: BRASS to the GRASS

INSTRUCTIONS: Print the two halves at 100%, flatside down by default with no supports, and screw together with 8-32 tpi machine screws.  Strong and indestructible. I have tested it with the heaviest link holder which is the plastic box with 200 rounds.

CAD render, 1 piece, untested provided for reference only.

The one-piece model has not been tested and is just for reference if you want to edit it or test it or whatever. It will probably break on the layer lines if you print it upright.

leftside

rightside

LINKS:

FREE Download at Thingiverse

Download for 50 American Pesos at Cults3d, and help a poor veteran D:

Buy for $150 at Fightlite's website (don't actually do this).

VZ61 Multipiece Lower, Release V1, Public Beta

 Yeah, I'm slow.  Truth be told, I have not edited this much since 2021, and have not tested it past 50 rounds.  In that time I had a lot of important stuff going on and kind of just forgot about it.  I am releasing this to the public as an open beta test.  I want to move on with other projects, but I will eventually finalize this.

Montage of old versions.

The only thing I did recently was make a PDF instruction manual and create a screw jig that has not been tested.  The VZ61 frame I tested in the video was a slightly older variant that actually stretched lengthwise (to the point where the upper would not close) and had noticeable egging of the screw holes, which I addressed by adding more material around the screw holes.

That being said, print at your own risk.  ONE DAY, I'll actually return to this project and finish it.

For more detailed build instructions, read the PDF included with the files.  Please feel free to post any questions, suggestions, or ideas in the comments section here.

THE LINK ON ODYSEE!!! CLICKY HERE!!!

More info from the included PDF:

Note: This package was made and released in August 2024. I am uploading a print file that I haven’t touched since 2021 and forgot about it because I had a bunch of stuff going on. Currently outside of the country until 2025. Trying to wrap everything up and release it now that I have a bunch of down time, and everything is based on notes and old pictures. Will update this documentation along with updates to the STLs in the next year.

INTRO: Yes, there's already a CZ61 / VZ61 Skorpion that takes an AR15 FCG (special thanks to FreeMenDon'tAsk's VZ61 which I used to compare/verify dimensions) but mine can be printed piece by piece at a time (for smaller printers) and replaced when worn out. Also I hate leaving my printer on for more than 12+ hours for large prints. You can inconspicuously print these pieces on school library or company printers and not arouse suspicion (tell them it’s Radio-Controlled Car parts). Additionally, my front pivot pin area is reinforced with metal so it doesn't need an ungainly thick pivot area. Some of individual printed pieces are simple enough that they can be replicated using metal bar stock and simple tools. The ultimate goal is to have a mostly metal (if not all) receiver.

Future Updates: There's still some minor fixes I need to do, like add more material around the screws so they don't crack. Maybe make the front and rear side plates one piece. I also want to make a semi-auto VZ61 FCG version since I now have several sets of these trigger groups that need a home. Also maybe Walther PPS Mag-well since I have a bunch of these magazines.

The final phase for this is to create a set of jigs so that you could re-create the 3d printed parts out of metal stock - at least for the side plates. The front, center and rear trunnion would always be 3d printed due to their complexity, but I want to try casting them from aluminum, brass or zinc some day. I haven't got that far yet because I got bored of this project so I'm trying to push the files to the public for testing.

Old footage:

VZ61 Proof of Concept, status update

Video of my own version of the VZ61 “SkARpion” receiver - so called because its a Skorpion with an AR fire control group.  Yeah, its been done before, but I like mine better because its metal reinforced, user-assembled, and will include modular magwells, grip assemblies, and FCG containers.  It isn’t dead and I havent forgotten about it.  It needs a few tweeks before I am ready to release it to the public, hopefully by Christmas.

Printer Maintenance log

 Went about a whole year without doing any serious PM and calibrating on my Ender 3, aside from minor bed level adjustments.  It finally started seeing problems after running 8 hours a day for a whole year, with a week of rest per month when I left town.  Fortunately these are fixable along with most parts of the Ender.

Space between lines - not good!

The first thing I noticed was spaces between lines on the top layer, then failure to extrude.  At first I suspected a clogged nozzle, then I thought the table had somehow shifted away from print head causing thin lines.  I guess it was a combination of both (and I suspect a weakened extruder feed might be the next problem area in a few months).  I attempted to disassemble the print head for cleaning but then the aluminum heat sink broke from the heating block!  There was burnt carbon crud in the nozzle and hotend.  Luckily I had a spare printhead with hot end assembly.  The old Bowden tube was trimmed to it's extreme shortest length from previous maintenance.  Everything had to go.  I also discovered that saving brass print nozzles and cleaning them is a waste of time since you can buy a whole bag of 10 for $15.

Bowden tube should touch the nozzle.

After installing the hot end assembly and leveling the bed, I was getting horrible stringing.  It was from where one layer ended and the printhead moved to the next layer, leaving a trail of residual filament behind.  Settings needed to be re-adjusted.  The first thing the experts say is to modify retraction settings.  I used this guide to help troubleshoot.

Stringing like dog fur.

Modifications made and results:

• Changed extrusion temp from 217c to 208c - no change.
• Reduced print speed from 40 to 35 - no change
• Increased retraction distance incrementally from 5 to 10 - success!
• Retraction speed from 50 to 55 - minor improvement.  It should be noted that this might be too fast and cause the extruder gear to rough it up and cause wear.
• Changed top layers to 2 from 0 (might have been accidently changed at some point?) - no change
• Infill gap overlay from 30% to 70% - very minor improvement.

Troubleshoot by incrementally changing settings.

Helpful troubleshooting links:

All3dP - Fix stringing guide
All3dP - Guide to gaps between lines and other layer problems

Scrapwood shelf, 3d printed legs

A low-poly shelf leg, roughly seven inches long, to be attached to a scrap piece of 3/4" thick board to be used as a shelf. Link here on Thingiverse. Use it to display your gun stuff! Actually it's to make room on my kitchen countertop for a coffee machine, but you can put some heavy stuff on it.

Mockup - Sig Nambu?

No, just kidding. This is actually a mockup of my p08 magwell shoved into a p320 testing jig I made. I actually was testing if this unholy union is feasable and it technically should be with modification of the slide holdopen device. I originally stated I wanted to keep the original mag catch but there's enough free grip space to go back to the drawing board and make something more modern. Modern proprietary magazines are the devil.

Bringing back the 9mm stripper clip (work in progress)

Started out building an MP34 9mm Steyr magazine well.  Ended up going all the way with a stripper clip loader just like on the German MP34.  Will eventually release a Colt/Uzi magazine version for public consumption, the MP34 version is my personal project.

It works but needs a few tweaks.  Used 40 S&W rounds for testing as that's what I had immediately available.

WIP - Functional P08 Luger Magwell... for reasons.

Work-in-progress - Making a P08 Luger magazine well assembly.  Why?  To use P08 Luger magazines, duh!  I want a pistol caliber carbine that uses Luger magazines.  But first, a quick look at my design process.

Directory of old, obsolete files

Close enough to work with.

I usually start out with a reference which I download from some online repository such as Grabcad.  The P08 Luger frame I used may be in spec, but it does not translate directly 1:1 when printed.  I used the magazine body to get a rough shape and worked from there.  All those "p08_magwell_*" represents a test and a subsequent improvement.  It's a slow and tedious process.  I have also played around with a 3d-printed mag-catch but was unsatisfied with the results.  I think one is possible, but it would not be compact - it would have to be some bulky AR-Glock mag style mag catch that sticks out of the side, which would be fine for a carbine design but not a compact pistol.

The current iteration utilizes a regular p08 mag catch and spring.  I don't like the flat spring as you'll see below - it's really finicky.  Actually - one of my previous designs uses a clever (if I do say so myself) install process where I got rid of the flat spring and utilized an AR15 disconnector spring.  You just push the mag-catch deep in, rotate it and let go.  But again, that needs more space for a coil-spring housing and it really gets in the way of the trigger finger.  I guess those German engineers knew what they were doing.

p08_magwell_1_02b - spring housing is off.

Testing new spring housing position.

Added angular cut and some efficiency modifications.

Also added spring channel.

Properly contoured to the p08 Luger - and it is print-efficient.

The angle of the magazine is so extreme that it will not fit in a regular AR15 with a simple adapter block.  The lower itself must be re-designed to fit the magazine.  Eventually I will release the p08 magwell as a stand-alone model, my own custom version of U-Bolt AR15 lower, and a Sten magwell.  My ultimate goal is design a semi-auto MP-18 that utilizes both p08 stick magazines and drum magazines.  I don't think the original MP-18s took the stick mags, but mine will.

Still have lots of work to do.

See also: Glock magazine Sten on Reddit, which kind of inspired me.

Replacement Latch for Black & Decker Power Tool Case

It's a latch.  Pretty exciting, huh.

I found a nice carrying case for a Black & Decker power tool set lying against the dumpster, complete with an un-used power drill, sander and jigsaw!  But they were missing their batteries, so I tossed them.  Besides, I know better than to mess with those cheapo Walmart brand power tools.

The case itself was missing latches and was a little dirty but otherwise looked good.  I quickly measured with calipers, whipped a design in CAD and printed it.  Close match, but not quite.  I only printed a reduced profile of the latch, at about 1/8" width which saved time and material - a 4 minute print job.  It took 5 iterations and testing until I got the design just right and then increased the width to the final size of 1.070"

Latch dimensions:

Rod diameter: 0.155"
Rod to Rod (distance between centers): 1.070"
latch width 1.070"
latch length 1.55"

Had to adjust the round half-hole, the latch-claw,

and distance between those two.

Conveniently, my AR pistol lower and two pistol uppers fit right into the case.  I might print some inserts so that they can rest without wiggling around in there;  maybe use some Velcro straps.  I'd like to be able to store several Sig P250's, some spare slides, magazines and grip modules in there, along with plenty of room for ammo.  This project made me realize that, despite there being more sub-gun and short-rifle owners these days, there are not a lot of laptop-size hard gun cases on the market - at least I don't see anything like that when I visit Academy, Walmart or Cabela's.

You can download it HERE on Thingiverse.

The case with fresh latches

Latch open

Latch closed

Pistols with accessories.

Or maybe a case for my AR pistols.

skARpion vz61 - partitioned prototype - part 2

Finished basic partitioning of VZ61.  Ugly, but there it is.  There are four connecting sidewalls (one on each side, purple, red and teal pieces in the pictures below) which can be printed flat without supports.  The rear buffer (yellow) can be printed on its backside without supports.  I think the front piece can be printed without supports.  Middle piece (green) is complex and definitely needs support and should be printed upright.  The grip piece (blue) should slide in upward and will be pinned in place.

skorpar15_partioned_v0_90c

Untested; not ready for distribution just yet.  Soon, though (this year, sometime).

To do:

• Round out the rear connecting walls a little bit to be aesthetic and add material around screw holes
• Make the rear connecting wall follow the angled contour of the middle piece and mag well area.
• Triggergaurd - a single 3d printable one or an AR15 triggergaurd adapter
• Add pin holes on grip mount
• Add an optional buffer tube adapter
• Alternative versions for an AK grip or my custom MG42-styled grip.

Top view

Part one

WIP: AR + vz61 Skorpion hybrid - "The SkARpion" - part 1

Work in progress for a 3d printable VZ-61 that uses an AR15 FCG and is printed in small sections.  "SkARpion?"  Pretty terrible name, I know.  This design is based on FreeMenDontAsk's design which you can find on DefCad.  It used to be available on GrabCad but I guess it got deleted by moderators.

Initial partitioning.

I personally hate 20+ hour long prints and want to print the pieces in smaller, easier to manage sections.  This way I can tune the receiver to my printer/filament and not have to re-print the entire thing if something is screwy.  Also people with small print beds would hopefully appreciate this.

The front and back pieces should not require any supports.  The middle one will probably need support on the bottom.  The slightly clear green wall is one of the connector pieces that will have holes that will screw all the way through to the other side of the receiver.

Not really high on my list of priorities, but I wanted to show a proof of concept.

Progress report: Magazine walls done.  Walls should not need supports.

AR15/1919 hybrid thing

I've been messing around in CAD software and I recreated parts of a Browning 1919 and an AR15.  My idea is to create an unholy union between the two.  Basically it's a heavy-metal receiver shell that you can attach an AR15 upper to and it uses an AR FCG, but it handles like a Browning 1919, complete with spade grips and can be mounted onto an M2/M3 tripod or a standard vehicle mount.  There wouldn't be any real purpose for this, but I'd like to put a FM-9 9mm belt-fed upper on it, or a Fightlite Industries MCR.  Basically the fun of owning a Browning 1919 but with cheap ammo.

A flat-based AR receiver in progress.

Browning 1919-like receiver with an AR15 upper.

The extension below the bottom plate is a protective housing for the AR15 fire control group.  I could have just cut the finger off and avoided that unsightly extension, HOWEVER, I wanted to be able to use off-the-shelf FCG units such as the Fostech Echo Trigger without having to modify it.