I hate asking these types of questions because you really dont know until you ask the ATF but here goes.  When is something a receiver in the prototyping stages of design?  Is it if you are making something and your intent is that it is the receiver or is it when your done with the receiver and it actually works.  But what is your design is so screwed up your gun will never function? Is it still a receiver if it will never work?  Please no 80% receiver answers.  THat doesnt mean anything to the ATF, so it will not answer my question.

So the reason I am on this topic it that I would like to build a 3/4 scale sterling like the Foote .22lr.  I was thinking about how I would do it, when I thouthg that I would buy some material and design the receiver.  For a second I thought I would start with 5 prototypes.  Give those prototypes to my friends and see who comes up with the best ideas.  THen it dawned on me that I cannot make receivers and just pass them out like candy. And thats where the question came from.  If it is a new design that has never been made before and there are no other components for the thing is it a receiver? Or is it a receiver anywar because I am taking an existing receiver and scaleing it down? But just scaling a larger gun down doesnt mean that it will work?  Who wants to be one of my 5 friends?

I honestly do not believe that scaling down an already existing design would be considered anything at all! How are you gonna make it work with no parts? If no parts fit, it is deffinatly not "readily restoreable" either!

A proto type of nothing but a lump of mis-shapen metal, is just that! Just because you scale down a real part of anything, does not make it a firearm!

You know that i would like to be one of your 5 friends! I have never messed with that particular series but i am creative! Maybe someone with more experience on that series would be better. Its up to you and i won't be offended in the least if you don't choose me as 1 of the 5.

Just a thought on this, if you locate the charging handle a few thousandths either direction, parts deffinatly wont fit!

Or, build it in 2 parts meant to be welded together?

Just my thoughts.

Ok, your on the list.

one heck of a question, and not easy to answer, because there is not one set standard...  It's based on the weapon.

But here are some examples:

The AR15 lower receiver can have the outside completely finished, and the magwell finished, but the FCG area has not been touched. thats still basically in the paperweight/dummy receiver area.

The KP44 receiver was originally a "U" shaped receiver with the template bonded to it and no holes what so ever, and the ATF called it a RECEIVER.  so the PPS and KP receivers are just bent in the shape with not a single hole drilled and no template attached, and the ATF called it a non-firearm (not a receiver)

for years companies have been selling tubes with the template attached and have been left alone (other than the company that laser cut the tubes).  the reason they were not called receivers is because the tubes were undersized or blocked in order to prevent the installation of a bolt and FCG.

In theory you could have a tube gun thats undersized and nearly complete, and call it a pen holder, and it should be ok, because it was never a receiver (strange, I know).

Things to avoid.

1. pin holes for FCG etc
2. cutouts for fcg
3. naming it a receiver or gun.  dummy receiver, starwars prop, airsoft project, etc.

The more complete, the higher the risk of someone calling it a firearm receiver.

Completeness should be on the order of a DUMMY, and/or a dummy kit.

Once it can hold a FCG in any way, or have a receiver that is not blocked, then it can be said that it's a receiver.

I had always considered making the tube overly long and complete other than the FCG, and a completed bolt, and just sticking a metal plug in the receiver and weld it in place "so it cannot be made to be functional without a bit of work.  in this way it's a dummy receiver.

But to finish the receiver, you take a band saw and just cut off the "dummy receiver" about 1/4 inch from the end of the plug, sawing through the plug, and when done, the rest of the plug on the inside would just fall out, and it's on the road to being a firearm.  if you want to get a bit trickier you finish all but the end of the back of the bolt, and making it overly long, and weld in the bolt to the back.

This way you are opening the receiver, as well as completing one stage of the bolt all at the same time, just by cutting off the end of the receiver.    don't cut out the blocked receiver, and it's just a dummy receiver with the incomplete bolt welded into the rear so it cannot be operated (looks like an open bolt dummy) and as such it would make a great looking nonfunctional dummy gun.   cut off the end to unblock the receiver, and release the bolt, and you are on your way to a finished receiver

Just my thoughts
 

reckoning wrote; Ok, your on the list.

I would be honored! I have been looking around and brainstorming about this already!

I also have read the Boss's answer, 3 times! It is very informative. A few good ideas there as well!

I am surprised there is not more interest in this! .22 is cheap and plentiful! I like the way it will look when completed. The first thought that crossed my mind was "mini gun for mini people", (kids). Of course, i a way, i guess all of here are big kids!

I found a bolt that may work in this with some mods, and it is only $35.00 plus shipping!

When the material comes in I will send you a tube blank.  I have a british sterling that I will take measurements from.  A mkII bolt is a little small to be 3/4 scale, but I will look into it.  I was thinking of using GSG magazines.  They are a little big, but they are still in production and not too expensive.  I dont have a lot of time each day to work on this project, but I will do what I can.  I am planning on starting with a .22 barrel liner as the barrel for now.

where is a good place to get liners from?

I got a few from Brownells a while back.  Do you have the capability to Mill or Turn metal?

I have done some "metal turning" by chucking up stuff in my drill press and filing! I even chucked up a barrel in my press with some all-thread and washers, and carved the muzzle down to fit some seamless tubing over it for an extension. I do not have a mill or lathe!

I had done some stuff with my dremel but it is time consuming and not 100% accurate, but it gets me by!

I do intend on purchasing one of each but it will be a while still. But, i am very creative!

I have recently made friends with a guy very close to me who is a machinist! He has done some work for me for reasonable rates! At least i feel it is reasonable.   

I will start a new thread in the Sterling area this weekend.

Holy smokes! That is beautiful!

I sent you a PM as well.

Very nice. Someone else's take on the basic operating layout (side feed magazine)

Damn, that is a big leaf. There is more green in the leaf than there is in my entire 2 acre yard.  The gun is also interesting