Customer Reviews

HOME WORKSHOP GUNS FOR DEFENSE & RESISTANCE, VOL. V

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Listen, this isn't foor some psuedo-anarchist looking to piece together a gun from a broom-stick, a pvc pipe, and an aerosol can. This is for those who /know/ about basic gunsmithing and have the tools to do so. Honestly, a SMG is a complex weapon. This isn't like a shotgun (which you can make fairly easily) or a muzzel-loading musket, it's complex and on the forefront of firearms technology. If you know about guns and HAVE THE TOOLS, this is an interesting resource. But if you aren't knowledgable about gun parts and function, and don't have the tools, don't bother. You'll just be lost. Honestly, complaining you were cheated because he didn't tell you you needed TOOLS to make a Sub Machine Gun. I'm sorry, but some people actually believe in using their brains in purchases. So, again, psuedo-revolutionaries should skip this. Stick to the poorly-written anarchist's cook book and leave the real tools to the big boys.

Just got the book this afternoon, not to shabby.
From a mechanical engineering designer's line of sight, this book is a nice contrast to his .50 Cal Disaster. Hand drawn doodles are ever present (Holmes has never heard of CAD) and are far from being up to ANSI or ISO standard drafting techniques. As with any quality firearm, you need access to a lathe and preferably a mill. The complete lack of tolerances and poor dimensioning are somewhat concerning. This is the only Holmes book that I might recommend. Acceptable step by step instructions. He does offer mag construction instructions but I would opt for Uzi mags. In order to construct this, one MUST beware of the laws and its consequences. All in all, not a bad read.

As with all Bill Holmes books, expect some blurry pictures and crude hand drawings of various parts. Having said that, I have no doubt about Mr. Holmes' firearms expertise. I'm sure the design shown in this book works. For those not in the loop, it is a felony to manufacture your own firearms. As the publisher is so fond of saying: "This information is presented for academic study only." I've read several books covering this topic and many of the authors rely upon magazines designed for other weapons. In this book, the magazine for the Sten submachine gun is recommended. While it does save you a lot of time not having to make your own magazines, isn't the whole point of "guns for defense and resistance" is to create a firearm in an environment where they are illegal and unobtainable? So if things really get really bad in this country and firearms are banned, I don't think that surplus Sten magazines are going to be easily and cheaply available. So Holmes does take this into account and includes in this book a method of making magazines from sheet metal. On a side note, if the government really becomes repressive, a 9mm submachine gun is no match for an overwhelming military force. Look at what happened at Ruby Ridge and Waco.

I appreciate what Mr. Holmes is getting at with his series of books, and I have purchased several of them. The material is fair in its description and accuracy, but if you purchase this book with the idea of building a gun at home (provided you have met the government's regulations), you had best think again. The only way to construct a firearm utilizing the methods in Bill's books is to have access to machinery including a lathe and milling machine. That being said, the books are worth a read to familiarize yourself with basic gun construction and the techniques included can be used and expanded upon in your own design.

Overall the book is... OK. My copy arrived with the sacle drawings missing. On the pages where the drawings belonged were only arrows and mesurements. Some of the drawings were printed in the negitive, with the page black and the lines white. This would have prevented me from undertaking the project had I not found another resouce with the correct drawings intact. I printed the drawings and stappled them into the book.

After buying and reading the book I realized that I need a lathe and milling machine to make the machine-gun. ! Lost my money. I think the author must let the visitors know about the "little fact", before buying.