Finding Tested Gun Designs

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Downloading random files off the internet carries some risk, especially with regard to DIY firearms. For any given model, there might be no indication of how much testing is done, what the results of those tests were, what ammunition is acceptable, what safe handling looks like, how to clear the firearm, etc.

This guide will discuss best practices, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to find reputable firearm designs.

Best Practices

Stick to Release Groups

TODO: Document release groups and beta testing, add caveats for popular indie authors like Hoff

Avoid Betas and Untested Designs

TODO: Document how beta files often have unforseen problems because, yaknow, testing

Ensure the Release has Good Documentation

TODO: Document how bad docs tend to correspond to low-quality designs and headache

When to Be Adventurous

TODO: Document when to eschew the previous suggestions, what skills you should have, what precautions you should take, and how doing so can contribute to guncad

Finding Files

GunCAD Index

The GunCAD Index (https://guncadindex.com) is a guncad-specific search engine and a powerful tool for finding files. As its name implies, the GunCAD Index is an index of designs hosted elsewhere and does not itself host or serve any files. Instead, each listing at the Index provides links to where the file can be downloaded, such as Odysee.

GunCAD Index has a feature that marks certain designs as "verified" via a stamp on the thumbnail. Verified releases meet a threshold for quality as defined on the Index's "About" page, which includes some amount of testing and good documentation.

Note that not all "unverified" releases are bad. Users are encouraged to investigate files that pique their interest even if they don't have a stamp, especially for low-risk things like furniture.

Odysee

Odysee (https://odysee.com) is a file hosting website, and is where the vast majority of 3D2A files are actually hosted. In a pinch, it can be browsed directly, albeit without any of the Index's quality-of-life features.