Open Source the GMG (Fully Auto Airgun)?
The makers of the GMG .22, a fully automatic air gun, are considering open sourcing the design. Sales have not been good and they think there could be more money selling plans, kits and parts than fully assembled guns.
I think they should open source the design and release the plans and any CAD models under a Creative Commons license.
If they can create a community of builders and modders there could be a profitable business in selling parts, kits and upgrades.
This business model has worked well in the hobbyist electronics market where mini-industries develop around supplying parts and kits for open source hardware.
The company is running a poll on their website, asking if people would be willing to buy parts, rather than an entire gun.
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I wonder if they've looked at doing a kickstarter or something like that. Say they need, I dunno, $10,000 to go into production, set one of the pledge levels at like $25 for a copy of the plans, maybe $20 for a t-shirt, or a cap, $50 gets you plans and a tshirt, maybe $100 gets the valve, $200 gets the shell, $300 gets the valve and shell, and $500 gets the gun (or whatever amounts make sense, I'm just pulling them from air). It's a great way to see who's interested in paying, and if they don't raise the $10,000 (or whatever amount they chose) then no one is out any money. And if they do raise it all by selling plans (and or parts), well then that is an answer, too.
i have a GMG, and let me tell you this thing just takes air rifles to another level. THE GMG IS FOR REAL AND NOT VAPORWARE!!! most people who shoot a pcp for the first time, never expect it to be so loud. BANG! it has to be about as loud as a .38, but i shoot in a valley so noise levels are hard to gauge without measuring equipment. You have to wear hearing protection, thats for sure. i can not shoot this thing in my urban backyard like i can a "normal" airgun. 600 fps is a bit conservative in my experience, but i don't have a chrono to back it up. I even shoot 30g .22lr slugs from the american arms black powder pistol. Try that with a name brand air rifle. I had a buddy who recently passed away who was a SOT and had every subgun you can think off, so i have experience with class three firearms. so if the idea of loading the shells and having an air tank attached with a remote doesn't bother you. the GMG gets you 100% the feeling of shooting a class three firearm without the red tape that goes along with it. I have an AR, semi of course, and i enjoy my GMG more. now all the guns that i want are pcp's. once you get the associated equipment they are cheap to shoot and fun as hell. my next one will hopefully be a quackenbush bandit and i also have my sights on a caselman build. I love my GMG and yeah, it does cost a bit, but once you shoot one, you will "get it".