The most reliable one I have uses an AR style fire control group, and large metal pieces for the bolt, and pre-hardened hydraulic tubing for the barrel.
There’s plenty of metal in it, all held together via 3d printed parts and frame
The only things I needed to buy that I would consider “from a firearm” or “from a gun store” would be the fire control group. Everything else was bought from McMaster Carr or local hardware stores.
Spot on with the woodworking. I’ve made a couple stocks for my grandfather’s old broken long rifles. It’s just more time consuming. (also my 3d printer isn’t that long)
From a certain point of view, you are 100% correct.
From a different point of view, he’s a person with meat and blood held together with a fleshy bag thing, and propped up by calcium sticks. Or “inefficient bag of mostly water” if you wish.
Not everybody is useful. Every body can be good fertilizer.