How ghost guns differ from manufactured guns Shedding the light on the difference between ghost guns and real guns

Reporter: That is the sound of a legally owned Glock 40 handgun. That firearm was purchased through a licensed dealer and the owner has a New York State pistol permit. The sound of a regulated handgun from a manufacturer can be confused with the sound of a ghost gun.

Kevin Dix: “Normally when you’re talking about a ghost gun, it is not a gun that when you immediately purchase it you can put ammunition in it and fire it.”

Reporter: What you are buying is basically a build your own gun kit. At the point of purchase, these ghost guns are just eighty percent receivers and come with all of the parts needed to completely build the actual firearm.

Reporter: This is the receiver of a Glock 40 pistol. The only difference you’ll see between this and a ghost gun are these holes right here are, these holes are drilled by the manufacturer. Ghost guns are eighty percent machines, meaning you have to finish the rest of the gun. Also, you’ll notice that there are no serial numbers on the eighty percent machines guns or ghost guns like there is in this one right here.

Kevin Dix: “By the law, federal and state law, the only part of a gun, that is actually the gun, is the serial number receiver of the gun.”

Reporter: Because they come as only eighty percent machined receivers. Ghost guns are not considered firearms. Turning these partially manufactured ghost guns into working firearms isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Kevin Dix: “Normally when you get these eighty percent parts they come with an instruction sheet from the manufacturer telling you how to then process them.”

Reporter: And with a simple online search, you will find step-by-step video instructions to put together kits. Because there are no serial numbers, these ghost guns are untraceable making solving crimes involving ghost guns near impossible. Alex Peebles, Nick Ursini, NCC knows and now, you do too.