Quoted:
Hey where is a good place to learn gunsmithing at?  I know ideally get a job with one and learn, but that can't be done so I need the next best thing.  Also, with my schedule I really can't attend any classes.  I work the night shift and get off at 7a, so then I sleep till usually around 5pm again.  

Anyways, you see all of these ads in magazines and in websites for all these different gunsmithing courses or videos or books.  Are any of these really good?  If you wanted to learn a little bit of gunsmithing where would u go, assuming the above statements?  Thanks alot for all your help!

Quoted:
I myself had had the same desire on and off for most my adult life. I'm a machanic, and have been building auto transmissions for about 14 years.  I figure the only way to do it is on the side, as a hobby, and mabe with work it will get to the point were I can go full time. The course I am fallowing is taking machine shop classes. This will help my machanic field, and will help in gunsmithing also. I'm in my early 40's, so this is the only way I know to go about it. If your younger, and can live on apprentic wages, being in machine shop classes would be a big bonus to any possable employer. As a side, being a machinest is a good way to make a living too. You need to have some good math skills, and have a very high degree of attention to detail.

Good luck.

Quoted:
If you want to learn gunsmithing, go here ... PGS its really the only good way.

I am currently a student at PGS, learning 2 be a gunsmith. it is an 8 hour a day school, 5 days a week, for 16 months. a full time endeavor to say the least.  I hate to sound like an elitist, but anything less than this kind of education in gunsmithing, and your just a glorified parts changer. not that there is anything wrong with that, i know some damned good parts changers, and i have learned a lot from them, there just not qualified to be a full time, licensed gunsmith. we learn everything that relates to firearms...

metal polishing by hand and machine, making our own tools, basic metallurgy, bluing and refinishing fire arms, case coloring, firearms design and function (down to every single moving part. spring, pin, notch and grove), cleaning and maintenance, tempering and hardening steel, and much more. and thats all just in the first 2 months! you then spend another 2 months refining all of the above skills. then its on to semester 2 of 4.

its not an easy undertaking, i had to move to PA form OH, find a place to live and then pay for everything (tools, tuition, rent, electric, gas, food, phone, internet, etc.)  but it is the best thing i have ever done. its hard, but more fun then you can know unless you have done it, or something like it. one thing is for sure, gunsmiths are in demand nation wide!! I should also mention that the instructors are way more then qualified to do what they do, and they love there job. to list all of there qualifications would almost require a new thread. any one who is seriously thinking of making a career out of gunsmithing should call and talk to mary or one of the other nice ladies and get them to send you more info. you can even arrange to take a tour of the school.

Quoted:

Quoted:

There are 2 Professional Schools: Colorado School of Trades and Trinidad State Jr. College, both are in Colorado and they are the best known for the quality of training.


Colorado School of Trades
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: (800) 234-4594

Trinidad State Jr. College
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: (800) 621-8752


I'm a full time Gunsmith, and the owner of the shop I work at is too.

My advice is learn one type of weapon platform well (1911, AR's, AK's, FAL's, Precision Rifles, ect..) or one specific type of work (Stock Work, Recoil Reduction, Triggers, Refinishing, Sight Work, Machine Work, ect) and stay with that. Being a General Gunsmith (does everything) will rarely get you recognition or wealth. If you find an untapped niche you can become very successful. A General Gunsmith will only get you an income of 20-60K depending on the cost of living in the area you work in. The more platforms you work on the more tools/machines/jigs you will need, so your profit margin and skill is diluted because of the wide variety of platforms you will work on.

Well recognized Gunsmith Schools will teach you everything (Stock making, Refinishing, Soldering of all types, Welding of all types, Machine Work, ect....)

Find a niche and make a name for yourself.

Stay away from the home courses. Either pay for the schooling or find a Smith that will take an Apprentice. If you take the Apprentice route I recommend finding a General Gunsmith (does everything) so you can find what type of work suits your skills the best.

Is there any Gunsmiths in your area? Find someone who needs help and you'll learn ALOT. They may be skeptical to teach you if they are a "young" Gunsmith. I recommend finding an old "salty" Gunsmith because they wont be threatened or scared to teach a newbie. They will be glad to "pass the flame".

If you ever need any advice or want to bounce ideas off someone don't hesitate to shoot me an email. Ill be glad to help. Taking as much advice from other Professionals in Gunsmithing is good because it means you can avoid mistakes someone else has already made.  

Be prepared to deal with some seriously rude people though. Many people that use Gunsmiths dont want to pay for quality work, think they know more than you, and want everything at cost. Many gun people think this is a charity business.

Chad

Quoted:


Thanks for the straight statement! Enjoyed reading it.
"salty"

Quoted:
If you want to learn gunsmithing, go here ... PGS its really the only good way.

I am currently a student at PGS, learning 2 be a gunsmith. it is an 8 hour a day school, 5 days a week, for 16 months. a full time endeavor to say the least.  I hate to sound like an elitist, but anything less than this kind of education in gunsmithing, and your just a glorified parts changer. not that there is anything wrong with that, i know some damned good parts changers, and i have learned a lot from them, there just not qualified to be a full time, licensed gunsmith. we learn everything that relates to firearms...

metal polishing by hand and machine, making our own tools, basic metallurgy, bluing and refinishing fire arms, case coloring, firearms design and function (down to every single moving part. spring, pin, notch and grove), cleaning and maintenance, tempering and hardening steel, and much more. and thats all just in the first 2 months! you then spend another 2 months refining all of the above skills. then its on to semester 2 of 4.

its not an easy undertaking, i had to move to PA form OH, find a place to live and then pay for everything (tools, tuition, rent, electric, gas, food, phone, internet, etc.)  but it is the best thing i have ever done. its hard, but more fun then you can know unless you have done it, or something like it. one thing is for sure, gunsmiths are in demand nation wide!! I should also mention that the instructors are way more then qualified to do what they do, and they love there job. to list all of there qualifications would almost require a new thread. any one who is seriously thinking of making a career out of gunsmithing should call and talk to mary or one of the other nice ladies and get them to send you more info. you can even arrange to take a tour of the school.

Quoted:




i went to the Colorado School of trades for gunsmithing. Going to gunsmith school is great but it is hard as hell to land a decent paying job right now. I am making almost 30k per year and that is better than most gunsmiths coming out of school are making. one of my buddis works at Mcmillan and only makes $12 per hour. Another friend works at NU-line guns and only makes $11. Finding a well paying job in gunsmithing in your area is probably going to be realy hard to do.

Edit to add, you are going to think you are big shit when you get out of school like I did. Then after not smithing for a couple months and not having an instructoir show you how to do something is pretty freaking intimidating. Im lucky to be working ith a 25 year experienced gunsmith who doesnt get mad fixing my mistakes (because you are going to make them) or stand over me while I do some of the more involved machining jobs.

Quoted:


I've been out of school for about a year now, and I'm working full time at a golf course. There are job positions around the country that are open; I know gander mountain is always hiring a gunsmith somewhere, but after getting a chance to talk with the chief of their gunsmihing department one on one, I wasn't too eager to take one of those positions. I'm trying to get my own business going on the side with money I save up. There is a need around my area for a gunsmith, but right now people as a whole are not willing to pay money to have a gun fixed with the way the economy has been. Also, a part of people might be buying new alot (sales are up) because they are afraid that laws will be put into place in the near future to prevent new sales. Once the political/economic environment settles down a bit, I think there will be an uptic in the want of Gunsmith services.