Online gunsmith school?

[Purple Patrick 638]

Hey all so I'm looking at ways to get into the firearms industry and what would be cooler then building firearms and working on them all day. I'd love to have my own shop one day but that's a long way down the road. So I'm looking at going to school for it but there really isn't any places by me that offer certificates in this. I've seen the online classes which would be great to take. So these actually teach you anything? How are you supposed to get hands on time over the computer? Anyone do these programs?

 

I'm very mechanical in my way of thinking and hands on in everything I do. I'm a great problem Solver.

 

Let me know what you guys think!

 

 

Shameless plug: any LGS hiring for any position? Anyone want to take on an apprentice?

 

 

Sent from my hidden under ground bunker between Taco Bell and the dry cleaner

[Gun Guy in NJ 10]

Don't wast your money on online schools. Try -- http://www.nragunsmithing.com/

[Purple Patrick 638]

Don't wast your money on online schools. Try -- http://www.nragunsmithing.com/

First thing I thought is its a waste of money and won't get me anywhere

 

 

Sent from my hidden under ground bunker between Taco Bell and the dry cleaner

[Lalo 13]

I have no direct experience with this, but I would assume that becoming a gunsmith must be very similar with how you get started in any other profession. I would suggest taking as many armorer's classes as you can find so you can start building your resume with something. I'm sure that on the job experience counts more then anything but how are you going to get any hands on experience if it's not by taking these classes. I think it would be hard finding a gunsmith that will take someone on as an apprentice if they have zero experience. Sure you can break down a gun and are good mechanically, but working on firearms for other people to use is a different story.

[Shane45 807]

I have a good deal of experience in this area as I am still on this journey as we speak. My advice is likely to be quite different than others here. Metalurgy and metalworking are the key! Although I guess it really relates to what level of gunsmith you aspire to be.Armorer classes will qualify you to be, well an armorer. It will give you specific product knowledge and what makes an actual gunsmith a gunsmith is a wide spectrum of knowledge across many platforms. But it wont give you waht you need outside of basic troubleshooting and parts swapping. I would not be so quick to dismiss online classes. Im sure there are a lot of crappy ones just like I am sure there are a lot of crappy in class schools too. You have to research and find out whats what. My biggest question is what kind of Gunsmith do yu want to be? Do you want to be a general gunsmith working on minor problems or do you want to be a gunsmith capable of full custom work? Do you intend to specialise in a specific area. I do not consider myself a gunsmith as I specialise in key areas. The way I approach problems alows me to work on other platforms if need be but I always make sure I dont take on anything to far outside of my wheel house. My focus was/is on 1911's. I started the very fist online pistolsmithing class. I figured that an inustructor using a known recipe of parts would be able to lead a class using a private forum, pictures and detailed lesson plans to teach a class. I found an instructor who was a known smith with a background in teaching gunsmithing. He accepted the challange and the class was born. It was terrifically successfull and even made it into the pages of American Handgunner. The value of the class was learning the methodology. That was they key. But it was clear to me that understanding metal, and how to manipulate it, would really add an enormouse amount of ability to the skillset. So I put down the tools to build 1911's and I picked up the tools to work metal. I had been advised by the likes of Chuck Rogers and George Smith that it is supremely easier to turn a machinist into a gunsmith than it was to to turn a gunsmith into a machinist. After a while of getting enough machinist knowledge to be dangerouse, I found it added a tremendouse amount to my ability to build a 1911. It gave me the deeper understanding as to why. SOOOO my recomendation would be to seek out opportunities to learn how to operate a manual lathe and a manual mill. Always keeping an eye on how they might apply to the firearms world. If your good at reading and applying what you have read, you could even opt to aquire a low end bench top mill and just start having at it on scap metal to learn. Im particulerly fond of this method. Here is a pic of my first 1911 built. It was built from the ground up hand fitting EVERY part on the pistol and doing the finish myself as well. She has been run hard and put away wet and still runs like a champ and remains tight and accurate!

 

[pbkid6974 1]

I Am Very Interested In Doing Something Along These Lines As Well. Shan Do You Suggest Going To A Machine Shop And Just Asking For A Job? Im Fairly Confident In My Ability To Learn To Run Metalworking Machines But Have Never Really Done It Before. I Mean They Are Only Machines A Can Only Do What You Tell Them To do.

[Shane45 807]

Well... finding a machine shop that will allow an apprecticeship might be hard to find. Perhaps finding a trade class or local adult class might be an option. Or like I said, read read read and pick up a little mill to learn on.

 

Something like this:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Drill-Mill-with-Stand/G0704

 

And websites lke this:

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

[johnp 45]

One of the best gunsmith schools in the country is only 1 state away.

 

 

http://www.pagunsmith.edu/

[djg0770 481]

I had been advised by the likes of Chuck Rogers and George Smith that it is supremely easier to turn a machinist into a gunsmith than it was to to turn a gunsmith into a machinist. After a while of getting enough machinist knowledge to be dangerous, I found it added a tremendous amount to my ability to build a 1911.

 

This.  Machinist first.  The upside is that if the gun industry enters a funk at least you will have machining skills which transcend many many many industries.

[HODGIE 3]

I have a good deal of experience in this area as I am still on this journey as we speak. My advice is likely to be quite different than others here. Metalurgy and metalworking are the key! Although I guess it really relates to what level of gunsmith you aspire to be.Armorer classes will qualify you to be, well an armorer. It will give you specific product knowledge and what makes an actual gunsmith a gunsmith is a wide spectrum of knowledge across many platforms. But it wont give you waht you need outside of basic troubleshooting and parts swapping. I would not be so quick to dismiss online classes. Im sure there are a lot of crappy ones just like I am sure there are a lot of crappy in class schools too. You have to research and find out whats what. My biggest question is what kind of Gunsmith do yu want to be? Do you want to be a general gunsmith working on minor problems or do you want to be a gunsmith capable of full custom work? Do you intend to specialise in a specific area. I do not consider myself a gunsmith as I specialise in key areas. The way I approach problems alows me to work on other platforms if need be but I always make sure I dont take on anything to far outside of my wheel house. My focus was/is on 1911's. I started the very fist online pistolsmithing class. I figured that an inustructor using a known recipe of parts would be able to lead a class using a private forum, pictures and detailed lesson plans to teach a class. I found an instructor who was a known smith with a background in teaching gunsmithing. He accepted the challange and the class was born. It was terrifically successfull and even made it into the pages of American Handgunner. The value of the class was learning the methodology. That was they key. But it was clear to me that understanding metal, and how to manipulate it, would really add an enormouse amount of ability to the skillset. So I put down the tools to build 1911's and I picked up the tools to work metal. I had been advised by the likes of Chuck Rogers and George Smith that it is supremely easier to turn a machinist into a gunsmith than it was to to turn a gunsmith into a machinist. After a while of getting enough machinist knowledge to be dangerouse, I found it added a tremendouse amount to my ability to build a 1911. It gave me the deeper understanding as to why. SOOOO my recomendation would be to seek out opportunities to learn how to operate a manual lathe and a manual mill. Always keeping an eye on how they might apply to the firearms world. If your good at reading and applying what you have read, you could even opt to aquire a low end bench top mill and just start having at it on scap metal to learn. Im particulerly fond of this method. Here is a pic of my first 1911 built. It was built from the ground up hand fitting EVERY part on the pistol and doing the finish myself as well. She has been run hard and put away wet and still runs like a champ and remains tight and accurate!

 

 

 

+1 to this

 

My advise is don't waste your time with armors classes and courses they teach you to be a part swapper not a trouble shooter. There is never just one way to learn anything so don't let people who scoff at the idea of online or home learning discourage you. As far as machining and welding there are plenty of adult classes at the local township high schools and colleges that are super cheap. There are so many aspects of gun smithing that you may actually never use them all that much, they are good to have but mill's lathes and tig welding is not typicality a part of every day basic repair. I have been down the road you are speaking about and took several options some traditional and other non traditional and have learned a lot from each Both have their positives and negatives, like anything else in life depending on how hard you work is what you will get in return.

 

One more thing, there is no such think as a licensed gun smith, there is no license and there is no certificate required to practice, all you need is a 01FFL, insurance and to know what you are doing with the services offered.