I am looking into attending a gunsmithing school, and i was wondering if i could get some advice on the best schools. I was looking at colorado school of trade.
Gunsmithing best gunsmithing school
- Thread starter bedsore
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Re: best gunsmithing school
Go there if you can.
I'm going to Yavapai right now. Theyre in my state and the savings for instate tuititon are unbelievable. I feel sorry for the guys around me that paid 25000+ to move and go here.
Go there if you can.
I'm going to Yavapai right now. Theyre in my state and the savings for instate tuititon are unbelievable. I feel sorry for the guys around me that paid 25000+ to move and go here.
Re: best gunsmithing school
Just ignore my post if its considered to be highjacking, but I would like to know about the gunsmithing program at Murray State in Tishomingo, OK. If anyone has first hand experience, I would be interested in hearing about it. I might be able to go there in a year or two. Thanks.
Just ignore my post if its considered to be highjacking, but I would like to know about the gunsmithing program at Murray State in Tishomingo, OK. If anyone has first hand experience, I would be interested in hearing about it. I might be able to go there in a year or two. Thanks.
Re: best gunsmithing school
Here is the link to an earlier post. I broke down Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC pretty well.
I went to and graduated with an Associates Degree in Gunsmithing and a supporting classes of Shooting Sports Management at Montgomery Community College. I would strongly encourage you to look into and contact the instructors. I'm a little partial to this program, but I have talked to a few other gunsmith students from different schools and there are pro's and con's to each. MCC fit me best.
I had an offer from Gordy Gritters to move out to Iowa to work for him. While that would have been an amazing learning experience, I was not able to do that. I have also had all kinds of job offers from L3 Communications to move all over at excellent pay, but I'm not trying to relocate. I have many friends from there that got recruited directly out of school. Some are working for Para Ord in Charlotte, Remington in Madison and Blackwater in Moyock, NC. Long story short, if you want a great education, plenty of NRA support (scholarships and extra classes) and big name companies that would love you on the team. Check out MCC
Find Lima here on the site. He can fill you in.
Mark
Here is the link to an earlier post. I broke down Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC pretty well.
I went to and graduated with an Associates Degree in Gunsmithing and a supporting classes of Shooting Sports Management at Montgomery Community College. I would strongly encourage you to look into and contact the instructors. I'm a little partial to this program, but I have talked to a few other gunsmith students from different schools and there are pro's and con's to each. MCC fit me best.
I had an offer from Gordy Gritters to move out to Iowa to work for him. While that would have been an amazing learning experience, I was not able to do that. I have also had all kinds of job offers from L3 Communications to move all over at excellent pay, but I'm not trying to relocate. I have many friends from there that got recruited directly out of school. Some are working for Para Ord in Charlotte, Remington in Madison and Blackwater in Moyock, NC. Long story short, if you want a great education, plenty of NRA support (scholarships and extra classes) and big name companies that would love you on the team. Check out MCC
Find Lima here on the site. He can fill you in.
Mark
Re: best gunsmithing school
If you can swing it check out the Brownells carrer fair in April. All the schools should be represented. You can talk to the students and instructors and get a feel for what you would like to do.
I personally attend Trinidad State in Trinidad Co. I absolutely love the program. The school is also working with brownells currently to set up a 3rd year program which should run exactly like a real gun shop, allowing the students to learn how to run a shop and make money from the get go.
The three i would recommend looking into the most from what i have heard would be, (odiously) Trinidad State Junior college in Trinidad Co, Murray State in Tishomingo OK, and Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC.
Good luck
If you can swing it check out the Brownells carrer fair in April. All the schools should be represented. You can talk to the students and instructors and get a feel for what you would like to do.
I personally attend Trinidad State in Trinidad Co. I absolutely love the program. The school is also working with brownells currently to set up a 3rd year program which should run exactly like a real gun shop, allowing the students to learn how to run a shop and make money from the get go.
The three i would recommend looking into the most from what i have heard would be, (odiously) Trinidad State Junior college in Trinidad Co, Murray State in Tishomingo OK, and Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC.
Good luck
Re: best gunsmithing school
Thanks US Handgunner and PFCSkoug for the information. Trinidad State and Montgomery sound like excellent schools. Just a couple of more general questions to anyone.
How many guns do you need to purchase to complete a 2 year program? What type of guns do you need?
Also, approximately what is the amount of money needed to purchase tools for a 2 year program?
I am just trying to get a basic idea of what is needed. I am sure each school has different requirements. I guess I need to quit stalling and start making some phone calls.
Thanks US Handgunner and PFCSkoug for the information. Trinidad State and Montgomery sound like excellent schools. Just a couple of more general questions to anyone.
How many guns do you need to purchase to complete a 2 year program? What type of guns do you need?
Also, approximately what is the amount of money needed to purchase tools for a 2 year program?
I am just trying to get a basic idea of what is needed. I am sure each school has different requirements. I guess I need to quit stalling and start making some phone calls.
Re: best gunsmithing school
At MCC you just have minimum requirement. So when we build custom rifles. They want you to do a Remington, Mauser and the third can be whatever. I did 7....lol So the sky is the limit. They give you the tools and knowledge to get you going and you take it from there. Also, when we did 1911's. I built 2! Its all up to you.
As for the tooling, you have a minimum list that you need to meet....(files, screwdriver set, allen wrenches, hack saw, measuring equipment, hammers......ect) I'm still using all of the tools I made and purchased while I was in school. Plus the great thing about the program at MCC, is the whole first semester 16 weeks, you have a syllabus full of gunsmithing tools that you make. So you learn how to use the lathe, you learn how to use the mill, surface grinder, properly heat treat metal, threading on a lathe...ect. Plus you get to keep all of the tools that you make. I have a few buddies that went to the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School and they do bluing and refinishing first. That is ass backwards if you ask me. You blue and learn the art of polishing and refinishing AFTER you built up your rifles and what not.
So they have a good program and just added a new instructor that is very up to date and is an active member of this site. He has real world experience with a Top AR manufacture doing their custom work and much of their R&D. He knows his stuff. On top of that, he is now teaching a night time class. So currently there is a standard Monday-Thursday with an option Friday class that allows you to catch up and do whatever you want. The day classes run 8-4pm. Night classes run 4-10 I believe. In addition, there are weekend classes available too!
Give this number a call.
Len Fagan, 910 576 6222 ext 522, He can answer all of your questions as far as cost, requirements and what not.
Good Luck and happy gunsmithing!!!!
At MCC you just have minimum requirement. So when we build custom rifles. They want you to do a Remington, Mauser and the third can be whatever. I did 7....lol So the sky is the limit. They give you the tools and knowledge to get you going and you take it from there. Also, when we did 1911's. I built 2! Its all up to you.
As for the tooling, you have a minimum list that you need to meet....(files, screwdriver set, allen wrenches, hack saw, measuring equipment, hammers......ect) I'm still using all of the tools I made and purchased while I was in school. Plus the great thing about the program at MCC, is the whole first semester 16 weeks, you have a syllabus full of gunsmithing tools that you make. So you learn how to use the lathe, you learn how to use the mill, surface grinder, properly heat treat metal, threading on a lathe...ect. Plus you get to keep all of the tools that you make. I have a few buddies that went to the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School and they do bluing and refinishing first. That is ass backwards if you ask me. You blue and learn the art of polishing and refinishing AFTER you built up your rifles and what not.
So they have a good program and just added a new instructor that is very up to date and is an active member of this site. He has real world experience with a Top AR manufacture doing their custom work and much of their R&D. He knows his stuff. On top of that, he is now teaching a night time class. So currently there is a standard Monday-Thursday with an option Friday class that allows you to catch up and do whatever you want. The day classes run 8-4pm. Night classes run 4-10 I believe. In addition, there are weekend classes available too!
Give this number a call.
Len Fagan, 910 576 6222 ext 522, He can answer all of your questions as far as cost, requirements and what not.
Good Luck and happy gunsmithing!!!!
Re: best gunsmithing school
Theres probably not *much* difference in quality between the better schools. Try to save some money by going to one u get cheaper tuition at.
Just my opinion
Theres probably not *much* difference in quality between the better schools. Try to save some money by going to one u get cheaper tuition at.
Just my opinion
Re: best gunsmithing school
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Theres probably not *much* difference in quality between the better schools. Try to save some money by going to one u get cheaper tuition at.
Just my opinion </div></div>
That is good advice, if you have the desire and passion you can learn and excel past what the school teaches. Just like the school that AZPrecision is going to, most offer instate tuition options. I just had to work here and there instate to qualify.
Mark
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Theres probably not *much* difference in quality between the better schools. Try to save some money by going to one u get cheaper tuition at.
Just my opinion </div></div>
That is good advice, if you have the desire and passion you can learn and excel past what the school teaches. Just like the school that AZPrecision is going to, most offer instate tuition options. I just had to work here and there instate to qualify.
Mark
Re: best gunsmithing school
Thanks guys, for taking the time to respond and giving me some excellent information. Keith, I will be sending you a bolt for a knob install soon.
Thanks guys, for taking the time to respond and giving me some excellent information. Keith, I will be sending you a bolt for a knob install soon.
Re: best gunsmithing school
16 week semesters? How many hours a week of class? I'm not planning on becoming a gunsmith full time, but I wouldn't mind taking some classes as a hobby.
16 week semesters? How many hours a week of class? I'm not planning on becoming a gunsmith full time, but I wouldn't mind taking some classes as a hobby.
Re: best gunsmithing school
Well, you can pick and choose what classes you want to take when the NRA comes out and teaches. They teach Precision Rifle, 1911, knife making, AR-15 alternate calibers, and others. You just need to make some phone calls to which ever school you have interest in and see if they can meet your needs.
Well, you can pick and choose what classes you want to take when the NRA comes out and teaches. They teach Precision Rifle, 1911, knife making, AR-15 alternate calibers, and others. You just need to make some phone calls to which ever school you have interest in and see if they can meet your needs.
Re: best gunsmithing school
We go Monday through thursday, some students go in fridays too. Its from 9am to 4pm.
Yavapai
And about the money. There really is such a huge difference between the students here in what we paid, its amazing. I feel like I got a steal compared to the tuition some people had to pay. A good friend of ours going to school with us moved from a out of state, so he moved here a year early before school.
The money saved by moving a year early was worth it to him... something to consider.
There's more than just instate and non-instate. Some states are cooperative with the school hosting states. Meaning there are several difference price ranges. Here it's about 700 a semester for instate, about 1300 for cooperative states, and then 3000 a semester of out of state.
So as you can see, you have to shop around and make sure your not paying the full price. You will need thousands for tools.
We go Monday through thursday, some students go in fridays too. Its from 9am to 4pm.
Yavapai
And about the money. There really is such a huge difference between the students here in what we paid, its amazing. I feel like I got a steal compared to the tuition some people had to pay. A good friend of ours going to school with us moved from a out of state, so he moved here a year early before school.
The money saved by moving a year early was worth it to him... something to consider.
There's more than just instate and non-instate. Some states are cooperative with the school hosting states. Meaning there are several difference price ranges. Here it's about 700 a semester for instate, about 1300 for cooperative states, and then 3000 a semester of out of state.
So as you can see, you have to shop around and make sure your not paying the full price. You will need thousands for tools.
