Re: Best gunsmith's scool?
I have had a great experience here in Troy, NC at Montgomery Community College. Its a 2 year certificate or degree program. Unlike most 2 year programs, there are 3 semesters. Fall, Spring and Summer semesters, so you're actually getting more hands on time than a traditional college. MCC has a full time day course and a weekend course. Currently MCC is planning on adding a night time gunsmithing class.
MCC has 3 full time instructors. All have years of real world experience. The 3 full time instructors have vast knowledge from custom 1911 building, custom stock making, precision rifle building and a real world knowledge of the AR system.
In addition to the schools curriculum, the NRA and Brownells sends out instructors to teach spray on finishing, knife making, precision AR's and other classes like that.
Every year we also attend the SHOT Show and spend 4 days in Las Vegas or Orlando.
Here is how the program works out.
Fall semester is all about machining. You will have 16 weeks to complete a syllabus of gunsmithing tools that will be very important in the rest of the program. You have access to very nice newer Acra lathes, milling machines, a CNC Milling machine, surface grinders, and all kinds of bench tools.
The Spring semester is custom rifle making. You learn how to barrel actions, blueprint actions and we start with 2 piece stock making. Most people make custom 2 piece stocks out of blocks of walnut for shotguns and rifles.
The summer semester is about learning reloading, basic firearms repair and do presentations on different handguns.
The Fall semester of the second year is all about 1 piece stock making and custom 1911 handgun building. The great thing about the program, the school has a very large selection of specialty tools. Especially for the 1911.
The Spring semester, students learn the proper way to bed rifles and complete semi inletted stocks. In addition, you also do advanced repairs and presentations on different rifles. The school also has dozens of different rifles and handguns in stock. Also, they have cut away models that really show how different firearms function.
The final and last semester (currently my last semester at MCC) is about firearms finishing. We are learning rust blueing, salt blueing, and parkerizing. I will say there is definitely an art about refinishing. The main instructor Wayne Bernauer is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to refinishing.
Looking back, Going to MCC was the best choice for me as far as gunsmithing schools go. There have been many job openings available to me because of my education at the school. I had a job opportunity working for Gordy Gritters out in Iowa and a few others. Companies like Bushmaster Customs, Blackwater and Remington have hired and are hiring students from our school.
So I guess I'm a little partial to MCC's gunsmithing program. It has treated me very well and has opened many doors in the firearms industry. In my opinion it was the best school for me out there.
