I've been looking for a good gunsmithing school for the past 6 months. The only full time school that I've encountered was PGS. I'm sure theres other credible schools out there, but the only other schools I've been able to find are "Learn gunsmithing online NOW!" type deals.
Gunsmithing Gunsmithing Schools?
- Thread starter MadeInUSA1776
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Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
Yavapai has been a good school.
You learn a very wide range of skills. Not just rifle making, but stock making, shotgun, pitol, double gun, metal finishing.
It's a lot to cover in 2 years. After school, you should be able to go off and be succesful in whatever direction you go.
Yavapai has been a good school.
You learn a very wide range of skills. Not just rifle making, but stock making, shotgun, pitol, double gun, metal finishing.
It's a lot to cover in 2 years. After school, you should be able to go off and be succesful in whatever direction you go.
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list. We'll see how it goes.
I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list. We'll see how it goes.
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
I went to Lassen in Susanville Ca. 7 years ago. It's a good program. No matter what school you go to if you don't have the drive to be the first one in, in the morning and the last one to leave don't waste your time. Also a good working knowlege of lathe and mill work will put you way ahead. Take some machine courses while your waiting to pick a school. Some TIG and gas welding expierence also helps. Learn all this first and when you go to school you can concentrate on learning about guns and not these skills while all your classmates struggle along. This will put you way ahead of the curve.
I went to Lassen in Susanville Ca. 7 years ago. It's a good program. No matter what school you go to if you don't have the drive to be the first one in, in the morning and the last one to leave don't waste your time. Also a good working knowlege of lathe and mill work will put you way ahead. Take some machine courses while your waiting to pick a school. Some TIG and gas welding expierence also helps. Learn all this first and when you go to school you can concentrate on learning about guns and not these skills while all your classmates struggle along. This will put you way ahead of the curve.
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
Another route you may want to consider, depending on what your goals are, is to go through a machinist program at a trade school more local to you and work/apprentice for a gunsmith. If your goal is to be a custom rifle builder, much of your time at a gunsmithing school would be wasted learning how to modify a 1911 or lengthening the forcing cone in a shotgun barrel and other skills that wouldn't apply to your goal. If your goal is to set up shop as a repair gunsmith or do a little bit of everything then the gunsmithing school route may be your best bet.
Another route you may want to consider, depending on what your goals are, is to go through a machinist program at a trade school more local to you and work/apprentice for a gunsmith. If your goal is to be a custom rifle builder, much of your time at a gunsmithing school would be wasted learning how to modify a 1911 or lengthening the forcing cone in a shotgun barrel and other skills that wouldn't apply to your goal. If your goal is to set up shop as a repair gunsmith or do a little bit of everything then the gunsmithing school route may be your best bet.
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: US Handgunner</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........</div></div>
My thoughts exactly. I mentioned your name when I talked to Wayne and he spoke very highly of you.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: US Handgunner</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Mongomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recomended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class begining this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........</div></div>
My thoughts exactly. I mentioned your name when I talked to Wayne and he spoke very highly of you.
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: US Handgunner</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Montgomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recommended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class beginning this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........</div></div>
My thoughts exactly. I mentioned your name when I talked to Wayne and he spoke very highly of you. </div></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"> <span style="font-size: 11pt">
I graduated from there when it was still called Montgomery Technical Institute. I went through the very first class. Back then Gene and Pete were the instructors. Rus came in the second year. I think he's still there. Great place to get a foundation. You won't be a pro when you finish any of the programs, but with the right attitude you'll be on the right track. Do it.
Bob
</span> </span>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: US Handgunner</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griff01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was looking into this also. I'm not sure if I'll be able to up and move my family for two years for school but we are considering it.
Look in to Montgomery Community College in NC. Mark Gordon from Short Action Customs attended this school and recommended it to me. <span style="font-weight: bold">As of now, they have a full class beginning this fall and I believe they told me I was #24 on the waiting list.</span> We'll see how it goes. </div></div>
There may be a reason for the waiting list..........</div></div>
My thoughts exactly. I mentioned your name when I talked to Wayne and he spoke very highly of you. </div></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'"> <span style="font-size: 11pt">
I graduated from there when it was still called Montgomery Technical Institute. I went through the very first class. Back then Gene and Pete were the instructors. Rus came in the second year. I think he's still there. Great place to get a foundation. You won't be a pro when you finish any of the programs, but with the right attitude you'll be on the right track. Do it.
Bob
</span> </span>
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
2 years is extremely short time to become a gunsmith, espesially if you don't have the knowledge of lathes, milling machines and is good with the file from the beginning.....
I decided to become a gunsmith when I was 10 years old.
Everything I have done until I went into full time gunsmithing 15 years ago was just a way to learn the proper techniques.
I went to tradeschool to become a machinist and after that took work for 8 years as a toolmaker.
The toolmaking work have been a very good school for learning machinery techniques.
So my recomendation is to learn machining and filing first, and when you can that it's time to continue.....
Håkan
2 years is extremely short time to become a gunsmith, espesially if you don't have the knowledge of lathes, milling machines and is good with the file from the beginning.....
I decided to become a gunsmith when I was 10 years old.
Everything I have done until I went into full time gunsmithing 15 years ago was just a way to learn the proper techniques.
I went to tradeschool to become a machinist and after that took work for 8 years as a toolmaker.
The toolmaking work have been a very good school for learning machinery techniques.
So my recomendation is to learn machining and filing first, and when you can that it's time to continue.....
Håkan
Re: Gunsmithing Schools?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: swd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I went to Lassen in Susanville Ca. 7 years ago. It's a good program. No matter what school you go to if you don't have the drive to be the first one in, in the morning and the last one to leave don't waste your time. Also a good working knowlege of lathe and mill work will put you way ahead. Take some machine courses while your waiting to pick a school. Some TIG and gas welding expierence also helps. Learn all this first and when you go to school you can concentrate on learning about guns and not these skills while all your classmates struggle along. This will put you way ahead of the curve. </div></div>
Well said..... I believe the tig welding,brazing (silver solder)and mig welding is a huge plus and also having skills as a machinist and then go to school for the gunsmithing.
SmokeRolls
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: swd</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I went to Lassen in Susanville Ca. 7 years ago. It's a good program. No matter what school you go to if you don't have the drive to be the first one in, in the morning and the last one to leave don't waste your time. Also a good working knowlege of lathe and mill work will put you way ahead. Take some machine courses while your waiting to pick a school. Some TIG and gas welding expierence also helps. Learn all this first and when you go to school you can concentrate on learning about guns and not these skills while all your classmates struggle along. This will put you way ahead of the curve. </div></div>
Well said..... I believe the tig welding,brazing (silver solder)and mig welding is a huge plus and also having skills as a machinist and then go to school for the gunsmithing.
SmokeRolls
