Gunsmithing Online gunsmithing courses

[*greenhorn*]

I'm willing to bet I'm going to get hammered for this, but is their any good Gunsmithing courses all I can find are online stuff I live in Daytona fl and can't find a single one here. Wife says I can do it online she found a few on line courses. I can't see how u could learn a profession on line.

With that said I'm looking for a school or a suggestion I can't find a single corrected gunsmith anywhere in Daytona area to talk to on NRA websight all the gun shop say " o I got a guy who does it out of his garadge??? Not to disgrace , any garadge gunsmith but the gun dealers won't give a name or phone numbers , that's some sketchy stuff. So I said he'll I got leath maybie I'll go get certified.

Anyways back to the main. Any information on this please

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

Online or correspondance is no way to learn a hands-on trade. All you are going to become an expert in is indentifying what type of firearm you are looking at, and installing scopes. You might end up paying for a screw-driver set and some punches, but you are better off seeking an apprenticeship or traveling to enroll in a college program that offers the curriculum you are interested in studying. There are good gunsmithing programs in CO, AZ, and NC. Look up Montgomery, NC; Yavapai, AZ; or Lakewood, CO.

eta: Gunsmithing in genereal is a congolmerate of specialist trades. You could study revolver smithing, 1911s, making barrels, making stocks, etc. and be proficient in one field as opposed to having a basic understanding of all aspects of the trade.

 

[*greenhorn*]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

Yea would love to do that but 32 with 4 kids disabled vet can't travel and no one around her to apprenish np o well just figured give. A short thank u fir cnfirming what I belived to be true

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

Another option would be to get armorer's certifications and then try to find work as an armorer. A lot of gun companies do armorer workshops in various places and times to train gunsmiths to service their products. Keep an eye and ear out for information on classes being held in your area.

 

[msalm]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

As a disabled vet do you still have access to some military educational benefits? If you're able, I'd look for a local Tech school offering machine shop courses. Learn to use the lathe, mill, surface grinder, etc... While you're doing that, pick up a few specific courses/DVD's from some of the better gunsmiths/schools. AGI has some pretty decent courses, but there are better ones. Richard Franklin has some very good no-nonsense videos on metalworking and bedding rifles that are well worth the modest price. If the rifle building isn't your thing, do the same for pistols, shotguns, whatever. When you get to the point you're looking for more info, get out to one of the NRA sponsored short gunsmith courses offered at several of the gunsmith schools. They are only 1-2 weeks long and cover specific operations such as rifle rebarreling, AR15's, accurizing/building a 1911, etc... http://www.nragunsmithing.com/Default.html will show your the schools that offer them, along with what courses are offered along with the dates. I took rifle rebarreling at Murray State College in 1999 I believe and it was a great start to a good hobby/part time gunsmithing business that keeps me as busy as I want to be. I did already have a dozen years experience working on firearms, but this was a great step along with machine shop classes at the local tech school that allowed me to get a good start doing it right. Don't forget to read everything you can on-line and books. There are a lot of good books out there on just about any topic on gunsmithing. Hell, it would probably be wiser to do that first...read, read, and read some more.

 

[x ring accuracy]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

Long commute to Tampa area, but I offer no pay, lots of aggravation, and cold beer at the end of the day : )

 

[*greenhorn*]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: msalm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As a disabled vet do you still have access to some military educational benefits? If you're able, I'd look for a local Tech school offering machine shop courses. Learn to use the lathe, mill, surface grinder, etc... While you're doing that, pick up a few specific courses/DVD's from some of the better gunsmiths/schools. AGI has some pretty decent courses, but there are better ones. Richard Franklin has some very good no-nonsense videos on metalworking and bedding rifles that are well worth the modest price. If the rifle building isn't your thing, do the same for pistols, shotguns, whatever. When you get to the point you're looking for more info, get out to one of the NRA sponsored short gunsmith courses offered at several of the gunsmith schools. They are only 1-2 weeks long and cover specific operations such as rifle rebarreling, AR15's, accurizing/building a 1911, etc... http://www.nragunsmithing.com/Default.html will show your the schools that offer them, along with what courses are offered along with the dates. I took rifle rebarreling at Murray State College in 1999 I believe and it was a great start to a good hobby/part time gunsmithing business that keeps me as busy as I want to be. I did already have a dozen years experience working on firearms, but this was a great step along with machine shop classes at the local tech school that allowed me to get a good start doing it right. Don't forget to read everything you can on-line and books. There are a lot of good books out there on just about any topic on gunsmithing. Hell, it would probably be wiser to do that first...read, read, and read some more. </div></div>

yes as a vet im in the voc reabliation plan, that is a exelant idea did not look at it that way, i do have a lathe but its small 6" through 19 inch bed, and the chuck on it ,well lets just say made in "TWAIN" the local guy who is the closest guy to a gun smith only works on pistols, he said i could com and assist but with no pay, im totally fine with that, i get disiblity check not hurting for money, plus i believe an experience like that really doesn't have a price tag you could put on that.

Yea Tampa is a long drive, (plus i cant leagly drive anymore for medical reasons) I have been reading a few books, Gunsmithing Pistols and Revolvers by Patrick Sweeney; Gunsmithing by Roy Dunlap, and others I have been on the phone with Murry state and as well Montgomery C.C. the Full coarse is 2 yrs and im completely convinced it is worth its weight.

I was a Harley-Davison Mancanic sense getting out of the Navy but my back is getting worse and with the stuff they did to my head i have issues so they don't let me drive, to meet me you think nothings wrong except the cain but i guess i need to work on small stuff, i can run machinery np taking it one day at time thought that gunsmithing would be a good direction to go, but you just cant go to any school and cant up and move the family, lol. so ill keep reading and work it out that way!!!

MSALM thank you for the info

O and by the way i hate petty, so if we do meet, disregard the cain, might get it up your no-no spot, roger lol<---had to ad that in. ant looking for petty don't get none from wife don't want none lol lol have a good day boys

Respectfully

 

[msalm]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

Happy to help, and 'pity' didn't enter my mind while replying to the question. I've been tinkering with firearms since I was 16 years old when I did a trigger job on my 7600 Remington 30-06...Probably more luck than anything after a lot of work with a hand stone I got it to a safe (and crisp) 3lb pull. Any more stoning and I would have probably needed a new sear. Got into the accuracy game shortly thereafter and I learned most everything by reading first, then trying it myself with some help along the way from individuals more skilled than I. There's been a lot of hobbies in my life from knifemaking, trapping, fly-fishing, bow building and the list goes on, but guns and gunsmithing has always been at the forefront. I'd say go for it if you have the desire and I'd strongly suggest those NRA short gunsmithing courses. One week at Trinidad and $200 or $250 and you could learn how to barrel a rifle from one of the best in the business...Speedy Gonzales of benchrest fame. WELL WORTH IT at twice the price.

 

[seanh]

Re: Online gunsmithing courses

The only thing I can see online courses giving is just information. To really do anything with that information, you'll need hands-on experience from a qualified gunsmith.

When I was apprenticing years ago, I had several books to learn from but it wasn't til I worked directly with/for someone that I actually learned anything. One example that sticks in my mind is finishing.

I was had finished one of 1911's we were doing for the South African Army and I though I had done a good job. Even a couple of the other smiths said "good job". Well the master took a look at it and said "what about that scratch"...there wasn't one. After looking over and over I went back and he said "that one" and put a scratch on the side with an end of a file.

What he wanted was perfect polishing from back to front...one direction, one stroke. What I had was some back and forth cuts from the paper. It did look good but it wasn't right for his clients.

Working Dremel tool is something you can't learn on-line. For example, cutting a feed ramp and opening a throat on an semi auto pistol. Are you right handed? Depending on the tool, it may be better to work left handed due to the direction of rotation of the tool.


There are other examples I could give but you probably get the point.

Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it. When I first learned about gunsmithing was when I was about 19, small stuff, trigger jobs, sights, and minor repair. One day I figured out how to fix an extractor problem on a colt 380. I told the shop owner and next week I had a half dozen. Then it was "hey, Sean can fix them while you wait". You just may end up with more work than you want.

Get all the info you can as reference, then keep looking for someone to work with you.