Ok In like a year if everything pans out my Wife and I will be trying to sell the house and pack up and move to Colorado so I can go to the CST Gunsmithing school. I have already been in contact with the school and got all the info. Its 14 months, 22k, all the tools I need for the classes, and a Remington 700 bolt gun. Anyways Its a big deal for us and I would like some input from you...good or bad. Thanks -Sam
Colorado School of Trades Gunsmithing...Good School?
- Thread starter eagleI
- Start date
Yeah thats a damn good question. I have been messing with Rifles and other thing that go bang my hole life "I am only 30" and I have worked at a Machine or CNC for alot of my working life. I intend to get out of it a job I want to wake up to in the mornings, what I am getting into is something that just makes sence to me. I am one of those people who are only good at things that interest me. Math in school sucked, Learning the math for machining, bullet drop calculations, KE, everything for shooting well not a problem. I would like to work for someone like GA Precision or Bartlein barrels. I mean heck I work for an electric motor company now and when I was cutting shafts for the rotors I was like I could be doing this for a gun barrel. Anyways Keep the opions comeing. Thanks -Samwyoske said:
Any time you can turn a personal interest into something you can make a decent living at, without killing yourself or hurting others by taking advantage of them, you become one of the truly fortunate.
Bear in mind that, in this particular field, what with the internet now you can have a much wider exposure to potential clients once you get yourself established. The back side of that is in any group of folks there's going to be a few that just can't be pleased - no matter how hard you listen to what they want or how good your skills are in dealing with people - and who likely will not help your reputation.
In short: listen to what your heart is telling you.
Bear in mind that, in this particular field, what with the internet now you can have a much wider exposure to potential clients once you get yourself established. The back side of that is in any group of folks there's going to be a few that just can't be pleased - no matter how hard you listen to what they want or how good your skills are in dealing with people - and who likely will not help your reputation.
In short: listen to what your heart is telling you.
eagle1,
Sounds like you have a good wife supporting you in this.
I tried to sell this very idea to my wife less than a year ago and she was not as supporting.
I talked with a couple of guys who went there and said it was a great experience.
The cool thing they are starting now is the gun shop you can work in at the end of your schooling to get some on the job training and experience.
I don't remember 22k for 14 months. Seems it was a bit cheaper than that.
Things could have changed like everything else.
Good luck to you,
Tim
Sounds like you have a good wife supporting you in this.
I tried to sell this very idea to my wife less than a year ago and she was not as supporting.
I talked with a couple of guys who went there and said it was a great experience.
The cool thing they are starting now is the gun shop you can work in at the end of your schooling to get some on the job training and experience.
I don't remember 22k for 14 months. Seems it was a bit cheaper than that.
Things could have changed like everything else.
Good luck to you,
Tim
varminthunter1
Gold $$ Contributor
Eagle1.
Keep in mind, this is a very tough time to break into a trade.
Those jobs you speak of are few and far between. Most smiths are self employed, and do all the work themselves. You may find someone to mentor you, even with a degree from a reputable school, it will still be hard. I would really research the job rate for the graduates. You could spend thousands just getting tooled up to begin the journey on your own. To start your own business takes a lot of work. but that's a whole different story.
Being a homeowner and having a job is a pretty good thing right now. Don`t take that for granted!
Good Luck to you!!
Jeff
Keep in mind, this is a very tough time to break into a trade.
Those jobs you speak of are few and far between. Most smiths are self employed, and do all the work themselves. You may find someone to mentor you, even with a degree from a reputable school, it will still be hard. I would really research the job rate for the graduates. You could spend thousands just getting tooled up to begin the journey on your own. To start your own business takes a lot of work. but that's a whole different story.
Being a homeowner and having a job is a pretty good thing right now. Don`t take that for granted!
Good Luck to you!!
Jeff
Aero
Gold $$ Contributor
There is some confusion here on the Colorado Gunsmithing schools.
The Colorado School of Trades is in Lakewood (Denver area). I have no personal experience with this school and have heard both good and bad about it, but I do know a couple of guys that started there and ended up at the other CO school. Some very big names in custom gunmaking have come out of this school, but that was also many years ago.
Trinidad State Junior College has a two year (four semesters) gunsmithing program. They also do the NRA Summer program which is one or two week classes on specific subjects taught by experts from around the country. It is located in Trinidad which is on the NM border in the southern part of the state. This is the school that Speedy Gonzalez is an instructor at. This is also the school that recently started an advanced 3rd year program in concert with Brownells. It is the oldest program in the country and is always at or near the top of the list of schools that offer gunsmithing. The names of the guys in all parts of the industry that got their start in Trinidad is incredible.
I highly recomend the school in Trinidad if you can possibly swing it. If you are interested in building precision rifles, you would be hard pressed to find someone as dedicated to teaching the ins and outs of accuracy as Speedy and the regular two year program lays a very good fondation for any part of the field you might be interested in.
A couple of bonuses are that there is great hunting and fishing very close and 30 miles away is the NRA Whittington Center which is one of the finest shooting facilities in the country if not the world.
-Eron
The Colorado School of Trades is in Lakewood (Denver area). I have no personal experience with this school and have heard both good and bad about it, but I do know a couple of guys that started there and ended up at the other CO school. Some very big names in custom gunmaking have come out of this school, but that was also many years ago.
Trinidad State Junior College has a two year (four semesters) gunsmithing program. They also do the NRA Summer program which is one or two week classes on specific subjects taught by experts from around the country. It is located in Trinidad which is on the NM border in the southern part of the state. This is the school that Speedy Gonzalez is an instructor at. This is also the school that recently started an advanced 3rd year program in concert with Brownells. It is the oldest program in the country and is always at or near the top of the list of schools that offer gunsmithing. The names of the guys in all parts of the industry that got their start in Trinidad is incredible.
I highly recomend the school in Trinidad if you can possibly swing it. If you are interested in building precision rifles, you would be hard pressed to find someone as dedicated to teaching the ins and outs of accuracy as Speedy and the regular two year program lays a very good fondation for any part of the field you might be interested in.
A couple of bonuses are that there is great hunting and fishing very close and 30 miles away is the NRA Whittington Center which is one of the finest shooting facilities in the country if not the world.
-Eron
Thanks for clarifying Aero. I was speaking of the school in Trinidad.
Tim
Tim
Two different schools..
For sure the Colorado School of Trades is not the same as Trinidad State Junior College.
Speedy is at Trinidad State Junior College. I know because I was there two weeks ago.
Trinidad State Junior College in conjunction with Brownells is offering a 3rd year post graduate program as well.
I was very impressed with Trinidad State Junior College and suggest you call or write Donna Haddow at 719 846-5541 or e-mail her at donna.haddow@trinidadstate.edu. She can get you the information you need.
Nat Lambeth
For sure the Colorado School of Trades is not the same as Trinidad State Junior College.
Speedy is at Trinidad State Junior College. I know because I was there two weeks ago.
Trinidad State Junior College in conjunction with Brownells is offering a 3rd year post graduate program as well.
I was very impressed with Trinidad State Junior College and suggest you call or write Donna Haddow at 719 846-5541 or e-mail her at donna.haddow@trinidadstate.edu. She can get you the information you need.
Nat Lambeth
SCT of Lakewood is the school of choice for Gander Mountain to hire from, as our local store has had 3 of their graduates in the last 4 years.
Taildrag15X said:
Having been honoured with an invitation to visit both schools at different times quite a few years ago, and based on my professional experience, I would think the two schools are on quite a similar high educational level.
I doubt the situation has changed now...
I would simply see the same kind of formation dispensed here in Europe….
R.G.C
Eagle1,
I finished the program at CST Lakewood in May of 2007. And have been working in the field since. After school I was fortunate to have a top rifle builder in west central Minnesota take me under his wing and help me out.
Looking at it now I would seriously consider the school in Trinidad, Co. They have some of the best instructors in the field.
Thanks
Kyle
I finished the program at CST Lakewood in May of 2007. And have been working in the field since. After school I was fortunate to have a top rifle builder in west central Minnesota take me under his wing and help me out.
Looking at it now I would seriously consider the school in Trinidad, Co. They have some of the best instructors in the field.
Thanks
Kyle
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