Gunsmithing schools

[7stwhunter]

i am pretty well just out of high school and have always loved guns and i would really like to become a full time gunsmith what would be some of the best schools to attend to make that goal a reality.

 

[koginam]

Their are several good schools through out the country where are you located? Also check www.taogart.org for info on apprenticeships.

 

[7stwhunter]

i am currently located in eastern iowa but i am more than willing to move anywhere at this moment in time

 

[Clark]

Joke:
What is the difference between a gunsmith and a pizza?
Answer: A pizza can feed a family of four.

 

[koginam]

Whats the difference between a gunsmith that makes a good living and one that doesn't?
Running the shop as a business not a hobby!

 

[rednek]

If you are in Iowa check out the upcoming Gunsmithhs Job Fair being held near Des Moines in April. Brownells is holding the event.
Gunsmithjobfair.com
There will be some gunsmiths schools there. Also Check out
http://www.pinetech.edu/

I am cuurently a student here at PTC and would be happy to answer to any questions you may have.

 

[koginam]

The Gunsmith job Fair is a great opportunity to meet some top companies and make contacts. Brownell's has done a lot for the trade and have always been great supporters of young gunsmiths.

 

[7stwhunter]

Thanks for the imput guys if anybody can think of some other schools i always love to have options
Thanks
Nathan

 

[JFMorgan]

I just did a search on Yahoo. The Midwayusa.com website had an article listing 10 or more gunsmith schools with contact info.

Jim

 

[msalm]

I took a one week rifle rebarreling class at Murray State College in Tishamingo OK. They have a gunsmithing program there. Very good instructors and good equipment available. For machine equipment there were several Bridgeports and a slew of SB HVY 10's.

 

[Liebetrau88]

the trinidad school in colorado is one of the best, if not the best out there

 

[rbertalotto]

I've taken NRA Summer Gunsmithing courses at the Montgomery Community College and the facilities and staff are fantastic. Great area to spend a few years also...........

 

[mrugly]

trinadad community college is supposed to be one of the best. plus the whittington center is right there. Also I believe that there is one in Denver.

 

[Kurz]

Gunsmithing Schools

Colorado School of Trades
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 800-234-4594

Lassen Community College
P.O. Box 3000
Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-257-4211

Modern Gun School
80 North Main Street, P.O. Box 846
St. Albans, VT 05478
Phone: 800-493-4114

Montgomery Community College
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: 800-839-6222

Murray State College
One Murray Campus
Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: 580-371-2371

Penn Foster Career School
ICS-Intext
925 Oak Street
Scranton, PA 18515

Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
812 Ohio River Blvd.
Avalon
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone: 412-766-1812

Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
P.O. Box 1197
Roxboro, NC 27573
Phone: 336-599-1181

Pine Technical Institute
900 4th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463

Sonoran Desert Institute
10245 East Via Linda, Suite 102
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Phone: 480-314-2102

Trinidad State Jr. College
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 800-621-8752

Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone: 520-776-2150

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

Any of these to avoid?
Full-time school is out of the question. Looking at remote or one-week courses.

 

[Alaska_Seth]

The best bet is to talk to an Army or Marine Corps recruiter about military gunsmithing schools. The Navy's machinist repairman program would be a good option as well.

 

[Kurz]

Any of these to avoid?

Pennsylvania Gunsmith School - Commercial for-profit, not education, below standards

Colorado School of Trades - Commercial for-profit, not education, below standards

Penn Foster Career School - mail order

Modern Gun School - mail order

Sonoran Desert Institute - mail order

Looking at remote or one-week courses.

You can't learn gunsmithing by remote or one week classes. But if you're just interested in getting your feet wet with no serious implications, there are one and two week NRA classes offered by Lassen Community College and a couple of others I think. You can visit the school websites to get all the facts and offerings. Here is the list of schools offering NRA short courses:

https://gunsmithing.nra.org/find-a-school/

Here's a new one I just read about:

Lenoir Community College

There is so much more to gunsmithing than just taking a few short courses and come away thinking that you know everything. This is a commitment you honor as a career not a whim.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

It takes months just to make your tools youll need

 

[shortgrass]

If I remember correctly, semesters were 11 weeks at Montgomery Community College when I attended. The first semester was machine shop, where we made tools 5 days a week, Friday being a half day. A few didn't get all their tools made. Graded on the quality of your work and if you got all the tools on the 'required list' completed. They had prints for many 'extra' tools you could make after you had all that was required. I still end up making a special tool I need to do a job sometimes, even 26yrs later.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

I should have clarified my purpose. I am not looking to become a full time smith. I want to learn mill/lathe operations for chambering, making random parts and accessories. I am looking for local machining classes (HARD to find, btw), but don't expect to learn the gun-related machining from them, so looking for other avenues. There was a week long course with Gordy I thought many recommended?