Gunsmithing schools

[shortgrass]

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?

Take a NRA Summer Gunsmithing class.

 

[Delfuego]

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

This is true.

I think a lot of guys would recommend going to a machinist school.

 

[Bill K]

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

Lassen College in Susanville, Ca has a very good gunsmithing class. Many that have gone through it, have started and maintain their own gunsmithing business's. i.e. Mike Alvin ( the gun shop, Susanville, Ca. Buck ?, Susanville, Ca. the two men at Ragged Hole Barrels in Sparks, NV. you might contact them via phone or email and ask them a few questions Re: the college class. Check out Alvin and Ragged hole websites.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If you want to build rifles its way better to take a machining class at a local community college than learn how to make a spring for a ruger single six at a gunsmith school. The school would be best if you want to do general gunsmithing

 

[hogpatrol]

Like Dusty posted, a good start would be Community College classes and maybe you'd luck out with an instructor who's done rifles and gunsmithing work. Just don't bring AR and AK parts to class.

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

In Northern VA, the community colleges don’t have machining courses. Best I could find was a 6-day course from a continuing adult education program. Better than nothing I suppose

 

[hogpatrol]

In Northern VA, the community colleges don’t have machining courses. Best I could find was a 6-day course from a continuing adult education program. Better than nothing I suppose

Sort of an odd workaround but if the CCs have engineering program, it may include shop time. A six day course isn't going to accomplish much.

 

[Kurz]

Usually I/we recommend the machining classes as being necessary to pursuing gunsmithing, so you're ahead of that curve already. The easiest place to get machine shop requirements is the local or nearly local Community College, often referred to as a 'junior college'. These two year colleges are a stepping stone to degrees from 4-year colleges but allow students to take individualized selections of classes such as machining. It might still be possible to find a high school offering night classes in machining. This is getting more rare as schools are suffering through budget cuts and program cuts.

Gordy Gritters does offer a class in rifle making as does Robert Gradous, I think, but you need to ask him or visit his website:

http://gradousrifles.com/

The other less obvious one is to find a reasonably local but talented gunsmith who will take you on to work for free while he teaches you. It is surprising the number of folks who got their start this way.

 

[Bill K]

If you want to build rifles its way better to take a machining class at a local community college than learn how to make a spring for a ruger single six at a gunsmith school. The school would be best if you want to do general gunsmithing

That is what is great about Lassen College, they do teach all that and the instructors have and do teach making parts needed for a gull fledged repair, rebuild or making of firearms.

 

[DirtySteve]

Speedy offers some type of training in San Antonio. Not sure of any of the details.

 

[msalm]

Murray State College offer a one week ‘machining for Gunsmith’s’ followed by a one week ‘rifle rebarreling’. That’s the way I’d go if I were you.

 

[shortgrass]

That is what is great about Lassen College, they do teach all that and the instructors have and do teach making parts needed for a gull fledged repair, rebuild or making of firearms.

All the accredited gunsmithing schools teach that. Machine tool proficiency is a big plus before enrolling in a gunsmithing school.

 

[Rustystud]

The only two short comings that I have found at most Gunsmithing schools.
1. Their instructors come from their own schools program and or another schools program and only worked in academia and not had to make a living doing gunsmith work for a living. If there is a weakness in their in their program it is carried over form year to year. Most of these instructors are not comfortable changing their ways as technology and machinery has improved. In gunsmithing "time is money" if it can be done better and faster it may mean the success of the business.
2. Gunsmithing has changed too. Always has the gunsmith been a gun cleaner and parts changer. In the past gunsmiths made, modified, repaired parts. Today if a gunsmith makes or modifies gun parts the government classifies him as a manufacture. This requires both and Type 07 FFL and registration with the State Department. The 07 FFL requires considerably more records keeping. The ITAR registration requires an up front payment of $2,250.00 plus another $30-50 dollars for the required bank wire transfer.
3. In my primary employment I would ask job applicants what they thought the Job they were applying for did. It was amazing how many applicants applied for the job because of the Job Title, and had no clue what they were really applying for. I would ask if they researched the office and knew anything about the office's success. These two questions were critical in my reviewing the applicants. This applies to Gunsmithing, a gunsmith is not just a machinist, he must be able to trouble shoot problems. A good gunsmith is an mechanic, welder, woodworker, plumber, electrician, painter, parts man, investigator, cleaner, fabricator, accountant, artist, businessman etc.
Nat Lambeth

 

[okie]

The only two short comings that I have found at most Gunsmithing schools.
1. Their instructors come from their own schools program and or another schools program and only worked in academia and not had to make a living doing gunsmith work for a living. If there is a weakness in their in their program it is carried over form year to year. Most of these instructors are not comfortable changing their ways as technology and machinery has improved. In gunsmithing "time is money" if it can be done better and faster it may mean the success of the business.
2. Gunsmithing has changed too. Always has the gunsmith been a gun cleaner and parts changer. In the past gunsmiths made, modified, repaired parts. Today if a gunsmith makes or modifies gun parts the government classifies him as a manufacture. This requires both and Type 07 FFL and registration with the State Department. The 07 FFL requires considerably more records keeping. The ITAR registration requires an up front payment of $2,250.00 plus another $30-50 dollars for the required bank wire transfer.
3. In my primary employment I would ask job applicants what they thought the Job they were applying for did. It was amazing how many applicants applied for the job because of the Job Title, and had no clue what they were really applying for. I would ask if they researched the office and knew anything about the office's success. These two questions were critical in my reviewing the applicants. This applies to Gunsmithing, a gunsmith is not just a machinist, he must be able to trouble shoot problems. A good gunsmith is an mechanic, welder, woodworker, plumber, electrician, painter, parts man, investigator, cleaner, fabricator, accountant, artist, businessman etc.
Nat Lambeth

and psychiatrist...