The best Gunsmithing/Gunmaking schools?

[Dasher]

Hey Fellow Shooters,
Been working on gun's (mostly rifles) for years. I am having the urge to learn more. I used to work for a gun maker for a couple of years, and love to be building something new. I would like to increase my skills, and be able to do all of the work myself. Would not even mind doing it for a living. My favorite work would be custom long range and hunting rifles.

Where would be the best place to attend gun smithing or gun making school? Or, would going to machining school be a better bet? Would love to have your advice and opinions. Thanks in advance.
D email candepainting@gmail.com

 

[shortgrass]

Machining isn't the only requirment to build accurate rifles (or accurate anything for that matter). I'd check the schools that have two year gunsmithing programs. No two programs are alike, so ask many questions. A couple of the top schools that come to mind are Montgomery Community College in Troy,NC and Trinidad State Jr. College in Trinidad, CO. There are several others throughout the country but these two that I mentioned are the ones I'm familar with and I am sure the others are reputable schools, also. Attending any one of the reputable schools will give you a 'rounded' knowledge of firearms which will be a necessity for the first few years if you start a business. Seems everyone wants to be a custom long range rifle builder these days, but, there are other niches in the gunsmithing field. Have you looked lately for a 'smith that is an expert at repairing/stocking, modifing quality made SxS/Over-Under shotguns? And, being able to do repairs on the local hunting guns (some are worth repairing [economically]and some aren't) can help keep your business alive until you have enough clientel to speciaize at doing one thing. Going to school to become a machinist won't teach you how to stock a rifle. Any one of the gunsmithing schools will have alot of machining built into their programs.

 

[lelongcarabine]

Depends on your age and how far you want to run with it. IMHO, most definitely go to a Gunsmithing school. Take machinists courses at a local Community College AND Get a foundation in Marketing and Sales. I'm telling you this from my own failure. I could do the work, but I couldnt market a heater to an Eskimo.
Be able to police your clientle but dont allow that to limit your getting the word out on the services you are offering. Limit your overhead so you can still concentrate on quality work without getting into the, job in-job out-collect the money cause bills are due. Everybodys situation is different. Your customer is #1. They are the reason you exist! Greg

 

[Dasher]

Thanks gentlmen,
I do appreciate the comments and advice. I would love to get a feel for anyone else that would care to give advice also.

I have made contact with the Colorado School of trades. Is there any knowledge about these guys out there?
Thanks again, D

 

[lelongcarabine]

Yes, I am a graduate from Colorado School of Trades, from way back in 1972! Back in my day it was a premier school.
I still live in Colorado and if given the opportunity, today, to go back to gunsmithing, I would seriously consider Trinidad; please see; http://www.nragunsmithing.com/trinidad.html.
Greg

 

[tido250]

Murry state in Tishimingo Oklahoma has a 2yr program kinda pricey though @ bout $12k after tools,books,supplies and classes,don't know how it compares to the others but have a friend who just completed first yr and he's learning quite a bit at a pretty good rate.