Gunsmithing School

[zeke08]

I am wanting to go to a GOOD Gunsmith school and I respect the knowledge here on Graybeards so what is y'alls opinion on the best school, is the online do it home study coarse worth looking into or no? I have been through numerous armorer schools through work but want to start building my own custom rifles and such. Thanks for any help in this matter! 

[gunnut69]

I'm not a grad but have heard many good things from the ColoradaTrades program. They've produced some fine smiths as well as tech writers.. You might also join the AmericanGunsmithsAssc..  They produce many fine videos and provide specialist courses.. They also have a really good monthly trade mag that does some very interesting projects.. Google them or tomorrow I'll dig up the latest copy and post the address..

[Nobade]

I went at it from a different way. First I went through machinist school and worked in that field for 14 years. When my friend who runs a local gunsmith shop needed help, I started working for him. We agreed that if he taught me about guns from his perspective I would teach him what I know about machine work. Turns out that I didn't have any real problem learning gunsmithing, since it is pretty much the same thing I had been doing for years only working on guns instead of something else. And I have taught him many good techniques he wouldn't have otherwise known and helped streamline his business and increase the output tremendously. Just another way to do it.

[EdK]

I'm not a gunsmith but certainly have been around and have a good feel for who is successful and what their backgrounds are. My point in posting is if you really want to be a soup-to-nuts gunsmith then the specialized schools are right. If on the other hand you want to specialize in a niche such as you mentioned, consider machinist training primarily/all-round gunsmith training secondarily.

[zeke08]

Thanks for the input and I have a great machinist school here locally and they offer night classes I will enroll. I really want to become a well rounded and respected gunsmith we only have one "real" gunsmith here locally that does quality work and I think there is room for another, not to mention it would be cheaper to build guns myself than have them built.

[mannyrock]

   Trinidad, Colorado.

[Old Fart]

Murray State in Tishamingo, OK. has been around a while.

[parkergunshop]

If you are in or near North Carolina the link below to Montgomery Community College may be a good option:

http://www.nragunsmithing.com/montgomery.html

Some of the instruction is first class especially the class below by a long time NBRSA competitor:

Bolt Action Accurizing - James Messer
Learn precision action work, threading, chambering, other accurizing techniques. Improve performance of bolt action rifles from muzzle to breech. Bedding methods will also be covered. (Working knowledge of lathes required.)

Actually one should take machine shop on, Lathes, Milling Machine and Welding before entering into a gunsmith school as a pre learning experience.

[parkergunshop]

One more point the course schedule for the above is:

June 21-25 $350 (8 student limit)

[parkergunshop]

Follow-up Montgomery Com. College is between the small cities of Asheboro and Rockingham and along highway 220, nearest airports Charlotte International and the Triad Airport at Greensboro, NC.

 The instructior James Messer is famous for his precision .223 and 6 M/M bullets he makes for the benchrest shooters and for his one hole benchrest rifles built for NBRSA competition.

[zeke08]

Thanks parker I will check into it and see if I can get in!

[mattl]

I went to Colorado School of Trades and I would recomend it for the person that wants to build a custom bolt action rifle from basic components to make a custom bolt action rifle.  You learn a lot about just about every firearm ever made and you get the opportunity to repair many different types of firearms.  I have watched AGI video's and they are good, but hands on IMO is.