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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Can I make a living as a gunsmith?
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<blockquote data-quote="Kevin Cram" data-source="post: 447035" data-attributes="member: 2215"><p>I think any gunsmith will tell you your never going to get rich doing gun work. I've been in business building custom rifles for eight years now. I took machining at a vo-tech school in high school and attended Pennsylvania College of Technology in automated mfg. and tool and die. I worked in one of the top cnc shops for several years and learned more there than any where else. I've always tinkered on guns but in 2002 I had the opportunity to purchase a entire machine shop from a gentleman who was already building custom rifles and looking to get out of it. I purchased the shop with high expectations of making this my full time job. I learned real quick I couldn't do it without a reputation. I got into corrections and worked at a federal penitentiary for years while still doing the gun work part time. I'd work on rifles during the morning and afternoon and at 2pm I'd leave for my other job working 3pm -11pm. My shop grew every year and I got more and more clients. I finally got to the point where I was so overwhelmed with work doing gunsmithing part time I pulled the trigger and left my federal job to build guns for a living. I've been full time in my gun shop since May 2010. I don't make as much money but I'm much happier. I'm my own boss, I make my own hours, and I finally get to spend some time with my family. If you decide to pursue this as a career I'd recommend doing it part time at first and see where it goes. I've come so close to hanging it all up in the beginning, but stuck with it and I feel I've finally got the reputation I've always wanted.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Kevin Cram, post: 447035, member: 2215"] I think any gunsmith will tell you your never going to get rich doing gun work. I've been in business building custom rifles for eight years now. I took machining at a vo-tech school in high school and attended Pennsylvania College of Technology in automated mfg. and tool and die. I worked in one of the top cnc shops for several years and learned more there than any where else. I've always tinkered on guns but in 2002 I had the opportunity to purchase a entire machine shop from a gentleman who was already building custom rifles and looking to get out of it. I purchased the shop with high expectations of making this my full time job. I learned real quick I couldn't do it without a reputation. I got into corrections and worked at a federal penitentiary for years while still doing the gun work part time. I'd work on rifles during the morning and afternoon and at 2pm I'd leave for my other job working 3pm -11pm. My shop grew every year and I got more and more clients. I finally got to the point where I was so overwhelmed with work doing gunsmithing part time I pulled the trigger and left my federal job to build guns for a living. I've been full time in my gun shop since May 2010. I don't make as much money but I'm much happier. I'm my own boss, I make my own hours, and I finally get to spend some time with my family. If you decide to pursue this as a career I'd recommend doing it part time at first and see where it goes. I've come so close to hanging it all up in the beginning, but stuck with it and I feel I've finally got the reputation I've always wanted. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
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Can I make a living as a gunsmith?
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