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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Achieving a Dream - Best Gunsmith school to go to in the Western States
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<blockquote data-quote="shortgrass" data-source="post: 1646453" data-attributes="member: 24284"><p>I graduated almost 26yrs ago from the 2yr gunsmithing program at Montgomery Community College at Troy, N.C. At the time, it was one of the few that still taught stock making by hand from a blank. That was one of the reasons I choose that school. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to meet graduates from some of the other schools. I can say this, you will get out of the learning experience with what effort you put into it. Some of these grads I have met have been darned sharp. A few I wouldn't let mow the yard! I think any of these established, in-residence schools would be a much better choice than learning on your own or by "apprenticing" with a working 'smith that has no formal education or certification (such as being a ACGG Member). The gunsmithing trade is awash in myth and mystery. Mostly because of people trying to figure it out for themselves and coming to not so right conclusions or by just repeating what they have heard. I had 16yrs of "job shop" machining experience before I enrolled in school. I had already been making a living tooling, setting-up and operating lathes, mills of all kinds and precision grinders. I knew how to "lay-out" a job from 'scratch'. I approached school like I was learning a new job. I was there to 'soak-up' as much as I possibly could. 2 yrs ain't enough! I have learned SO much more in the past 26yrs. I have never worked for a gunshop, I have always worked for myself. I can not imagine working for someone who owns a gunshop, as he wants the money from the gunsmithing service, but hasn't a clue about what can be worked on or what should be worked on or done. I would not expect to graduate from one of these schools and immediately start specializing in strictly building custom rifles. You will have to "prove yourself" to your local, potential clientele. Mostly by providing sound and safe repairs. The 'custom' work will come around after you do that. The 'overhead' for a 'smithing shop is extra large! I rarely buy a reamer unless I have a job requiring it. And even then, there are times I will have the client buy the reamer if it for some cartridge I think I may only use once. You just can't afford to 'eat' $160 worth of tooling for 1 job unless you can charge for it. That is what a machine shop does for a 'special tool' required to do a 'special job', they charge for it! Besides the 'business end' possibly being difficult, you will get to 'deal' with know-it-all' customers whos total knowledge comes from the interdnet and/or from the "old gunsmith down the road". Take your hobby and turn it into your job and it becomes work, just as any other 'job'. These days, I 'pick and choose' the gunsmith work I will do and rely on the "job shop"/machine shop to make my living. A full 1/4 of those who you meet will "wanna be a gunsmith, too". I would not be looking for what school is "best'" until a yr or 2 before enrolling as the programs tend to change over time. MCC, where I went, no longer teaches stock making by hand, from a blank,,,,, just to name one major change in curriculum that comes to mind. Another that comes to mind is the addition of some basic CNC instruction. Choose the one that teaches some of your main interests, besides the basics.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="shortgrass, post: 1646453, member: 24284"] I graduated almost 26yrs ago from the 2yr gunsmithing program at Montgomery Community College at Troy, N.C. At the time, it was one of the few that still taught stock making by hand from a blank. That was one of the reasons I choose that school. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to meet graduates from some of the other schools. I can say this, you will get out of the learning experience with what effort you put into it. Some of these grads I have met have been darned sharp. A few I wouldn't let mow the yard! I think any of these established, in-residence schools would be a much better choice than learning on your own or by "apprenticing" with a working 'smith that has no formal education or certification (such as being a ACGG Member). The gunsmithing trade is awash in myth and mystery. Mostly because of people trying to figure it out for themselves and coming to not so right conclusions or by just repeating what they have heard. I had 16yrs of "job shop" machining experience before I enrolled in school. I had already been making a living tooling, setting-up and operating lathes, mills of all kinds and precision grinders. I knew how to "lay-out" a job from 'scratch'. I approached school like I was learning a new job. I was there to 'soak-up' as much as I possibly could. 2 yrs ain't enough! I have learned SO much more in the past 26yrs. I have never worked for a gunshop, I have always worked for myself. I can not imagine working for someone who owns a gunshop, as he wants the money from the gunsmithing service, but hasn't a clue about what can be worked on or what should be worked on or done. I would not expect to graduate from one of these schools and immediately start specializing in strictly building custom rifles. You will have to "prove yourself" to your local, potential clientele. Mostly by providing sound and safe repairs. The 'custom' work will come around after you do that. The 'overhead' for a 'smithing shop is extra large! I rarely buy a reamer unless I have a job requiring it. And even then, there are times I will have the client buy the reamer if it for some cartridge I think I may only use once. You just can't afford to 'eat' $160 worth of tooling for 1 job unless you can charge for it. That is what a machine shop does for a 'special tool' required to do a 'special job', they charge for it! Besides the 'business end' possibly being difficult, you will get to 'deal' with know-it-all' customers whos total knowledge comes from the interdnet and/or from the "old gunsmith down the road". Take your hobby and turn it into your job and it becomes work, just as any other 'job'. These days, I 'pick and choose' the gunsmith work I will do and rely on the "job shop"/machine shop to make my living. A full 1/4 of those who you meet will "wanna be a gunsmith, too". I would not be looking for what school is "best'" until a yr or 2 before enrolling as the programs tend to change over time. MCC, where I went, no longer teaches stock making by hand, from a blank,,,,, just to name one major change in curriculum that comes to mind. Another that comes to mind is the addition of some basic CNC instruction. Choose the one that teaches some of your main interests, besides the basics. [/QUOTE]
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Achieving a Dream - Best Gunsmith school to go to in the Western States
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