GUNSMITHING SCHOOL

[Guest]

I am getting ready to get out of the Navy in the near future and I am setting my sights on going to school for gunsmithing. I see that they have a degree program in Colorado for 14 months but my wife doesn't like the sounds of that. Anyone know of anything closer.

thanks,
oz

[TonyNorCal]

Lassen Junior College in Susanville California has a gunsmithing program. I hear the area is beautiful (albeit a little remote).

Here is a link http://www.lassencollege.edu/Program...nsmithing.html

By the way, I was in the Navy directly out of HS, what's your rate?

[-hanko]

Like college, if you think the CO school is the best, move for a while...short-term investment in your future, etc. Tell the wife to be patient.

CO School of Trades, Lassen Community College, Trinidad (C)) State JC, & Yavapai College in Prescott all have a reputations that precede them. I took these from a list in the middle of a Brownell's catalog, thre are more.

Equally important as where yu go to school is where you apprentice...more to learn in OJT than in class. Find somene who can build a gun (not just assemble parts) & ask for a recommendation.

See what the American Pistol Guild (& whatever the equivalent is for long gun makers) & check out who they recommend. Good luck!

-hanko

[Guest]

I am a HM1 currently and for the most part I really enjoyed my time in. Unfortunately 3 buldged discs in my back are choosing a different way of life for me and my family. Thanks for the info.

oz

[Greg Beck]

I have been machining and toolmakeing since 1976. You better get good at setting up machines and building jigs and fixtures. You will need a stout lathe, bridge port mill, band saw, drill press, surface grinder, good inspection tools, welding stuff, heat treatment furnace, and patience.

[Pulsar]

I'm starting the gunsmithing program at Lassen Community College in two weeks. It's very intensive and in depth. It's 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2 years, but with a 6 week break in winter and your normal summer break. The first 6 weeks of class are completly dedicated to learning the lathe. It's very laid back also, from the few times I've walked in on classes there only seem to be about 8-10 students in the class. And the teachers I've talked to say that they have more people asking to hire graduating students than he has students graduating.

And Susanville is definatly in the sticks, it's surrounded by BLM land, so lots of places to shoot, or just screw around outdoors in general. Plus it's only about an hour and a half drive to Reno from Susanville.

Like I said, I'm starting the course in 2 weeks, so feel free to ask me any questions if your considering the Lassen college program.

[rkt88edmo]

Hey Pulsar,

It would be great to hear some semi regular reports from school,let us know how it goes!

[Guest]

Pulsar I just recieved my package from Lassen and it certainly sounds great. I am still waiting for the military to make up their mind about me after my spine surgery. Please let me know how it goes I am very interested in hearing about the class first hand.

oz

[Pulsar]

I'll try to remember to leave some updates.

And something I was thinking about today, if you plan to have a job while taking this course, then lassen probably isn't the way to go, it's a small town and about the only jobs available are working at the prison (largest in the state).

But I also thought of another benefit today. Lassen is a california community college, and if you are a CA resident that means you keep far far cheaper tuition costs compared to going to a college out of state. I think it's $20 a unit or something like that in the community college system in CA if your a resident, it jumps to something like $250 a unit for non residents. And with 18 units a semester that can be very expensive.

[Pulsar]

Wish I could do that my self, but it get's a little hard to travel in that area during the winter. Some of the people I talked to last time I was in town said they had 4' of snow on the ground in town during certain times of the winter. The town is in the northern sierra's after all.

BUt on the plus side, Lassen did make tuition about half the price it would be for nevada residents compaired to other non residents. But that commute would be a pain, there really isn't anything between susanville and reno so to live in nevada would mean having to live in reno, which would be an hour and a half commute both ways every day. And I know I've got three weeks this semester with that gunsmithing class starting a 6:45am and ending at 6:10pm, with an hour and a half for lunch.