Gunsmithing Program

[BruinBattalion99]

I've been considering getting a degree/certificate in gunsmithing but I can't find any gunsmith schools nearby, I'm in Los Angeles. What are my options?

Some background, I'm a college gradute looking to pivot from an unrelated career. I enjoy both firearms and tinkering. I've experience with firearms and handle most of my personal "gunsmithing" needs on my Glocks, 10/22's, and AR's. Fortunately, tution and housing costs are not issues.

I am definitely not interested in any of the distance learning schools as none seem to have good reputations.

I'm not opposed to moving and renting out my house for the right school.

Lassen Community College seems like the best choice. Does anyone have experience with it?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

['ol shooter]

I attended a LE Armorers course there in 1982, got a lot out of it. They have a nice campus, decent dorms, and an awful mosquito problem owing to nearby Eagle Lake.

[G-forceJunkie]

Do you want to be an armorer or gunsmith? Gunsmith is a specialized machinist. I would first take some machining classes at a community college and see if you like it.

[BruinBattalion99]

@ 'ol shooter - Groovy, good to know. I have a love hate relationship with mosquitoes... they love me and I hate them!!!

@ G-forceJunkie - Great question. One I'll have think about more deeply but first instinct is gunsmith. My fianc?'s dad is a machinist with his own shop so maybe he could help me figure that out.

[mdfowler]

Colorado has a couple of options. Trinidad is a State JC and Colorado School of Trades is a private outfit. Do not have any personal experience with either one. Good luck.

[hermosabeach]

Watch a variety of videos

Gun smithing can be like medicine - GP or specialist.

Many very cheap gun owners. Lots of people pick one platform and become an expert on that one platform.

Here is one on just the AR

https://m.youtube.com/@InstructorChad

So many tools and gauges


Larry with midway has a ton

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1597A9911EB61B5A

Don't know about a physical school. I'm more WECSOG

[BruinBattalion99]

@ mdfowler - Trinidad is one of the four schools recommended by the NRA. I'll look into them. Thanks!

@ hermosabeach - Genius "Have brain, will travel."

[Cheep]

Yavapai collage in Arizona has a great program. Look into that.

[kcstott]

Colorado School of trades or Trinidad are th ebest option on a respectable education in gunsmithing. They are the Yale and Harvard of the industry.
And yes you need to move.

[BruinBattalion99]

Cheep - I'll give it a look thanks!

kcstott - You're the second person to mention Trinidad so definitely checking it out. Will also look unto Colorado School of Trades. Thanks!

[BruinBattalion99]

Cheep - I'll give it a look thanks!

kcstott - You're the second person to mention Trinidad and Colorado School of Trades so I am definitely checking them out. Thanks!

[SVT-40]

Yavapai Community College here in Prescott Az also offers a gunsmithing degree.

https://catalog.yc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=2737&returnto=1206

[DenverDuck]

My brief thoughts....

I graduated from Colorado School of Trades way back in 1977. I never did it as a vocation.

I have been back in the gun industry for about 15 years, not in gunsmithing.

Obviously I can't say what that CST is like now. I would think long and VERY hard before I chose gunsmithing as a full time career. I would suggest an internet search to find the many more detailed threads on becoming a gunsmith from those more experienced than me.

There certainly is an unfilled need for good gunsmiths and I am not arguing that point.

If you decide to proceed; to get the most of out it, I would first first complete some machinist's training.

The best way to learn gunsmithing, but next to impossible to find is working under a good gunsmith instead of a school.

[BruinBattalion99]

@ DenverDuck - Thanks for your nuanced reply. I'm currently working on my NRA instructor's training and so would not solely depend on gunsmithing as income. Regardless, I will definitely ask gunsmiths for their advice and opinions. Cheers!

[ar15barrels]

I've been considering getting a degree/certificate in gunsmithing but I can't find any gunsmith schools nearby, I'm in Los Angeles. What are my options?

Some background, I'm a college gradute looking to pivot from an unrelated career. I enjoy both firearms and tinkering. I've experience with firearms and handle most of my personal "gunsmithing" needs on my Glocks, 10/22's, and AR's. Fortunately, tution and housing costs are not issues.

I am definitely not interested in any of the distance learning schools as none seem to have good reputations.

I'm not opposed to moving and renting out my house for the right school.

Lassen Community College seems like the best choice. Does anyone have experience with it?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

What does being a "gunsmith" mean to you?

There are many different definitions depending on who you ask.

The gamut runs between an Armorer and a Toolmaker.

An Armorer is someone who can analyze problems, disassemble and replace the necessary part to fi a gun.
Armorers don't do any fitting.
Armorers clean guns, analyze problems and replace parts to solve problems.

A Gunsmith can do everything an armorer can do but also do parts fitting at various levels from basic files/stones to actual machining.

A Machinist can run more complicated/precise machinery and make parts from raw materials.
Many machinists are also welders and light metallurgists by necessity.

A Toolmaker is a great machinist that not only can make any kind of part from raw materials, but also can make the tools to do the jobs that gunsmiths and machinists use to do their work.

If you want to become a great gunsmith, start by becoming a good machinist.
After you are a good machinist, you only need to learn the mechanics of guns to be able to be a great gunsmith.