Gunsmithing Program

[Wlee]

Im currently attending Trinidad state for their gunsmithing degree. It is a small town so be aware that off campus housing is limited. The college does have an FFL so they can facilitate transfers, however they will make sure all of your home state laws are followed to a T. They are very strict with the program regulations, they tell you them on orientation day and breaking any of them even accidentally is grounds for removal. Any grade below a 70% is failing, they will not allow a substandard student to graduate as a gunsmith. Fail 2 classes and you are removed from the program for a year and must appeal to re-enter.

You are on the hook for all equipment costs, 1st semester comes in around 3k for tools and supplies. You are expected to work outside of class and as such you will usually have no more then 2 classes per day. If you do not come in outside of class hours to work on your projects you will most likely fail.

My current class is small, only 13 students, not all are doing the degree program(73 credits), some are just doing the Certificate(53 credits). If you want they also offer a technician certificate that is 16 credit hours.

We do get fairly good discounts on tools and a significant discount on all NRA training. You will learn machining, you will also learn how to make and effectively use hand tools.

Btw Randall, a lot of those tips you gave me for re-barrelling have helped me in the first week so far. So thank you!

[BruinBattalion99]

@ ar15barrels - Thanks for your thoughtful and thought provoking reply! I think as was stated before I should take some machining course to see if I take to it.

@ Wlee - Thank for a great description of the program at Trinidad. I sounds like the kind of rigorous program I'm looking for.

[compulsivegunbuyer]

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

First off, and actual gunsmith, in the historical sense of the profession, can make you a part, harden it, fit it, finish it, and give you back a working firearm. No one, except a select few enthusiasts with the financial means, want to fork over the cash for that. Which comes to, a lot of gun owners are cheap bastards. I would look at the market for gunsmithing before anything else. The median income is like 40k a year, 20 bucks an hour, with the high being around 60k, or 30 an hour. For the investment in a shop, machines, tooling, schooling, and the 10 or so years it is going to take you to become truly competent, those are some **** wages.

Honestly, I think if I would have stuck to one thing in my life, I would have been better off. I went all over the friggin map, but I went back to PCC, my local community college when I was working as an auto tech and took the welding and machine shop programs. I've amassed a home shop over the years, and do a fair amount of side jobs. I've thought about gunsmithing myself, and have done some for a few people, but most won't pay what it is worth to me, considering the time, expense, and knowledge it takes to become a decent machinist, much less a decent fabricator.

On the flip side, I've made a bunch of custom parts and mounts for motor swaps, custom this and that, and those people will pay out the nose. If I were to take a swing at gunsmithing, it would definitely not be in California. I think it would be a rewarding career, but when you factor in all the tooling involved, I just don't see it being worth the effort.

As a labor of love, side gig if you got a main one that already pays the bills, or your house is paid off and it does not matter, sure, but as a main gig when the pressure is on in life, it would not be my first choice. Plenty of much more lucrative avenues for that kind of expense and effort.

But, this is just the opinion of another anonymous ******* on the internet, so YMMV.

[67Cuda]

My fianc?'s dad is a machinist with his own shop so maybe he could help me figure that out.

Machining is not like trying to be a Rocket Scientist, but it does take "practice" to get good at it. To be really good, it's a life style. If your fiancee's dad is a machinist and has his own shop (garage?), get with him and start making some tooling for general machining and gunsmithing. Machinist can be very helpful, but it also can be very competitive. You don't necessarily need to work in shop to be competent but it will take more time.

[fish45]

A little late, but better late than never right?

Having gone to Lassen I'd ask what's your end goal? To work as a professional gunsmith somewhere or work on/ build personal guns?

If you just want to do it for the hobby of it/ personal builds, occasionally help friends and family I'd strongly suggest the summer classes. You can pick and choose what you want to do and build yourself a good foundation. The summer classes are, in my opinion, cheap too. If you want to do it as a professional the summer classes are a great way to get your feet wet without having to cannon ball into the pool.

Some of the instructors there are outstanding. Some are good instructors, but have the "you're here to work" mentality which is annoying for a summer CLASS where you're trying to learn/ have fun, but very good if you're in the full time program to learn the trade and how to make money doing it.

If you're doing it to eventually make money the real money is in custom work. Meaning custom rifle builds (especially custom rifle work, especially in CA), custom pistol builds, etc... Stippling and AR15 assembling isn't really worth while in terms of making money. Repairs can go either way. Fixing "customized" polymer pistols and 10/22's aren't high margin jobs. Repairing and rebluing a colt python on the other hand will net you a decent margin but how often will that type job come along. Your professional reputation will be important.