Gunsmith Schools/Make a Living?
My son is looking at going to either Pennsylvania Gunsmith School or Colorado School of Trades Gunsmithing School after he graduates from High School. He is a bit of a home body, but is willing to go to the best school regardless of the distance. We live in upstate NY, so PA is about 5 hours from home, while CO is across the country. He has always been interested in this, so I want to support him, but can he make a living at it and where? Since he will be taking on student loans to get through this program, which school is better?
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jajaswanie,
Hello, and welcome to the forums here on Gunbroker.
Either one of those schools are good, but IMHO, Colorado has the better program. I am sure he will learn there are many different facets or area's of gunsmithing, and will most likely want to be specialized in one.
I am sure one of our greater member's, who goes by the user name of Nononsense will be along to give his words of wisdom. My words of advice, are to listen to what he says closely.
Lastly...how are you enjoying the weather today here in UPSTATE?....
Best0 -
Thank you. I am trying to really help him figure out what will be best for him, so I plan on listening. Thank you for pointing out who has experience, to make them credible.
The weather is blustery today, but I like to have a good winter, so I hope it stays a bit longer.
Janene0 -
I went through the program at Trinidad State Junior Collage in CO. The School of trade in CO is a good school and I know several very competent Gunsmiths that are grads of there. I really do like JC's as you get more time, get a AAS degree and aren't herded through (more individual time with instructors). He will get offers upon graduation from $12-$15 per hour and one of the largest employers is Gander Mountain and they offer a good place to get hands on. The first couple of years after school is important for that hands on, no matter where he goes.
I also agree to as what NONONSENSE has to say.
IMHO,
Lance
E-mail me if you want0 -
Making a living at GUN SMITHING is tough you would have to love it . The skills needed to do more then just replace broken parts are the same skills that most machinist need and machinist make more per hour [:(] I dont want to dump cold water on the project and we do NEED GUN-SMITHS but wanted to give you the cold hard facts. I would take a machinist school and then find a gunsmith that would mentor this young man in gun smithing that way he would have a trade to fall back on if down the road he wanted to have another job. Most gunsmiths are one or 2 man shops the good ones have a backlog of work as good work takes time and most people with a broken gun want it fixed NOW. 0 -
I would take it a little further by saying gunwork requires a higher order of precision than expected from a general machinist.
Tool and diemaking experience and training would be my choice for preparation in the metalworking aspect of gunsmithing. However, I also believe the machine trades will pay a toolmaker better.
Then there's the woodworking part of it.
A gunsmithing specialty that could use some competition is reboring, rerifling and rechambering.0 -
A lot of his success would have to do with location as well. Most of the guys I know that do a lot of gunsmithing/custom work do it part-time or as a hobby. There are enough shooting clubs, etc...to get plenty of work and if he did something that few people did(i.e. engravings, stock refinishing)then they would have a lot higher demand. 0 -
jajaswanie,
Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!
The first thing I suggest is to use the Search button at the top of the right side of the page. Use the term 'Gunsmithing' and select 'All Forums'. This will yield a large number of threads which will include many of those that cover a broad range of discussions about gunsmithing schools. This accomplishes two things: it saves repetition and it presents many viewpoints from the folks that have attended each of the schools.
This is the list found on Brownells website. The names are linked to each school's website using the link for the list:
Gunsmithing Schools
Colorado School of Trades (for Profit)
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 800-234-4594
Lassen Community College
P.O. Box 3000
Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-257-4211
Montgomery Community College
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: 800-839-6222
Murray State College
One Murray Campus
Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: 580-371-2371
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (for Profit)
812 Ohio River Blvd.
Avalon
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone: 412-766-1812
Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
P.O. Box 1197
Roxboro, NC 27573
Phone: 336-599-1181
Pine Technical Institute
900 4th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463
Trinidad State Jr. College
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 800-621-8752
Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone: 928-776-2348
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/Company/links.aspx?catid=8
The correspondent courses are not worth the time or the cost. Note that two of the schools listed above are operated to make a profit whether you get anything out of the programs or not.
"He is a bit of a home body..."
This usually does not bode well for success when it involves schooling away from home. But there are always exceptions.
Gunsmithing curriculum, like many of the technology curricula requires total involvement, you need to eat, sleep and drink it every day. There isn't enough time in school to cover every little nuance so you have to go above and beyond by doing more work, more reading and ask more questions than anyone else does. Dedication for every minute of every day.
The second thing I suggest to do is call or write each of the schools on the list above and request the Gunsmithing curriculum and the rest of the school's requirements including but not limited to all of the costs associated with achieving a degree from each institution. They usually have a package that they send to every perspective student. You can also visit each school's website to get pictures and course descriptions. Be sure to keep a list of questions for each school as you review their information.
It's important to develop a concept of what each school concentrates on in their curriculum since they are not all the same. Each one has it's own personality and it's important to decide if you fit with their personality and curriculum.
I'm short on time these days so I want to write some additional comments and observations in an e-mail to you. It might take me a day or so to get it written though, so don't give up if you don't see an e-mail right away.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. Use my contact information in my profile.
Best.0 -
Any profession where your more than likely going to be an entrepreneur and small business owner, I would seriously consider going to a business school rather than a school specifically educating in whatever your wanting to do for a living. This may sound like a stupid strategy but being the son of a business owner, and a two time failed and hopefully third times a charm business owner this is advice from experience. Also several "How to make a living as a photographer" type books I've read also said the same thing. Basically your a business man first and a skilled labor employed by yourself second. 0 -
Thank you for your responses. I'll be waiting to hear more from some of you. It really is hard to find out information about this occupation so your information is appreciated. 0 -
Take a hard look at the Yavapai College program, it may currently be the best. 0 -
Added the links on nononsense post. Good luck!
Ed
quote:Originally posted by nononsense
jajaswanie,
Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!
The first thing I suggest is to use the Search button at the top of the right side of the page. Use the term 'Gunsmithing' and select 'All Forums'. This will yield a large number of threads which will include many of those that cover a broad range of discussions about gunsmithing schools. This accomplishes two things: it saves repetition and it presents many viewpoints from the folks that have attended each of the schools.
This is the list found on Brownells website. The names are linked to each school's website using the link for the list:
Gunsmithing Schools
Colorado School of Trades (for Profit)- http://www.schooloftrades.com/contact.php
1575 Hoyt Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 800-234-4594
Lassen Community College - http://lassengunsmithing.com/
P.O. Box 3000
Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-257-4211
Montgomery Community College - http://www.montgomery.edu/acgunsmith.htm
1011 Page Street
P.O. Box 787
Troy, NC 27371
Phone: 800-839-6222
Murray State College - http://www.mscok.edu/degree/aasGunsmith.html
One Murray Campus
Tishomingo, OK 73460
Phone: 580-371-2371
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School (for Profit) - http://www.pagunsmith.edu/index.php
812 Ohio River Blvd.
Avalon
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone: 412-766-1812
Piedmont Community College - http://tinyurl.com/yf9qxmy
1715 College Drive
P.O. Box 1197
Roxboro, NC 27573
Phone: 336-599-1181
Pine Technical Institute - http://www.pinetech.edu/academics/catalog/trade-and-industry-programs/gunsmithing
900 4th Street
Pine City, MN 55063
Phone: 800-521-7463
Trinidad State Jr. College - http://www.trinidadstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=252&Itemid=412
600 Prospect
Trinidad, CO 81082
Phone: 800-621-8752
Yavapai College - http://www.gunsmithing.org/
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
Phone: 928-776-23480
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