Gunsmithing Schools?

I know that the Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School in Pittsburgh is one of the more well known schools with students from all over the country. I looked into it a year ago, and at that time I just couldn’t make the sacrifice to go back to school, I need the job I have. If my schedule ever permits I will defiantly be applying myself.

I would actually be open to a hands-on school in WA, but more something where I could take a few classes here and there while still living where I'm at, and not necessarily for a hardcore program where I become a professional student for two years again. Online courses wouldn't do me any good.

Here in Minnesota we have a Technical College that offers a pretty good Gunsmith Program.
I have had conversations with some local smiths that seem to have a low opinion of on-line programs. While online can offer you in depth book learning, there is no means for them to provide practical hands on experience. Most of them will make you an Armorer, and or Repair Technician as opposed to a Gunsmith. The difference being one can replace parts the other can make them. If I wanted to I could not go to a vertical mill and fabricate a part, or on a lathe for that matter. Let alone do any welding to get the parts joined together. Welding / Joining, Fabricating and Finishing make the difference between an Armorer and a Gunsmith.
So if you are in fact limited to on-line schools you will need to supplement them with Machining, Welding, and Finishing courses at a Technical College in your area. Be advised that even bringing parts to class could violate a schools "zero tolerance" policies so check first before getting kicked out of school.

Well I wouldn't necessarily be searching for a certification. I don't want to do hands-on work professionally. I'd just like to take a few classes so I can do some of my own work...or learn what of my own work I can't do. I'm not a very mechanically-savvy person, and most of what happens to make the gun go boom and load the next round is a mystery to me. I'd be more interested in the learning than the certification.

The only way to get "certified" if you will that I found available is via some sort of college. One of the ones on Colorado seems to be very well accepted, but the issue with not relocating and not wanting to become a professional student is that you can't go to a college full time in a place far away. 8)

If you just wanna learn, isn't there some class where you build own gun? I don't remember the name, but some sort of well known gunsmith basically lets you build your own gun under his tutelage.

All the machinists that I worked with did my gunsmithing. Get a 2 year community college machinist certificate. Then if the gunsmithing does not work out you can always support yourself as a machinist.

I know that the Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School in Pittsburgh is one of the more well known schools with students from all over the country. I looked into it a year ago, and at that time I just couldn’t make the sacrifice to go back to school, I need the job I have. If my schedule ever permits I will defiantly be applying myself.

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Interestingly enough, Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School was founded by my great-grandfather, A.W. Thacker (he later built the Citrus Tower, if you've ever been through Clermont, FL, you've probably seen it).

You can earn an AAS in Gunsmithing from Trinidad State Junior College.

A friend has been attending a gunsmithing school in Prescott, Az, based out of Yavapai Community College as I recall. He's learned some amazing things and acquired some excellent machining skills.

I'm getting a NIMS machinist certification through a local community college with an excellent program (manual and CNC). I know enough about guns already; what I need are the machining skills.

Im looking at retirement in the next 4-10 years...depending on health and the stock market. Have thought about this for MANY years...marriage and raising kids got the better of me. The boys are grown...the EX is making someone else miserable...so now might be the time

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I concur with the previous posts regarding machine shop classes. You will be much more likely to find a community college or similar adult ed program locally that teaches machine shop.

I have not taken the NRA courses but they are recommended by many. They are typically 2 weeks or a bit longer so you can pick and choose, and continue to take more in successive years. Most are taught in summer. You are likely going to have to travel to these, but two weeks is not in the same ballpark as a multi-year relocation.

The NRA courses are all listed on line at nragunsmithing dot org (i think). If that does not work, try google.

Online or mail order courses probably have some value, but the trick of any of this is the practical application. Without experienced teachers to ask questions of in person, you can do a lot of wheel spinning and floundering.