Any basic gunsmithing projects for a 16 year old in NYC?

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TMiller556

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I'm 16 and I've been interested in guns since I was 15. Anyway, since I'm from NYC, there's not that many guns around and I don't know anyone who owns one. I was wondering if there is any basic gunsmithing projects a 16 year old can do and allows me to buy the parts. I don't actually mean having possession of a gun. I know a lot of you guys are going to say it's pointless and a waste of money and I know that this might be a really stupid question, but it gets boring watching youtube videos all day. I also understand it will be hard to do any gunsmithing without an actual firearm lol. Or maybe even a hobby involving firearms that I can get into. I read about guns all day but I would like to do something more hands on. But if you guys have any ideas, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks
 
How about cartridge collecting. Just think of how you could arrange them into different families and what is made from the same basic parent cartridge. There is also the history aspect of each cartridge, you could write a story on each one. If you hang out at a range you could scrounge the brass or likely be given a live round on occasion.
 
MOVE
at 16 in NYC, probably the best you can do is collecting cases (shot cartridges)
Get involved in youth marksmanship, there should be a range somewhere for Olympic type air rifle and pistol.
 
Chawbaccer said:
How about cartridge collecting. Just think of how you could arrange them into different families and what is made from the same basic parent cartridge. There is also the history aspect of each cartridge, you could write a story on each one. If you hang out at a range you could scrounge the brass or likely be given a live round on occasion.
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by cartridge cases, do you mean spent cases or live rounds? This might sound like a dumb question, it's just that I actually think live rounds are legal in NYC, but there is a 200 round limit.
 
TMiller;
The posts about learning woodworking and wood finishing, particularly finishing are right on the spot.
Ok the powers that be in NYC make it difficult for a young man to work with real firearms.
SO you can start out with some pine wood (readily available & inexpensive) & fashion a stock or handgrips. Finish them with high quality finishing materials. Then as you learn, (and there is a LOT to learn) move on to more expensive woods, learn the characteristics of the various woods like walnut, cherry, oak, maple etc etc. Make grips or stocks from all of them. Once you have mastered that, you will be older, wiser and have a great skill that is readily saleable.
Good luck and don't let the B----ds get you down. Oh yes, finish school & go to college (mechanical engineering) or trade school (gunsmithing) or the military (weapons maintenance or the like) & enjoy the shooting sports, they are full of great folks.
Oh yeah, move out of any nanny state.

Roger
 
velocette said:
TMiller;
The posts about learning woodworking and wood finishing, particularly finishing are right on the spot.
Ok the powers that be in NYC make it difficult for a young man to work with real firearms.
SO you can start out with some pine wood (readily available & inexpensive) & fashion a stock or handgrips. Finish them with high quality finishing materials. Then as you learn, (and there is a LOT to learn) move on to more expensive woods, learn the characteristics of the various woods like walnut, cherry, oak, maple etc etc. Make grips or stocks from all of them. Once you have mastered that, you will be older, wiser and have a great skill that is readily saleable.
Good luck and don't let the B----ds get you down. Oh yes, finish school & go to college (mechanical engineering) or trade school (gunsmithing) or the military (weapons maintenance or the like) & enjoy the shooting sports, they are full of great folks.
Oh yeah, move out of any nanny state.

Roger
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'm going to pick up some wood and get started on it soon. And I had another thread about it, but I'm enlisting in the marines and I'm going to try to get small arms repair. After I get discharged, I'm going to study mechanical engineering and then find a mechanical engineering position somewhere. While I'm doing this, I want to also study some business. After a couple years experience, I want to try to get hired by a firearm manufacturer and after learning the in's and out's of the gun business I possibly want to start up my own small firearm manufacturing company. I know it's hard and it takes a long time, but that's my plan for right now. Hopefully it all works out.
 
Go to www.dixiegunworks.com and buy a copy of they're 700-page catalog for only $5.00

Therein you will find all kinds of kits and parts from which you can build replica muzzle-loading rifles, pistols, and shotguns - as well as all of the necessary tools and accessories. Since 99% of Dixie's guns cannot be loaded or used with modern metalic cartridges the Federal Government does not classifiy them as "firearms," and they can be ordered through the USPS. I believe that NYC will allow them if they are "kept for display only," and if this is the case all you have too do is remove the nipples from a revolver cylinder or a single-shot's barrel of any kind. There is also a lot of basic firearms lore in those 700 pages.
 
Old Fuff said:
Go to www.dixiegunworks.com and buy a copy of they're 700-page catalog for only $5.00

Therein you will find all kinds of kits and parts from which you can build replica muzzle-loading rifles, pistols, and shotguns - as well as all of the necessary tools and accessories. Since 99% of Dixie's guns cannot be loaded or used with modern metalic cartridges the Federal Government does not classifiy them as "firearms," and they can be ordered through the USPS. I believe that NYC will allow them if they are "kept for display only," and if this is the case all you have too do is remove the nipples from a revolver cylinder or a single-shot's barrel of any kind. There is also a lot of basic firearms lore in those 700 pages.
Click to expand...
thanks, i saw some things on that site that I'm interested in. But what if I bought blank firing guns? I'm pretty sure they're legal in NYC, would I be able to do any basic gunsmithing with those?
 
I can (sort of) understand blank guns because converting one to shoot metalic cartridges in not impossible - although it is unwise..., and many are small enough to carry in a pocket.

But a caplock pistol (single shot or revolver) without nipples cannot be fired, either in the original mode with black power, nor with metallic cartridges.

I suspect that whoever told you, "no!" simply doesn't know how to say "yes." :banghead:

Carry on. Better days are ahead. ;)
 
TMiller556,

As far as I read it in the Admin. Code it is illegal to posses ammunition in NYC without having a firearm registered in that caliber. In other words you must have a rifle/shotgun permit, list a firearm on that permit, then purchase the ammo. You are limited to the calibers you have listed. Those are NYC regs, not NYS.

I would be especially cautious as a 16 yr old in NYC around firearms. There is no way for you to legally own anything here, and the mindset is that you are doing something wrong for showing an interest in shooting. The only option you have is to find someone to act as a mentor and so that you can get some exposure to firearms now. Please be sure your folks are involved in the process and are cool with everything you do. Check out a site called longislandfirearms.com. Good group of guys and all local to our neck of the woods. Good luck!

Ryan

Edited to add that I would stay away from muzzleloading stuff as well. I'm not sure of the legalities for a 16 yr old but not to long ago someone was arrested for firearms possession with a muzzloader. You could find it in the Daily News I believe it was the fall of last year. AFAIK the charges were dropped and it is legal as an adult provided you do not have everything required to fire it, but do ya really wanna take that chance? Do not be the "teen with a gun" the cops respond to because someone saw you through the window.
 
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nyctpt said:
TMiller556,

As far as I read it in the Admin. Code it is illegal to posses ammunition in NYC without having a firearm registered in that caliber. In other words you must have a rifle/shotgun permit, list a firearm on that permit, then purchase the ammo. You are limited to the calibers you have listed. Those are NYC regs, not NYS.

I would be especially cautious as a 16 yr old in NYC around firearms. There is no way for you to legally own anything here, and the mindset is that you are doing something wrong for showing an interest in shooting. The only option you have is to find someone to act as a mentor and so that you can get some exposure to firearms now. Please be sure your folks are involved in the process and are cool with everything you do. Check out a site called longislandfirearms.com. Good group of guys and all local to our neck of the woods. Good luck!

Ryan

Edited to add that I would stay away from muzzleloading stuff as well. I'm not sure of the legalities for a 16 yr old but not to long ago someone was arrested for firearms possession with a muzzloader. You could find it in the Daily News I believe it was the fall of last year. AFAIK the charges were dropped and it is legal as an adult provided you do not have everything required to fire it, but do ya really wanna take that chance? Do not be the "teen with a gun" the cops respond to because someone saw you through the window.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ryan. I don't know anyone that owns a gun, so it's kind of hard to find a mentor. Do you think I would be able to find one on the internet? I know it so
unds pretty pathetic lol, but I really want to start shooting and get some hands on experience. I've shot at a range up in Islip, but they charge about 70 something dollars to rent an AR, plus a box of 50 rounds which is like 25. And ok, I'll stay away from muzzle loaders.
 
TMiller556,

My only caveat about meeting someone on the internet is that there are a whole bunch of nutjobs out there, especially near NYC lol. I would join longislandfirearms.com and post this question there. Don't immediately start asking some one to take you shooting, just become a member of the community. I've only been a member for a month or so but already there have been some group meets and similar. If you can get to something like that, with Mom or Dad, or at least with there ok, you may have some luck.

I will be honest and say that I would not feel comfortable meeting up with you to shoot. I am a high school teacher and unfortunately in today's climate meeting up with a HS age young adult to take them to a shooting range is a no go. However, if we run into each other at an event sponsored by a local group you can shoot my guns, with some instruction and safety first of course, till your arm falls off.


Ryan
 
Edited to add that I would stay away from muzzleloading stuff as well. I'm not sure of the legalities for a 16 yr old but not to long ago someone was arrested for firearms possession with a muzzloader. You could find it in the Daily News I believe it was the fall of last year. AFAIK the charges were dropped and it is legal as an adult provided you do not have everything required to fire it, but do ya really wanna take that chance? Do not be the "teen with a gun" the cops respond to because someone saw you through the window.
Click to expand...

While I will bow to your knowledge, experience and judgment on this issue, it confirms my view that we would all be better off if the polar ice pack melted and the Big Apple became part of the Atlantic Ocean's bottom. The city’s government and police department is consumed with a paranoia that is only exceeded by they’re unmatched stupidly and ignorance.
 
I will be honest and say that I would not feel comfortable meeting up with you to shoot. I am a high school teacher and unfortunately in today's climate meeting up with a HS age young adult to take them to a shooting range is a no go. However, if we run into each other at an event sponsored by a local group you can shoot my guns, with some instruction and safety first of course, till your arm falls off.



This is disturbing to me. The amount of paranoia in that city/state is pathetic. It is a crying shame that a young man can't get mentored in this day and age. No offense to nyctpt at all. I know it is just the mindset in that area though. I grew up in NJ and the mindset is EXACTLY the same. It is almost a dirty thing to own firearms. I think you'd be more accepted there if you were a lecherous pervert than a gun owner. I had a love of firearms since a very young age. I actually started shooting at 6 years old in NJ. Had an uncle who was a gun guy and he would bring his guns up and we would shoot in the woods. Fun stuff. The thing was though you didn't mention that you owned guns or had an interest in them where I grew up. It was like leprosy. I had the same interests that this young man has. Wanting to tinker and learn more etc. Maybe you can go to Henry Repeating Arms. I think they are in Brooklyn. The old owner (who passed away) was very friendly from what I hear and now his kids own/run it. Let them know you would like to take a factory tour and see what they say. You never know young man.
 
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1911 grips are a great way to start. They're flat and not hard to shape and there is always a big demand. There are lots of great rare woods and other materials like bone or even things like mastodon ivory out there. This site has some super exotic materials from time to time: http://www.boonetrading.com/

Start with simple pine grips for practice and work your way up the more exotic materials.
 
Read whatever you can about guns, talk with anyone in the loop, and start saving $. When you turn 18 vote pro gun and move out that left wing hell hole. Best of luck.
 
I thought every kid in NYC knew how to make zip-guns. ;)

How about a potato-cannon then? :evil:
 
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