Gunsmithing for newbies, advice?

[skywalkrNCSU]

I am looking to get into gunsmithing, I am familiar with guns but never really did any work on them besides building an AR lower. I mainly want to get a basic level 1911 and build it up to be a great shooter and learn a lot in the process and I also want to do some work on my AR uppers. After those things I would like to get into other projects.

Anyways, I have no clue where to start. I have no idea how to do any work on guns besides basic field stripping and cleaning. Do you guys have any advice for resources that are good starting points be it websites or books? I have been doing a lot of reading on the forum but I feel as if I might need more of a beginners guide first.

Thanks

 

[shadow9]

Skywalker - Contact the NRA, and become a member if you aren't already yet. A buddy of mine joined the NRA and our local one, and they gave him a free set of brochures of local Gunsmithing colleges, and a few that do it through a series of videos.

Another idea is to stop by your local Gun store (not Dicks/Sports Authority/Cabelas), but a LOCAL place, and nose around/ask around their reloading and "gun maintenance" sections. Also ask the shopkeepers if any of them do or know gunsmiths, even locally. Or if they have any resources on gunsmithing. Or, if they do it themselves.

A word of warning - search "Can you make a living off gunsmithing" in Google before you think of dropping serious $$$ on this endeavor. Gun-smithing is like working on cars, but with a business style like Funeral Directing.

It's like working on cars in that many people want to get into it, and for the basic stuff it's not too hard, and getting good means you can make some SERIOUSLY "Whack-shizz, yo". Plus maintaining your own weaponry saves money, is fun, and you know its capabilities afterwards far better than most. Again, though, it consumes time, and the equipment involved in serious-smithing can get EXPENSIVE. Look up "Reamers, go/nogo gauges, chucks, barrel vices, barrel wrenches, lapping kits" online. These are the BASICS, and some are just the "tip" components (ala drill-bits) to the big 4-and-5-digit cost machines.

It's like Funeral Directing in that again, MANY want to make a business out of it, we see the GREAT successes every day, but 70% will either eat macaroni dinners when not working their tails off HARD, or they just flat out don't survive as a business for very long. It's a very competitive and specialized market, and your reputation means EVERYTHING. Plus, just as many realize that after 2 years of pulling out stuck brass, and using your lathe to make a screw (or find a screw) for a "1924 Howitz and Grandley M73 Double-barrel", it's just not that enjoyable.

Lastly, a good degree to look into, and common for MANY of the "Big-guys" (HK,SigArms,Rem, Win, etc), is a GOOD degree in Mechanical Engineering. Often these colleges also have continual education, or specialization in Gunsmithing/firearms mechanics/small mechanics. Landing a job with one of those firearms manufacturers would be a VERY awesome daily job.

That said, take the first part seriously, but keep the latter sections in mind!

Cheers!
-S

 

[shadow9]

On second thought - Keep the first post for the "later after that" part.

In the midterm, get on a custom 1911 forum, and also on an "AR" forum (or four of each ). With all due respect, you're asking about working on the Harley-Davidson and Chevrolet the gun world. Everybody has one, the aftermarket is MASSIVE, and only limited by your wallet. Also trying to "Replicate" some of the pre-produced "bolt-ons", on your own without YEARS of ballistics (internal/external) and reloading experience, as with metallurgy and mechanical engineering experience, could result in a worse gun for more work. Jus' sayin.

Be wary of starting with a "Cheap" 1911, as although they all LOOK the same, they may not necessarily interchange ALL Parts. Or, you may be starting with a "Bad" base...look up "bubba'd FAL" systems, and HK91 platforms.

To get a good understanding of what guns do/how they REALLY work (I mean besides how a bolt moves and what it's job is), get a stripped AR lower, and just SCOUR the internet and all AR-forums for "How to" and "DIY" threads. Also, on the forums you joined, when you run into something google can't figure out, search the forum or ask if anyone's seen a thread about that topic before. It's better than asking the same question again, and honestly (forum people hate this), the "scapegoat Search Button" DOESN'T always do it's job right.

After that, start buying your parts for the lower individually, then either find an upper you like and buy it, or if you want the challenge, buy individual parts for the upper too. (custom charge handle, charge spring, bolt carrier, bolt head, bolt, pin, barrel, custom sights, gas tube, etc).

For the 1911, follow the same route. Honestly, I hope you have some $$$ to get into this, as the 1911 market is both VERY expensive, and filled with teeny clockwork-mousetrap parts. Plus, be ready for the occasional barrel that may not drop-in just "right", etc etc. Again, not all 1911 parts work together, much like the AR-15 system.

No offense, but many hardcore smiths, like in the car world, will not consider you a "smith" if you've parts-changed ("bolted-on") the hottest spiffy parts to your AR/1911 and it's "Unique". When you are chamber-reaming, crowning, doing completely custom drilling/tapping/lathing/bolting/stock-working type fabrications, that's the more "honest" definition of a gunsmith. Just a heads up on "title-usage".

Otherwise, Good Luck with this, and Welcome to the world of Customization!
-S

 

[Frogomatik]

If you happen to be in Hawaii, I'd be happy to teach you what you need to know.

 

[Norton Commando]

Great riposte there shadow9.

Jason

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

Thanks for the advice shadow9, I am not looking to do this for a living by any means I just want to be able to work on my own guns and really learn the inner workings of the guns. For things like the 1911 I was planning on starting with an STI Spartan which I have heard is a great starter 1911 and tuning/customizing it over time. For my AR's I want to do some upper work on my AR-10 and then build an SBR from start to finish. Not looking to dive into the deep end right now, just looking to learn the basics to start and keep expanding my knowledge and skills.

 

[natman]

Get a good set of GUNSMITH screwdrivers. Never touch a gun with a regular screwdriver. Get a good set of punches and a pin block. Take pictures of complex assemblies before you take them apart.

 

[Jim K]

As long as you only want to work on your own guns, there are plenty of sources for advice. But I don't want someone with no training and no schooling working on my guns even if he has a good set of screwdrivers and a bench block.

If you are thinking of getting into the business, search these sites - there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of posts on the subject. And find out about gunsmithing schools where you can learn to do more than replace a few parts.

Jim

 

[orionengnr]

For the 1911, get your hands on a Kuhnhausen manual.

 

[milq]

Good advice here so far, I'd also toss in that you need to become truly proficient with your best friend: the file, and also learn to operate a lathe and mill proficiently.

I happen to work at a school that has a full gunsmith program (but I am not the instructor for that...I'm machine shop/CNC/design) if you want info on it, I can tell you plenty without being a pitch man. There are 5 or 6 full service schools (read: degree granting) in the U.S. and ours is the newest.