How comfortable are you working on your guns?

[87jeep]

I am a retired tool & die maker, with all my tools and machinery. So I signed for line 4.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Voted for #2, although I'm a mechanic who can drill/ tap/ file/ machine, I've never done it on any of my guns.

I've taken down my shotguns, my SKS, and my Savage down to the smallest pins for cleaning (not every time) and even built a single shot 12 gauge and a percussion lock pistol. I don't consider myself anything beyond 2, at least not until my first AR build is complete.

 

[dusty14u]

I am a Design Engineer with a background as a tool & die maker, specializing in CNC machining and 3-D CNC programming. I have over 10yrs experience in Solidworks and designing so I can take just about any gun and recreate it given the time and resources.

I am not the greatest at heat treating and some other processes as I usually sub that work out to more qualified sources. I spent most of my life building parts for nuclear subs, NASA and gov't contracts. Guns are fun machines to tinker on and improve designs where impoper materials or bad tolerances were used.

 

[bannockburn]

I voted for number 3 mainly because I have built an AR-15, along with an M1911 and a couple of black powder kits. I have also refinished and restocked a number of rifles and shotguns along with mounting various optics and accessories.

 

[Ranger30-06]

I'm between 3 and 4. I can drill/tap/file, but I can't checker or mill or do some of the more intense stuff. I'm also a mechanic, and have built running engines from scrap parts laying around. I figure if I can do that, how much can I mess up on a gun?

 

[WardenWolf]

I'm somewhere in between being able to build an AR15 and a gunsmith, but leaning towards gunsmith. I've done my own Saiga conversion (which involved drilling, punching out pins, and a whole mess of work) and I do all maintenance on both mine and my father's firearms. That includes knocking out pins, replacing parts, etc. And I do it all with simple and antiquated tools often scavenged from my late grandfather's toolbox (ancient ball peen hammer, Miller's Falls 1/32 punches, my father's ancient Black and Decker corded drill, basic picks, and more). The one thing that prevents me from doing more is lack of a drill press. I'm not fearless. I know my limits. If I can't do it cleanly and without risk of permanently screwing something up, I won't do it.

 

[B!ngo]

I picked the third, even though I can drill, tap & file, but no way am I going to checker my own firearms (or other people's).

Not every gunsmith is competent to checker firearms.

Ditto this. I'm pretty deft mechanically and can definitely build an AR. But the 'art' side of checkering a stock? Furgeddaboutit. Also, YouTube makes the AR build much more approachable. I must admit that I entertained making a number of mods to my HK USP (light LEM, left-side decocker, sights) and decided that was above my pay grade. The YouTube joojoo was not powerful enough for me.
B

 

[Snag]

I can mount a scope and detail strip stuff. Pretty sure I could build an AR as well, just never done it. Trigger work and other things of that nature I don't mess with.

 

[tubeshooter]

I have installed a very simple spring and a couple of dovetail blanks before.

I don't want to mess anything up.


Having the proper tools is an issue for me also, even if I weren't scared of messing something up. I am not looking forward to taking down my Ruger MKIII, but I will make myself get at least decent at it and understand the process. I would put my poll category at "2".

 

[BCRider]

I checked the highest level option. I'm not a gunsmith as I'm still working on gathering the sort of knowledge needed. But I've got a strong depth of knowledge on the general metal and wood working aspects. So once I've confirmed that some task is a valid gunsmithing option the metal working side of actually doing the job is pretty sound.

 

[psyopspec]

I'm good with a detail strip, and I've done an AR build. Judging from the stippling I did on my Glock last week, I'd still vote other: I'm more comfortably doing minor smithing on my guns that I probably should be given my skill level. I'm so mechanically uninclined that sometimes I'm surprised I haven't busted one yet. But I still take a lot of pride in doing the work for me and making a gun mine.

 

[Deus Machina]

Give me a part and point me at it, and I can replace it.
I can even do some filing, am comfortable drilling and tapping, and can do plenty of polishing and machining--I haven't done it for a living, but I'm comfortable running the lathe and mill in my garage. Heck, as soon as I can afford a big chunk of steel and the chopped parts kit (during the fall and winter; my garage isn't air conditioned) it's on my list to make myself a PPSH.

Checkering and stock work? Not gonna happen. Me and wood don't get along as well.

 

[justice06rr]

I'm pretty good with my hands , but not a gunsmith. very comfortable with working with firearms or any mechanical things like cars and motorcycles too.

I would typically try to fix anything that is reasonably fixable with my firearms, but I would not mess with it if I knew I couldn't handle it. Thats what warrantees are for.

 

[herkyguy]

There ought to be an "I could build an AK in a cave by candlelight" right before the "not comfortable at all" line.....

 

[JTHunter]

I checked #2 as I have had to partially disassemble both of my shottys (Mossburg pump & Stevens 311 SxS) for various repairs over the years.
Both have had to have the stocks repaired as the wood has cracked where it meets the back of the receiver. Between the epoxy and a couple of small brass wood screws, they have been rock solid ever since. The screws were even put in recessed then covered with wood filler, stained & varnished so you have to look very closely to see the traces.
The Stevens has also had "hammer" problems where I had to take the buttstock off and mess with the springs and links to find out what had happened and correct it. That happened twice on that gun in the first couple of years I had it (bought used) but hasn't reoccurred since so I must have done something right.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I have ALWAYS excelled at ANYTHING mechanical. I can look at something mechanical that I have never seen before and figure out just how it works, I can most likely take just about anything apart and put it all back together again. I am seriously thinking about a new project, building my own .45 Auto from parts! I think the frame and slide would come from Caspian Arms. No tack driver, just a totally-reliable 1911, the way they were originally made!

 

[lobo9er]

Anything I own I prefer to work on myself. I have approx. same success rate on my stuff as trained gunsmith's, mechanics, computer fixers, etc. I have had pro "trusted" gunsmiths do stuff wrong as about as many times as I have done stuff wrong. Same goes for cars i have had and anything else. Most stuff it right tools and elbow grease. Besides most parts are replaceable might as well try it first, and learn hands on. Unless its something worth big bucks I say give it a shot. Just about every project known to man has tutorials online.

 

[MrDig]

I'm more of a parts monkey than a fabricator right now. I could probably fit and finish a 1911 if I had all the parts but I would have to do it the hard way by hand tools and polishing not machining.
I think I could build an AR I just don't have the money to get the parts and do the build.
Both are the adult equivalent of Legos really plus I do have armorers training videos for both platforms.
I have detail stripped and restored a few guns as well, Mossberg 500, and Ishapore 2A Enfield Rifles.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Like someone called themselves on another gun forum, I am a gun mechanic but not a gunsmith.

That's me too. I can D&T a receiver,cut a crown,hot salts blue,weld a bolt handle,bed an action and countless other firearms projects but I'm not a 'smith either.

 

[Texan Scott]

I am not a gunsmith... I just do about all my own work. I have the machine shop and tool background to do just about anything I can access equipment for att. I also do most of my own auto/ locks /plumbing/ electrical/ wood/ glass/ sheet metal work; I don't own welding tools but I know what to do with them. A lot of it is attention to detail and safety consciousness; some of it is just natural ability (spatial cognition/ mechanical talent); some of it just boils down to a willingness to get all the info you can, and then TRY. You might learn from others, you might learn from success- you WILL need a willingness to learn from failure and accept the consequences of that failure.

 

[shotgunjoel]

I feel comfortable disassembling any part of any of my guns. I've mounted some optics, I didn't lap the rings etc. because I don't have the specialized tools for a lot of that kind of stuff. I've put sling swivels in stocks, refinished stocks, that sort of thing, but I've never cut checkering or reprofiled as stock, but I'd give reprofiling a try. I don't put iron sights on pistols because I don't have the proper equipment, and don't like the idea of using a brass punch. I voted number 2, but with Brownell's series on assembling and AR 15 I'm confident that I could knock that out in an afternoon.

 

[Girodin]

I've drilled/tapped, filed. etc but I'm not sure I would say I am a gunsmith.

I will do a lot of things myself but there are somethings I leave to the pros. I think most of my limits comes from lack of equipment. If it needs a mill or a lathe I send it to someone else because I don't have either.

For what it is worth I work in an office and had never done much work on guns before I decided to take on a few projects. While some people are more skilled at it than others much of the work is not really that hard. If you can read and have a bit of patience you can figure most of it at. I think most people underestimate what they could do if they were to actual try. Admittedly tools can be a real limit. Sometimes it is cheaper to pay someone else to do something than to buy tools you will use once.

I'm planning to buy a cheap 1911 that I would like to checker the front strap, etc and refinish it.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I was taught by my ROTC and Father to strip them down as far as needed. I used be able to field strip my Uncles 45 and put it back in about 2 minutes. But I have not played with a 45 since about 1990.

 

[FROGO207]

IMHO you assemble/fit an AR 15 not a lot of building to it. I think that I fall in the fourth category but without the full machine shop at my disposal. I do not enjoy carving/checkering as that is as stated an art unto itself and my hands are no longer that steady. I can blue, crown, headspace, make parts, heat treat, and such. I like to find interesting firearm orphans and restore them to as close to new as possible then use them. Next up is building a sidelock double BBL derringer in 327 FED.

 

[Hypnogator]

I've drilled and tapped, cut and crowned, silver-soldered, made parts.

One of my retirement projects is to build a full-scale replica 1895 Gatling Gun!