BlackBearME
Member
Alright. I need to do something else. I've been a manager in Fast Food for several years - I could advance, but it's not really a career track I want. I trained as a paralegal, but there's absolutely no jobs in this area - they all want 3-5 years experience (doesn't stop me from applying, but eh). I got thinking last night and said "Well,why don't I combine my hobby (guns) with earning money?" which started me thinking of the various jobs/careers in the gun industry. The following are what I came up with off the top of my head.
Gun shop worker:
Pros:Be around guns all day
Stay in touch with the latest developments
Learn more every day
Cons: Dealing with the idiots we all know are out there (not any of us here on THR, of course)
Being at someone else's behest.
Gun shop owner/FFL.
Pros: More of a decision in what goes on day-to-day
Deal with many guns, have access to dealer stock
Cons: Insurance
Cost of opening a business
Dealing with BATFE
Gunsmith
Pros: Get to deal with many different firearms
Get to possibly fire many different firearms
Cons: Building a clientele
Have to be a machinist (I know it's not a requirement, but most agree it helps a damn sight)
Have to have a good working knowledge base of many different firearms (or be able to get it)
Gun Factory Worker
Pros: Gets you right up in the nitty-gritty
Cons: Unless you get the lucky job of function testing, you're only dealing with a few parts at a time.
Custom Builder/Customizer
Pros: Get a lot of experience tweaking guns
Plenty of chance to learn how to make the "perfect" gun (for you)
Cons: Building a client base
Being good enough to keep a client base
Exhibition/Competitive Shooting
Pros: Get to shoot a LOT.
Get a lot of exposure
Get PAID to shoot a lot.
Cons: Have to be good. Real good. So you have to pay a lot to get that good.
(Note: While this is one of the coolest options, I don't see how anyone does it. To get to be a good exhibition shooter, you've got to practice a lot - and who can afford that much ammo?)
I know this is by no means a comprehensive list, so throw things out there. Jobs I may have forgotten, or pros and cons I may have missed for ones I listed. Also, if you have any experience in any of the above areas, and would like to add your opinion, please do so.
Gun shop worker:
Pros:Be around guns all day
Stay in touch with the latest developments
Learn more every day
Cons: Dealing with the idiots we all know are out there (not any of us here on THR, of course)
Being at someone else's behest.
Gun shop owner/FFL.
Pros: More of a decision in what goes on day-to-day
Deal with many guns, have access to dealer stock
Cons: Insurance
Cost of opening a business
Dealing with BATFE
Gunsmith
Pros: Get to deal with many different firearms
Get to possibly fire many different firearms
Cons: Building a clientele
Have to be a machinist (I know it's not a requirement, but most agree it helps a damn sight)
Have to have a good working knowledge base of many different firearms (or be able to get it)
Gun Factory Worker
Pros: Gets you right up in the nitty-gritty
Cons: Unless you get the lucky job of function testing, you're only dealing with a few parts at a time.
Custom Builder/Customizer
Pros: Get a lot of experience tweaking guns
Plenty of chance to learn how to make the "perfect" gun (for you)
Cons: Building a client base
Being good enough to keep a client base
Exhibition/Competitive Shooting
Pros: Get to shoot a LOT.
Get a lot of exposure
Get PAID to shoot a lot.
Cons: Have to be good. Real good. So you have to pay a lot to get that good.
(Note: While this is one of the coolest options, I don't see how anyone does it. To get to be a good exhibition shooter, you've got to practice a lot - and who can afford that much ammo?)
I know this is by no means a comprehensive list, so throw things out there. Jobs I may have forgotten, or pros and cons I may have missed for ones I listed. Also, if you have any experience in any of the above areas, and would like to add your opinion, please do so.