Online Gunsmithing School

[lobo9er]

So I have recently acquired some free time, and was thinking of taking some online classes. I have seen online gunsmith courses advertised but wasn't sure how legit they were. Anyone here have any experience with them. AGI and Pennfoster appear to be the most credible. Going and taking courses at an actual college isn't an option with my schedule so taking online courses are my only option regardlesss of the subject. Any information is appreciated thanks in advance.

 

[Rudolph31]

I bought some of AGI’s armorers’ videos. They were good, but the picture quality of some was lacking as they were video tapes converted to DVD.

My wife took a Penn Foster course once. It had nothing to do with firearms but it was very professional and as far as I could tell, thorough.

 

[Telekinesis]

If you're just looking at it for personal knowledge I'd say do it. There's a lot of things that can be learned through an online course (I like finding good YouTube videos - they're free )

If you are actually planning on becoming a gunsmith I would highly recommend doing classes in person. While you can get a lot out of online material, I still think that in person instruction is best when it comes to things like machining work and hand fitting parts.

 

[mljdeckard]

25 years ago, me and one of my best friends decided to become gunsmiths. I left the country for a few years, when I came home, he had done a correspondence program of some kind and become 'certified'. He was getting work through some of the pawn shops, and he gave it up after a while for a few reasons. (Now he's a chopper pilot instructor.) First of all, he said it isn't nearly as much fun to work on guns that aren't yours. Second, he said, just because you have a piece of paper that says you are a gunsmith, doesn't mean you have all the knowledge you need to do it well and be competitive. He was losing money, because he would botch jobs and have to buy things.

All knowledge is good knowledge. Even if it just gives you the background to know when you are getting bad information. But if I wanted to make a serious living as a gunsmith, I would become a machinist, and get as much experience as possible working with metal cutting tools.

 

[lobo9er]

Great advice thanks

 

[entropy]

First of all, he said it isn't nearly as much fun to work on guns that aren't yours.

I have the opposite problem. I take in guns for friends, (mostly parts replacement) but I hate working on my own.

But if I wanted to make a serious living as a gunsmith, I would become a machinist, and get as much experience as possible working with metal cutting tools.

True. That was always my weak area, and the reason I never opened my own shop.

 

[lobo9er]

I would do it mostly for hobby but if I got anywhere with it some side work wouldn't be the worst thing. Just exploring the idea right, some of the courses are pretty inexpensive so maybe I'll buy a 1911 and take an armourer course try it out.

 

[loose noose]

Been doing firearm repair for the past 40+ years, simply because I couldn't afford the services of a gunsmith. However about 15 years or so ago I went to Susanville, California; to Lassen JC Gunsmithing school and got quite an education, in repairing firearms. Actually it was an Armorers Course, so I'm not really a gunsmith, just an armorer. I mostly repair firearms for friends, and LGS's in the area. I do find it rather challenging to say the least, especially with those firearms that have been discontinued. Finding parts or fashioning parts from scrap is definitely a chore, especially the older I get.