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How do I Choose a Gunsmith School?
Many people who enjoy guns decide to explore this field as a career and register in gunsmith school. This type of school provides the training necessary to become a gunsmith. Career options for gunsmiths include working in gun manufacturing, gun design, restoration, and repairs. There are four different things to compare when looking at different gunsmith schools: equipment, hands-on training, skilled instructors, and tuition.
Gunsmith school must cover a wide range of gun types, styles, and devices. In order to provide a complete training program, the school should offer a wide range of equipment. This should include a workshop, with dedicated space for each student. Some schools include an equipment charge in the basic tuition fee, while others do not.
Hands-on training is very important when choosing a gunsmith school. The ability to have your work critiqued and corrected is very important to improving your skills. An error in design, repair, or restoration can cause the gun to malfunction and create a health risk for the user. As a skilled trade, it is best to learn this trade under the supervision of an experienced gunsmith.
The level of skill, teaching experience, and actual expertise that the instructors have is very important when choosing between gunsmith schools. Courses in this field can provide training at a high level or cover each section in great detail. People who want to become a professional gunsmith must make sure that the instructors have the years of experience necessary to teach very detailed courses.
The tuition fees for programs at a gunsmith school vary widely. Keep in mind that while cost is related to quality, it is not necessarily a direct cause and effect relationship. The most expensive program may have a well known name, or brand, but not necessarily offer the best program. Programs that are required for a position in the military are typically offered at no additional charge to the student. In return, the student is expected to use their skills for a position in the military. The tuition fees range from $3,500 to $6,800 US Dollars (USD).
The application process to gunsmith school varies widely. However, most schools require a minimum high school diploma, and all candidates must be at least 18 years of age. In addition, some schools have a mechanical aptitude test and a criminal record check. A professional gunsmith must adhere to a set of ethics surrounding the equipment they will repair or sell.
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![Most gunsmith schools require a minimum high school diploma, and all candidates must be at least 18 years of age.]()
By: zimmytwsMost gunsmith schools require a minimum high school diploma, and all candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
Discussion Comments
It's possible to learn gunsmithing with an online gunsmith school, but I would only do that if it was my only option.
As it says in the article, you need to really see where the possible design flaws are, and be shown by experts what you are doing right and wrong, otherwise you could end up making a fatal mistake.
There's also the fact that you might find it more difficult to get hired if you don't have a well known and respected school behind you and not many of the online ones are.
If you must do online courses, at least arrange to travel and do a weekend in person, or something. Gunsmithing is an expensive trade. If you can't afford to do that, maybe you can't afford this hobby.
@pastanaga - A good way to start this kind of search is to ask for names of students from the teachers at the school. But, don't settle for only looking up the names they give you, because, of course they will give you the students they think will sing their praises.
Ask those students for names, and try looking around on gunsmithing forums and in relevant trade magazines as well. Often the author of an article will list where he or she went to school.
And forums can be invaluable as a font of knowledge about a particular school.
In fact, I would go there first, just to get a basic idea of which are considered the best schools in the area, just so that you can narrow down your list of places to check out.
Unless you live in a big city, I don't think you're going to have an abundance of gunsmithing schools to choose from in your area.
Although you might decide to move in order to go to a school. In that case I would strongly advise you to track down former students and ask them about their experiences.
Try to get a range of people, as there might always be one or two dissatisfied with what is otherwise an excellent school.
You should also try to get people who have just graduated, or even are still enrolled, so you get a fresh, up to date perspective, as well as people who graduated a while ago, so you can see what career prospects are possible.
Good luck with your search!
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