Lol not knocking it at all!! I just wanted some input from others. I have seen the agi DVDs they look good. I also was looking at penn foster!! Any thought on that school??SHOOTER13 said:Online courses are legitimate ways to becoming a gunsmith, as most courses send you
tools, stock blanks, diagrams and books. As you progress, you are encouraged to buy
fix-er-up-er firearms to help your skill grow. I thought about a degree, but then found the
AGI DVD's to be more gun specific...I own quite a few of the courses for most of my firearms, such as the
Colt SAA's, Thompson SMG, 1911a1's, Glock, Remington 700 series, AR15, AK47, Ruger Vaquero...and found them
quite invaluable when breaking down, trouble-shooting, repairing, and modifying my personal firearms.
American Gun Institute: http://www.americangunsmith.com/
Don't knock it until you try it...![]()
Thank you very much.. For your help I will give it some more thought. The online course would be a little bit better for me. I don't have the time to go to an actual school.SHOOTER13 said:Yes...that is what I was drawing from when I said online courses were legit.
I looked at Penn Foster among others, but decided I wasn't looking for a degree to
make money working on other peoples firearms...I wanted to be able to work on my own personal
firearms and save money !!
Awesome man!!! That's what I'd want to do but I'd like to work on bolt actions and ar's also.Happysniper1 said:FWIW, I got my parchment from Penn Foster, then I worked under a Master Gunsmith.
I choose to specialize only in pistols, not rifles or antique firearms. My choice.
Thanks.^^^ Didn't know that bro...good for you !! ^^^
The biggest help that the Penn Foster course was to me was to help me decide on quality gunsmithing tools and (believe it or not) the names of all the parts of different guns.Awesome man!!! That's what I'd want to do but I'd like to work on bolt actions and ar's also.
Yea the only thing with me is there arnt any gunsmiths around to further learn under.Happysniper1 said:The biggest help that the Penn Foster course was to me was to help me decide on quality gunsmithing tools and (believe it or not) the names of all the parts of different guns.
I chose to specialize in pistols because I also teach a CCW course for Nevada CCW applicants. You can generalize (and work on all kinds of guns) or specialize (like I did, with pistols).
For my own stuff, my rifles and such, I do all my own work.
Wish I had a 3-axis CNC machine!
I completely understand what you are saying. And that's why I haven't just jump into it. If I do do it I want to do it rite. I will continue trying but don't wanna take any short cuts. That's why I wanted to get advice from the guys that have been there.Happysniper1 said:Having the parchment and not having a Master Gunsmith to apprentice under (or at least train intensively), will be a mistake. There is only so much you can learn online, you need hands-on work, and this requires guidance from someone who already knows what he is doing.
To try to shortcut it can (I am not saying will, but can) result in your spending a lot on replacement parts for other parts that have gotten screwed up, and dealing with disappointed and/or pissed-of customers.
I wrecked one thing, and only one thing, but it was the slide for a Wilson Combat M1911, and it cost me a couple hundred to replace, all because the grinding wheel got away from me and cut too deeply into the rear sight bevel. A momentary mistake, a lesson learned for a lifetime.
Most gunsmithing work will require reshaping and removing metal from parts. You can watch all the videos in the world, and read all the books out there, but nothing will ever give the correct "feel" of the hands of a Master Gunsmith guiding your hands on the metal.
You could check around for busted parts from other gunsmiths or from your LGS.I completely understand what you are saying. And that's why I haven't just jump into it. If I do do it I want to do it rite. I will continue trying but don't wanna take any short cuts. That's why I wanted to get advice from the guys that have been there.