Are the online gunsmith courses worth the money ?

Cochrane John

Cochrane John

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I've had an interest in gunsmithing for some time now and I've seen different ads for online courses. I know that the proper way to get into gunsmithing is going to a school and learning hands on, but we all have bills to pay and work must take priority. I'd just like to know if anyone has taken any of these online courses and what they thought of it, was it worth the money and did they receive a certificate of gunsmithing that is worth something other than the money that was spent on the course. Any feed back from anyone would be greatly appericated.
 
Maybe a good source to learn some things from but nothing beats an experienced person looking over your shoulder

I have a few of the American Gunsmith Society videos and they are a good reference tool for some simple tasks.

I have the Rem 700 video and Ruger 10/22 video. Good tools for going over each part of the rifle and some simple stuff.
 
my buddy took an online firearms restoration course.... spent about 1500.00 in total on the course and literature/books.
went to every gun shop and place he could think of to land a job as an entry level gun smith and zero luck. He's a welder now :D
to get the proper education and certificates that mean anything you have to pretty much go to europe, USA or find an established smith to apprentice you and build your reputation.
everything i've learned about what i do, specializing in M1A and M14 platforms, has been gleaned from the US and a bit here and there from the few experienced canadian riflesmiths i've encountered.
 
They're good for getting a high level overview and to get down to the theories behind a gun's working guts, as well as learning some practical solutions to practical problems. It's certainly worth it's value when you're looking at purchasing second hand guns, you know what kind of wear and tear to look for.

But a good instructor hovering over your shoulder while you mill or lathe a piece of scrap metal as practice is miles above and beyond anything a video can teach. You can't convey what to feel for in the mill or lathe properly in a video, you need to experience it for yourself. And there's always those tiny little tricks that the manual never includes but rather is discovered by the working machinist.
 
Like a fool, I did one of the online courses about 20yrs ago. I was unemployed at the time and my then girlfriend suggested I find something to do, so I did that. I got my passing certificate after completing the course. Cost me $150 bux for the books. I still have all the books and they are actually handy if you have any firearms that are covered in the books. There is a section in the handgun book about how to smooth the action in your Colt 45. I read it but have yet to apply any of what I read to my 45. Im a wee bit gun shy when it comes to taking files to my guns. I pay guys like Gunnar from Armco to fix my babies :D
 
Ishootguns said:
Online courses are not recognized by the CFO
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That only seems to matter in Ontario. Maybe Quebec too, but it never seems to come up as an issue except in Ontario.

Kind of surprised that they have not faced a court challenge over the near total lack of clear definition of what constitutes a "recognized" course or qualification, given that there is not any defined requirement in Canada, to have any such to call oneself a Gunsmith (as opposed to, say, Welder, or Millwright, or Cook).

That seems to point that there is an easy enough way to bypass the requirement for them what wish to get into the trade.

Take courses in small business admin, bookkeeping, machining, as a start, if you wish to get into gunsmithing as a business. They will maybe keep you from starving to death while you get established.

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
That only seems to matter in Ontario. Maybe Quebec too, but it never seems to come up as an issue except in Ontario.

Kind of surprised that they have not faced a court challenge over the near total lack of clear definition of what constitutes a "recognized" course or qualification, given that there is not any defined requirement in Canada, to have any such to call oneself a Gunsmith (as opposed to, say, Welder, or Millwright, or Cook).

That seems to point that there is an easy enough way to bypass the requirement for them what wish to get into the trade.

Take courses in small business admin, bookkeeping, machining, as a start, if you wish to get into gunsmithing as a business. They will maybe keep you from starving to death while you get established.

Cheers
Trev
Click to expand...

Trev, can I come over and play? Maybe try a little machining?
 
I have decided that I would like to become a precision shooter. I found an online course (fictional), so after I have studied from home with the materials they provide, I will be ready to win my first competition!
Now to explain the analogy!

Gunsmithing - like shooting- is 'hands on'. Some things you MUST learn by doing.
plus
To precision shoot you need the fire-arm. likewise Gunsmith's need a wide variety of expensive tools! (and seeing as they are expensive, no-one with sense will let you use their tools, until you have some experience!)
plus
Practice, Practice, Practice...

Bottom line, you can't become a gunsmith without hands-on practice, and a good mentor.

Some pundits have blamed the school for the perceived lack of quality in the courses. But if you honestly thought you would become a gunsmith via correspondence then... (as they say: ' a fool and his money are soon parted')

I have personally taken the ICS course for gunsmithing. WELL worth the money for me! They had some hand-tools, and several resource books (valuation, Brownell's catalogue, NRA dis-assembly guide, etc) The books are worth the tuition. And the structure helped me to focus on the material. And it gave be a great over-all view on gunsmithing!

BUT

I have a great job (nothing to do with Guns). I love guns, and they will be my passion to my death, so the initiation was great, but it is unlikely guns will become a career for me!

IF

You want to become a gunsmith (an actual occupation) Move to Quebec and take the course, or the US/ Europe.
It's your future and your life, the investment in a proper education will be well worth it!

Just my couple cents

Cheers,

Vair
 
"Bottom line, you can't become a gunsmith without hands-on practice, and a good mentor."

Except, I doubt most of the people who are names in the US went that route. I could be wrong, but mostly they sound like folks with a lathe in the basement. Probably a background in machine work.

I think one can learn anything from books and tapes. The problem with Gunsmithing as the generalist fix anything guy is knowing all the possible problems that one could face, and not even carrying about half the guns. That versus specializing in something you love.

Of course when one starts to talk about making a living as a wage slave, in Canada, or buttering up the CFO, that's a different mater. First step is move to the US. Ironic that the Canadian, school presumably federally funded, is in Quebec, home of the free...
 
Becoming a gunsmith by reading books and no hands on experience is like reading all the books on all types of welding and then go out and try welding and being good at it !!!

Bearcat
 
Bearcat said:
Becoming a gunsmith by reading books and no hands on experience is like reading all the books on all types of welding and then go out and try welding and being good at it !!!

Bearcat
Click to expand...

Side note: When your dad says he's good enough to weld on some brackets to your jeeps unibody...don't believe him.

"How hard can it be?" :rolleyes:
 
The difference between education and training? Think- do you want your kids to have ### education or ### training?
The basic point is that you need hands-on experience to master what is essentially skilled craftsmanship. I have considerable experience in delivering Distance Education where understanding the difference between education and training is critical. Education can give you knowledge, understanding and the ability to think and learn. It cannot give you manual skills, but it can certainly help you in the learning process.
You need specific tools to do specific tasks. While you can use a screwdriver as a chisel, it really is a bubba way of working. So what tools do you need to do decent gunsmithing? Will you earn enough return to recover the costs of tools and equipment, or is it likely to be cheaper to pay someone to do the work?
 
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