Gunsmithing Course at SAIT in Calgary

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Rubber Ducky

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Folks,

Has anyone here taken the Gunsmithing & Machining course at SAIT here in Calgary? I was thinking of signing up for it, but it's $400 and so I need to be a bit careful about where I spend my money.

Thanks,
RD
 
I've been lookin at that course for over a year now. I'm really exicited to take it but I'm still trying to decide what sort of action I want to use and what calibre I hope to build. I'm fairly new to gunsmithing so I have been trying to educate myself before picking my action and calibre. I have a preference to a 98 mauser action and i'd like to build a hard hitter in maybe a .375 or .378 calibre. Like I said, i'm still learning about this stuff.
 
Do you have any info on dates and times? Am I to understand you show up with an action and a barrel and get working? Where do I sign up?:dancingbanana:

Though I am a little suprised that they would offer such a dangerous course, even in the land of tolerance!;) I came from BC where wearing camo while filling up your vehicle with gas is an invitation to be accosted by some "environmentalist" driving a 6 mpg Hummer, wearing leather shoes with a snake skin handbag. In AB we sometimes even stop at a diner for a bite to eat without changing clothes!

God bless Alberta.

Ian
 
Hey there guys, I've taken this particular course quite a few times - Jeff runs the course pretty flexible, if you have a lot of machining knowledge then basically it's just a matter of learning what to do to make things go bang properly ;) For guys that have less or no experience running lathes, etc, then it's definately a bonus for the money you spend, as you learn how to grind tools, setup your lathe, turn down your barrel blank, thread it to fit your action, and finally chamber it for your cartridge.

Usually how they prefer it is to contact the instructor 6 weeks or earlier before the course starts so he can order you the action/barrel of your choice
and it will be there in time for you to actually do something with it during the course :p



Check here for course dates:
http://www.sait.ab.ca/pages/cometosait/coursefinder/coned.shtml
(if memory serves the class code is MACH-222)

Cheers,

Rich
 
Cost of Actions and Barrel

Hi Striker,

Sorry for asking a stupid question but the course is $400. Do we have buy the actions and barrel on top of that? and if so how much is the additional cost?

I will definitely take the course but I have to plan the spending.

Thanks,
RD
 
Rubber Ducky said:
Folks,

Has anyone here taken the Gunsmithing & Machining course at SAIT here in Calgary? I was thinking of signing up for it, but it's $400 and so I need to be a bit careful about where I spend my money.

Thanks,
RD
Click to expand...

The guy who teaches that course has his head screwed on straight. I've talked to him a few times and I am tepted to do the gunsmithing course when I get the time and money!

I'll be there again in March/April for second period.
 
the $400 only covers the course, basically they're paying SAIT for use of the shop, the action/barrel blank is on top of that. What I did for my first rifle was to get him to pick me up a M98 action that was a bit pitted and not the prettiest thing ever, but it still manages to vaporise rodents from 200 yards so it's all good in the end :D

Your best bet would be to call the number they have listed on the SAIT link I posted, usually between him and a couple of the other fellows there they can get you a good deal on actions and barrels.

Rich
 
here you go :D

Jan 08, 2007 - Apr 02, 2007
Mon 6:30pm - 9:20pm
Location: Main Campus
Lecture/lab combination 34148
Fees: $395.00 Duration: 12 Weeks | 36 Hours Available

Jan 12, 2007 - Apr 06, 2007
Fri 6:30pm - 9:20pm
Location: Main Campus
Lecture/lab combination 33981
Fees: $395.00 Duration: 12 Weeks | 36 Hours Available
 
The site wasn't working when I tried it. Doesn't really matter, Striker66, Thanks.

This course would be a blast............ I know what I want for Christmas.:D
 
The SAIT website won't be working till the 15th. So, if anyone is interested, the course code is, MACH-222, as Striker66 mentioned.

I left a message for the instructor, hope I can afford this.:confused: :) :D
 
I took it 6 years ago. I was only in it for 2 or 3 weeks and had to drop out to go to training in Regina. I didn't get much from it but then again I was only there a very short period of time and had no experience with machining prior to that. My rifle ended up being finished by a local gunsmith in Calgary that I knew from working at Wholesale Sports.
 
I've done the course and basicly you are renting a machine shop to work on what ever you have planned ahead of time and they are there to help you out. If you are aready experenced with mill/lathe work it is good but if you are not I'd take the machine operators evening classes at SAIT first before taking the gunsmith course... just my $0.02 anyway.
 
I haven't taken the course mself, but know guy who has and he says the same thing as HeadDamage.....take the machine course first and you'll get more out of the gunsmith course.
 
Already Signed up for it.

Hi Guys,

I've already signed up for it. If need be I'll be taking the basic machining course later.

Cheers,
RD
 
Guys, I am a machinist instructor at SAIT and work with Jeff and also help out with the gunsmithing course. This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of riflesmithing and accurizing. Your experience will dictate where you begin in this course. If you are new to machining there are some fundamentals you must learn before you go to town on a rifle. Generally we will have you make a spring loaded lug lapping tool that is action specific. This will teach you turning, boring, cutter grinding, threading and speeds and feeds. When you have completet this project you will lap your bolt lugs and are ready to move on to profiling, threading, chambering and headspacing your barrel.
Jeff is what I would consider an expert when it comes to the M98 and P14/17 actions. If you need an action you can get in touch with either Jeff or myself and we can usually find one (usually around $200 CDN)
Jeff can also order barrel blanks in any caliber of your choosing for around $200 CDN.
If anyone has any questions about this course please feel free to e-mail me.
 
course

$400.00 is a bargain for any training, especially when you get 36 hrs of instruction on equipment that will cost thousands of dollars to replace if you happen to have an oops . ... I had to buy $10.000.00 worth of equipment and tooling and yes there has been the odd oops ,wish i had learned on someone elses equipment , if i lived closer to SAIT i would take the course just because you never quit learning and most instructors are willing to share there knowlege for life, once they have had you as a student :)
and thats my . $.02
Good luck to all who take the course .... :)
 
Pistol work allowed? Could I bring in a slide and barrel and work up from there?

Would love to build up an old CZ75B into a 9mm open gun similiar to what people were doing with the P9's.
 
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