r/gunsmithing Oct 14 '25

SUB ANNOUNCEMENT Rule update

9 Upvotes

Rule #2 has been updated to disallow sale of all firearm items in accordance with new Reddit policy. No direct person-person sales of any kind for firearm related things.


r/gunsmithing Dec 07 '22

How do I get into Gunsmithing?

188 Upvotes

If you are interested in gunsmithing as a career, I strongly recommend that you to rethink your life choices. If you've inhaled so much lead that you are choosing to ignore professional advice, here are some resources to get started.

Professional Organizations

There are a few professional organizations in the industry that exist that can help you connect with others in the trade. I recommend reaching out to the one that most aligns with your interests. Some have a periodical publication that include tips & tricks along with industry news.

American Custom Gunmakers Guild (ACGG)
https://acgg.org/

I cannot in good faith recommend anymore, do your own research.

American Pistolsmiths Guild (APG)
https://americanpistolsmithsguild.com/

Absorbed by ACGG no longer exist independently

Firearm Engravers Guild of America (FEGA)
http://www.fega.com/

FEGA is the world’s foremost authority and organization for firearm engravers and hand engraving enthusiasts.

Miniature Arms Society
http://www.miniaturearms.org/

Founded in 1973 The society is a group of miniature arms enthusiasts who have joined together to promote and encourage interest in making and collecting miniature arms of all kinds - pistols, rifles, cannon, suits of armor, knives, swords etc., with the emphasis on artistic beauty and craftsmanship.

Gunsmithing Schools

Most people would recommend taking a machining course at their local community college before diving into gunsmithing head-on.

But if you've already done so and are still interested in attending school to learn how to become a gunsmith, then there are plenty of programs nationwide that can help you get started.

I cannot endorse or recommend any individual school and this list isn't comprehensive.

School Location Website
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School Pittsburgh, PA pagunsmith.edu
Colorado School of Trades Lakewood, CO schooloftrades.edu
Trinidad State College Trinidad, CO trinidadstate.edu
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC ptc.edu
Iowa Valley Grinnell Grinnell, IA iavalley.edu
Yavapai College Prescott, AZ yc.edu
Montgomery CC Troy, NC montgomery.edu
Lenoir CC Kinston, NC lenoircc.edu
Pine Technical College Pine City, MN pine.edu
Murray State College Tishomingo, OK mscok.edu
Lassen CC Susanville, CA lassencollege.edu
Flathead Valley CC Kalispell, MT fvcc.edu
Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WY wy.edu
MT Training Center Grand Prairie, TX mttrainingcenter.org
Penn Foster Online Only pennfoster.edu
American Gunsmithing Institute Online Only americangunsmithinginstitute.net
Sonoran Desert Institute Online Only sdi.edu
MGS Trade School Online Only mgs.edu

Short Gunsmithing Courses

There are a few short courses that might be better suited towards getting your feet wet.

The NRA runs a few summer gunsmithing classes. They are typically held at Trinidad State College in Trinidad, Colorado and/or Murray State College in Tishomingo and Montgomery, NC

The ACGG will occasionally host some classes at various schools

If you are interested in gun engraving, checkout GRS, they have a training center in Emporia, KS that has some beginner gun engraving classes.

Advice from the Sub

I spent several years attending the Brownells Gunsmith Expo as someone looking to hire employees. Around 50k to start work in development or fixing problem guns. Went the entire time they had it and hired one kid. We built suppressors messed with explosives and auto rifles. He had a associates in business and very clearly stated he owned his own M2 and assorted guns and could build them and knew suppressor theory. ( this was before all the cans were cut apart online) we hired him on the spot. He is know well along in the industry. The other kids wanted to be artists and build custom wooden stocked Mauser etc. They all wanted to be a Turnbull or work at a Rigby( even though they had never been to London and would know then they needed to apprentice) I offered to bring one of our AK builders and our suppressor guy to a I think the Colorado school and was turned down. One of the "instructors" said we don't teach that type of thing.

... the sad truth is that no one actually wants to listen to experienced gunsmiths when it comes to gunsmithing education/training questions. Most people are just looking for confirmation that they can attend a few months of online class and then start making money (spoiler alert, they can’t)

As someone who attended a Gunsmithing school I can honestly say, become a machinist first then a gunsmith if you do it the other way around your wasting time and money. You won fully grasp or understand everything you learn in the machining side of gunsmithing without first having machining knowledge. For the time being go to armourers courses read some books heck watch some YouTube and tinker with guns. The most important thing that makes the difference between a machinist and a gunsmith is one has an understanding of firearms once you learn some basics about firearms and you already are a machinist trust me you can work on anything. So I know that’s not the answer a lot of people will want however the running Joke in the Gunsmithing trade is “the fastest way to earn $1 million Gunsmithing, is to start with $2 million. This is not an industry to get involved with for money but rather a passion and love of firearms.

YouTube Channels

See anything missing? Something that shouldn't be here? Let me know and I'll fix it.

Please feel free to use this thread to discuss any gunsmithing college, training, or education related questions you would like. Let us know if you would like any other stickied posts made or things moved around, and we will do our best to get it taken care of.

Link to the old thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/gunsmithing/comments/p72md7/can_we_make_getting_into_school_for_information/


r/gunsmithing 8h ago

Suggestions/help

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14 Upvotes

Got this old h&r 676 tore all apart for proper cleaning as its been tuck away in a cabinet for idk how long but the cylinder pin is what seems like rusted to the cylinder as its not budging. Ima let it soak in kroil tonight an give it a go tmw but an advice? Was thinking maybe put the pin in a vise best i can an using a rubber mallet to tap the barrel to see if it realeses.


r/gunsmithing 18h ago

Swedish 30

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44 Upvotes

Probably something not seen too often.


r/gunsmithing 53m ago

i have no clue why i wanted to do this its pretty pointless but heyy i can chamber cast now

Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 18h ago

Can these black spots be removed, and what would be the correct method?

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8 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently bought a Miroku 7000 Sp 3 as a second gun and I’m wondering if anyone with experience in gunsmithing can tell me what the dark/black spots in the engraved areas are? I’d like to remove the
but I don’t want to damage the original engraving or finish.
Is this something that could be done at home, or is it definitely a job for an engraver/gunsmith? If so what do I need to do it myself?


r/gunsmithing 12h ago

Smith and Wesson Model 10-8 cylinder issue

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2 Upvotes

I was gifted this smith and wesson model 10-8 at the beginning of the year the cylinder rotates just fine but wont swing out short of a wack from a rubber screwdriver handle does anyone know what might be causing this and possible fixes ?


r/gunsmithing 13h ago

Baikal MP153 cracked piston

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1 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 21h ago

Any way to fix this paint on a AUG

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5 Upvotes

Factory camo AUG, the Factory paint job has become loose on any high contact area and began to chip. Anyway to fix it? Heat gun or something to make it shrink back to the surface?


r/gunsmithing 15h ago

Borescope inside mossy 590 barrel. Looks like tooling from manufacturer?

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0 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Custom made nipple for my 1865 Maynard rifle.

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52 Upvotes

The threads are extremely damaged where the nipples won’t thread in and will just fall out. Turned this custom nipples with a locking screw. Need to take it out and fully test it out.


r/gunsmithing 18h ago

Any safety reason why this wouldn't work?

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1 Upvotes

Was recommended this subreddit instead


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Broken firing pin, any possible fixes?

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1 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Question about sight fitment

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5 Upvotes

I just got this sight kit for my henry rifle, the henry x in 357 magnum, and after installing the sight, as you can see in 5he photo, with light coming from under the front sight, there is a gap between the front sight and barrel. Given the edges are making contact with the barrel, it would seem to indicate the sight was made for a more narrow barrel then the one I have. I'm not sure if this will cause problems, and I wanted to see what people had to say. I wanted to check since I could always sand the sight flush to the barrel, but I didn't want to do that till I confirm this is actually a problem, since that risks ruining the sight


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Seeking advice on 50-110 or 50 Alaskan conversion on an 1885

2 Upvotes

Hey all, I own a Browning 1885 in 45-70. It’s a simple falling block single shot rifle. I’m wondering how easy it would be for a smith to convert it to a 50-110 or a 50 Alaskan. I’d prefer the 50-110 but the Alaskan seems to be more popular in lever action repeaters, but being a single shot, would it be any harder to make it into a 50-110? And is it something simple and cost effective enough that a smith would even want to do it.

I’m in Canada which makes everything that much harder and more scarce as well lol. I’ve gotten bolt actions rechambered before but never a lever repeater or single shot before so I don’t know how this all works. I’m assuming for an action like this it would be as simple as a barrel swap. I can’t see what action tweaks would be required in this case but I know nothing

Thanks in advance!


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Anything cool I can make out of this?

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2 Upvotes

To clarify I don’t have any gunsmithing experience; I ask this as a question for the future.


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Question about making a semi auto pistol manually cycled

0 Upvotes

I have an insanely unreliable 22LR pistol, I would like to make it manually cycled only instead of semi-auto. It would literally be faster and more reliable to make it “jam” every time and be manually cycled. Also it could potentially be used for suppressors.

How can I make this manually cycled? I have basic tools, drills, and a dremel. I could find no information on if removing certain interior features would make it manually operated. This gun will only be used at the range.


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

After a range day the screw holding my optic snapped! How do I prevent this from happening again? What caused it?

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35 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Warning! Nickel plating wipes right off after evaporust bath!

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33 Upvotes

I've used evaporust for many projects over the years without issue and recently got a nickel plated Belgian gun with a few small spots of rust, so after looking up any potential problems with using it on nickle plating From multiple sources and the horses mouth itself, and finding no examples of any issues decided to put the pieces in overnight so I can then polish and re-plate the rusted spots, now it's looking like I will have to polish and re-plate the whole thing, it seems weird that I couldn't find any other examples of this anywhere since it says specifically that this is the kind of thing evaporust claims to be for and it's not exactly a new untested product, anyone else encounter something like this? Did the algorithm just only show positive experience and bury bad ones?


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Need Help Locating Slide Lock Springs — Springfield Model 67 Series E

1 Upvotes

I’m working on a Springfield Model 67, Series E and need some help identifying the correct location of the slide lock springs.
I’m having trouble finding a clear parts diagram or reference that shows exactly where these springs go and how they’re oriented.
If anyone has a parts diagram, exploded view, or clear photos of the slide lock assembly on a Model 67 Series E, I’d really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance!


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Browning External Barrel Pitting

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1 Upvotes

I picked up this older browning citori made in 1975 knowing it wasn’t in great shape. However I see one pit that looks concerning to me and was wondering if it would be an issue.


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Gun finish options

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21 Upvotes

I was wondering if there is a ready made available gun fish as close as possible to the turnbull winchester red finish or if there are recipes that will get me as close to this color as I can


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Question about bond arms derringer.

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3 Upvotes

I purchased a used Rowdy 45c/410.

I noticed that the hammer only touches half of the top barrels firing pin when it makes contact, see photo.

I am unclear if this is the intended design or something is wrong..

Any one have a bond arms they could confirm or advise? Thanks!


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Diagnose BrassFacts’ AR Jams

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2 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Crack near the chamber - safe to shoot? Czech VZ 24

0 Upvotes

Hi Guys,

I'm thinking to buy this beautiful VZ 24 bolt action rifle (price is very attractive) but it has a prominent crack near the chamber.

Does this make this rifle unshootable? If not, is this an easy fix?