Triaxiansilk.com

How does one learn about gunsmithing?

Currently, I read a lot online about conversions between various firearms, and tweaks and modifications that require some machining, but I know from experience with PCs that the best way to learn this kind of hands-on skill is through practice. For awhile I was way intimidated by ever trying it, but when I was watching this video about converting the HK USC to a UMP and the guy mentioned dremmeling a cut in the mag well to recieve the UMP magazines, I went, "Hey!... I've done dremmel work on PCs. That doesn't sound so hard." Hell, I even got a mini-ITX Socket A board to accept a mobile Athlon Barton processor with a wire-pin mod... Eventually the board crapped out, but that's not the point!

The problem is that gunsmithing as an extension to gun enthusiasm as a hobby is quite expensive, especially for the tinkerer who might screw up, so I can't exactly just start playing around.

Do courses, introductory manuals, or something of the like exist?

Id say your best bet, would be to track down a good gunsmith. Someone every Gun nut around you would refer you to. An ask This guy about learning Gunsmithing.


Cause I dont know about your area. But in Mine its not getting any easier to find any gunsmiths. An I doubt their gona be worried about compitition.
Heck you might even find a guy who would be willing to teach you himself.


But please dont compare Gunsmithin, to PC work. I think that would be an insult to the entire metal working trade at large. Let alone the Gunsmithing trade. which IMO has to be even more precise then any other Metal working trade.

It's not advisable to use a dremmel for such a work. Machining takes the right tools and skills. I wouldn't advise doing something like that by yourself it could end badly. I learned a little machining in vocational school and I can tell you it needs a lot of practice and skill and of course the right machinery. There is also the safety issue with machining you can easily loose body parts and even die if your not careful.

From what I can tell there are two types of gunsmiths: the guys who make the guns and the guys who modify the guns (engraving, handle making, etc.) Both are technically considered gunsmiths.

thecursor wrote:From what I can tell there are two types of gunsmiths: the guys who make the guns and the guys who modify the guns (engraving, handle making, etc.) Both are technically considered gunsmiths.

Well I'm primarily talking about functional modifications like stripping the guts off a Mosin, buying a Steyr rifle stock and rebuilding it into that. That kind of thing.

My dad does some of that stuff. There are quite a few books you can buy that let you learn how to do that sort of thing. I'd check a gun store or two. Remember that just because a gun is modified, it might not make it better.

thecursor wrote:My dad does some of that stuff. There are quite a few books you can buy that let you learn how to do that sort of thing. I'd check a gun store or two. Remember that just because a gun is modified, it might not make it better.

No, I know. It's not necessarily that objective, I just think it would be fun. Kinda like PC-modding... like I already related it to

Go to http://www.brownells.com/ and select the Gun-Tech tab. There are all kinds of how-to's there. There are pretty much all the instructions there either in print or video one would need to assemble a custom 1911 or AR-15. Order the Brownells catalog. This will get you conversant with the terminology.

Also go here http://www.midwayusa.com/gunsmithing. These guys are located fairly close to you. Poke around their site they have good info also.

Nav

Navigator wrote:Go to http://www.brownells.com/ and select the Gun-Tech tab. There are all kinds of how-to's there. There are pretty much all the instructions there either in print or video one would need to assemble a custom 1911 or AR-15. Order the Brownells catalog. This will get you conversant with the terminology.

Also go here http://www.midwayusa.com/gunsmithing. These guys are located fairly close to you. Poke around their site they have good info also.

Nav

Thanks, Nav.

Yeah, I've seen some of MidwayUSA's shows on Guns & Ammo TV.

You're welcome. There are a lot of things that you can do with basic and I mean BASIC hand tools. Start with something simple, build on that. Most (but not all) firearms benefit from interchangeable parts in like guns. In modern ones, hand fitting is avoided as much as possible, so it is possible for the average person to do some of his or her own repairs, stuff like that.

First tools you need to buy are a set of gunsmith screwdrivers. Never use a regular screwdriver on a gun. Almost all screws in a gun have parallel slots on the screws. A regular screw driver will ruin that in a second.

Instead of modding the gun itself, you might consider starting off with modding the stock. or in the case of a pistol, modding the grips. There are a lot of things you can do to customize the stock or grip of a gun to make it uniquely your own, without affecting the operation of the gun in the slightest.

blacknblue wrote:Instead of modding the gun itself, you might consider starting off with modding the stock. or in the case of a pistol, modding the grips. There are a lot of things you can do to customize the stock or grip of a gun to make it uniquely your own, without affecting the operation of the gun in the slightest.

Yeah, I've looked at getting some hogue grips for my .45 Ruger and if I ever get a standard 1911, I'd like to get USMC grips for them

One of the easiest ways to mod a gun is to put new sights on it. or if it has a clip you can use a modified clip. For example, I bought an extended clip for my .22 semi-auto rifle. Things like that might be a way to get your feet wet.

Yeah, I've used high capacity mags for my Ruger pistol, but I can't find high capacity mags for my Savage 22