Gunsmith Schools

The National Rifle Association has approved four affiliated schools across the country. In addition to a uniform certifying process, all offer short-term gunsmithing courses to aspiring gunsmiths. Options range from individual courses lasting a few days to complete degree-producing programs. Becoming an NRA Gunsmithing school is a selective process.

All schools must have an existing gunsmithing program (minimum three years) with full-time students currently enrolled in classes, knowledgeable and experienced instructors, and proper facilities All of them are held at accredited university offering Gunsmith degree programs. Photos courtesy of Trinidad State Junior College. to host potential students. Schools meeting this criteria must submit a formal application and be vetted and verified by the NRA Gunsmith team.

The NRA Gunsmith courses are typically held during the spring and summer months and can range from several days to two weeks. This is in addition to the school’s in-residence degree programs. Prices vary according to the course and school as do the number of students allowed per course. Students graduating from a course receive a certificate of completion from the school. However, you must complete along-term gunsmithing school to receive an official certification or degree as a gunsmith.

While all NRA Gunsmithing Schools provide basic introductions to the art of gunsmithing and offer valuable new skills and insight into the needed tools, the specific offerings vary by school as does the exact curriculum. Here are the current offerings. MCC We’ll start with Montgomery Community College (Montgomery.edu/ nra, in Troy, North Carolina.

MCC Gunsmithing courses are taught by nationally and internationally known gunsmiths, armorers and craftsmen who share their expertise in courses ranging from basic to advanced techniques. The NRA courses combine a hands-on and lecture format and range from three days to two

weeks in length. MCC also offers a two-year associate degree program in Gunsmithing. NRA Introductory Level Classes, despite the name, provide a high level of instruction and last several days. "Introductory" here means that prior experience is not a requirement. Examples include the AR-15 Armorer Course, Smith & Wesson M&P Customization, three classes in the Basic Gunsmithing series (Rifle, Shotgun, and Pistol), and Basic Stock Repair and Refinishing. Other MCC classes are more involved.

Basic Lathe Operation covers standard operations such as turning, facing, drilling, reaming and cutting precision threads. Basic Gunsmith Tool Making, with lathe and mill skills as a prerequisite, covers learning to build tools and jigs, including use of MCC’s large tooling blue print collection as well as being able to reverse engineer tooling and fixtures.

Finishing classes include Basic Painted Finishes, Restoration of Fluid-Steel and Damascus-Steel Shotgun Barrels, Restoration of Shotgun Barrels, and Stencil Painted Finishes. Advanced Classes, Series I and II gets into machining experience. Precision Barrel Fitting for Auto-loading Pistols, Remington 700 Precision Barreling, AR-15/ AR-10 Custom Barreling, Factory Bolt Action Accurization, Custom 1911 Pistol Build Class make use of mills and lathes.

For facilities, MCC gunsmithing labs and classrooms comprise 9,000 square feet of student work- Far space. This includes a woodworking shop, a welding shop, two machine shops with 13 milling machines, 23 high-speed precision metal lathes, surface and pedestal grinders, and a metal refinishing room with buffers, sanders, immersion bluing, Parkerizing, nickel plating, and color case hardening facilities.

A state-of-the-art paint shop includes two paint booths and large curing oven for applying Cerakote and other firearms finishes. Three spacious classrooms with individual work stations, Kennedy roller cabinets, and locker facilities are available for each student. For live fire, a five-position, 100-yard outdoor firing range for use in test firing, chronographing, reloads, and bench rest shooting are available.

Through a donation from Midway USA, funds are available for annual updates to the program’s firearms inventory kept in the Midway USA Arms Room, ensuring that students receive instruction on the most comprehensive, up-to-date firearms inventory possible. Brownells provides numerous gunsmithing scholarships to students and donations to offer the Brownells Labs. MCC’s Gunsmithing instructional staff has a combined total of over 60 years of gunsmithing, teaching, and professional experience.

Students completing the degree program graduate with 24 custom gunsmithing tools and three custom firearms they build themselves, including a custom 1911. In addition, students annually travel to the SHOT Show held in Las Vegas to make career contacts and gather job prospects. TSJC Trinidad State Junior College (TrinidadState.edu/gunsmithing, 800/621-TSJC) in Trinidad, Colorado has a Gunsmithing School has long traditions with their Summer NRA program.

Offered over nine weeks, craftsmen and artists from the Gunsmithing world gather at the southern Colorado school to offer a variety of short-term courses designed for anyone interested in learning Gunsmithing as a hobby or a vocation. Available for novices, current students, and professionals, each course is organized individually for those who wish to learn anew skill, refine a technique, or study new technical information.

Most Trinidad classes are conducted Monday through Friday during normal business hours, though some classes run on weekends or for extended hours. Gunsmithing Technician Certificate (16 credits) has Basic Machine Shop, Advanced Machine Shop, Welding for Gunsmiths, Bluing, and Benchmetal Hand Tools & Metallurgy as Core classes. Gun-

Students listed from left to right are: Marty Murphy from New Mexico, fifth semester; Mateus De Faria from Florida, second semester; and Mitchell Marks from Montana, fourth semester. Above center: Second semester Gunsmithing student, Parker Eastin from Colorado, works on a pistol frame in Custom Pistol Smithing class.

Thanks to Trinidad State Junior College for the pictures. smithing Fine Arts Certificate (18 credits) has Drawing I, Checkering, Gunstock Carving, Scrimshaw, Introductory Hand Engraving, Alternative Metal Finishes, Advanced Hand Engraving, and a final Capstone as Core classes. Small Arms Level I Certificate (18 credits) includes Introduction to Small Arms, Small Arms Hand Tools, Small Arms Repair, and Machine Gun Repair.

Trinidad’s NRA Firearms Safety Instructor Certificate (18 Credits) is approved by the Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission, making it possible for students to use financial aid, GI Bill, and/or Vocational Rehabilitation programs to pay for their classes.

Other classes include Damascus Billet Making, Barreling Precision Rifles, Action Blueprinting, Building a Race Gun, Action Blueprinting, Single Action Revolver Tuning, Conserving Vintage Firearms, and Basic Western Style Engraving, among others. Many NRA Summer Classes are available for credit towards a degree program and a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) establishes all earned credits. Classes taken for credit are eligible for payment using financial aid, GI Bill, and Vocational Rehab.

For students taking summer classes as professional development for their job, classes are available for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) to be determined upon class registration. When taking classes for CEU’s, the certificate of completion will reflect the units earned. A variety of scholarships are available to students. Information is available on the TSJC Educational Foundation’s scholarship page.

MSC Murray State College (MSCOK. edu/academics/departments/gunsmithing-technology, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma has been offering courses in cooperation with the NRA Gunsmith program and law enforcement armorer schools since the summer of 1994. MSC offers courses in repair and function of rifles, auto pistols, revolvers, and shotguns. Other classes include bluing, re-barreling, alternative finishes, stock repair and refinishing.

While MSC’s six-week program and classes are not currently credited, students receive a certificate for each class attended. In addition to the NRA Gunsmithing and law enforcement offerings, Murray State College has been offering their own core gunsmithing program, Gunsmithing Technology, since 1979, providing training in custom gunsmithing and gun repair. Students develop the basic knowledge and skills needed to become professional gunsmiths.

The two-year program teaches all aspects of building and repairing firearms. During the course, students visit several different firearm manufacturers and various gun shows. They also have the opportunity to receive on-campus training from firearm manufacturers to obtain additional certifications. Historically, MSC gunsmithing advisors and instructors receive up to three job requests for each student who graduates from the program. All graduates can be placed in employment if open to relocating.

Gunsmithing is a very popular program at MSC, with only 30 students chosen to enter each year. Prospective students are urged to submit applications early, specifying the intended year of entry. All classes start in Fall with students being chosen by the gunsmithing department committee the previous March. Acceptance is not automatic; each student is chosen on their own merit. The Gunsmithing Program teaches all aspects of building and repairing firearms.

Each student will build three firearms while attending the two-year program and students get to keep what they build. Pending rulemaking, including amendments to ITARS, is restricting access to firearms by non-citizens in the United States, therefore, applicant must be a citizen born in the United States to apply to the program. Areas of study include Stockmaking and Stock Repair, Rebarrel-

ing, Metal Refinishing, General Firearm Repair, Accurizing with pistol and rifle specifics. Specialty classes include Computer Numerical Control and Auto CAD (Computer Aided Design), TIG Welding, and Machine Shop (Lathe and Mill) work. Employment opportunities range from general gunsmithing and gun shop management, custom gunsmithing and machine work, and Cryogenic operation. Students have found good jobs with the government, military, and factory service work with major manufacturers.

Perspective students are invited to schedule a whole campus tour by contacting the MSC Outreach office or by visiting the Courtney Engineering Building on campus to tour the Gunsmithing Department. LCC Lassen Community College (LassenCollege.edu/academics/programs/gunsmithing/Pages/default. aspx, in Susanville, California was established in 1925 and has been offering the oldest gunsmithing school in the United States since 1945.

Lassen Community College is located in Susanville, a small mountain town in northeastern California. Outdoor activities are abundant, with Sierra Nevada Mountains to the south, Cascade Range to the north, Lassen and Plumas National Forests to the west and high desert country to the east. There are numerous streams and lakes available for fishing and boating, including Eagle Lake 20 miles away. As an NRA-affiliated Gunsmithing school, LCC offers one and two week NRA Short Term Gunsmithing Courses during the summer.

Courses are offered in Basic Machine Shop, Barreling, specific firearms platforms, Law Enforcement Armorers Schools, engraving, Knife making, and metal finishes, California P. O. S. T Certified Law Enforcement Armorer Schools, engraving, knife making, and metal finishes. LCC also offers Associate in Science Degrees in Firearms Repair and General Gunsmithing, as well as Certificates of Completion for Pistolsmith, Riflesmith, Long Guns, and Gunsmith Machinist and Metal Finishing.

Degree programs and Certificate programs are designed to be realistic and comprehensive, spanning the wide spectrum of skills needed to compete in the modern job market. LCC’s Gunsmithing program focuses on firearm design, function and repair. The Gunsmithing courses are 1-2 weeks long, Monday through Friday. There is a first year student class and a second year student class offered each week. During the first year of the program, students take an evening welding course held on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Additionally, a lab class option on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings where students can work on class projects outside of their regular class time is available. LCC’s Gunsmithing Program is two years long, consisting of gunsmithing-specific courses. Upon successful completion, students are eligible for all of the Certificates of Accomplishment/Achievement LCC offers. The Associate of Science Degrees requires additional general education courses as any degree program typically does.

The gunsmith portion is 64 courses over four semesters. Upon completions, graduates receive Certificates of Achievement in General Gunsmithing and Firearms Repair, and Certificates of Accomplishment in Gunsmith Machinist and Metal Finishing, Riflesmith, and Pistolsmith. Upon the completion of the General Education Requirements in addition to the full time gunsmithing program, students are eligible for graduation and can receive an Associate in Science degree for General Gunsmithing and/or Firearms Repair.

Typical Gunsmithing Program courses area week in duration and held Monday through Friday for 39 instructional hours. The coursework needs to be approached as a full-time job. All courses are presented by knowledgeable and full credentialed full and part time instructional staff, as well as varied guest lecturers. Instructors utilize various technologies and methodologies to help the student understand design, function and repair aspects of all firearms related to a particular course.

The majority of the coursework is hands on, with the student performing modifications and repairs to various firearms. The student will learn basic and advanced techniques using the lathe, milling machine, TIG welders and a variety of other machine tools. Lassen Community College is accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) through the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

WASC is recognized by the California POST Secondary Education Commission and the US Department of Education. LCC students are responsible for providing their own hand tools, most consumables, and firearms needed for their coursework. Tools required for the Gunsmithing Program can costa few thousand dollars over the course of the two year program, depending upon quality. There is one required text book for the program and tuition is charged on aper unit basis for each course.

In total, LCC lists 126 Course Outlines in the Gunsmithing curriculum. Each school determines the cost of their program. For questions regarding NRA Gunsmithing School courses or curriculum, please contact the school directly. For any additional questions, email MSprick@ nrahq.org for more information. AG