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If you like guns and want to turn your hobby into a money-making venture or just be able to work on your guns yourself, you can consider gunsmithing classes and schools.
Quite a few gunsmithing schools courses and classes are available online, so you can study from the comfort of your home.
With some of the good ones, you can take your hobby-level skills and turn them into something that will help you make money.
Below, there’s a list of gunsmithing schools you can consider to enhance your knowledge without the need to attend a classroom.
Earn your accredited, affordable Gunsmith career diploma online with Penn Foster in as little as 4 months!
Article Table of Contents
Sonoran Desert Institute
Sonoran Desert Institute was founded in 2000 and provides online learning to those who want to learn a variety of armor and gunsmithing topics.
Currently, this is an accredited online firearms school offering various courses for different types of online students.
They provide two main programs, and you can also take individual classes if you need specific aspects of gunsmithing, such as how to accurize a rifle or advanced armorer topics.
SDI is a great school for gunsmiths who do it as a hobby and want to do more in their home workshop as well as for professionals.
Their instructors are highly recommended in the industry, and it looks that graduates of the school can find jobs easier than graduates of most gunsmithing programs.
The cost of the program depends on what exactly you’re looking for.
You can only take classes you want if you don’t need a degree or certification.
Most tools required for the program are included in the price of it and will be shipped to you when you start the course.
All tools are high-quality and a great way to start building your home workshop or to complete your tool bench at work.
American Gunsmithing Institute
American Gunsmithing Institute is one of the most well-regarded online gunsmithing schools.
It offers courses for both career gunsmith who need professional training and those who just do it as a hobby and want to work on their guns effectively and safely.
You can earn a professional certificate within only 90 days.
However, you will get 108 hours of course instruction exploring the basic tasks and techniques in addition to extensive information on the design of firearms.
So students can use this knowledge to land a job with a manufacturer.
The online coursework is divided into individual lessons.
Each lesson is taught by a recognized expert in the industry.
You can choose areas to specialize in, so the entire course will be both fun and cost-effective as you will skip bits you don’t need for your specialty and focus only on what you need.
Students can go for a full gunsmith certification program or chooses individual classes.
The professional certification will cost from 5k to 15k.
There are also specific Armorer’s level courses available for $40, and specialty and certified courses that range from $50 to $1,300.
Modern Gun School
Modern Gun School is committed to flexibility in learning for those interested in gunsmithing whether they do it as a hobby or a career.
They have constant open enrollment, so students can start at any time and take courses in either Basic or Advanced gunsmithing.
The school operates since 1946 and provides lessons that cover various aspects of buying and selling firearms, gunsmithing, and basic information on firearms.
The courses are online that you take at your own pace.
They are even personalized by Master Gunsmith and the staff to meet the personal interests and needs of the students.
MSG stands out among similar programs as they focus on hands-on training.
Class projects include building a rifle lower or refinishing a stock instead of just reading on a technique or process.
The courses have three different price tiers, including $1,442 of full payment upfront, $1,542 with higher monthly payments, or $1,642 in lower monthly payments.
So the tuition is fairly affordable for how much instruction you receive.
Therefore, this is an excellent option for those who are only getting started or do it as a hobby.
Ashworth College
Ashworth College is located in Georgia and offers an online program that focuses on real-world, practical projects created to emulate the actual everyday work of a gunsmith.
They focus on hands-on experience, and a large portion of the coursework is built about demonstrating the mastery of skills through completing a finished piece.
The projects include techniques for disassembling, reassembling, troubleshooting and repairing various firearms.
They don’t focus much on metalworking or machining but offer great value for what you get.
The program costs between $599 and $699 depending on the way you pay, and some payment plans are as little as $49 a month.
As you finish the program, you will get a good grasp of basic gunsmithing techniques and will be able to take any state or federal test that doesn’t require their own coursework.
Penn Foster Career School
Penn Foster Career School is located in Scranton, PA, but they offer online programs all over the world.
They have a number of degrees additionally to their High School/GED programs.
They have operated for a few decades and became one of the leading schools in online gunsmithing learning.
They also have a mobile site, which allows you to study on the go.
There is a dedicated staff for all courses on firearms, and you can get either a statistic or an associate degree.
The educational requirements are very low for applicants.
They only need to pass an 8th-grade equivalency exam.
The topics in programs cover gun safety, firearm assembly, and disassembly, restoration of an antique firearm, customizing gun stock for specific purposes or uses, including, mounting scope, precision rifle competition, basic metalworking, handloading ammunition, metal finishing, machine tool operation, and history of handguns and rifles.
Besides, payment options are also flexible, including interest-free monthly payments.
There is also eligibility for veteran education benefits and credits.
Final Thoughts
Professional gunsmith programs don’t have to be something unreachable because of the lack of money or time.
Online colleges and courses are a great option both for professionals and hobbyists.
No matter where you wish to work as a gunsmith, you can take a professional program to learn all you need.
If you only want to gain skills for your hobby, it’s also an excellent opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are gunsmiths in demand?
There should be a continuous need for gunsmiths, considering the popularity of guns in American culture.
Government employment officials say the need for gunsmiths should grow steadily, though not spectacularly, through 2030.
Gun manufacturers need gunsmiths, and the public need them for repairs.
There are roughly 4,500 gunsmiths in America.
What is the difference between an armorer and a gunsmith?
Gunsmiths and armorers are very similar and differ in only a few aspects of what they do.
Armorers can replace worn parts and do minor repairs and can be instructors at firing ranges.
Gunsmiths go further, modifying and even making parts for a gun as part of their repair process.
Gunsmiths can also make guns.
Do gunsmiths make good money?
Gunsmiths start out making around $30,000, and that can go up to $80,000 over the years.
Many gunsmiths are self-employed and must buy expensive equipment, so there is a cost to get started, but you can make a good living as a gunsmith.
There are also some gun makers that hire gunsmiths, and they pay well.
How much is tuition at the American Gunsmithing Institute?
Tuition for the American Gunsmithing Institute is $597 and is a three-month-long program.
You will learn the basics of gun repair in this class and be able to do many repairs upon completion.
There are two higher levels you may take after the first level.
The highest is Master Gunsmith.
To get all three levels would cost around $5,000.
What jobs can you get with a gunsmithing degree?
With a gunsmith certificate, you can get a job at a gun-making factory.
Many sporting goods stores also have gunsmiths.
Gun ranges also hire gunsmiths at times.
Many gunsmiths start their own businesses and work for themselves after getting some experience.
Is Penn Foster a good gunsmith school?
Penn Foster is highly regarded as one of the best gunsmithing schools.
Its curriculum has good reviews, and much of the course can be completed online which is another bonus.
There are classes for beginners and people who are already gunsmiths.
You may take one individual class or the entire program.
The school has many majors and has been in business for more than 30 years.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Gunsmith
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