Gunsmithing Interested in learning more

[Magforce]

Hey guys,
Just curious about what is out there that can teach me about gunsmithing thats worth the money. I am wanting to do it more as a hobby not to make money at. I know my way around rifles and hand guns pretty good Ive been around them like most of you all my life and I spent time in the Army and Marines but Im not expert by far. I'd like to do more than just some of the basics. I'd like to build some for myself and be able to do stuff for friends. Im not looking to be able to make a Barrel or anything like that. Im 39 and own 3 companies and have a family so going off to school isnt an happening. Didnt know if there was something out there that would be a great source to learn from.

 

[300sniper]

Re: Interested in learning more

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magforce</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Didnt know if there was something out there that would be a great source to learn from. </div></div>

there is, it's called the internet

. probably 75% of what i have learned is from reading gunsmithing forums and general searching around the internet. the rest i learned from making chips, breaking tools and wasting material

there are a few rifle builders on here that have been a great help to me in my never ending quest for knowledge. wnroscoe and hateca have probably been the biggest help and are not scared to share their methods.

 

[tlfw]

Re: Interested in learning more

Call Robert Gradous...

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1242331

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Interested in learning more

Find an old tool & die maker and make friends.

Gun Digest makes a series of books on firearms assembly and disassembly. Buy all 5. The NRA has a couple of books also on firearms assembly. One is on rifles and shotguns and the other is pistols and revolvers.

All the above mentioned books are somewhat dated. They won't have the latest doodads from probably 2000 to date. But they are pretty good to have around. If you find contradicting data in both sets of books for the same firearm, go with the Gun Digest book. I have found on 3 different rifles the NRA books had a diagram backward. But they have different information sometimes on the same rifles.

Any books you can get from Brownell's is a plus. I have 3 of the "GUNSMITH KINKS" books by Bob Brownell. They have information that cannot be bought elsewhere.

If money isn't an object and you have room, get an electric horizontal band saw, a small tool room engine lathe in the 10 X 40 size range. Then a Bridgeport type knee mill. Power drive on the table is a plus for a one man shop.

An oxy-acetelene torch with both cutting and welding / brasing heads is a nice luxury to have access to. If you can learn to braze and silver solder you can fix SOME of your mistakes.

Good luck.

 

[gamma]

Re: Interested in learning more

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Victor N TN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Find an old tool & die maker and make friends.
Any books you can get from Brownell's is a plus. </div></div>

Thats what I am,a tool and die maker. I learned from the net and reading books and generally working things out for myself. You should go and get a bit of machining practice from some of the schools or colleges or some kind of courses on milling and turning. Actually if I were you Id do exactly what I did. Become a toolmaker or something like that. This is one trade that covers every single aspect that you could possibly encounter in gunsmithing,rifle building. Then go and get to know the do's and donts in rifle building. I became a toolmaker over 20 years ago and in the end I got totally pissed off with it,same old shit day in day out. Then I took an interest about 10 years ago in the workings of guns and began to experiment with my knowledge. To my surprise,everything worked a piece of cake,no problems at all. Ive now just opened the doors to my own custom shop. I still refer to the guys here regularly for advice on little issues that arise throughout the day. Best wishes.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Interested in learning more

I got my Tool & Die Maker's Journeyman Certificate in June of 1978.

 

[gamma]

Re: Interested in learning more

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Victor N TN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I got my Tool & Die Maker's Journeyman Certificate in June of 1978. </div></div>
So you'd agree with my advice here. I think its got to be the greatest foundation the budding gunsmith could have to his credit when venturing into this field. Im not portraying myself to be any expert or anything like that but once I got myself involved in the riflesmithing game,I imediately began learning again which is something I havent done for quite some time.I mean after 20+ long years theres not much left to learn.
So Im really loving what Im at right now and still learning all the time.

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Interested in learning more

I advise everyone that asks me that at least a machinist background is a place to start.

While I did do a lot of production work over the years. Most of my experience is with one or two of a kind type projects.

 

[Magforce]

Re: Interested in learning more

Guys this is a great start for me. I will contact Robert and maybe start by purchasing the books suggested. I went to tech school when 87-89 to be a machinest but thats been years and I ended up going in the Marines LOL.

 

[Don Black]

Re: Interested in learning more

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Victor N TN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I got my Tool & Die Maker's Journeyman Certificate in June of 1978. </div></div>

Looks like we've traveled similar paths. Got my Journeyman machinist ticket in '71, after about 10 years welding in the aerospace industry.
Had a lot of fun, learned a lot of shit(and forgot some, too).