AGI gunsmithing course

[longslide10]

I did a search on here and it didn't come up with any hits and I thought I saw a post on here about it but anyway I wanted to know if anyone has used the product for making money as a gunsmith and how well the course is put together, if it is a good investment or would one be better off spending 20 or 30 grand to go to certified gunsmith school?

 

[walt629]

Can't give you an answer on the quality of the courses but I did get, for the first time, a complete catalog of all of the products they offer. Impressive offerings.

One of the testimonials was from a fellow, Jan-Steven Merson. He took the course and started American Firearms & Gunsmith in Fullerton, California.


YOu might want to look him up and ask.

 

[longslide10]

I may do that, thanks

 

[Rick246]

AGI ran this a couple of weeks ago. Link is still good

Re-Broadcast of GCA Live Meeting!

Jan Merson is a GCA member and just one of the many successful gunsmiths AGI has trained. On this webcast interview he shares how he went from zero to making $100,000 a year as a Gunsmith!

 

[wizard]

I think it depends on what type of gunsmithing you plan on doing. Do you want to build custom guns,do general gun repair, pistolsmithing? For general repair the factory armoror courses are very good and you can take them as you can afford them. If you want to go full bore the Colorado school of trades course is very good, 14mo long, about 20K plus tools and living expenses. This can be an expensive career path, not all that lucritive. Specializing in a particular skill is where you can make money if you are very good and find a good customer base.

 

[longslide10]

I think it depends on what type of gunsmithing you plan on doing. Do you want to build custom guns,do general gun repair, pistolsmithing? For general repair the factory armoror courses are very good and you can take them as you can afford them. If you want to go full bore the Colorado school of trades course is very good, 14mo long, about 20K plus tools and living expenses. This can be an expensive career path, not all that lucritive. Specializing in a particular skill is where you can make money if you are very good and find a good customer base.

I would like to do it all which leads me to a School but I really am not fond of adding 25+ grand more of debt only to make 12 bucks an hour at some well known gun store. I would be more inclined to open my own shop but there's more money I don't have nor could get via a business loan.

 

[heritage54961]

Tooling is very expensive. competion is there. abridgeport and lathe can cost around 7000.00 unless you buy used. friend of mine went to colorado and he didn't know no more then we knew.if you advertize thats costly to. trust me we own a small gunshop on the side. you have to be a good talker and a good listner and deal with what we call tire kickers.
get your 07 manufactures license first. figure what you specialize in and go at it.
good luck,from
Kustom Arms
specialist in AR15/1911

 

[longslide10]

Thanks, appreciate the tip. What's a bridgeport? Is that like a milling machine? What size lathe is needed? Would a mini lathe do with exception to rifle barrels? The manufacturers license, is that part of the FFL or separate and what is the cost?

 

[bforney]

Thanks, appreciate the tip. What's a bridgeport? Is that like a milling machine? What size lathe is needed? Would a mini lathe do with exception to rifle barrels? The manufacturers license, is that part of the FFL or separate and what is the cost?

07 is a type of FFL. It allows you to build firearms but you can then sell as well. Most gun shops have just a 01 which only allows them to sell. If you do ever want to get into smithing and making your own stuff you have to have the 07. Type 07 FFL is going to be $150 for 3 years, so $50 a year if I can remember correctly off the top of my head. It isn't going to be much more than the 01 and will allow you to do much more.

 

[longslide10]

07 is a type of FFL. It allows you to build firearms but you can then sell as well. Most gun shops have just a 01 which only allows them to sell. If you do ever want to get into smithing and making your own stuff you have to have the 07. Type 07 FFL is going to be $150 for 3 years, so $50 a year if I can remember correctly off the top of my head. It isn't going to be much more than the 01 and will allow you to do much more.

Copy that and thanks again. I have another question if ya don't mind and that is, when applying for the FFL do you have to have a place of business already set up ( such as a rented or owned building other than ones home) or could I get the 01 and 07 and work out of my house for a while and what requirements are needed as far as security?

 

[Seeya]

ATF Online - Firearms - How To - Become An FFL

 

[Wild Bill Kelso]

These are good video's even though they are very grainy. They range from 1 to 2 hours each. The intro says they were transcoded from analog (VHS) and can be hard to watch at times. Still, I recommend them even if you are planning on college, they are easy to follow and you will learn rapidly. But don't fool yourself, they are not a replacement for hundreds of hours of hands on training, you gotta put in a lot of time outside of just watching the video's.

It wouldn't hurt to actually build a few rifles from scratch. Maybe instead of buying a $20K-$30K piece of paper (diploma) during a recession, just get the videos and spend $2000 on a good vice and 3-4 parts kits. If you don't like gunsmithing after that, at least you have a few new guns in your safe and don't owe on student loans.

Just a quick recessionary financial tip, student loans are not discharged during bankruptcy but credit cards are. Check out this article and ask yourself what kind of debt do you want to carry.

Transferring student loan to a credit cards makes sense -- occasionally

 

[longslide10]

These are good video's even though they are very grainy. They range from 1 to 2 hours each. The intro says they were transcoded from analog (VHS) and can be hard to watch at times. Still, I recommend them even if you are planning on college, they are easy to follow and you will learn rapidly. But don't fool yourself, they are not a replacement for hundreds of hours of hands on training, you gotta put in a lot of time outside of just watching the video's.

It wouldn't hurt to actually build a few rifles from scratch. Maybe instead of buying a $20K-$30K piece of paper (diploma) during a recession, just get the videos and spend $2000 on a good vice and 3-4 parts kits. If you don't like gunsmithing after that, at least you have a few new guns in your safe and don't owe on student loans.

Just a quick recessionary financial tip, student loans are not discharged during bankruptcy but credit cards are. Check out this article and ask yourself what kind of debt do you want to carry.

Transferring student loan to a credit cards makes sense -- occasionally

Actually I have considered that idea with an AR platform. I already have student loans out from another school (different field) and have been in deferment for a couple years so I am apprehensive about adding more in a crappy economy but the way things look I may need to visit re-education camp if i wanna stay in the game. Either that or start my own business but don't have a clue as to what with little or no money of my own to invest.

I Like that disappearing student loan plan, wish I would have thought of that some years ago when I had credit cards. Bet it won't be long before they catch on though