new job?

[PYROhafe]

OK guys (and the gals) not unlike a lot of people these days I am completly sick of my job! Ide love to take my new found love for guns and anything that goes bang and turn it into a career. Im 26 with no college education, so that either limits me, or gives me a good chance to start learning as much as possible and have a nice career going soon. (depending on how you look at it) So what im getting at is Ide love any ideas or recommendations you might have to find a career dealing with firearms ( i dont want to be a cop, or some security guard... dont want to carry a gun every day per say, just work with them) Something like a gunsmith or even range instructor or something. Im not really looking to make the big bucks (it would be nice) I just want to enjoy my job! Any advice or ideas to guide me in the right direction is much appreciated!

[CJB]

Read all u can about gunsmithing.

Read George Nonte's GUNSMITHING
Read Hatcher's notebook cover to cover
Read Brownings biography by Curt Gentry
reread Hatcher
read all of the JM Pyne stories - they're priceless!!! only a few left in print
rereread Hatcher
Take classes in machine shop practice
read Hatcher again along with Pyne stories
Apprentice for a gunsmith for a few years
Do nothing with a file if it can be done with a surface grinder.
Never use a drill press - ever - for anything except making holes in wood.
Live by the surface grinder and Bridgeport... they're your life.
etc etc etc

[CJB]

I should mention that the JM Pyne stories... are absolutely first class, semi fiction.

That is, they're based on HM Pope, of Pope barrel fame. Written by Lucien Cary, who was a close friend of Pyne's during his later years. Cary, a writer, became a gun crank. The stories are filled with truth about gunsmithing and truth about guns and life. Great stuff. Compiled by Guy Letaurd (or something like that), a guy in Western Canada... he only has a few copies left, and folks THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY!

[lowroad]

Get some college, man. I would take machining at a community college or a trade school if you can. While doing that, read the aforementioned gunsmith material, but seriously, get some college or trade schooling in you. Preferably both!

[Bawanna]

I'd try to keep some sort of paying job and align yourself with a good gunsmith as CJB said. Work for free as an apprentice if you have to. The trick is you need a gunsmith with a good reputation that doesn't settle for second rate anything. They are few and far between.
They usually don't have the most charming personalities and sometimes can be down right a$$ holes. Those are the ones you want to hook up with.

I'd try to diversify and get involved with a range as well. Get known there and it will be good for a gunsmith business and give you something to do when your tired of wrenching on guns. Get some instruction certificates even though I don't put any faith in them, just a piece of paper. Get all the bases covered.

[yqtszhj]

Along with what Bawanna said I see you live in the south. You may find that local community colleges have gunsmithing courses too.

I know here in AL there are some scattered throughout the state. They are at 2 year community colleges I believe.

[U.S. Patriot]

I have experience in machining and welding. I'm also going to school for Design Technology. My goal is to get on as a draftsman for a firearm manufacture.

[Mike_B]

I'd look into being a CCW instructor. I don't know about other states, but here in MO they get $100 per student for their classes! Even just part time that seems like sweet money to me. Plus I imagine you would get the satisfaction of helping others become responsible, competent concealed carriers.

Any advice from existing instructors on here? I have no experience, have just imagined it would be a nice gig!

[Jeremiah/Az]

The insurance for a CCW instructor is outrageously expensive at least here in Az. You need to carry a $1,000,000 policy for accidents. I know some who have quit the business because of the cost.

[lowroad]

I'm just saying....a good talented machinist can make receivers, trigger groups, you name it. It is legal to manufacture a firearm(meeting all batfe laws of course) for your own use, unregistered, and it's super fun to bring parts kits back from the dead. While lots of people can port a barrel or tap for scope rings, precious few can run a mill sufficiently to create something from a chunk of billet or steel :) Food for thought.

[QuercusMax]

I'll chime in with some general, non-firearms-related comments.

The American economy and workforce has changed. The days when the average person with an able body but no skill or training can just walk in and get hired are gone for good. The unskilled jobs have either moved offshore or are being done by "immigrants." This has several implications:

1. As lowroad said, education is key. The US jobless rate today has declined a little, now down to "only" 8.2%, but in many fields the rate is actually near zero! What are those fields? Almost anything that is both useful and requires significant training or experience. For example, I do consulting for high-tech companies, and they are all having difficulty hiring good software engineers. Another company just can't hire electricians with a certain specialty skill. Etc.

2. Flexibility is important. The more "requirements" you have, e.g. must be located in a certain area, work in certain industry, only work specific hours or days, etc - the less likely you will be hired. The best opportunity does not necessarily align exactly with one's dreams. There is a strong element of serendipity in the companies & careers that most people end up in.

3. Exactly what conditions will be like in 10 years, 20, or 30 cannot be predicted, but change will occur, and the fortunes of various industries and job types will have their ups and downs. The firearms industry is booming at the moment, but consider that it has gone through many lean periods mostly due to the whims of the government, whether it was spending or regulation. Personally, I am leery of the long-term prospects for almost any job or industry that is subject to government policies. But even the firearms industry has lots of jobs that can be used in other industries, too.

Good luck with your career pursuit. Speaking from many years of experience, the factors I mentioned above are all key, and especially #1.

[ptoemmes]

I would say definitely a trade related to gunsmithing if not gunsmithing itself, but any trade makes sense to me (well, maybe not a construction trade). There will come a time when the ability to make or fix physical things will be very important.

If trade school or community college does factor in just be careful not to get saddled with too much - or any - student loan debt.

If you have benefits where you are now - especially health insurance - then try to transition and not just quit.

I was just laid off and I can tell you as miserable as the job might look while you have it, the uncertainties of not having one - and no health care - is eye opening. Of course I am 61 and you are 26 - your age is a clear advantage so use the advantage while you have it.

Pete

[wlc]

Turning a hobby into a career can often ruin the hobby.

[Bawanna]

Turning a hobby into a career can often ruin the hobby.

It surely can.

[Tinman507]

z7DgXoUWWb4

[JFootin]

My gunsmith has a full time job and does it as a second source of income, and he really enjoys it. He does work for lots of individuals, as well as doing gunsmith work offered by the local gun shops. He has an assistant to help with the work load and the wait time varies from a week or two to several weeks. He is a highly regarded smith with a few decades of experience.

He told me there is not a lot of money in it. He said that he would have to run a much larger operation along with a gun store in order to make really nice money. As it is, he works in his home and is satisfied with it as supplemental income.

[SpecK]

Ive actually been mulling over this same thing recently. Im fed up with kissing @$$ everyday-- I work in a stressful "customer is always right even when they are the dumbest person youve ever met" kinda thing.

Im 24 and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I was making big money back then and thought it would be dumb to quit for college, so I get to start fresh too. Im mechanically inclined, learn very quickly, and take instructions really well, but, with the two best gunsmiths in my area being those a-holes Bawanna talked about.....how do I get in? Wont I be laughed at if I ask to apprentice? It almost seems like getting a job there is kinda like getting a job as the president....it doesnt matter how qualified/unqualified you are, its all about who you know..

[Bawanna]

Ive actually been mulling over this same thing recently. Im fed up with kissing @$$ everyday-- I work in a stressful "customer is always right even when they are the dumbest person youve ever met" kinda thing.

Im 24 and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but I was making big money back then and thought it would be dumb to quit for college, so I get to start fresh too. Im mechanically inclined, learn very quickly, and take instructions really well, but, with the two best gunsmiths in my area being those a-holes Bawanna talked about.....how do I get in? Wont I be laughed at if I ask to apprentice? It almost seems like getting a job there is kinda like getting a job as the president....it doesnt matter how qualified/unqualified you are, its all about who you know..

I doubt you'd be laughed at. The thing is gunsmiths are hit all the time for free information. People call or come in and say my gun is doing this how do I do this to fix it. That doesn't pay the gunsmiths bills too good giving out free information. The fall of others is they try to be nice guys and they just don't charge enough for their time.

We used to have a few around here and I visited and tried to apprentice when I first got hurt. They were semi agreeable especially when I was free on a on the job training program. Many would have very limited contact hours. Start very early in the morning working, then expect to accomplish nothing as they take in more work or play the free information game.

In your case it might be tough since you'd want to have a paying job while you learn the trade under the guidance of a GOOD smith which is sometimes difficult to determine also. Some are legends in their own minds, while others really are extremely qualified good smiths.