Online Gunsmithing Courses at Accredited Schools

Penn Foster Career School, the school below with the highest overall ranking, is effective at equipping students via its gunsmithing courses to be successful gunsmithers, gunsmiths, research and development machinists, machinists, etc. and connect them to future employers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, at present there are 1,268,930 people employed as maintenance and repair workers, general alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $36,520. Machinists make on average $38,940 per year and there are about 380,720 of them employed today.

Gunsmithing Organizations Gunsmithing Common Job Tasks
  • improving accuracy in glass bed actions to stocks
  • modifying trigger pull weight through careful stoning of trigger mechanism parts
  • changing caliber or cartridge of existing rifle by changing barrel and modifying receiver
Popular Journals & Magazines
 

Ranked by Excellence

Gunsmithing Courses at Penn Foster Career School

Program Name: Gunsmith
Instruction Set 1

Learning Strategies The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations. Getting Started in the Firearms Industry The firearms trade and its functions; definition of a Gunsmith; career opportunities; government licensing safety; personal safety; liability insurance; gunsmithing tools and their uses; basic firearm disassembly/assembly procedures.


Instruction Set 2

Identifying and Evaluating Firearms Procedures for identifying firearms; identifying caliber; determining if a firearm is safe to shoot; use of the Internet to identify firearms. Gun Stocks Gun stock function and design; identifying materials used in making gun stocks; procedures for inletting and finishing gun stocks; Urethanes and Polyurethanes as stock finishes; stock duplicators; repairing stocks. Customizing Gun Stocks Glass bedding; checkering; stippling; carving a gun stock; installing recoil pads and buttplates. Practical Exercise Supplements: Cartridge Wall Chart Using a Micrometer Applying for Your Federal Firearms License Firearms Glossary Modern Gun Values


Instruction Set 3

Rifles A brief history of rifle development; design and function of various rifle types; repair and modification of various rifle types; re-barrel safety; headspacing; go gages and no-go gages. Modern Sporting Rifles The military and civilian roles of the modern sporting rifle; care, cleaning, and maintenance; disassembly and assembly; troubleshooting. Gunsights Design, function, and installation of metallic rifle sights, handgun sights, shotgun beads, and optical sights; laser bore sighting; sighting rifles and pistols; altering bolts for scope mounting; installing new safeties; mounting scopes. Practical Exercise Supplements: Customizing Rifles Firearms Record Book Gunsmith’s Tool and Supply Catalog


Instruction Set 4

Shotguns A brief history and development of shotguns; choke installation and modification; rib installation and repair. Muzzleloaders History of muzzleloaders; loading and firing procedures; equipment and accessories; troubleshooting and repair; custom-building kits and accessories. Practical Exercise Supplements: Customizing Shotguns Gun Parts Catalog


Instruction Set 5

Handguns A Brief History Of Handguns; Identifying Handguns; Revolvers; Single Shot/specialty Pistols. Ammunition, Reloading, And Basic Ballistics Basic Ballistics; Reloading Tools And Their Uses; Reloading Procedures; Bullet Casting Procedures. Practical Exercise Supplements: Customizing Handguns Firearms Assembly: The Nra Guide To Pistols And Revolvers Firearms Assembly: The Nra Guide To Rifles And Shotguns Parts, Services, And Suppliers’ Listing Reloading Manual Smith & Wesson® Wall Chart


Instruction Set 6

Basic Metalwork and Machine Tool Operation Basic metallurgy; overview of the welding process; soldering; brazing, heat treatment techniques. Metal Finishing Various types of metal finishes; metal preparation; instructions for metal finishing; touch-up blueing; electric counter mounted buffers; modern gun coating spray application finishes. Starting Your Own Business Establishing a retail gun business; sales and services; types of ownership; licensing requirements; seasonal issues; Internet auction sales sites. Supplement: Drill and Tap Wall Chart


Program description: Learn how to become a Gunsmith - at home, at your own pace with Penn Foster Career School.

There are certain skills you need to begin a career
as a Gunsmith. The Penn Foster Career School
Gunsmith Program helps you learn them quickly
and conveniently.

Gunsmithing Courses at Ashworth College

Program Name: Gunsmithing
Lesson 1: Deciding on a Repair

Basic inspections; head space checks; dummy cartridges; firing pin indent; stocks; barrel crown; knowing your capabilities and limits; safety precautions.


Lesson 2: Work Area, Special Tools and Supplies

Your work and storage areas; clamping vise; collimator; crosshair gauges; drill jigs; front sight pusher; head space gauges; broken case remover; plating kits; getting parts; thinking like a gunsmith.


Lesson 3: Hand and Power Tools

Screwdrivers; loosening and tightening screws; hex wrenches; vises; hammers; mallets; punches; chisels; files; polishing stones; sanders; drill presses; grinding tools; lathes; polishing wheels; checkering tools.


Lesson 4: Routine Maintenance

The importance of cleaning; solvents; cleaning procedures; strip cleaning; oiling; stocks; de-greasing; cold bluing; routine checks; replacing parts; power cleaning.


Lesson 5: Lever Action Rifles

The operation cycle; buttstock; lower tang group; locking block; bolt assembly; lever, link, bolt and cartridge carrier; loading gate; carrier spring; magazine and barrel; common Winchester Model '94 problems.


Lesson 6: Semiautomatic Rimfire Rifles

The operation cycle; stock; action; bolt; handle; action spring; trigger and trigger guard; common problems.


Lesson 7: Pump-Action Shotguns

The operation cycle; barrel; fore-end unit; magazine; spring; retainer; follower; stock; triggerplate group; carrier group; breechbolt group; shell latches; reassembly and replacement; common problems.


Lesson 8: Semiautomatic Shotguns

The operation cycle; buttstock; triggerplate assembly; carrier and carrier latch assemblies; action-spring assembly; breechblock assembly; cartridge stop; magazine; common shotgun problems.


Lesson 9: Bolt Action Rifles

Firing mechanisms; bolt assembly movement; cartridge extraction and ejection; the safety; disassembly; characteristics of common bolt-action models.


Lesson 10: Correcting Accuracy Problems

Accuracy defined; how actions and ammunition affect accuracy; bedding; fixing the crown; fouling; bore wear; trigger; buttplates; pads; sighting equipment.


Lesson 11: Installing Scopes

Leveling the mount; removing plug screws; bases and rings; eye relief; aligning crosshairs; screw tightening; bore sighting.


Lesson 12: Bedding the Barrel and Action

Why bedding is important; stock inletting; barrel and action bedding; fitting and bedding synthetic stocks.


Lesson 13: Triggers

Safeties and Crowning Barrels. Safety testing the trigger assembly; trigger installation; how safeties work; trigger-pull weight; backlash adjustment; sear engagement; cautions.


Lesson 14: Testing Repairs Safely

Function testing; "absence of body" test firing; the importance of inspecting; trigger and safety tests; live vs. dummy ammunition; checks and safety precautions.


Lesson 15: Repairing and Refinishing Stocks

Preparing the stock for bonding repairs; how to clamp; epoxy bonding; pinning for strength; contouring; finishing; restoring the checkering.


Lesson 16: Installing a Recoil Pad

Two workable approaches; separate shaping with a recoil pad jig; shaping a pad attached to the buttstock.


Lesson 17: Ammunition

Ammunition and accuracy; shooting groups to gauge accuracy; limitations of factory loads and handloads; maintaining ammunition uniformity; shooting benches and gun rests.


Lesson 18: Single- and Double-Action Revolvers

Function testing; mechanics of the revolver; disassembly; head space; barrel-to-cylinder gap; timing; cylinder alignment; troubleshooting and basic maintenance; single-action revolver problems; sights.


Lesson 19: Semiautomatic Pistols

Semiautomatic pistol systems; smoothing for more reliability; adjusting trigger pull; customizing; sights; custom grips; disassembly; troubleshooting; care and maintenance; tuning for high-performance ammunition.


Program description: If you enjoy firearms, and have a good mechanical sense,
it’s time to get professional training from one of the leading
gunsmithing schools in the country. We’ll show you how
to troubleshoot, disassemble, repair, reassemble and maintain
a wide variety of firearms. We’ll even teach you how to
market and charge for your services.

Gunsmithing Courses by State & City

Top 20 US Gunsmithing Schools (campus and online)

Post University
Total Programs 51
Number of Subjects 254
Rank in USA 703rd
Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County
Total Programs 37
Number of Subjects 41
Rank in USA 928th
Lake Career and Technical Center
Total Programs 20
Number of Subjects 19
Rank in USA 945th
Precision Manufacturing Institute
Total Programs 8
Number of Subjects 3
Rank in USA 994th
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School
Total Programs 2
Number of Subjects 1
Rank in USA 1533rd
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Total Programs 28
Number of Subjects 30
Rank in USA 1637th
Colorado School of Trades
Total Programs 2
Number of Subjects 2
Rank in USA 2010th
Emily Griffith Opportunity School
Total Programs 64
Number of Subjects 60
Rank in USA 2063rd
Madison Adult Career Center
Total Programs 14
Number of Subjects 23
Rank in USA 2085th
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Total Programs 52
Number of Subjects 60
Rank in USA 2141st
Meridian Technology Center
Total Programs 49
Number of Subjects 67
Rank in USA 2274th
Kaplan University
Total Programs 239
Number of Subjects 335
Rank in USA 2861st
Ashford University
Total Programs 105
Number of Subjects 341
Rank in USA 2950th
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
Total Programs 60
Number of Subjects 77
Rank in USA 3055th
Wichita Area Technical College
Total Programs 37
Number of Subjects 35
Rank in USA 3133rd
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Total Programs 82
Number of Subjects 87
Rank in USA 3160th
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
Total Programs 52
Number of Subjects 63
Rank in USA 3302nd
Brevard Community College
Total Programs 75
Number of Subjects 87
Rank in USA 3435th
Renton Technical College
Total Programs 62
Number of Subjects 69
Rank in USA 3607th
Rio Salado College
Total Programs 75
Number of Subjects 76
Rank in USA 3728th