Gunsmithing is a trade you can learn in a classroom, a shop or at home. Community colleges run hands-on programs that lead to certificates and degrees, several schools offer summer short courses, and distance programs teach the basics by mail and online. These are the gunsmithing schools the Gun Show Loophole Tours have visited and reviewed.
16 reviewed stops: 16 gunsmithing schools on the map.
More maps than the glovebox of a lost elk hunter: Gun Law Maps by State
Choosing a program
- Hands-on programs at community and technical colleges give the most bench time and often lead to an associate degree or certificate.
- Short courses, many held in summer, cover one skill at a time, such as checkering, bluing or a specific action.
- Distance learning fits around a job, but plan to find your own bench time and mentor.
- Ask about accreditation, total tool costs, class sizes and how graduates find work.
- A licensed gunsmithing business needs a Federal Firearms License; plan for that if you intend to work on customer guns.
Every gunsmithing school we have reviewed
North Carolina 3
Arizona 2
California 2
Colorado 2
Pennsylvania 2
Arkansas 1
Delaware 1
Minnesota 1
Oklahoma 1
South Carolina 1
Looking for shooting classes rather than a trade? See Shooting Schools.