Any advice for a guy that has a great paying job with great benefits that doesn't really enjoy what he's doing and really enjoys shooting, reloading, tinkering with my own guns, etc.? I can't afford to quit and go back to school, but I am interested in what you guys think of any of the correspondence courses. Any other ideas to get a start? Would any local gunsmiths let me work for them here and there for the experience? I'm just outside of Houston, TX on I45 (South).

Also, what are some good gunsmithing books to pick up?

Thanks for any advice/help.

TXRam - Sounds like we are almost neighbors! As for books, it depends on what you really want to do; general gunsmithing and repair, or specialize in some area, i.e., stockmaking. I have known gunsmiths to let "interns" hang around, watch, and maybe do some simple tasks, depending on their aptitude and general "clumsiness".

Why don't you look into the Video Series offered by AGI (American Gunsmithing Institute).

Blue

Glen71

Add attitude to aptitude and clumsiness.

Glen,



Real close - I'm just off Dixie Farm Rd. in Pearland.



I am pretty anal about details and perfection, so I figured that's probably a good start . As far as specialty, as my luck always goes, I'm most interested in one of the hardest, most expensive (in terms of necessary tools) parts of general gunsmithing - installing barrels, accurizing, etc. All, well maybe most, of it sounds interesting, but I figured general repair/gunsmithing would be a good starting point.



I have thought about the videos, but wanted some feedback prior to purchasing.

If you can take off a couple of weeks during the summer, you could take lathe and rifle rebarreling at one of the NRA Gunsmithing Schools. This will give you a good start.

If I worked for someone like that I would require a letter of "also covered" be maintained, up to date, for liability insurance.