Unit 13: Shotgun Repair & Barrel Work Lesson 44: Shotgun Bores,Types of Barrels, Inspection, Cutting Barrels,& Straightening Patterns History is full of knowledge, and this lesson is full of the Shotguns history. Learning about the different types, gauges, breeches and barrels, their differences and quirks in operation is really something to admire. From single…
Unit 12: The Business Side of Being a Gunsmith Lesson 40: Full or Part Time Another short lesson, but it gives you some things to think about. Deciding whether you are going to be a hobbyist or a full-time gunsmith is a big decision. Being full-time, you will need a shop and all the…
Unit 11: Customizing, Sporterizing , and Accessorizing Lesson 36: Fitting and Shaping Inletted Stocks Test fitting is important when it comes to fitting certain parts to an inletted stock. Fitting the trigger guard and barrel will take many attempts to fit, the best option is lamp black to see where the adjustments need to be made. Using…
Unit 10: Jewelling & Bluing Lesson 32 – The Art of Polishing & Jewelling As the continuation of Lesson 31, I like how it delves deeper into the how-to parts. The explanations of how to hold a barrel while polishing; the techniques and compounds used are very educating. I feel nothing was left out (with the exception of experience), from the…
Unit 9: Rebuilding & Restoration Lesson 28 – Barrel Rebuilding (.22 Rim Fire) Inspecting the barrel dirt and wear is where we start. We are looking at the muzzle and chamber. This will determine the repair or replacement of the barrel. Older barrels are usually threaded and newer ones are pinned. Usually, if the chambered…
Unit 8: Gun Repair Methods Lesson 24 Cleaning Supplies, Equipment and Lubricants Unit 8 as a whole is probably the shortest so far. This lesson starts us off with how to use a cleaning tank. It describes how to make a tank and the different ways to properly clean a weapon. We also learn ways…
Unit 7: Weld, Sights & Scopes Lesson 20: Step by Step Welding I enjoyed this lesson a lot. I liked the how-to of arc welding and when not to use it as well as the Oxyacetylene welding and what not to use it on. The differences and how they are used to perform different types…
Unit 6: Lathe & Learn Lesson 17: How to Choose Your Lathe This lesson was a bit short, but full of information. This is a tool I have had no experience with at all, but I feel like I have learned an enormous amount just from here. I liked the idea of refurbishing an old…
Unit 5: A Guide to Tools Lesson 13: A Guide to Hand Tools I found this lesson to be very helpful in understanding what tools you will need if you are planning on being a hobbyist or pursuing gunsmithing full-time. Most tools won’t be needed unless you plan on opening a shop. I found that…
How to Get Involved in Competitive Shooting Sooner or later, most firearm users encounter the concept of competing against other forces. Hunting is competition against nature, combat is competition against other humans or against predators, while sporting competitions are a low-stakes way to test your own mettle. Come last in a competition, and nothing is lost…