Student Spotlight
Creating the next generation of gunsmiths since 1946.
Student of the Month
March 2025
Anthony Ragland
I took the course because I have always been interested in mechanical things, how they work, how they’re made, and how to fix them. Currently, there aren’t many places in the area that you can take a gun to have it repaired or maintained. There are several family owned gun shops and only 1 or 2 of them have an on-site gunsmith. I’d like to give customers the option of someplace local that doesn’t have a 4+ week lead time on repairs. I’m mostly interested in the repair, maintenance, and restoration aspects of gunsmithing and maybe doing some custom builds here and there.
I am currently employed, by a large retail sporting goods company in the outdoors department (hunting, fishing, boating, camping, outdoor living) for the second time after leaving to work in the medical field. I had planned to work for another few years before moving on to something that I enjoyed doing more and began looking more at gunsmithing programs before settling on MGS Trade School’s Advanced Gunsmithing Program.
I like that the Online Student Center has a running summary of your grades as well as instructional texts if you’re away from the materials printed in your binders. Overall, it’s a very good program which has the potential to be improved upon in the future. I have gained valuable insight into firearms and ammunition which has helped me to deliver more information to customers looking to purchase firearms in the store that I work at as well as answer questions that some have about older firearms that they have acquired either through purchase or inheritance.
-Anthony Ragland
February Student Spotlight – Gregory Wieczorek
I have been interested in firearms since entering the U.S. Army 27 years ago. At present I enjoy accurizing especially the 1911, AR15, and M14. Though not employed as a gunsmith, I enrolled in MGS to gain more knowledge and skill.
As you taught and I learned, gunsmithing is an ongoing journey. Your instructional lessons showed me different ways to approach firearm problems. Your projects enlightened me to different methods to approach and complete a task to success (i.e. step by step). I would definitely recommend MGS to anyone wanting to improve their skills.
-Gregory Wieczorek
January Student Spotlight – Kenton Price
My reason for taking the course is to learn more about guns and the way they operate. I have been around guns my whole life and have always enjoyed them. I decided to take it to the next step by signing up for MGS so I can learn more about the functions of a lot of different guns and how to repair and work on them.
I could not be happier with the information I received in the past months. I have currently worked in my local gunshop for the past three years and recently decided to open my own shop at the beginning of 2025. I will be in the business to buy, sell, trade, and repair firearms. I never would have thought this was possible if it wasn’t for MGS Trade School! The online student center is very easy to work with. I had zero issues trying to find what needed to be done to complete my schoolwork.
I give MGS a 10 out of 10! MGS is a school for anybody wanting to learn about guns, from people not knowing anything about firearms to skilled professionals. The info sent by MGS is worth its weight in gold and I will always have that to fall back on in a time of need. Thanks MGS staff for all that you have done to make this an enjoyable class. Now it’s time for y’all to make an Advanced III class!
-Kenton Price
December Student Spotlight – Samantha Wells
I am currently a full-time physical therapist assistant at a regional hospital. My husband and I also have our FFL (Type 7), SOT (Class 2) and a business called San Juan Outdoors, which is primarily gunsmithing and laser engraving. I joined this program to learn more about the basics of gunsmithing and how I could incorporate that into our business. Unlike my husband, I didn’t have a vast knowledge of guns, how they work, or how to repair them so I started looking at how I could further my knowledge. I chose MGS advanced gunsmithing because it was a self-paced program with hands on training and states it’s for beginners and that’s what needed.
-Samantha Wells
November Student Spotlight – Eric Lindrose
I graduated from the MGS Advance Gunsmithing Course this past October and wanted to take some time to reflect on my training. I want to let you know of my experience and possibly provide some inspiration to my peers on what the course has done for me. I’ve been buying and repairing broken guns for the past 15 years. to use for myself and my sons. They were usually purchased from auctions and private owners. I started doing basic repairs and gradually increased my skill set. I had always wondered if I was doing it right, that’s where MGS helped. Before signing up for the course, I checked all the other non-brick & mortar schools and at the time, MGS was the only one requiring hands-on projects to evaluate hands-on skills.
The course work was exactly what I was looking for. The areas that I was familiar with, the course gave me more knowledge and better ways to do things. The areas I needed help with, the course covered it completely. The projects were challenging especially the soldering project. Help was only and phone call or email away. I found the student forum to be very helpful and enjoyable to read. I set my own pace, and a few times got a reminder of encouragement from the MGS staff to keep going and to ask questions if I was stuck.
-Eric Lindrose
October Student Spotlight – Colby Keasey
I have been a firearm enthusiast for over 15 years, and with that, I have been a tinkerer. I like to fix and tune guns. MGS has given me the ability to add credentials to my work and has heavily increased my knowledge and skills. I have been working in the firearms field for 9 years. I manage an indoor firearm range that offers firearm sales and service. I have been migrating over to the service side of things.
The Online Student Center is very easy to navigate and allows me access to the course work anywhere, anytime. MGS made it very easy to work a full-time job and raise a family while going to school. The course units are easy to read and navigate, while being packed full of information. One of the things that impressed me the most was the quick response when I had questions. I’d send an email and have a response within the next day.
– Colby Keasey
September Student Spotlight – Joseph Williams
I looked at several different programs at several different schools, but I found MGS to be the best value. The wide variety of topics covered, the format, and the projects coupled with the affordable price were my main determining factors for choosing the Advanced Gunsmithing program. I liked that many of the tools and materials I would need were included in the cost of the program. I liked that all the lessons were also included in binders. I use the binders constantly. They make it quick and easy to pinpoint the information I need while doing a repair.
Since I started the program, I’ve moved my side business into a brick-and-mortar store/repair shop. I still work my full-time job, but adding gunsmithing has turned a small side business into a significant source of extra income. I appreciate the education I received from MGS and would highly recommend the school to anyone thinking about becoming a gunsmith. I really don’t think you can get more for your money anywhere else.
-Joseph Williams
August Student Spotlight – Hector Velilla
As someone who is deeply passionate about firearms and eager to expand my knowledge, I found the course to be immensely fulfilling and enjoyable. The comprehensive curriculum provided me with a wealth of information and practical skills that have undoubtedly enhanced my understanding of firearms. Navigating through the course material was a breeze, allowing me to focus on absorbing the knowledge and honing my skills.
I must commend your instructors for their exceptional responsiveness and support. Whenever I had questions or needed clarification, they promptly addressed my concerns with utmost professionalism. Their timely responses not only demonstrated their expertise but also instilled in me a sense of being valued as a student. It truly made the learning journey smoother and more rewarding.
By undertaking this course with MGS Trade School, I have acquired a solid foundation in firearms education. The combination of your exceptional course structure, user-friendly online platform, and attentive instructors has truly exceeded my expectations.
-Hector Velilla
July Student Spotlight – Scot Garrison
After several years of procrastination, I made the decision to bridge the gap between my passion for firearms and my engineering/fabrication background by taking gunsmithing courses.
I chose MGS Trade School as it seemed to offer a balance between cost, a broad and detailed curriculum, and flexibility of study from home that best fit my situation. All of the course work was detailed and informative while the projects provided opportunities to further develop existing skills within the realm of gunsmithing.
I plan to pursue gunsmithing as a hobby and part-time business for now. My only regret is that I waited so long to study gunsmithing.
-Scot Garrison
June Student Spotlight – Brandon Pierce
I selected Modern Gun School’s Advanced Gunsmithing course because it was affordable and could be done from home—something other options I considered did not offer.
Completing this program gives me more confidence in my own projects and leaves open the opportunity for me to work in the field if I choose to do so.
The Online Student Center was well-organized and easy to use, and my interactions with both the staff and student community were positive.
One of the benefits of this format is that there’s a wide range of experience in the student body, and many are eager to share their knowledge. It was nice to have tools and materials provided for the hands-on projects, which were by far the best part of the course.
-Brandon Pierce
May Student Spotlight – Roger Olynyk
I joined MGS for several reasons. Firstly, they accept international students; secondly, I was an armorer in the military and could learn more about a career I love MGS’ curriculum covers everything you need to get started in the gunsmithing trade.
Two months ago, I started my own business; it’s been an eye-opener but a total blast! Just when you think you’ve seen everything… something new pops up.
Being an armorer in a past life, I had few questions, but any interaction with the student center promptly answered any questions I had and the online portion is well laid out and simple to use.
I can honestly say my experience with MGS has been exceedingly positive and have recommended the school to a number of people.
-Roger Olynyk
April Student Spotlight – Rudy Ellenburg
I’ve always had a general interest in firearms and how they worked. With busy schedules, career changes and toddlers at home, my desire to pursue gunsmithing seemed like a pipe-dream. Then, I discovered MGS Trade School.
Their teaching methods, curriculum, and affordability made it possible for me to put my dream in motion. Even if you just have a genuine interest in firearms, consider MGS Trade School.
The ease of use with their online center and quick access to student services made my experience great.
After sharing some knowledge gained from MGS halfway into the program, I was offered an assistant position at a local gun shop.
This experience itself was something I would have never foreseen. Make time, Apply yourself, Your dream is possible.
-Rudy Ellenburg
March Student Spotlight – Foster Christensen
I would recommend this type of schooling if you are interested in gunsmithing, but aren’t really trying to GO to a physical school.
There are lessons in the courses that help students prepare to open their own business in this field; but these lessons also offer insight to hobbyists.
The gunsmithing trade has always interested me since I was a kid. Performing intricate actions while working on firearms is like adult Legos for me, except a lot harder.
If you do choose to enroll to Modern Gun School, there is a decent amount of help you can get, whenever you need. Things like talking to a fellow student, emailing, calling, or writing to one of the teachers, even videos of how to do certain projects.
My overall experience for MGS was a lot of fun; there were times I felt like certain projects were going to be harder than expected, but once I got started, I was able to use what I learned in the course.
-Foster Christensen
February Student Spotlight – Arron Schille
I took this course to start my own Gunsmith business. I am employed as a commercial truck driver currently, but I have started my Gunsmith business on the side since completing the course.
The student center was helpful when needed, and the Student Service Representatives were instrumental in my success. Their communication and genuine interest in my successful completion of this course can not be overstated.
MGS Trade School is beyond reproach—top notch. My overall experience has been great!
-Arron Schille
January Student Spotlight – Joshua Jones
I had been working in law enforcement for 7 years and recently became a firearms instructor. I was never a “gun guy,” but felt I needed to know more than I did.
I also thought perhaps it could lead me into a new hobby or future part-time career. The course definitely sparked a desire to learn more about firearms, especially the history of their evolution. I have never worked in the gun repair field.
However, it has already made me a better firearms instructor and allowed me to have more intelligent conversations with our armorers. The correspondence method seemed a little “old school,” but I really appreciated the modern online platform. I didn’t use a lot of the functions, but I could tell many of the students had formed a sense of community. If I ever decide to get my FFL, I would jump on those message boards. There was a wealth of information and people willing to help others.
The course exceeded my expectations. I told a couple of friends that the reference materials and included tools alone were worth the price of tuition. The hands-on projects slowed me down a little; especially the hand tool fabrication and soldering, but that was all new to me. I have no regrets and this was a valuable use of my GI Bill benefits.
-Joshua Jones
December Student Spotlight – Anthony Montagna
At the ripe old age of 69, I decided to take a gunsmithing course. Initially, it was just to further my knowledge of firearms. As I took the course, I was surprised by the content and thought about being retired and making money on the side.
I have visited numerous gunsmiths in my area and am now in the process of setting up my small shop. The support Modern Gun School gave was excellent and very helpful. I found this course much more engaging than sitting in front of a video trying to stay awake! The projects really give you a feel for the task at hand.
I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the Gunsmithing field—you cannot beat the cost! I added the binders to my library and will be referring to them often. Don’t hesitate to enroll, you will be glad you did.
-Anthony Montagna
November Student Spotlight – Stephen Stegle
My experience with the Advanced Gunsmithing program and school was excellent. The study materials were complete, thorough, and it was easy to understand.
After a 36+ year career as a mobile locksmith, I was looking for something that was somewhat related to that profession. Gunsmithing and my love of firearms seemed to be a great fit.
I`m very fond of the older firearm models, the lessons within the course covered some of these pretty well. Though I am still in the locksmith profession, I am working part time as gunsmith at a small family-owned local gun shop. When I started, there was a backlog of 29 firearms that the previous gunsmith hadn`t looked at or repaired. Some had been there for over a year!
With my training from MGS, I was able to get all of the guns repaired and back to the customers within 2 months, working just part-time hours. The owner of the shop & his customers were pretty happy with my dedication and ability to get these firearms repaired & back to them. Since that time, I have had many repeat customers & referrals from a lot of these customers.
This is the result of taking the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing program, and I would highly recommend MGS to anyone interested in becoming a gunsmith.
-Stephen Stegle
October Student Spotlight – Mike Lanning
I have been an HVAC Journeyman for the last 34 years and I wanted to look into a different career as I am getting older. I have always liked shooting and hunting, so I wanted to learn how to work on guns.
I looked into a few different online gunsmithing courses and MGS was the one I chose. The student center was very helpful when I called with questions. My overall experience with MGS was very good. I learned a lot, had fun with all the projects, and have a lot of information in textbooks that I could use in years to come.
I would recommend MGS and they are very affordable compared to some other schools.
-Mike Lanning
September Student Spotlight – Peter Hay
I’m almost 54 years old, and was a firefighter for my main career. I now work in the fire investigation field for an insurance company. I had tinkered with my own firearms in a very basic way; cleaning, and some customization, but didn’t have any exposure to much else in the gun world.
The reason I wanted to get into working as a gunsmith was the need for extra money. I was able to secure an apprenticeship at a neighborhood gun shop, but figured I needed more information and a broader knowledge base, which is why I signed up for Modern Gun School.
I was very pleased with the curriculum, and will be using exploded diagrams and other materials as reference material moving forward. I found the projects challenging and useful, and the tools provided by MGS will be very helpful in my future work. My overall experience with MGS was great, and I would recommend it to anybody wanting to get into the world of gunsmithing, or just expand their own knowledge for their personal gunsmithing. Thanks, MGS!
-Peter Hay
August Student Spotlight – Robert Miller
I retired from a 32-year career in law enforcement in 2017. At 61 years of age, I felt there had to be more to life than just leisurely passing the time. I treated myself to a new S&W 686, and soon realized that the timing was a bit off.
Rather than sending it back for repairs, I watch a few videos and not only did I sort out the timing issue, I made the revolver operate like a Swiss clock. I guess the bug bit me pretty hard, and soon enough, I was looking for a proper education to learn all the aspects of gunsmithing.
Due to my location, a hands-on school was out of the question. After reviewing the online choices, I settled on Modern Gun School for a few reasons. The tuition was certainly reasonable enough, but it was the vast library of instructional information that clinched my decision.
The amount of information is something that no one can fully absorb; having two giant binders with step by step instructions, exploded views, and interesting hacks at your fingertips is priceless in my opinion.
The school operates very efficiently. Calls placed during business hours are always answered by a person, test scores are entered immediately after completing an exam, and the projects are fun and challenging and are graded the day they arrive at the school. I plan to start a business purchasing rusted old firearms, getting them back in firing condition, and selling them online for profit. Tools and machines will be bought as needed, and when I’m confident in my abilities, I will get my FFL and open a full service gunsmith shop.
-Robert Miller
July Student Spotlight – Steve Miss
I have always had an interest on how things worked, trying to figure out how they were put together or taken apart. Since I always “tinkered” in my workshop, I developed quite a knack for being able to repair seemingly unrepairable items. My interest in knowing how firearms are designed, manufactured, serviced and repaired brought me to the realization that I needed something more than just an ability to tinker. After all, safety is a major concern!
I chose the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course because I know it’ll lead to a career. It challenged me in both mental and practical skills, and it gave me a solid understanding of operating a gunsmithing business. The MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course has allowed me to develop specific skills in firearms servicing and repair, while also providing me with the opportunity to receive accreditation and to pursue my passion in becoming a Gunsmith. Moreover, I also believe the course has given me a great head start in establishing my new career by providing me with detailed technical information, which I have added to my firearms library for future use.
Each lesson provided step-by-step instructions on how and why, as well as dos and don’ts when handling a tool, component or accessory; even going as far to familiarize me with antique firearms. As a soon to be retired Locksmith, I am confident that my Gunsmith Career will be a perfect fit for me to stay busy and supplement my income! The Online Student Center contains many links to organizations that will give me the ability to keep up-to-date on new techniques or products, as well as continued training to enhance my skills or, even to further advance my career. By taking advantage of the student Discussion Board, I found it an easy way to connect with other MGS students. It gave me the opportunity to share information and resources or to work out “challenges”; after all two heads are better than one!
Overall, I found the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course both engaging and challenging. My interactions with the staff were always informative, pleasant and professional. Through the Request for Consultation Form, I was able to effectively address my concerns to staff members. I found this to be a valuable student tool.
For anyone interested in developing a strong, solid understanding of Gunsmithing, I recommend the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing Course. My confidence in being a reputable Gunsmith in the future is certainly attributed the knowledge and resources provided to me by MGS.
– Steve Miss
June Student Spotlight – Aaron Barnes
I enrolled in the Modern Gun School’s Advanced Gunsmithing Course because I wanted to finally fulfill my desire to be in the firearms industry. I’ve been interested in guns since I was a kid and even tinkered with my own here and there, but I never really had the skills to be able to do any significant repairs.
Recently, I committed myself to starting my own business. Of course, I had to learn how to be a proper gunsmith. I chose MGS because of its structured coursework, self-paced learning, and hands-on projects, plus the cost was much better than any of the other options I could find for, in my opinion, a better curriculum.
My experience with MGS has been great from the start. Enrolling was easy and intuitive. The starter kit that was sent to me was very helpful and well put together. Once I got logged onto the student portal, the layout was organized and user friendly. I also loved the fact that there was a forum where students could ask questions and discuss issues to help each other out.
Overall, MGS has been a godsend to me and my ventures. I was able to gain invaluable skills and knowledge without having to put myself into crippling debt. Thank you so much!
-Aaron Barnes
May Student Spotlight – Eddward Jones
I enrolled in this course primarily for professional development. I am currently employed as a QC and Technical Support Manager for our Law Enforcement Sales Department, and this course provided me with additional knowledge and skill needed to perform my current position at a greater level.
Throughout the course, if I had a question or issue, the Student Service Center provided timely answers. I’ve had conversations with peers who have attended brick-and-mortar gunsmith schools similar to MGS’s course curriculum. They were impressed with MGS’s program, particularly the assigned projects.
This course exceeded my expectations.
-Eddward Jones
April Student Spotlight – Hector Rivera
As a Retired Veteran and a Federal Firefighter with plans to retire in 8 years, I need to plan for a small part-time to keep my hands busy. MGS Trade School’s Advanced Gunsmithing courses will enable me to prep for my very own gunsmithing business.
I am not currently employed within the gunsmithing business, but I have always been a gun(s) enthusiast. This course allows me to retain the know-how and content well beyond the course itself. As a gunsmithing reference alone, it is worth the investment.
I learned a lot and am looking forward on continuing education with MGS. Excellent customer service, knowledgeable staff and online student services all produced an outstanding job mixing up theory, practical applications, and video demonstrations.
Great job MGS.
– Hector Rivera
March Student Spotlight – Frank Henry
Currently, I plan on retiring and I have already started establishing my own gunsmithing shop here in Texas. I needed an online school that was flexible to my schedule. Also, I wanted to find a school that had a practical means to actually practice the skills being taught. MGS was a perfect fit for me.
The MGS online center has been a great help and asset. I travel quite often, and I have been able to log in anywhere from my phone, tablet and laptop to keep a steady progress on my assignments and testing work. I also really like the availability of hard copies provided by MGS for quick reference to previous material that I needed to review periodically or use in completing projects.
The schematics and resource materials provided are a great addition to my library as well. I followed the instructions from MGS, to the letter, and my first soldering project attempt was perfect—it was such a confidence-builder finishing this project.
I really appreciate the MGS staff for their time and knowledge they have passed on to me. I would highly recommend MGS to anyone seriously interested in becoming a certified gunsmith.
-Frank Henry
February Student Spotlight – Rick Froggatt
After a lot of research and watching students’ videos posted on Youtube, I decided to enroll with MGS. I have taken several armorer courses since 1988 but realized I was not a certified gunsmith and wanted to complete an accredited course as I approach retirement age. I have been helping friends and family members with repairs, tuning, and coating a variety of firearms, but I have not worked in the professional gun repair field. On the contrary, I am an IT Security Professional by trade. I intend to turn gunsmithing into one of my options for a retirement job next to teaching SCUBA here in middle Tennessee.
Your online student center was above reproach. It was easy to use, download content, and take tests. I enjoyed the videos that discussed how to complete each project. This helped me get into the right mindset before beginning the projects.
The instant grade reports provided the feedback I needed as I stepped through the courses. My overall experience with the entire MSG course was excellent. I have recommended two of my personal friends to enroll in this outstanding school. Thank you for this wonderful experience.
-Rick Froggatt
January Student Spotlight – John Deems
I retired from the military about 12 years ago and knew my VA education benefits were soon going to expire. Since I have gotten back into the shooting sports over the last few years, my interest in firearms has rekindled strong.
I researched more about how to increase my knowledge of firearms, and MGS caught my eye since they are GI-Bill approved. I know that doing things hands-on is necessary to truly learn a skill, and I believe the gunsmithing projects required by MGS set them apart from the others. I figured it would be invaluable experience to finish a stock, silver solder with a torch, prep an object for bluing, and make my own tool; these are all things I had never done before.
The projects were challenging, but if you take your time, follow their guidance, and do the work diligently, you will gain confidence and experience that is invaluable.
Overall, the general gunsmithing concepts I learned from MGS are timeless and have provided me the knowledge and confidence I need to succeed in this field. The online student center is easy to use, and the staff answers questions submitted via email within a business day. Taking the lesson tests online was straightforward.
Although I am presently employed as a civilian test pilot, since retiring as one from the USAF, as I reach true retirement in the next few years, I hope to open up and operate a gunsmithing shop on my terms.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to further my learning in the field now that I have a solid foundation from MGS.
Thank you MGS!
-John Deems
etin
November Student Spotlight – Douglas D. Smith
-Douglas D. Smith
October Student Spotlight – Kevin Parsons
I am almost 70 years old and have only been interested in firearms for 7 years. I have several firearms of which I have done basic filing, polishing and replacement work. I’ve also done some of the same for friends and family but do not expect to do too much more. So, electing to get a gunsmithing education was more or less a ‘Bucket List’ challenge to myself (in my golden years).
I looked over course content and compared various gunsmithing online schools and felt MGS was the best value. To me, the projects were the most beneficial.
The first project, gun stock refinishing, was absolutely fantastic and not only taught me the proper
way to do it but once I’ve done it I now have the confidence to actually add that to my short list that I do for myself, friends and relatives. The same goes for the other projects. Once you’ve done hands-on it provides you with a base to continue in the real world. My overall experience with MGS has
been very good.
Great experience, learned a lot, received some valuable equipment and I expect the work I continue to do will be of a higher quality due to the knowledge gained. And, I can check it off my bucket list.
-Kevin Parsons
September Student Spotlight – A. Seth Cox
My leading cause for taking the Advanced Gunsmithing Course was the need to learn more about firearms in order to advance my knowledge in the firearms industry. I am self-employed with my father—we own a small business in Southern Mississippi called “Neith Firearms.” This gave me the perfect front for any gunsmithing or repair work that needed to be done; it was something I could do for our shop in order to attract new and repeating customers.
The Advanced Gunsmithing Course was an exceptionally helpful set of instruction and course material that has accelerated my knowledge and skills to a professional level in all things firearms and firearm repair. The online tests and the Student Center were well laid-out and easy to understand and navigate, the staff and project managers were polite and helpful to any questions or concerns that I had.
In conclusion, this was an amazing experience and most certainly provided me with the knowledge and understanding of the firearm and repair industry.
– A. Seth Cox
August Student Spotlight – Louis Golson
Thank you, MGS Staff. I took this course to further my knowledge in the gun-repair business and to start my own business. From my research, Modern Gun School has the most extensive and informative curriculum available. The self-paced study program was appealing, as was the post-graduation assistance offered. The Online Student Center was extremely helpful. Any time I had a question or concern, I was able to quickly get answers or assistance.
My overall experience with Modern Gun School was outstanding. Not only were there detailed lessons on the firearms, but there was the history, business, and actual workshop—I don’t think any other school could compare. I am in the final stage of starting my gun repair business. I am constantly reviewing the lessons on the business, workshop, and administration to make sure I’m not missing anything. Thank you again for such an outstanding opportunity.
-Louis Golson
April Student Spotlight – Nicholas DeFilippo
I took the MGS course to gain more knowledge about guns. A friend of mine, John Newberry, referred me to the school and has been a successful gunsmith for years. I want to do some work with him part-time, again for the knowledge and experience. I’ve been retired for 2 years now and spend a lot of time at the range, taking care of my guns is important to me. I also mentioned a while ago that I got into cowboy action shooting last year and I want to learn to smooth out the actions of those guns. The overall experience was enjoyable and the projects were fun. My favorite project was refinishing the stock.
-Nicholas DeFillipo
March Student Spotlight – Shawn Veatch
Thank you Elaine and MGS Staff for having this program available online for me as a traditional brick & mortar gunsmithing school was out of the question for my situation.
One year ago I sustained a back injury at work that put me in the ER and ultimately ended my 12 year career. During the weeks and months of rehab and being off of work I had time to reflect on my life and came to the conclusion that it was time to move on and find a new career. I wanted to do something that would make me happy and that I loved doing. My wife had suggested I take some college courses at our local community college but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. One day after getting home from the shooting range I was cleaning my 1911 and for some reason decided to completely disassemble it instead of just field stripping it. I couldn’t figure out how to reassemble it. I went to YouTube in the hopes of finding a video showing me exactly what to do and found thousands of videos. After watching a couple videos and successfully putting my 1911 back together, I felt such a relief and satisfaction that I hadn’t had in a while. I realized that working on guns is what I wanted to do for a living!
I researched two different gunsmithing schools and found the tuition was too high and both were several hours away from where I live. With 2 young kids at home, it wasn’t a realistic option. I kept searching and came across MGS. It sounded too good to be true but thankfully it wasn’t!
I’m now the proud owner of Front Range Firearm Repair & Maintenance LLC here in Canon City, Colorado, I opened my doors in August 2021 and not a day has gone by that I haven’t had a customer’s firearm in my shop. I’m so very thankful I found MGS and took the chance on starting a new career. I’ve never been happier in my Life and truly enjoy what I do.
I think MGS’s curriculum is very well outlined and covers a vast majority of the gunsmithing field. The online student center is loaded with resources for students and made finding suppliers and info a lot easier for me. I loved doing the projects and getting some hands-on experience. The hands-on projects are where I learned the most from the program. I would definitely recommend MGS to anyone wanting to get a start in the Gunsmithing world.
Thanks again,
Shawn Veatch
December Student Spotlight – John Normoyle
I took this course to supplement my other gunsmithing education, improve my knowledge and grow my skills. When I started this course, I had just finished both my bachelor’s in business administration and another Gunsmithing course, all while working full time in a gun shop/firearm repair shop and was moving into the repair side of the business.
I found this course to be very straight forward and easy to understand. As it is all book based, I could go back and reread what I needed to, instead of trying to track it down in a video. I do think it is great that you can have the courses in both digital (PDF) and they send you the printed information and the binders for them. The Online Student Center was a wealth of information, especially the forum. While the forum is aimed at students helping students, instructors do read the posts and do add their information to it. Overall, this course is a good one.
-John Normoyle
October Student Spotlight – Spencer Scheese
I’m currently employed as a police officer, and went through Glock, 1911, and AR-15/M4 armored courses. My reason for taking The advanced gunsmithing course at MGS was to broaden my knowledge of firearms, and start a side business. I hope to be able to retire from law enforcement after I’m eligible, and transition into working as a full time gunsmith smoothly. I only had to reach out to the Modern Gun School staff a couple times, but they were quick to respond and very helpful. The online site is pretty easy to navigate and I didn’t have any issues. I enjoyed the learning and projects, and I think it was very good for online learning.
Thanks for the wonderful learning and I hope to be able to have a successful business in the near future!
-Spencer Scheese
September Student Spotlight – AnnaMaj Willison
Being a certified armorer for Glock and Sig Sauer pistols for a while, I decided to start my own small gun repair business. I acquired the necessary licenses and permits and started my shop early this year. During my FFL evaluation with the ATF, my agent suggested to get a type 7 manufacturer license, which I did. That decision made me want to build and upgrade custom firearms which led to the decision to become certified as a gunsmith. After evaluating several gun schools I decided to pursue the certification at MGS. The main reasons are the comprehensive study material, the self-paced schedule without time pressure, and the opportunity to work on hands-on projects. In fact, of all the schools I looked into, MGS is the only one that offers hands-on projects to gain practical experience in gunsmithing skills.
Currently, I am a full time airline pilot and firearms enthusiast and instructor. My schedule allows me to slowly start a business, and since January 2021, I own a small gun shop specializing in firearms repair, maintenance, upgrade, and custom firearms manufacture. Covid didn’t make it easy to get started and acquire the necessary materials for the shop, but slowly but surely, things are improving. My goal is to establish my business and have a solid customer base when it is time to retire.
Throughout the course I always received feedback and valuable advise whenever I had questions. The team at MGS was very knowledgeable and helpful, and their advise helped me in my decision making with regards to my shop. Some of the projects provided were a bit of a challenge at first because they covered tasks that I have never done before, like gunstock finishing or silver soldering. I am glad I took the course and learned these valuable skills. Now I am excited to put my new skills and knowledge to use in my gun repair business. On a side note, while taking the course I also finished a 1911 build, and some of the skills learned at MGS could be put to the test for this project. I highly recommend MGS for anyone seriously interested in becoming a certified gunsmith.
June Student Spotlight – Ronnie Robertson
I took the gunsmithing course because of my love of guns and shooting. After 25 years in the military I wanted to do something that I thought was meaningful to me so I chose the MGS gunsmithing course. I am currently working on starting my own gunsmithing business, currently waiting on my FFL. The MGS Online Student Center is easy to navigate and is great for someone who has done very little online course work. My overall experience with MGS was outstanding, the staff was very fast to respond to any of my questions. I have and will continue to recommend MGS to fellow gun lovers.
-Ronnie Robertson
May Student Spotlight – Troy Williams
The reason I took the course was to receive training in the gun repair field. I have plans to open my own gun repair shop within the next year and this course gave me the confidence to achieve this goal. The student online center was helpful during training. This course was really great and easy to navigate. I was able to contact the school with any questions and received an answer in a timely manner. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to get into the gunsmithing business.
-Troy Williams
April Student Spotlight – Greg Roberts
My name is Greg Roberts, an American History graduate, happily married father of two children and two grandchildren. I am 60 years of age and an ardent lover of firearms, hunting, and the great outdoors. My current occupation is that of a private contractor encompassing all aspects of construction. A very rewarding career, yet physically demanding. The time has come to move forward into a field that I intend to embrace, develop and promote. The correlation between contractor and gunsmith is that the equipment and tools of your trade are the most valuable resources at your disposal along with knowledge and a willingness to learn. The finished job is the product of your desire to provide the best service possible.
My enrollment in Modern Gun School and completion of the course is my first step in achieving a new rewarding career. The Modern Gun School program is a well-planned course that encourages, challenges, and educates you in the many facets of gunsmithing. I recommend this course if you have a love of firearms and the desire to improve, repair, and embrace a rewarding career.
-Greg Roberts
January Student Spotlight – Jeffrey Bradshaw
I am a medically retired army veteran. After looking at several school options, I decided to enroll at MGS because they offer open enrollment and participate with the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This was a very challenging and informative course. I enjoyed being able to study at my own pace. The projects in this course will make you more confident in getting started with your gunsmithing journey. The MGS staff were always helpful when I needed to contact them.
The online student center is easy to navigate and operate. I am currently working for a high end pawn shop in the gun department where I clean and function test all of our new incoming firearms and repair any issues that are found. I loved my overall experience with MGS, and the knowledge I gained I will use for a lifetime. I will continue to reference the abundant material provided with this course.
Thank you Modern Gun School for all you do.
-Retired U.S Army
SPC. Jeffrey Bradshaw
May Student Spotlight – Roger Olynyk
I joined MGS for several reasons. Firstly, they accept international students; secondly, I was an armorer in the military and could learn more about a career I love MGS’ curriculum covers everything you need to get started in the gunsmithing trade.
Two months ago, I started my own business; it’s been an eye-opener but a total blast! Just when you think you’ve seen everything… something new pops up.
Being an armorer in a past life, I had few questions, but any interaction with the student center promptly answered any questions I had and the online portion is well laid out and simple to use.
I can honestly say my experience with MGS has been exceedingly positive and have recommended the school to a number of people.
-Roger Olynyk
April Student Spotlight – Rudy Ellenburg
I’ve always had a general interest in firearms and how they worked. With busy schedules, career changes and toddlers at home, my desire to pursue gunsmithing seemed like a pipe-dream. Then, I discovered MGS Trade School.
Their teaching methods, curriculum, and affordability made it possible for me to put my dream in motion. Even if you just have a genuine interest in firearms, consider MGS Trade School.
The ease of use with their online center and quick access to student services made my experience great.
After sharing some knowledge gained from MGS halfway into the program, I was offered an assistant position at a local gun shop.
This experience itself was something I would have never foreseen. Make time, Apply yourself, Your dream is possible.
-Rudy Ellenburg
March Student Spotlight – Foster Christensen
I would recommend this type of schooling if you are interested in gunsmithing, but aren’t really trying to GO to a physical school.
There are lessons in the courses that help students prepare to open their own business in this field; but these lessons also offer insight to hobbyists.
The gunsmithing trade has always interested me since I was a kid. Performing intricate actions while working on firearms is like adult Legos for me, except a lot harder.
If you do choose to enroll to Modern Gun School, there is a decent amount of help you can get, whenever you need. Things like talking to a fellow student, emailing, calling, or writing to one of the teachers, even videos of how to do certain projects.
My overall experience for MGS was a lot of fun; there were times I felt like certain projects were going to be harder than expected, but once I got started, I was able to use what I learned in the course.
-Foster Christensen
February Student Spotlight – Arron Schille
I took this course to start my own Gunsmith business. I am employed as a commercial truck driver currently, but I have started my Gunsmith business on the side since completing the course.
The student center was helpful when needed, and the Student Service Representatives were instrumental in my success. Their communication and genuine interest in my successful completion of this course can not be overstated.
MGS Trade School is beyond reproach—top notch. My overall experience has been great!
-Arron Schille
January Student Spotlight – Joshua Jones
I had been working in law enforcement for 7 years and recently became a firearms instructor. I was never a “gun guy,” but felt I needed to know more than I did.
I also thought perhaps it could lead me into a new hobby or future part-time career. The course definitely sparked a desire to learn more about firearms, especially the history of their evolution. I have never worked in the gun repair field.
However, it has already made me a better firearms instructor and allowed me to have more intelligent conversations with our armorers. The correspondence method seemed a little “old school,” but I really appreciated the modern online platform. I didn’t use a lot of the functions, but I could tell many of the students had formed a sense of community. If I ever decide to get my FFL, I would jump on those message boards. There was a wealth of information and people willing to help others.
The course exceeded my expectations. I told a couple of friends that the reference materials and included tools alone were worth the price of tuition. The hands-on projects slowed me down a little; especially the hand tool fabrication and soldering, but that was all new to me. I have no regrets and this was a valuable use of my GI Bill benefits.
-Joshua Jones
December Student Spotlight – Anthony Montagna
At the ripe old age of 69, I decided to take a gunsmithing course. Initially, it was just to further my knowledge of firearms. As I took the course, I was surprised by the content and thought about being retired and making money on the side.
I have visited numerous gunsmiths in my area and am now in the process of setting up my small shop. The support Modern Gun School gave was excellent and very helpful. I found this course much more engaging than sitting in front of a video trying to stay awake! The projects really give you a feel for the task at hand.
I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the Gunsmithing field—you cannot beat the cost! I added the binders to my library and will be referring to them often. Don’t hesitate to enroll, you will be glad you did.
-Anthony Montagna
November Student Spotlight – Stephen Stegle
My experience with the Advanced Gunsmithing program and school was excellent. The study materials were complete, thorough, and it was easy to understand.
After a 36+ year career as a mobile locksmith, I was looking for something that was somewhat related to that profession. Gunsmithing and my love of firearms seemed to be a great fit.
I`m very fond of the older firearm models, the lessons within the course covered some of these pretty well. Though I am still in the locksmith profession, I am working part time as gunsmith at a small family-owned local gun shop. When I started, there was a backlog of 29 firearms that the previous gunsmith hadn`t looked at or repaired. Some had been there for over a year!
With my training from MGS, I was able to get all of the guns repaired and back to the customers within 2 months, working just part-time hours. The owner of the shop & his customers were pretty happy with my dedication and ability to get these firearms repaired & back to them. Since that time, I have had many repeat customers & referrals from a lot of these customers.
This is the result of taking the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing program, and I would highly recommend MGS to anyone interested in becoming a gunsmith.
-Stephen Stegle
October Student Spotlight – Mike Lanning
I have been an HVAC Journeyman for the last 34 years and I wanted to look into a different career as I am getting older. I have always liked shooting and hunting, so I wanted to learn how to work on guns.
I looked into a few different online gunsmithing courses and MGS was the one I chose. The student center was very helpful when I called with questions. My overall experience with MGS was very good. I learned a lot, had fun with all the projects, and have a lot of information in textbooks that I could use in years to come.
I would recommend MGS and they are very affordable compared to some other schools.
-Mike Lanning
September Student Spotlight – Peter Hay
I’m almost 54 years old, and was a firefighter for my main career. I now work in the fire investigation field for an insurance company. I had tinkered with my own firearms in a very basic way; cleaning, and some customization, but didn’t have any exposure to much else in the gun world.
The reason I wanted to get into working as a gunsmith was the need for extra money. I was able to secure an apprenticeship at a neighborhood gun shop, but figured I needed more information and a broader knowledge base, which is why I signed up for Modern Gun School.
I was very pleased with the curriculum, and will be using exploded diagrams and other materials as reference material moving forward. I found the projects challenging and useful, and the tools provided by MGS will be very helpful in my future work. My overall experience with MGS was great, and I would recommend it to anybody wanting to get into the world of gunsmithing, or just expand their own knowledge for their personal gunsmithing. Thanks, MGS!
-Peter Hay
August Student Spotlight – Robert Miller
I retired from a 32-year career in law enforcement in 2017. At 61 years of age, I felt there had to be more to life than just leisurely passing the time. I treated myself to a new S&W 686, and soon realized that the timing was a bit off.
Rather than sending it back for repairs, I watch a few videos and not only did I sort out the timing issue, I made the revolver operate like a Swiss clock. I guess the bug bit me pretty hard, and soon enough, I was looking for a proper education to learn all the aspects of gunsmithing.
Due to my location, a hands-on school was out of the question. After reviewing the online choices, I settled on Modern Gun School for a few reasons. The tuition was certainly reasonable enough, but it was the vast library of instructional information that clinched my decision.
The amount of information is something that no one can fully absorb; having two giant binders with step by step instructions, exploded views, and interesting hacks at your fingertips is priceless in my opinion.
The school operates very efficiently. Calls placed during business hours are always answered by a person, test scores are entered immediately after completing an exam, and the projects are fun and challenging and are graded the day they arrive at the school. I plan to start a business purchasing rusted old firearms, getting them back in firing condition, and selling them online for profit. Tools and machines will be bought as needed, and when I’m confident in my abilities, I will get my FFL and open a full service gunsmith shop.
-Robert Miller
July Student Spotlight – Steve Miss
I have always had an interest on how things worked, trying to figure out how they were put together or taken apart. Since I always “tinkered” in my workshop, I developed quite a knack for being able to repair seemingly unrepairable items. My interest in knowing how firearms are designed, manufactured, serviced and repaired brought me to the realization that I needed something more than just an ability to tinker. After all, safety is a major concern!
I chose the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course because I know it’ll lead to a career. It challenged me in both mental and practical skills, and it gave me a solid understanding of operating a gunsmithing business. The MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course has allowed me to develop specific skills in firearms servicing and repair, while also providing me with the opportunity to receive accreditation and to pursue my passion in becoming a Gunsmith. Moreover, I also believe the course has given me a great head start in establishing my new career by providing me with detailed technical information, which I have added to my firearms library for future use.
Each lesson provided step-by-step instructions on how and why, as well as dos and don’ts when handling a tool, component or accessory; even going as far to familiarize me with antique firearms. As a soon to be retired Locksmith, I am confident that my Gunsmith Career will be a perfect fit for me to stay busy and supplement my income! The Online Student Center contains many links to organizations that will give me the ability to keep up-to-date on new techniques or products, as well as continued training to enhance my skills or, even to further advance my career. By taking advantage of the student Discussion Board, I found it an easy way to connect with other MGS students. It gave me the opportunity to share information and resources or to work out “challenges”; after all two heads are better than one!
Overall, I found the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing course both engaging and challenging. My interactions with the staff were always informative, pleasant and professional. Through the Request for Consultation Form, I was able to effectively address my concerns to staff members. I found this to be a valuable student tool.
For anyone interested in developing a strong, solid understanding of Gunsmithing, I recommend the MGS Advanced Gunsmithing Course. My confidence in being a reputable Gunsmith in the future is certainly attributed the knowledge and resources provided to me by MGS.
– Steve Miss
June Student Spotlight – Aaron Barnes
I enrolled in the Modern Gun School’s Advanced Gunsmithing Course because I wanted to finally fulfill my desire to be in the firearms industry. I’ve been interested in guns since I was a kid and even tinkered with my own here and there, but I never really had the skills to be able to do any significant repairs.
Recently, I committed myself to starting my own business. Of course, I had to learn how to be a proper gunsmith. I chose MGS because of its structured coursework, self-paced learning, and hands-on projects, plus the cost was much better than any of the other options I could find for, in my opinion, a better curriculum.
My experience with MGS has been great from the start. Enrolling was easy and intuitive. The starter kit that was sent to me was very helpful and well put together. Once I got logged onto the student portal, the layout was organized and user friendly. I also loved the fact that there was a forum where students could ask questions and discuss issues to help each other out.
Overall, MGS has been a godsend to me and my ventures. I was able to gain invaluable skills and knowledge without having to put myself into crippling debt. Thank you so much!
-Aaron Barnes
May Student Spotlight – Eddward Jones
I enrolled in this course primarily for professional development. I am currently employed as a QC and Technical Support Manager for our Law Enforcement Sales Department, and this course provided me with additional knowledge and skill needed to perform my current position at a greater level.
Throughout the course, if I had a question or issue, the Student Service Center provided timely answers. I’ve had conversations with peers who have attended brick-and-mortar gunsmith schools similar to MGS’s course curriculum. They were impressed with MGS’s program, particularly the assigned projects.
This course exceeded my expectations.
-Eddward Jones
April Student Spotlight – Hector Rivera
As a Retired Veteran and a Federal Firefighter with plans to retire in 8 years, I need to plan for a small part-time to keep my hands busy. MGS Trade School’s Advanced Gunsmithing courses will enable me to prep for my very own gunsmithing business.
I am not currently employed within the gunsmithing business, but I have always been a gun(s) enthusiast. This course allows me to retain the know-how and content well beyond the course itself. As a gunsmithing reference alone, it is worth the investment.
I learned a lot and am looking forward on continuing education with MGS. Excellent customer service, knowledgeable staff and online student services all produced an outstanding job mixing up theory, practical applications, and video demonstrations.
Great job MGS.
– Hector Rivera
March Student Spotlight – Frank Henry
Currently, I plan on retiring and I have already started establishing my own gunsmithing shop here in Texas. I needed an online school that was flexible to my schedule. Also, I wanted to find a school that had a practical means to actually practice the skills being taught. MGS was a perfect fit for me.
The MGS online center has been a great help and asset. I travel quite often, and I have been able to log in anywhere from my phone, tablet and laptop to keep a steady progress on my assignments and testing work. I also really like the availability of hard copies provided by MGS for quick reference to previous material that I needed to review periodically or use in completing projects.
The schematics and resource materials provided are a great addition to my library as well. I followed the instructions from MGS, to the letter, and my first soldering project attempt was perfect—it was such a confidence-builder finishing this project.
I really appreciate the MGS staff for their time and knowledge they have passed on to me. I would highly recommend MGS to anyone seriously interested in becoming a certified gunsmith.
-Frank Henry
February Student Spotlight – Rick Froggatt
After a lot of research and watching students’ videos posted on Youtube, I decided to enroll with MGS. I have taken several armorer courses since 1988 but realized I was not a certified gunsmith and wanted to complete an accredited course as I approach retirement age. I have been helping friends and family members with repairs, tuning, and coating a variety of firearms, but I have not worked in the professional gun repair field. On the contrary, I am an IT Security Professional by trade. I intend to turn gunsmithing into one of my options for a retirement job next to teaching SCUBA here in middle Tennessee.
Your online student center was above reproach. It was easy to use, download content, and take tests. I enjoyed the videos that discussed how to complete each project. This helped me get into the right mindset before beginning the projects.
The instant grade reports provided the feedback I needed as I stepped through the courses. My overall experience with the entire MSG course was excellent. I have recommended two of my personal friends to enroll in this outstanding school. Thank you for this wonderful experience.
-Rick Froggatt
January Student Spotlight – John Deems
I retired from the military about 12 years ago and knew my VA education benefits were soon going to expire. Since I have gotten back into the shooting sports over the last few years, my interest in firearms has rekindled strong.
I researched more about how to increase my knowledge of firearms, and MGS caught my eye since they are GI-Bill approved. I know that doing things hands-on is necessary to truly learn a skill, and I believe the gunsmithing projects required by MGS set them apart from the others. I figured it would be invaluable experience to finish a stock, silver solder with a torch, prep an object for bluing, and make my own tool; these are all things I had never done before.
The projects were challenging, but if you take your time, follow their guidance, and do the work diligently, you will gain confidence and experience that is invaluable.
Overall, the general gunsmithing concepts I learned from MGS are timeless and have provided me the knowledge and confidence I need to succeed in this field. The online student center is easy to use, and the staff answers questions submitted via email within a business day. Taking the lesson tests online was straightforward.
Although I am presently employed as a civilian test pilot, since retiring as one from the USAF, as I reach true retirement in the next few years, I hope to open up and operate a gunsmithing shop on my terms.
In the meantime, I’ll continue to further my learning in the field now that I have a solid foundation from MGS.
Thank you MGS!
-John Deems
etin
November Student Spotlight – Douglas D. Smith
-Douglas D. Smith
October Student Spotlight – Kevin Parsons
I am almost 70 years old and have only been interested in firearms for 7 years. I have several firearms of which I have done basic filing, polishing and replacement work. I’ve also done some of the same for friends and family but do not expect to do too much more. So, electing to get a gunsmithing education was more or less a ‘Bucket List’ challenge to myself (in my golden years).
I looked over course content and compared various gunsmithing online schools and felt MGS was the best value. To me, the projects were the most beneficial.
The first project, gun stock refinishing, was absolutely fantastic and not only taught me the proper
way to do it but once I’ve done it I now have the confidence to actually add that to my short list that I do for myself, friends and relatives. The same goes for the other projects. Once you’ve done hands-on it provides you with a base to continue in the real world. My overall experience with MGS has
been very good.
Great experience, learned a lot, received some valuable equipment and I expect the work I continue to do will be of a higher quality due to the knowledge gained. And, I can check it off my bucket list.
-Kevin Parsons
September Student Spotlight – A. Seth Cox
My leading cause for taking the Advanced Gunsmithing Course was the need to learn more about firearms in order to advance my knowledge in the firearms industry. I am self-employed with my father—we own a small business in Southern Mississippi called “Neith Firearms.” This gave me the perfect front for any gunsmithing or repair work that needed to be done; it was something I could do for our shop in order to attract new and repeating customers.
The Advanced Gunsmithing Course was an exceptionally helpful set of instruction and course material that has accelerated my knowledge and skills to a professional level in all things firearms and firearm repair. The online tests and the Student Center were well laid-out and easy to understand and navigate, the staff and project managers were polite and helpful to any questions or concerns that I had.
In conclusion, this was an amazing experience and most certainly provided me with the knowledge and understanding of the firearm and repair industry.
– A. Seth Cox
August Student Spotlight – Louis Golson
Thank you, MGS Staff. I took this course to further my knowledge in the gun-repair business and to start my own business. From my research, Modern Gun School has the most extensive and informative curriculum available. The self-paced study program was appealing, as was the post-graduation assistance offered. The Online Student Center was extremely helpful. Any time I had a question or concern, I was able to quickly get answers or assistance.
My overall experience with Modern Gun School was outstanding. Not only were there detailed lessons on the firearms, but there was the history, business, and actual workshop—I don’t think any other school could compare. I am in the final stage of starting my gun repair business. I am constantly reviewing the lessons on the business, workshop, and administration to make sure I’m not missing anything. Thank you again for such an outstanding opportunity.
-Louis Golson
April Student Spotlight – Nicholas DeFilippo
I took the MGS course to gain more knowledge about guns. A friend of mine, John Newberry, referred me to the school and has been a successful gunsmith for years. I want to do some work with him part-time, again for the knowledge and experience. I’ve been retired for 2 years now and spend a lot of time at the range, taking care of my guns is important to me. I also mentioned a while ago that I got into cowboy action shooting last year and I want to learn to smooth out the actions of those guns. The overall experience was enjoyable and the projects were fun. My favorite project was refinishing the stock.
-Nicholas DeFillipo
March Student Spotlight – Shawn Veatch
Thank you Elaine and MGS Staff for having this program available online for me as a traditional brick & mortar gunsmithing school was out of the question for my situation.
One year ago I sustained a back injury at work that put me in the ER and ultimately ended my 12 year career. During the weeks and months of rehab and being off of work I had time to reflect on my life and came to the conclusion that it was time to move on and find a new career. I wanted to do something that would make me happy and that I loved doing. My wife had suggested I take some college courses at our local community college but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. One day after getting home from the shooting range I was cleaning my 1911 and for some reason decided to completely disassemble it instead of just field stripping it. I couldn’t figure out how to reassemble it. I went to YouTube in the hopes of finding a video showing me exactly what to do and found thousands of videos. After watching a couple videos and successfully putting my 1911 back together, I felt such a relief and satisfaction that I hadn’t had in a while. I realized that working on guns is what I wanted to do for a living!
I researched two different gunsmithing schools and found the tuition was too high and both were several hours away from where I live. With 2 young kids at home, it wasn’t a realistic option. I kept searching and came across MGS. It sounded too good to be true but thankfully it wasn’t!
I’m now the proud owner of Front Range Firearm Repair & Maintenance LLC here in Canon City, Colorado, I opened my doors in August 2021 and not a day has gone by that I haven’t had a customer’s firearm in my shop. I’m so very thankful I found MGS and took the chance on starting a new career. I’ve never been happier in my Life and truly enjoy what I do.
I think MGS’s curriculum is very well outlined and covers a vast majority of the gunsmithing field. The online student center is loaded with resources for students and made finding suppliers and info a lot easier for me. I loved doing the projects and getting some hands-on experience. The hands-on projects are where I learned the most from the program. I would definitely recommend MGS to anyone wanting to get a start in the Gunsmithing world.
Thanks again,
Shawn Veatch
December Student Spotlight – John Normoyle
I took this course to supplement my other gunsmithing education, improve my knowledge and grow my skills. When I started this course, I had just finished both my bachelor’s in business administration and another Gunsmithing course, all while working full time in a gun shop/firearm repair shop and was moving into the repair side of the business.
I found this course to be very straight forward and easy to understand. As it is all book based, I could go back and reread what I needed to, instead of trying to track it down in a video. I do think it is great that you can have the courses in both digital (PDF) and they send you the printed information and the binders for them. The Online Student Center was a wealth of information, especially the forum. While the forum is aimed at students helping students, instructors do read the posts and do add their information to it. Overall, this course is a good one.
-John Normoyle
October Student Spotlight – Spencer Scheese
I’m currently employed as a police officer, and went through Glock, 1911, and AR-15/M4 armored courses. My reason for taking The advanced gunsmithing course at MGS was to broaden my knowledge of firearms, and start a side business. I hope to be able to retire from law enforcement after I’m eligible, and transition into working as a full time gunsmith smoothly. I only had to reach out to the Modern Gun School staff a couple times, but they were quick to respond and very helpful. The online site is pretty easy to navigate and I didn’t have any issues. I enjoyed the learning and projects, and I think it was very good for online learning.
Thanks for the wonderful learning and I hope to be able to have a successful business in the near future!
-Spencer Scheese
September Student Spotlight – AnnaMaj Willison
Being a certified armorer for Glock and Sig Sauer pistols for a while, I decided to start my own small gun repair business. I acquired the necessary licenses and permits and started my shop early this year. During my FFL evaluation with the ATF, my agent suggested to get a type 7 manufacturer license, which I did. That decision made me want to build and upgrade custom firearms which led to the decision to become certified as a gunsmith. After evaluating several gun schools I decided to pursue the certification at MGS. The main reasons are the comprehensive study material, the self-paced schedule without time pressure, and the opportunity to work on hands-on projects. In fact, of all the schools I looked into, MGS is the only one that offers hands-on projects to gain practical experience in gunsmithing skills.
Currently, I am a full time airline pilot and firearms enthusiast and instructor. My schedule allows me to slowly start a business, and since January 2021, I own a small gun shop specializing in firearms repair, maintenance, upgrade, and custom firearms manufacture. Covid didn’t make it easy to get started and acquire the necessary materials for the shop, but slowly but surely, things are improving. My goal is to establish my business and have a solid customer base when it is time to retire.
Throughout the course I always received feedback and valuable advise whenever I had questions. The team at MGS was very knowledgeable and helpful, and their advise helped me in my decision making with regards to my shop. Some of the projects provided were a bit of a challenge at first because they covered tasks that I have never done before, like gunstock finishing or silver soldering. I am glad I took the course and learned these valuable skills. Now I am excited to put my new skills and knowledge to use in my gun repair business. On a side note, while taking the course I also finished a 1911 build, and some of the skills learned at MGS could be put to the test for this project. I highly recommend MGS for anyone seriously interested in becoming a certified gunsmith.
June Student Spotlight – Ronnie Robertson
I took the gunsmithing course because of my love of guns and shooting. After 25 years in the military I wanted to do something that I thought was meaningful to me so I chose the MGS gunsmithing course. I am currently working on starting my own gunsmithing business, currently waiting on my FFL. The MGS Online Student Center is easy to navigate and is great for someone who has done very little online course work. My overall experience with MGS was outstanding, the staff was very fast to respond to any of my questions. I have and will continue to recommend MGS to fellow gun lovers.
-Ronnie Robertson
May Student Spotlight – Troy Williams
The reason I took the course was to receive training in the gun repair field. I have plans to open my own gun repair shop within the next year and this course gave me the confidence to achieve this goal. The student online center was helpful during training. This course was really great and easy to navigate. I was able to contact the school with any questions and received an answer in a timely manner. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to get into the gunsmithing business.
-Troy Williams
April Student Spotlight – Greg Roberts
My name is Greg Roberts, an American History graduate, happily married father of two children and two grandchildren. I am 60 years of age and an ardent lover of firearms, hunting, and the great outdoors. My current occupation is that of a private contractor encompassing all aspects of construction. A very rewarding career, yet physically demanding. The time has come to move forward into a field that I intend to embrace, develop and promote. The correlation between contractor and gunsmith is that the equipment and tools of your trade are the most valuable resources at your disposal along with knowledge and a willingness to learn. The finished job is the product of your desire to provide the best service possible.
My enrollment in Modern Gun School and completion of the course is my first step in achieving a new rewarding career. The Modern Gun School program is a well-planned course that encourages, challenges, and educates you in the many facets of gunsmithing. I recommend this course if you have a love of firearms and the desire to improve, repair, and embrace a rewarding career.
-Greg Roberts
January Student Spotlight – Jeffrey Bradshaw
I am a medically retired army veteran. After looking at several school options, I decided to enroll at MGS because they offer open enrollment and participate with the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This was a very challenging and informative course. I enjoyed being able to study at my own pace. The projects in this course will make you more confident in getting started with your gunsmithing journey. The MGS staff were always helpful when I needed to contact them.
The online student center is easy to navigate and operate. I am currently working for a high end pawn shop in the gun department where I clean and function test all of our new incoming firearms and repair any issues that are found. I loved my overall experience with MGS, and the knowledge I gained I will use for a lifetime. I will continue to reference the abundant material provided with this course.
Thank you Modern Gun School for all you do.
-Retired U.S Army
SPC. Jeffrey Bradshaw
December Student Spotlight – Stella Theron
After doing some research I found Modern Gun School online and realise that they offered an extensive gunsmithing course. I was already in my third year of a gunsmithing apprenticeship and fell in love with the field, however in South Africa the accreditation procedure for gunsmithing closed and I wanted to further my qualifications and ultimately my career.
I found the application procedure clear and easy and was thrilled when I received the course materials. I was also pleasantly surprised that my gender did not affect my application in any way as I had faced difficulties in South Africa with experts in the field refusing to teach me purely based on the fact that I am female.
Initially I was a little overwhelmed with the reading aspect of the course but I liked that the fact that it was self-study which meant I was able to work at my own pace. The course took me 18 months to complete, even with my apprenticeship, and I thoroughly enjoyed it for several reasons.
Firstly the practical element, the stock project and the making of the revolver tool were my favourite. The apprenticeship I was doing helped a lot with my projects as I already had the hands-on experience but the additional practice helped to hone my skills. Secondly, I really liked the course material explaining the exploded views of the guns and step-by-step disassembly instructions. When I came across these guns in the shop I was working in I was immediately able to reference my coursework which was great. The material also contained a lot of ‘tricks of the trade so to speak, I gained knowledge from these which I was able to share with my colleagues. Thirdly, the communication I received was excellent. Throughout the course if I had questions they were answered nearly immediately by the school, I really appreciated that. Using the website I could connect with other students too, I never felt that I had been left to fend for myself. In terms of the turnaround time for assignments and exams, I found the school incredible, it provided me with good motivation to keep going.
In some aspects the content was less relevant in a South African setting, for example the course material often referred to sending a faulty part or gun back to the manufacturers to be fixed or changed whereas in South Africa we will custom manufacture parts as they are not as readily available. The licensing laws and processes are also very different, in America you can do quick barrel changes, whereas in South Africa it takes anywhere from 6 months to a year. So I found this information interesting and eye-opening in the sense that the gunsmithing field is so advanced elsewhere.
I am currently in the process of applying for my gunsmithing competency in South Africa with my current company Bullet Central Africa. I am finally able to do after 4 years of work and this based on the qualification I have got from Modern Gun School. For this, I am extremely grateful and I will then be the first female gunsmith in South Africa which is an achievement I am proud of.
The last thing that I want to do is express my gratitude to the Advanced Gunsmithing course and Modern Gun School for the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills that I have over the past 18 months. I intend to continue putting these skills to good use wherever this gunsmithing career path takes me.
-Stella Theron
November Student Spotlight – Jason Steadward
I have always wanted to learn Gunsmithing but put it off over and over. I was looking online one night and found a link to a couple of Gunsmithing schools. After doing several days of research I came down to 3 schools. I then spent another couple of days researching those schools. Everything kept me coming back to Modern Gun School then I was worried about how much will I really learn online. I thought about it for several more months then one day said: “Well they offered a course at a great price, what do I have to lose?” After receiving my first section of book work I knew I made the right decision. Not only did I learn a lot from the lessons I am now looking at doing work for several businesses in the area. I would recommend Modern Gun School to anyone looking at becoming a gunsmith professional or just want to learn for yourself to take the plunge because not only are you going to learn but you get a great support group of people that will help you anytime you need it.
Jason Steadward
October Student Spotlight – Mike Horton
Thank you so much for the kind words about my effort on the gunstock project. With me being disabled to where I can’t do the things I once did, at times my spirits waiver and I become depressed. You gave me a renewed outlook and showed me I can be productive again.
After 33 years of working in law enforcement and law enforcement instructing to now not chasing down bad guys or being the first operator of the SWAT team through the door, your phone call was greatly appreciated. It has validated my worth at something again.
I am honored that you have chosen my work to be part of the Modern Gun School information shared with other students. It is a pleasure taking this course. I have learned so much, and when I have a question or concern your staff has always been courteous and timely in their responses. You, the school, and the staff are the best!
Thank you so much,
Mike Horton
December Student Spotlight – N. Hartsell
I was a military weapons instructor and was also the unit armorer for 12+ years. I was working on a criminal justice degree but my service connected disability that prevents me from furthering a career in law enforcement. I was getting ready to lose my GI Bill benefits so I decided to enroll as MGS offers a VA approved gunsmith course.
My plan is to do gunsmithing as a side business. This course was very in depth and the materials were good. Overall, the experience was great, instructors were available when needed and helped resolve any issues that I had. All in all I would recommend this course to anyone.
-N. Hartsell
November Student Spotlight – J.Stout
Having grown up around guns my entire life, being the proud son of a USAF Korea/ Vietnam War Veteran/ Master marksman (my mother as well) and doing my first restoration on a Marlin 22 when I was 16 years old, I found that I had amassed a ton of experience in gunsmithing as an advanced hobbyist but had nothing “official” to show for it after nearly 40 years.
I recently was given an opportunity to start doing gunsmith work for a number of large gun clubs in another country. This put me in a position of needing to formalize my skills and knowledge in an efficient time frame (8 months or less).
This eliminated the option to go to a full time trade school, so I researched online programs and chose Modern Gun School for some of the following reasons:
- The program is self- paced and accessible online. Many other places required participation at their convenience, MGS gives you total control. I was working on my curriculum while travelling between two countries.
- Cost versus value is excellent. The program offering is far better than the “watch a few videos and get a diploma” schools. I believe that MGS gave me much more value for my money.
- MGS will tell you right up front that nothing beats a full hands on education in a classroom / shop environment, but people in my position with lots of advanced hobby level experience in gun repair and restoration can benefit just as much with this program. If you know nothing about guns, metal working or woodworking, this course may be too challenging, it does require a bit of core hands on skill to efficiently work through it but make no mistake, MGS gives you resource guides to help as best as possible.
- This program is NOT a “gimmee” type deal, you will have to invest time and effort in order to excel. I learned a ton of brilliantly useful information. The projects for example, are deceptively simple at first glance, but you really have to work at them to achieve commercial perfection, i.e. quality work you could charge for.
- Course materials are massive for the offering. One thing that stood out to me is the technical information on many individual guns that is woven into the fabric of the printed material; it alone makes for a large library of reference booklets. I will definitely be referring back to the lessons for the rest of my life.
- Support has been excellent, in spite of the pandemic and other national insanities. My questions were answered quickly and clearly and they were few. The materials are really well written.
The list can go on, but suffice it to say that MGS provided me with a challenging program at the right price at the right time with the right format that perfectly fit my needs.
Overall, MGS allowed me to take a whole slew of jigsaw puzzle pieces of prior training, life experience and learning and pull them tighter into the puzzle of gunsmithing. l definitely have a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, and most importantly, improved confidence.
-Jay Stout
October Student Spotlight – T. Kent Sanderson
I recently completed my Advanced Gunsmithing course. My youngest brother enrolled a few months before I decided to enroll. I had been working in a gun shop and wanted to get some good training as a gunsmith. I researched and thought this would be the best way to pursue my ambition. I enrolled and kept up with it for a few months but stopped for a few months due to some life issues. I finally restarted and it took me only a couple months to complete. I enjoyed learning about the variety of firearms. The projects were really fun and interesting. I learned a few new skills I didn’t know before. I watched all the videos several times to be sure of what I was doing. I communicated with my brother in the student center and we talked a lot. I enjoyed looking at his projects when he would show me the before and after results. The online experience was outstanding and I really learned a great deal. I plan to supplement my retirement with my new skills and start a small shop so I can try to help other people with their gun problems. I really appreciate what I learned and really think MGS is the best way to go. My brother has started a small shop and we will work together with projects and sharing our experience.
Thank you, Modern Gun Repair for being the best!
– T. Kent Sanderson
September Student Spotlight – Jason Cooper
I have always enjoyed working with my hands, as a young man in my 20’s I was a journeyman electrician. During this time, I built a wood shop in my garage and made a variety of items including large pieces of furniture and small table top items. In my late 20’s I went to school to become a Paramedic for which I placed my full attention for the next 15 years. I returned to college in my 30’s and received my BSN in nursing. I’m currently a charge nurse for Interventional Radiology Dept. at a local hospital. In another 18 months I plan to retire. I will continue to work a few days a month at the hospital to help keep my skill and license up to date.
My father owned multiple business including a furniture store which is where I got my desire to work with wood. He had also owned a pawn store. He passed earlier this year and my brother has inherited the business. We are planning to get an FFL and start selling firearms at the pawn store. This will give me an opportunity to hone my craft as a gunsmith. My goal is to fix and improve the stock inventory which comes through the shop. When I feel that my skills have reached the level needed to offer my services to others, I will promote gunsmithing to the public at the pawn store.
I enjoyed the Modern Gun School (MGS) online program. The student center was easy to navigate around and find the courses and videos. One of the main reasons I chose MGS was because of the many hands-on projects which allowed for feedback on my skills. Other gunsmith courses either did not offer this or I would have to drive to another state to go to a vocational school. I found all of the courses to be informative and up-to-date including modern and historic gun design and repair.
In closing, I would like to say thank you to MGS for affording me the opportunity to open a new chapter in my life. I am sure it will bring many years of joy and satisfaction to me and others.
-Jason M. Cooper – BSN, RN.
July Student Spotlight – Rusty Braithwaite
I had recently graduated from another school with a degree in the same field, but I enrolled to build my knowledge base. Seeing the list of course material(s) was a deciding factor. I enjoyed the experience from MGS, it is a great way to learn without a huge expense. I really enjoyed the projects accompanying the content of lessons being taught throughout the curriculum. MGS has done a great job with this course and I would definitely take this course from Modern Gun School again. I am planning on opening my own gunsmithing business very soon. Thanks again MGS for your help and school being available to everyone!
-Rusty Braithwaite
May Student Spotlight – Jeff Brazeale
I recently completed the Advanced Gunsmith course from Modern Gun Repair. I retired in December 2019 and am looking forward to using the knowledge I obtained from this outstanding course. I grew up with guns all of my life and have been fascinated with them. At an early age I began tinkering with guns and started cleaning them for others as a way to make a little extra income in my early years. I moved into reloading and ballistics and expanded my knowledge and even took a gunsmith course from a competitor many years ago. I started mounting scopes and sights and repairing guns as a hobby but it seemed that the knowledge from the competitor’s course was lacking. I then befriended a local gunsmith and helped him for a number of years cleaning and doing minor repairs. It was a dream come true. Soon though I met the love of my life and was married and it seemed that the hobby had to take a back seat to the facts of life and providing for my family. I raised my two children to have respect for guns and to be proficient in their use. I am proud of the fact that they are teaching that to their children at an early age. Hunting has always been a passion of mine and I enjoyed those years of hunting together with my children and my wife. Fast forward to a couple of years ago and as I began to contemplate retirement, I wanted to stay in the gun repair business to maybe supplement my retirement income. As I was surfing the internet, I ran across the Modern Gun Repair website and I decided I would visit the site. I’m glad I did. As I mentioned having had a previous course, I was a bit skeptical but I thought I would inquire anyway and see what they had to offer. I decided that I would take the Basic course but soon found out that I wanted to move to the Advance course. With the first project I uncovered a passion that I didn’t know existed inside of me. I became engrossed in stock work and repair and wanted to learn more about that aspect. I immediately worked diligently on the stock they sent me as a project and couldn’t lay it down. I now am working to move more into stock repair and work such as checkering, carving, etc. The staff at MGS has been outstanding in assisting and answering my questions and offering their expert advice. The Online Student Center has allowed me to network enhance my love for this hobby. Thank you, Modern Gun Repair, for helping me discover a hidden passion and an opportunity to learn from the best. If you have ever considered gun repair as a hobby then look no further than Modern Gun Repair. They are the best.
-Jeff Brazeale
April Student Spotlight – Brian Sites
I initially took the Advanced Gunsmithing course for hobby reasons, but since taking the course I have been working on transitioning into part time firearms work and hopefully in the future, full time. I have been around firearms all of my life and thoroughly enjoyed learning more, in depth, about them. The course was amazing. It was easily understandable and the staff were available for questions. The Online Student Center is a wealth of resources that helped me with this course. The materials were wonderful and I use the binders regularly when friends ask questions about certain firearms. I would recommend this course to anyone who has an interest in gunsmithing!
-Brian Sites
March Student Spotlight – Timothy Chad Davenport
I’ve always had an interest in firearms of all types, though my personal collection is not a lavish one. While the interest in a gunsmith course had been around in my mind for years, the last few months of 2018 were pretty tough on me. I knew that gunsmithing was something that I wanted to pursue but I didn’t know how to go about it or where to start. I commenced researching every gunsmith school I could find, not only MGS but any other online or distance learning school. I have a wife, two beautiful children, and leaving them for a traditional type of school was simply out of the question and I also have a full-time job. I can’t say for certain what made MGS stand out to me, but it just kept being my go-to when researching. I compared any other school to what MGS offered. One night, I told my wife I had found this gunsmith school and I really want to pursue it. I registered on my phone that night and the rest is as they say “history”. The next morning I started reading the material online, for a while I was finishing the written tests before the material came in the mail. I was definitely fired up and ready to go. The hands-on projects were fun. The MGS team was always ready and eager to assist if I needed support. The best story was the one of my dog eating my stock finishing project, true story, I even sent pictures to prove it. Thank you for including FFL123 kit in the school, which has been invaluable in obtaining an FFL. I have started my business, The Labascus Armory, named after the area where we live. We are working on finishing out a garage area that was built a few years ago which joins my wife’s hair salon, once complete we will have a small sales floor with the remainder of the space being used for gunsmith shop. It is with the sincerest appreciation that I thank Modern Gun School for helping us begin to write this new chapter.
-Timothy Chad Davenport
November Student Spotlight – Brian Guenthenspberger
I just completed the Advanced Gunsmithing Course, and I must say that I’m glad that I did it. I am currently fully employed as a defense contractor, and not working in the firearms industry. But I’ve always had an interest and been active in the field. I took the course mainly to build upon my firearms knowledge. Thankfully I was able to use the remaining GI Bill I had left to take this course. I’ve always had a desire to continue to seek education in firearms-related endeavors in order to continue to expand on my knowledge. Being retired from the US Army, over the years I’ve spent countless hours on ranges of various types, qualified on multiple weapons systems up to and including the M1 Abrams main battle tank, and have been certified at multiple military ranges as a Range Safety Officer. A few years ago, I decided to expand my training to institutions outside of the military. I became certified as an instructor courtesy of the NRA and had a side business for a few years instructing students in firearms safety and marksmanship. I’ve also shot competitively off and on over the years, in everything from three-position smallbore – to all-steel – to sporting clays – to Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) sanctioned events. In recent years I’ve transitioned to exclusively CMP-related firearms activity and completed their Advanced Maintenance Course a couple of years ago, a course solely focused on the M1 Garand rifle. More recently I became a member of the editorial staff of the GCA Journal, the professional publication of the Garand Collector’s Association. I’m also a military historian as well. So, given the combination of military experience, certification as a military historian, and activity in CMP programs, that explains my exclusive focus on US military firearms.
By taking this course, I hoped to expand my base knowledge more into the technical and mechanical aspects of firearms rather than the competition and marksmanship aspect of them. I’m always looking for opportunities to learn more about how firearms function, in order to help me better troubleshoot on ranges and build better competition rifles for myself. I believe I got a great start on that goal by completing this course. Thanks to the staff at MGS for helping facilitate that for me.
-Brian Guenthenspberger
June Student Spotlight – James Myers
My overall experience with the school was OUTSTANDING! I found the course work to be challenging but possible with dedication. I really enjoyed how the lessons were broken down into manageable sections and how the section review’s highlighted what you just learned. I also found the staff extremely helpful whenever I needed advice or assistance. I am not currently in the gun repair field, which is why I took the class. I spent 6 years in the Infantry, 3 years in law enforcement, and was raised around firearms, and I plan to open my own shop. This class helped me to understand what is required in the field and which aspects I had the innate skill and which areas I would need to work on my skills. I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to learn about gun repair. Whether it is for just personal firearm repair and builds or for a business, this course is extremely beneficial, and it is presented in a way that makes it easier to understand and apply the knowledge. Thank you for all your assistance!
-James Myers
April Student Spotlight – David Rolla
I just finished the Modern Gun School Advanced Gunsmithing Course. The course was great – I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. I’m trying to talk my soon-to-be son in law to save up to take the course. MGS sends you everything you need including the projects. This course is very challenging and has a lot of great information. If you get stuck on something all you have to do is call the school or send an email to talk to someone that will help you – they are great!
-David Rolla
February Student Spotlight – Wayne LaCrosse
My name is Wayne LaCrosse and I am a proud graduate of Modern Gun School and I couldn’t be more excited. I am in my late 40’s and if I can do this anybody can. I was previously employed as a delivery driver in the adult beverage industry and by accident, I broke my right foot at work. It took this event in my life to decide that I needed to do something different for the future. As a Disabled American Veteran I loved guns and decided to turn my passion for guns into a business and that all started with a call to Modern Gun School. It was not without its troubles for me as a father and a husband and having a full-time job. I had to find time to read and study to get through this course as fast as I could. I started as soon as the first lesson was available and kept doing as much as I could as often as possible until I had finished the final exam. I did all my book work first and the started the projects. It was just easier for me to do it this as I started the school during the winter and it gets cold where I live, so doing projects needed to be done when it was warmer out. It took me the full time to get everything done as we had some deaths in the family and that took me away from the projects. When our life got back to normal I buckled down and got it all done just in the nick of time and I did not need to get an extension to complete the course. I am still employed full time and working with my local gun store to get going in the gunsmithing world to be able to do that full time and work for myself as soon as possible. I have been taking care of my guns and our families’ firearms for years now, but now it’s time to it for me to make my schooling come full circle and take care of all the guns that need to be taken care of. We do not have a gunsmith where I live and the closest one was 30 minutes away, but he closed shop several years ago. Now it is my time to shine and a huge thank you to Modern Gun School for showing me the way. It is because of Modern Gun School that I have chosen to continue my education and I have already become a Certified Law Enforcement AR 15 Armorer. I am also working on my certification for Law Enforcement Glock Armorer and shotgun Armorer which should be done by summer. I can not thank Modern Gun School enough for opening the door to what will be a lucrative business for my family and me. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you and a big thank you to Elaine Smith for all that she has done, not only for me but for all the students.
-Wayne LaCrosse
January Student Spotlight – David Stingley
I had a wonderful experience while taking the advanced gunsmith course. I served 16 years in the military and thought I know everything about firearms. After taking the course, I was able to gain even more information that made working on firearms easier and faster. The hands-on projects were challenging and showed if you learned the skills to complete them. MGS always answered my questions by phone or email. The staff was always friendly and knowledgeable and willing to help in any way. The main reason I chose MGS, was that my VA education benefits paid for my courses. I have multiple college degrees and always wanted to be a gunsmith. Because of the VA and MGS, I was able to start my training in becoming a gunsmith. My father who is retired Army plans to take the course also. We plan to work with a retired gunsmith and start our own business later this summer. Thank you MGS for a great experience.
-David Stingley
November Student Spotlight – Jerry Wallace
I loved the Advanced Gunsmithing course from Modern Gun School It was the best course I have taken and the instructors were very helpful and help you with any questions you may have.
-Jerry Wallace
October Student Spotlight – Craig McCoy
I wish to take this time to let you know how grateful I am to your school and its course work. About a year and a half ago I enrolled and took about 9 months to complete the program. Because I already had a full-time job in a business I owned. I would work on it when I could and found it very insightful and educational. Being a hands-on type person I really enjoyed every part of the projects to the complexity and ease of it due to your helpful ways of describing things. I found it very useful to seek out the specific gun being used in the lesson from friends or a friendly shop willing to help and had the good fortune to have many of the guns in my personal collection to take apart in real-time. I absorbed as much info and experience from the coursework to boost my talent with firearms and make me a great gunsmith. I received everything and more at an extremely fair price. You get from this course what you put in. I have put a digital copy of the course on my computer to view schematics (can reduce or enlarge for printing) and instructions at lightning speed and have the binder copies on my shelf. I also have all the needed documents to handle records and work with the ATF procedures. I have on my workbench most everything I need in tools except a mill/lathe but will acquire that shortly as need increases. I referred to the course to set up my FFL and I acquired a large gun safe and utilize a job locker to keep ammo and small arms secure and safe as well as a security system. I was in the transition stage of life, I was selling my business of 30 years and wanted a new challenge. Because of my love of firearms and shooting, I felt it would be great to start a new business in the firearms industry and enjoy life. It required a move from NYS and a more gun-friendly environment. Living in NYS was not compatible with my goals. Having started and run successful businesses in the past, I wanted to take this new skill and my life’s work experiences and talents to new places. I have embellished the gunsmithing by starting a U.S. Wholesale Distribution company specifically marketing U.S. made small gun manufacturers to gun dealers (FFL). The gunsmithing is an extremely important part of the services to be provided in support of our represented companies. I acquired my Local, State and FFL Licenses to be compliant and to do the gunsmithing full time in June of this year and everything should be up and completely running and operational by year-end. We are planning on attending and presenting our represented manufacturers to the industry dealers at national trade shows – NRA, Shot Show, GAO, and others so look for us to see our booth soon. Our company is Underdog’s Distribution LLC – www.usmadeguns.com.
-Craig McCoy
July Student Spotlight – Terry Gill
My name is Terry Gill I reside in the beautiful state of Utah. My association with MGS began three years ago when I enrolled telling myself that it would take me about two or three years to complete. You see it took me that amount of time to construct an inventory of all the guns available through neighbors, friends, family, military buddies, etc. so that every gun that was presented in the lessons I would have access to. I am a hands-on guy and I can try to memorize out of a book all day and come up short but, if I can work, take apart, and touch the item I am learning about it will stay in my mind forever. I’m sure I am older than the average student as I just had my sixtieth birthday. My plan is to retire in about five to seven years and by that time have established a good reputation and clientele so that I can just depend on my gunsmithing business for that extra dough so that my wife and I can travel and work on that bucket list. I see gunsmithing as a career or vocation that does not have an age stigma attached to it. I have never heard the phrase “he or she is too old to be a gunsmith.” Since beginning the course I have built a two-room shop in my basement and one in the detached garage (for saws and drill presses). The shop in the basement houses three benches one for general disassembly/assembly, one for building actions and barrels (barrel vise), and a third for stock carving and checkering. The next room has a small twenty-four-inch metal lathe. I am very excited to one day be skilled at all of my tools and skills. During the time I was taking the courses my friends and acquaintances would bring over their long-guns, pistols, and black guns again for me to learn on the different actions but they got a complete cleaning for free. It worked out great and now the word is spreading throughout my little corner of the community that the guns come back much better than they were when they went in. I just received my FFL in the mail and I have to tell you that the interview was really a pleasant experience to go through and the ATF agent counseled me on the correct category of license and type of ownership that would suit me the best for my set up. He was impressed that I was graduating from a gunsmith school and just wasn’t going to sell guns. All-in-all MGS has been a great experience to go through I enjoyed calling and asking questions of the instructors who really gave good counsel and always had tips on how to make my business more successful.
-Terry Gill
April Student Spotlight – Pete Burt
The assistance and advice were exemplary throughout, and I found the course to be very well structured, and that it progressed in a natural, flowing manner. The exams were easy to access and undergo and covered all topics relevant to their particular unit. I would highly recommend this course, especially to anyone outside the United States of America – there may be fewer opportunities to set up a business but if you manage to make it happen you will be in great demand!
-Pete Burt
February Student Spotlight – Frederick Basham
I am the owner and operator of Basham’s Gun Services LLC. I am medically retired United States Marine and I am a retired from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Office of Inspector General, who chose to attend Modern Gun School to get certification in gunsmithing, I have worked as a firearms instructor and with firearms for 35 years. I worked as an apprentice with my father Gerald Basham who was a Master Gunsmith and firearms dealer. My father taught me a lot about gunsmithing, but I never became an official gunsmith. After he passed away in 2015 several of his clients were coming to me wanting to continue providing the services my father had provided and saw a demand for the services my father had provided. I began looking into schools to become a gunsmith and found the high reputation of MGS to be an appealing school for my needs. I enrolled in the Advanced Gunsmithing Course and found the information to be vast and usable. It not only reiterated what was taught to me by my father, but added a vast amount of knowledge that I had either forgotten or never had the chance to learn. Staff at MGS were helpful and quick to respond to any and all questions within 24 to 48 hours of me sending a message and in some cases the same day. I also have a degree in Business which was completed at an online school, I found MGS staff were refreshing as the college would take weeks to respond if they ever responded. I found the information provided is useful and detailed to prepare me for the opening of my shop. I had already developed an LLC as an NRA instructor and am setting up a shop in Greenville, Kentucky. I am currently waiting on the ATF to complete my FFL and start doing work in a shop by my home. I feel this course of instruction is a great place to start in becoming a gunsmith and a great refresher for anyone that has a little or even a lot of experience. The course is worth the time required to complete it and will not disappoint anyone willing to learn.
-Frederick Basham
January Student Spotlight – Dan Lauver
Modern Gun School provided me with an easily understandable, comprehensive Advanced Gunsmithing course. The course material was interesting and educational and help was readily available. The projects were challenging and applicable to the course material. All in all, a very rewarding experience.
-Dan Lauver
December Student Spotlight – Robert Boots
Thanks to Modern Gun School – with what I learned from the course, I was able to open my own shop before even finishing the course!
-Robert Boots
November Student Spotlight – Cody Parker
I would like to thank everyone at Modern Gun Repair for the course material and feedback during the course. I enjoyed the material and the experience in taking the Basic gun repair course. It has helped me further my position in my career. I would recommend this school to anyone who is looking to get in the gun repair career field or just for a hobby. This course is very helpful in bettering your knowledge of guns and how to get started in your diagnostics in repairing them successfully and safely. As for me, I’ve been employed at Nosler Bullets Inc. for the last 6 1/2 years. I’ve started my career with Nosler working on the bullet side of things, learning every step in the bullet making process. A little over a year ago I was transferred to the Rifle Department. Starting my Rifle Building career, I started off as a Production Rifle Builder, learning even step of the way to building the Nosler M48 line of Rifles. A few months ago I was given the opportunity to further my career in becoming the Gunsmith at Nosler Bullets Inc. I am currently the Head Gunsmith at Nosler. Doing all the repairs, upgrades and building all the M48 CUSTOM Rifles. Next step for me is to learn Ballistics/ Ballistic testing furthering my career one step further. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without the completion of the Modern Gun Repair School.
Through my great experience with the course and completion of it, I know of another person
that will be starting the course here soon in hopes of furthering his career path. I thought that it was great to be able to do all the course work online instead of having to wait for the “hard” copies to show up in the mail. Overall I was pretty successful in the course and enjoyed the opportunity to learn and take away unknown knowledge from the course material. Once my fellow work colleagues successfully complete the Basic course, I will be taking on the Advanced course!
-Cody Parker
October Student Spotlight – Darrell Kinney
The material and education I have gained from MGS are way more than I expected for the price of tuition. I don’t think I would have completed this course without the professional assistance from the student services staff, especially Jacque. Thanks!
-Darrell Kinney
September Student Spotlight – Patrick Taft
This has been a great experience going through these classes, learned a bunch about the weapons, but even more about myself. Take the time to enjoy what you are practicing and learning, there is a wealth of information provided in this course, technical, practical and business management. I am strictly a hobbyist at this point, but I do plan to proceed in working in the field, absolutely.
I am in the process of acquiring some used inventory to refurbish and continue to hone this craft and make some money.
-Patrick Taft
August Student Spotlight – Roy Jenkins
What a great experience with Modern Gun Repair. The hands-on projects made you really understand why things needed to be done a certain way. I have enjoyed learning and collecting helpful information to make me a successful gunsmith. I will be applying to many gun shops as soon as I retire from the military which will be in a month. I look forward to learning more about the business and opening my own business one day!
Thanks again Modern Gun Repair, you have given me the tools to make my career as a gunsmith have no limits!
-Roy Jenkins
July Student Spotlight – Gary Miller
I have owned and handled guns for over 40 years. Therefore, I thought I knew a lot about how they operated and how to clean and maintain them in good working order. While going through the study materials, I found out that I did not know as much as I thought.
The wheels are in motion to start my own gun repair business. The business set up has cleared the state controllers office and I have received my federal tax ID along with state sales tax certificate. Application for FFL has been with the ATF for about a week.
It’s been great working with the MGS staff. I have recommended your school to several friends and family
-Gary Miller
June Student Spotlight – Amanda Cowell
After looking at other schools I found that Modern Gun School offers more material and more hands-on projects, The way the material was presented was easy to follow. The staff was very helpful. They always made sure emails where answered and that I got the help I needed. I am currently not working in the field of Gunsmithing but I do hope to one day own a small gun shop!
-Amanda Cowell
May Student Spotlight – Gerry Brewer
This is a great course to get your feet wet. No school can prepare you for every instance you will come across, that is what experience and seeking peer review is about. Just as in life you need to be able to push yourself to reach your goals. This course has given me the courage to take my 20 years of skills and apply them in a way that is most enjoyable to me. I have always taken a mindset of continuing to learn something every day. And learning more about firearms every day is very enjoyable for me. This will be my profession in the near future. I have applied for a home-based business license in my area and am in the process of going through the process to acquire my FFL. I did like the flexibility I had with this course to take it at my own pace. The course work is not hard at all to understand and is very straightforward. At least it was for me. The projects were fun and instructive. I happen to have a bunch of the firearms that were discussed in detail, and I am sure a lot of others found that the be the case also. All in all a great introductory to the world of gunsmithing.
-Gerry Brewer
April Student Spotlight – Doug McPherson
This is not my first Gunsmithing course. But it is by far the most comprehensive. Being an international student (Canada) the student service I received from individuals was astounding. Every student, no matter where they are located, is important to MGS. I felt that first hand. Another great fact is even though I can take this course from home, it is still hands-on! Perfect for my learning style. This is my third Gunsmith certification, I am a certified welder and machinist. And by far, this course was most enjoyable and informative. Keep up the great work all of you at Modern Gun School!
-Doug McPherson
March Student Spotlight – Matt Miller
After first hearing about the program I had serious doubts, so I did some research. I found that the Advanced Gunsmith Course covered just about all I could ask for and more so I jumped in! From the first day, I felt welcome and felt that I mattered due to your attention to student needs and responses to questions. The course work was challenging yet very insightful and it really helped me expand my skill set. After I graduated from the course I began working out of my home, doing small odd jobs to get a little cash. After a while, I decided to open my own business, start a brand, that lead to the creation of my brand “Tier 1 Tuning”. For a few months, I did jobs for friends, neighbors, and other gun shops. My name began to spread, my reputation for great work got me a lot of attention and I had to expand. Recently I joined up with a local FFL
Gunshop in Fallout Firearms of North Las Vegas and now making a living doing what I love…..the skills I obtained in Modern Gun Schools Advanced Gunsmithing program have helped me to achieve my goals…my dream. Thank you MGS for all you have done, I will always recommend you to ANYONE asking about learning the trade.
-Matt Miller
February Student Spotlight – Scott Baker
I just want to say that this course went way beyond my expectations. Every aspect was informative and very educational. As a former police officer and more recently a regular gun owner, I wanted to learn more than basic cleaning. I am now in the process of starting a part-time gunsmith business and within the course, I was able to manufacture a useful tool, something I never thought of doing before. With that in mind, I am a subscriber to American Gunsmith, and the December 2016 and January 2017 issues have some pretty long articles regarding manufacturing your own tools.
Special thank you to the instructors, material contributors, editors and the rest of the staff at Modern Gun School.
-Scott Baker
January Student Spotlight – Shawn Steinschreiber
I magically came across the MGS site after long unfulfilling research of various programs that had lasted about 2-3 months. About two hours after finding the Modern Gun School site, I had enrolled. I absolutely loved the training I received through MGS. The modules were very easy to learn, and what I loved the most was the hands-on projects! The projects help to drive the material home.
I worked for 14 years as a firefighter/Advanced EMT. However, I was permanently disabled in 2013 due to a line of duty injury. During my downtime of disability I learned I had a pretty good mind and hands for working on and repairing firearms. This led me to my search for an online school to fit my budget, needs and wants and MGS more than fit the bill.
-Shawn Steinschreiber