The Top Gunsmithing Schools in PA

Do you want to become a gunsmith? First off, you must cover all the basics such as having hands-on experience with firearms (plus the permit to operate a gunsmith operation). Then, you’ll obviously need a license to work as a gunsmith which you can obtain in several ways. Of course, if a professional career is not on your mind, you can always check out the plethora of wonderful gunsmith tips and lessons available online. You can buy dedicated books and manuals from ebay and continue to hone your craft as time goes by. If you live in Pennsylvania, you also have the option to attend a gunsmith school which provides great training for both amateur enthusiasts as well as for future professionals. Today, we’ll examine the top gunsmithing schools in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Why bother to get an education? There are plenty of reasons. The main one is that this is a sure fire way to learn the basics of working with a firearm. You’ll also understand what gun repair and custom work are all about regardless of the type of weapon you’re most interested in. Finally, you will have an advantage in securing a well-paying career, which is no small feat in today’s economy. You can end up working for a sporting goods retailer, a manufacturer of firearms, or a custom gunsmith shop. You might even own such a shop one day. That being said, let’s check out the three top gunsmithing schools that Pennsylvania residents have available at their disposal.

3. Gunsmith Training at Ashworth College

This online program at Ashworth College promises to help students turn their “hobby into a career”. Coursework includes disassembling, fixing, and putting a wide range of firearm types back together. The school offers students several options for making tuition payments, at different pricing plan. If you choose to pay the whole sum upfront, you’ll be spending $609; you can also make automatic payments each month, to a total of $659, or pay monthly bills, up to $749. The curriculum includes coursework for various rifle and shotgun brands, standard revolvers, and semiautomatic pistols. Graduates can become a Master Gunsmith by opening their own business at the end of the program (which also includes a free one year Silver Membership in the Gun Club of America).

2. Gunsmith Career Diploma at Penn Foster Career School

The accredited program at Penn Foster has been active for thirty years now and is also accredited. This program is online-based as well and students get to learn about the application process for a Federal Firearms License. The coursework includes completing several practical exercises, including a comprehensive Brownell’s. The faculty member in charge of the program is Steve Felgenhauer, who is a certified gunsmith. You can check out sample lessons online and the tuition costs range from $667 to $945, depending on your payment method of choice.

1. Pennsylvania Gunsmith School

By far, the best known gunsmith program in Pennsylvania is the aptly named Pennsylvania Gunsmith School. The Master Gunsmith Program ran here ran for 62 years now and is constantly updated to match current technological developments. Students who enroll needn’t make proof of any previous experience with firearms. But, those who do have such experience can also opt for advanced training. Interestingly enough, there is no set curriculum at the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School, since their approach is student-based and builds upon the attendants’ previous knowledge and existing skill set. Some of the abilities you would be trained in include heat treatment, polishing and bluing, disassembling and reassembling, stock design, custom stock making, and so on. It’s no wonder we consider this to be the best of the top gunsmithing schools in PA. This program requires actual classroom attendance. So it is strictly dedicated to locals living in the area. Based on feedback from former students, it’s safe to say that this program is a good investment for a future professional Master Gunsmith.