Question on College shooting

silentfury214 · Post by **silentfury214** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:17 am

I am planning to get a degree in some sort of engineering or business so that i have some what of a fall back option for when gunsmithing goes under.

Mike M. · Post by **Mike M.** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 11:57 am

Engineering or business? Very, very different levels of effort. Engineering is pretty well the hardest major out there. Which is why the demand is so high. Pick up a degree in engineering and you can forget gunsmithing as a career - engineering pays a lot better.

On the other hand, you would be in excellent company. Such as Bill Demarest. And I can speak from first-hand experience that it pays the bills quite nicely.

silentfury214 · Post by **silentfury214** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:09 pm

Gunsmithing is my dream because i love how guns work. I would be just fine doing something that i love and not earning as much money than earning more money and not doing something that i love. I also plan to not only work in gunsmithing, but in gun manufacturing and design.

Isabel1130 · Post by **Isabel1130** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 12:46 pm

One of the best ways to become a gunsmith is through the military. You need to contact the AMU and see what the best path for you might be. My father became a gunsmith after being trained as a high level machinist/ aircraft armorer during WWII. David Sams, one of the most respected gunsmiths in the US, became a gunsmith after starting out as an MP (military policeman) and working his way into the AMU (Army marksmanship unit) as a shooter. At least that is what he told me.

silentfury214 · Post by **silentfury214** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 4:54 pm

For something like that, i would love to be a marine armorer, but i am not sure i really want to go into the military.

Mike M. · Post by **Mike M.** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 6:42 pm

silentfury214 wrote:Gunsmithing is my dream because i love how guns work. I would be just fine doing something that i love and not earning as much money than earning more money and not doing something that i love. I also plan to not only work in gunsmithing, but in gun manufacturing and design.

That's why you go into engineering. Then get a job with a firearm manufacturer or with the military. Bear in mind that there are a lot of Civil Service positions in the Department of Defense. Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Pitcanny Arsenal, Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana...several good places to work.

peterz · Post by **peterz** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 8:30 pm

Don't forget the NSWC at Dahlgren, VA where the really big naval guns get tested.