Gunsmithing School? Lassen College in Susanville, CA
In a year, I’m going to retire from the Army after 21 years in the service. I’ve really been thinking hard about what I’ve wanted to do with my life when I retire. I’m a Cavalry Scout and that doesn’t exactly carry over into the real world well.
I have my foot in the door for a job where I would be earning about $15 (might be $18) an hour as a civilian contractor. That’s good money, but there are a few draw backs, at least in my mind. If I were to get injured or lose my job I have nothing to fall back on. I have no marketable skills. There is a real possibility of another draw down and reduction of civilian contract jobs.
See, the thing is that I’ve always been drawn to guns, ever since I was a kid. I joined the Army because I liked guns. I initially planned to get out and work in a gun shop or be a gunsmith but ended up staying in the Army because I liked what I was doing.
I am the go to guy around here when it comes to weapons, although I have no formal training. I enjoy trouble-shooting firearms and find it absolutely fascinating, although I am somewhat intimidated by the term 'gunsmith'. I'm not sure I have the aptitude for the finer aspects, but I like repairing guns.
Does anyone know about Lassen Community College in Susanville, CA?
Does it make any sense for me, a 40-year-old man, to attempt to go school full time with a wife and two kids and then try to start a career in gunsmithing?
Are schools like Lassen worth the time and effort?
Do I really want to move to California (only until schools over) with all the crazy gun laws and nonsense?
Are there any other schools that teach gun repair or gunsmithing that are located in Texas or Kansas?
Should I just take a few classes in machining and forget the formal gunsmithing schools?
My wife’s mom has a house in Susanville that’s currently sitting empty. It’s up for sale but hasn’t sold, yet. It’s possible that we could rent this place while I go to school. I would be getting about $1300 a month in BAH from my GI Bill , all tuition and fees would be covered, books should be mostly covered, and I’d have my retirement check to help live on. I’d have to get a job, at least part time, to put food on the table for my family. I graduated from high school in California, so I qualify as a resident student and could keep my Texas residency.
The best advice I’ve had seen so far is that if you plan on being a gunsmith, don’t quit your day job. Well, I’m cool with that. It’s possible that the contracting job may still be there in couple years and I could possibly get hired on after I were to graduate school, then do gunsmithing on the side.
What input do you guys have? I haven’t really talked it over with my wife yet, but I will soon.
Biting off more than I can chew?
I appreciate any advice. I may not be around much. I’m currently deployed overseas and the internet is hit and miss. Anyway, thanks a lot.
Change of plans, maybe...
I spoke with my wife about going to school in Susanville and she basically told me that it probably wouldn’t work out for us.
The house is up for sale and she doesn’t think her mother would take it off the market. Her husband (my wife’s stepfather) is terminally ill and she has been struggling to sell the house. My wife is afraid that if her mother keeps it on the market and it sells, we will have to find a place to stay and deal with moving while I’m in school. There are some smaller issues. The house is located on the opposite side of Eagle Lake (in regards to the school) so from the way she describes it, the commute may be somewhat painful. On top of that, there was a concern about school buses not running to the area where the house is. The idea isn’t completely dead, but for right now it’s moved to the ‘not likely’ category.
Surprisingly, my wife was very receptive to the school in Oklahoma. I was kind of shocked actually. We had been trying to decide where to settle when I retire and our choices were Kansas or Texas. I guess Oklahoma will work for us while I’m in school (if it happens).
So, back to the drawing board. I’ll start researching Murray State and see what I can find out.
As far as the Post 9-11 GI Bill, from what I understand, the tuition is paid directly to the school and the BAH comes to me. From what I read (no experience) the BAH is sent to me (or deposited?) as long as I am enrolled in school. If there is a break, i.e. summer vacation, then I don’t get paid. I haven’t had to deal with the GI bill before and I appreciate the heads up to be cautious when dealing with VA benefits.
I know a lot more about Lassen than I do about Murray. Does anyone know about this school? I looked at the curriculum and as part of their degree program, they include business math and a course titled gun store management, which could be a good thing. Unfortunately, they also include English Comp 1&2 a humanities and Government. Fortunately, I already took some of those classes, but I really want to learn to work on guns, not write essays. Lassen seems to be more gun oriented.
I want to thank you all for the advice. Believe me, I am reading every reply and taking everything said to heart. If you have advice to share, I’d be happy to listen. I appreciate the fact that you all are trying to help me.
Several of you guys have thanked me for my service… well, I’d like to say that I thank you for all for supporting me and my buddies. It’s been a honor to serve my country and I am very thankful for the opportunity to have done so.
Trinidad State Junior College
Have you considered this school?
It was started in the early 50s by P.O. Ackley and is a really excellent course. I believe it is a 3 year course with an AAS degree when completed. While I was there we had several retired military men taking the course.
It offers many electives that are not necessarily connected to gunsmithing and everything (except dedicated gunsmithing courses) is transferable to a 4 year college. I graduated from TSJC in 1969 and transferred nearly everything to Bemidji State College so I could work on my education degree.
Oh yeah, in case you don't know, Trinidad is on the CO/NM border along I-25 in southern CO. Lots of wide open country to the east and a couple of recreation areas nearby. Not much work available but in your case that should not be too big of an issue.