SDI and other gunsmithing schools

Been thinking about not being a complete fricking loser and developing skills that can actually net me a job/career that pays well where I can do something that I find enjoyment and meaning in, so I thought about getting into the firearms industry. I've been considering Sonoran Desert Institute on account of it seeming like it is a notable school within this industry and from all of the propaganda that has been raping me from watching gunshills on YT. Has anyone on /k/ have had any experience with SDI or any other school? Anyone with knowledge on or about the firearms industry such as certain skills and business practices that I should be aware of?

I guess gunsmithing general as well since it isn't discussed all that much here.

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  1. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    Waste your money on an actual degree you don’t need anything to be a gunsmith

    • 10 months ago
      Anonymous

      Maybe to be a gunsmith, but what about being a good gunsmith?

      • 10 months ago
        Anonymous

        you become a good gunsmith by doing gunsmithing

  2. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    If it’s being shilled by homosexuals on YouTube it’s obviously bullshit

  3. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    Logo looks like SOI

  4. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    better off doing some sort of machinist shit than than that.

    • 10 months ago
      Anonymous

      https://gunsmithing.nra.org/find-a-school/ only go to one of these schools or

  5. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    >Learn to CNC
    >Get a degree in mechanical engineering
    >learn to blacksmith

    I mean the SDI will definitely teach you to gun smith, but you can get other skills that aren't tied to gun-smithing. it is better and easier to come from the outside in than start on the inside and expand outward.

    I mean based on modern firearms these are some of the jobs that can almost do this:

    >chemical engineer
    for polymer, explosives(primer), and powder.
    >mechanical engineer
    for the metal parts.
    >licensed CNC
    to make the parts.
    >licensed carpenter
    for any wood work.
    >Business adminitrator.management
    for the actual business

    the licenses you would need to make a modern rifle and ammo:
    FFL 06 (ammunition not on the NFA)
    FFL 07 (guns not on the NFA)
    FFL 01 (sell to the public guns not on NFA)
    Machinist License (per state regulation)
    Woodworker License (per state regulation, not a building license for capenters)
    Business License

    • 10 months ago
      Anonymous

      I'm interested in weapon manufacturing. Things like parts kits builds and maybe weapons that can be manufactured without requiring a license from a manufacturer or some niche like that. Also thought about designing shit that people would be interested in, one Idea I've had is to make a closed bolt version of a PPS-31. Shit like that.

      • 10 months ago
        Anonymous

        You'll get father learning material science and physics than dedicated "gun smithing". For example, Ian from forgotten weapons is a mechanical engineer with no formal gun smithing training of any kind.

    • 10 months ago
      Anonymous

      The gun industry is a terrible one for engineers. Most big brands are paying their engineers between $18 and $24/hr which is abhorrent for having a degree. May as well just work in an industry that isn't full of nickle-and-diming boomers who constantly pretend to be poor to justify not paying engineers an engineer's salary.

      It's even worse for machinists and grunts.

  6. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    When I was in the military they had a career fair on base for all the guys who were separating and SDI had a booth. I had a nice chat with their recruiter guy, but after twisting his arm, I got it out of him that they want $30,000 for what is essentially an AR-15 armorers course that you can watch on youtube in like 10 minutes. They don't offer any actual engineering courses because of issues with accreditation.

  7. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    What kind of business would there be if I were to get an FFL license to manufacture AK's and sold them? Would it be profitable at all and with what kind of margins? Especially if I made most of the parts from scratch rather than buying a kit?

    • 10 months ago
      Anonymous

      Gunsmithing is an inferior grade of machinist work. Take CAD first then take a manual and CNC machine shop course. Those will give you a major edge understanding metal which requires tactile experience

      Gunsmiths use tools machinists make to work on guns machinists make. You'll be far more employable and have a vastly better understanding of machinery and metalwork than a mere gunsmith.

      Every desperate Bubba wants to make bangsticks. Jobs are for MONEY not martyrdom. You'll also need to seriously study small business skills because if you cannot manage money your other skills won't save you.

      Get skilled, get job in the industry then see if that's for you and at what level.

  8. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    SDI has to be a scam. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
    I wanted to be a gunsmith out of high school but I realized the pay is shit so I moved towards machining and mechanical engineering. I ended up going into a mechanic engineering technologist program and I’m still completely it right now. Since I started the program I’ve learned welding, machining, CAD and CAM etc and while I’ve been learning it I’ve also been “”apprenticing”” under my dad who is a gunsmith, and I’ve done some work using some of the skills I’ve learned in school. I’ve done a few gunsmithing jobs now and most of it is relatively easy except for fabricating parts, but machining skills come in handy there. I don’t think I’ll be a full time gunsmith but maybe on the side, as I do enjoy it. My main focus is a career in some aspect of mechanical engineering, and I have an opportunity to get a job at a local gun manufacturer involved in the design process

  9. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    >job/career that pays well
    Gunsmithing ain't it chief

  10. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    If it means I don't have to have a barrel like this anymore, then yes. When you crown a barrel it should not frick up the rifling.

  11. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    What can a pizza do that a gunsmith can't?
    Feed a family of four.

  12. 10 months ago
    Anonymous

    It's better to approach it as a hobby that can potentially supplement your income. Practice repairing beat to shit guns or whatever "gunsmith specials" you might find locally or online. Like some have said, working in a machine shop or taking a class at a CC/trade school would give you a more well-rounded skillset, and open more doors than a gunsmithing specific course would. I do know of a couple dedicated gunsmiths near me, but they're legit craftsman who can do everything from installing sights to complete restorations. Neither of them are well off, but they like what they do.

    You can also source a lot of info from book uploads and DVD rips. I think /k/ used to have a torrent of that shit, but I haven't used it in years.

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