Why Gunsmithing Is a Popular and Growing Hobby
Image by Alexander Lesnitsky from Pixabay
Many Americans enjoy shooting and collecting firearms, but the gunsmithing hobby is growing in popularity. Gun enthusiasts get into gunsmithing for many reasons: improving their shooting, having their private gun range, and the enjoyment derived from repairing a firearm.
Here’s more information about why gunsmithing could be the ideal hobby for you:
Increase Your Firearms Knowledge
When you work on firearms, you understand how they work and are designed, functioned, and operated. Advanced concepts, such as head spacing a rifle, which many experienced shooters do not understand, becomes apparent when you learn how to chamber a rifle barrel.
Enjoying Your Own Private Gun Range
For many gun enthusiasts, driving to a gun range takes time, transported gear, and maybe an hour drive to the range. If you set up your gunsmithing business in your shop, you can handle and shoot firearms at your leisure. This is even more valuable for people with packed schedules and family obligations. Many of us might not be able to get to the gun range 45 minutes away every week, but most of us can find a little time to tinker with and repair firearms in our shop.
Enjoy Working With Tools
Many gunsmiths enjoy using all of the tools and hand-operated machinery in a firearms workshop. Gunsmiths who are digitally savvy are starting to use advanced software to design firearms parts. Learning to use many types of gunsmithing tools and software makes this fascinating hobby so rewarding.
Build The Ideal Firearm
As a gunsmith, you don’t have to be limited by the high-demand for rifles and consequent lack of products from the big manufacturers. You are free to build the perfect rifle as you imagine it. Whether you want to adapt a rifle to a larger caliber to pack more firepower or equip a shotgun with more ammunition, gunsmiths are free to make the firearm perfect for them.
Get Better At Shooting
Working with firearms means reconnecting with weapons regularly. As you handle guns more often, you will shoot more, which should improve your marksmanship.
Learn More About Gun Safety
When you work with firearms more and engage in the community, you will learn more about modern gun safety advances. People who know the most about guns are the ones that understand the details of gun safety in the home and the field. Becoming a gunsmith will enhance your knowledge in this critical area, which you can use to educate others.
Working With Licensed Gunsmiths
There are high standards for licensing gunsmiths in the United States. If you want to become a gunsmith, you must get extensive training and earn a license. It is vital to follow your state’s regulations to become a licensed gunsmith, so be sure you check your local laws.
As you move through the regulatory process of becoming a gunsmith, you can join one of the many gunsmith groups and learn the trade secrets from them.
Meeting Clients
Marketing your services is vital in the gunsmithing business because you usually have a limited audience for your trade in your community. If you want to get better in gunsmithing and develop a solid client base, it is essential to market yourself by joining various gun and gunsmithing groups in your area.
Gunsmithing is growing quickly in the US. More people are buying firearms in 2020, and they will need experienced gunsmiths to maintain and modify their guns. If you enjoy working with weapons and tools and shooting guns, this could be a great hobby or business for you.
I’m a single mother of 2 living in Utah writing about startups, business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and health. I also write for Inc, Score, Manta, and Newsblaze