Gun building on the decline ?

[Matt85]

i would build guns if i had a place to do it. i live in a little apartment with no garage. perhaps someday when i can buy my own house out in the sticks ill start building my own guns.

-matt

 

[Bill Hall]

Matt, I once built a nice rifle for my daughter, in my bedroom, with a piano bench as my workbench (long story, but it involves a divorce). Some of it was done at work also, but the bulk of it was done next to my bed. I did a lot of vacuuming every night :grin: . It can be done, where there's a will, there's a way. Though I do suggest using the kitchen rather than your bedroom :redface: . Bill

 

[Adui]

Some of the problem is also attribuatble to the fact its simply cheaper to buy a finished product than to build. In the gun world a kit will cost me nearly as much, if not as much as the finished product. Then I have to buy the supplies to finish it.

I build and fly model planes, the ONLY reason I could (cant anymore) afford to build is my choice of rather non conventional materials...
(Google Simple Plastic Airplane Design)

Bottom line, at least part of the loss of builders in many hobbies is because industry has made it too easy to get a factory finished product that is both cheaper to buy, and you get to use it as soon as you buy it.

 

[talkingamoeba]

In an effort to become self sufficient, the thought of killing a deer with a ball I cast shot from a gun I built is something I need to do.

SuperKirby - you have the motivation. that's 75% of the game. Buy a book ( Dixon ) and some parts and some tools (if you need to) and get to work slowly and deliberately... and banish the notion of "shortcut" when at the bench. that's the only way to "get started". And once you get started, you might not quit for a while.
/mm

I can relate, I'm on the farm my people came to in 1860. I started my first build 2 years ago, life placed before me a challenging road right after I started the build. I am now working on it again and still hope to get a deer with it this year. Mike is right and you can do it. I went to an auction once and saw a gun built from a pine board, it was the crudest thing I ever saw. The barrel was held in with the straps used to hang copper pipe, the trigger guard was held to the board with wood screws and still rough as cast. The butt plate was also still rough. At first I thought, why do that? Then I realized, the guy did what he needed to and it was obvious the gun had been shot. I tell myself he probably even killed deer with it. Just do it.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

...............
I had some money set aside to order "Recreating the American Longrifle" and "The Gunsmith of Grenville County" but as is the case with everything else in life, unexpected bills showed up and all that jazz, so the books will have to wait. ...............

Save your money and buy "Recreating the American Longrifle" first, otherwise you will waste a lot of time and, more importantly, money trying to figure things out on your own. And see if you can find an experienced builder locally who is willing to help you get started.

 

[Rifleman1776]

i would build guns if i had a place to do it. i live in a little apartment with no garage. perhaps someday when i can buy my own house out in the sticks ill start building my own guns.

-matt

Not an acceptable excuse. :nono:
A lot of guns have been built on the kitchen table.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

But a kit from TVM to start with there around 650 for a basic kit and come with all the hard stuff done. Its a good beginning, Where do u live at maybe I know someone close by.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

Last time I built a gun in Iraq on a shakey card table without a vice and its came out as one of the better guns other then a crooked barrel pin hole

 

[SuperKirby]

I am in MN, about 20 minutes from TOW. I talked to a couple guys awhile back down in the Minneapolis area that claimed to build rifles. One politely declined, the other said he occasionally sells his and wasn't going to show someone how to take money from him. So I kinda left well enough alone but the desire to build one hasn't gone away.

 

[sleeperNY]

Wow, you must have run into 2 of the very few that act that way. I have been at this sport fore many years and everyone I have talked to have been more than helpful. Keep at it, there has to be some people close that can help at least a small bit.

Jim

 

[SuperKirby]

That's kind of what I thought. In general people, at least here anyway, seem very helpful and will go out of their way to share their knowledge. It just kind of left a bad taste in my mouth for awhile.

 

[sc45-70]

I am in MN, about 20 minutes from TOW. I talked to a couple guys awhile back down in the Minneapolis area that claimed to build rifles. One politely declined, the other said he occasionally sells his and wasn't going to show someone how to take money from him. So I kinda left well enough alone but the desire to build one hasn't gone away.

What direction?

I'm 100 miles south of Track and could give some pointers (or help) if needed!

PM me if interested!

SC45-70

 

[Matt85]

Not an acceptable excuse. :nono:
A lot of guns have been built on the kitchen table.

kitchen table? i dont have room for one of those!

on another note, i dont use my couch any more or my TV so i suppose i could get rid of those and put some kinda work station there...

ok ill give it a shot, if i still have a job come spring ill make an attempt at building a gun. ive got my eye on a matchlock kit anyway.

-Matt

 

[Rifleman1776]

I am in MN, about 20 minutes from TOW. I talked to a couple guys awhile back down in the Minneapolis area that claimed to build rifles. One politely declined, the other said he occasionally sells his and wasn't going to show someone how to take money from him. So I kinda left well enough alone but the desire to build one hasn't gone away.

What direction?

I'm 100 miles south of Track and could give some pointers (or help) if needed!

PM me if interested!

SC45-70

That would be north. Right? :wink:

 

[SuperKirby]

I am mostly west of Track, but a little north.

 

[JohnTulle]

I am also about 20 min. from Track, in N. Mpls area. I build in a one bedroom apt. with a little bench I rigged up. Works great.

I'm willing to help if you're interested.

John

 

[Col. Batguano]

I am in S. Mpls., and would be interested too. Maybe :bow: we could do a class?

 

[jerrywh]

I once lived in a garage and cooked on a 50 gal. barrel using cardboad boxes, fan belts and pieces of tires for fuel along with what wood I found on the road. I did that so I would have a place to work on whatever I wanted to. All I had was $350.00 a bunch of tools and a 63 ford pu. In one year I had $12,000.00 in cash.
If you have the will things will get better.

 

[dc7x64]

I built an AK-47 from surplus parts on my kitchen table. I had a blue print, assorted files, dremel tool, and a electric drill motor. It shoots, performs flawlessly! It can be done! Here I am doubting my skills to be able to build a muzzleloader!!! Maybe this is the reason young people do not want to learn to build and be creative. No confidence. I am so gnashing at the bit to build a "Early Virginia Rifle"! Sure it may be a 200.00 rifle made out of 600.00 worth of parts when I get done. But damnit I am gonna try!

 

[rootsy]

In one word Jerry... " ambition"