{"id":32076,"date":"2022-04-30T18:16:32","date_gmt":"2022-04-30T18:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/?p=32076"},"modified":"2022-04-30T18:16:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-30T18:16:35","slug":"a-first-class-gunsmithing-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/?p=32076","title":{"rendered":"A First-Class Gunsmithing Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='__iawmlf-post-loop-links' style='display:none;' data-iawmlf-post-links='[{&quot;id&quot;:949,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu\\\/programs\\\/gunsmithing&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20260410083439\\\/https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu\\\/programs\\\/gunsmithing\\\/&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-15 11:04:15&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-21 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04:18:31&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2332,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3083,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu\\\/directory\\\/leonard-fagan&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3084,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.alexanderarms.com&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3085,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mark-dye-6996a7125&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3086,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.nighthawkcustom.com\\\/parts-and-accessories\\\/main-kits\\\/drop-in-trigger-system&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3087,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/campusmap.jpg&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3088,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/gunsmithing.nra.org\\\/find-a-school&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3089,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.montgomery.edu\\\/programs-courses\\\/continuing-education\\\/take-classes-for-fun\\\/nra&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3090,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.carolinaallout.com&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3091,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/4xNel2l9Wx8&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=4xNel2l9Wx8&amp;feature=youtu.be&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:3092,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=iFZxtPEnUh4&amp;t=117s&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:null,&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]'><\/div>\n<p>A couple of weeks ago I got to tour the workshops and classrooms of the<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomery.edu\/programs\/gunsmithing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> gunsmithing program<\/a><\/strong> at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomery.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montgomery Community College<\/a><\/strong> in Troy, North Carolina. To say I was impressed by the facilities is an understatement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was given the tour by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomery.edu\/directory\/leonard-fagan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Len Fagan<\/a><\/strong> who is one of the instructors. He also teaches most of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Management classes. Prior to coming to MCC, Len was the lead gunsmith for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alexanderarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alexander Arms<\/a><\/strong> as well as was the owner of Old Lodge Armory in Willis, VA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first room I saw had both milling machines and metal lathes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-lathes.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-lathes.jpg 640w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-lathes-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-worksho.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32079\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-worksho.jpg 640w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-worksho-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Adjacent to this workshop were both a couple of classrooms as well as another workshop with both milling machines and lathes. The classrooms are not your average classroom with desks. Rather, they have six to ten heavy duty worktables with one to two bench vises attached on each. Companies such as MidwayUSA and Brownells have been very supportive of this program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32083\" width=\"671\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-940x940.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom-1320x1320.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Classroom.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 671px) 100vw, 671px\" \/><figcaption>From Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mark-dye-6996a7125\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mark Dye<\/a><\/strong> is the head of the program. Like Len, he is a graduate of the program himself. He also was a gunsmith with both Clark Guns in Louisiana and Bowen Classic Arms in Tennessee before going out on his own. In addition, he is the inventor of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nighthawkcustom.com\/parts-and-accessories\/main-kits\/drop-in-trigger-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Drop-In Trigger System for 1911s<\/a><\/strong> being marketed by Nighthawk Customs. It is essentially a drop-in trigger job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving on, the equipment available for students includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>28 lathes<\/li><li>13 Bridgeport type milling machines<\/li><li>2 precision surface grinders<\/li><li>1 CNC milling center<\/li><li>3 commercial spray booths for Cerakote<\/li><li>Arms room with 350+ firearms for classroom examples and training aids<\/li><li>A myriad of bench and belt grinding equipment<\/li><li>Welding equipment\u00a0<\/li><li>Heat treating furnace<\/li><li>Hot bluing tanks<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The MidwayUSA Arms Room has a wide assortment of firearms with which students can tinker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room.jpg 640w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room-2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/MCC-Gun-Room-2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you work on firearms then you need a place to test them. They have two <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomery.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/campusmap.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100-yard ranges on campus<\/a><\/strong> which they share with the law enforcement program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the regular degree and certificate program, they are <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gunsmithing.nra.org\/find-a-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">one of four schools certified<\/a><\/strong> to offer NRA short-term gunsmithing classes and the only one east of the Mississippi. These <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomery.edu\/programs-courses\/continuing-education\/take-classes-for-fun\/nra\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">classes <\/a><\/strong>range from an AR-15 armorer&#8217;s class up to building your own custom 1911 from a kit. They also will have classes on knife making, shooting, reloading, and finishing. I could easily see myself taking one or more of these classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinaallout.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Carolina All Out<\/a><\/strong> is a regional TV outdoor program available on cable in the Carolina as well as YouTube. They featured two episodes on the gunsmithing program at Montgomery Community College. The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4xNel2l9Wx8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">first <\/a><\/strong>featured rebarreling a Remington 700 and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iFZxtPEnUh4&amp;t=117s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">second <\/a><\/strong>featured taking the rifle&#8217;s accuracy to the next stage by bedding and load development. Seen together, you get a good feel for the facilities and the expertise of instructors such as Len Fagan and Mark Dye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are interested in learning more about gunsmithing as either a career or just because you want to tinker on your own firearms, I can recommend Montgomery Community College. In the interest of full disclosure, I will be graduating in less than two weeks from their Hunting and Shooting Sports Management program making me an alumnus of MCC. Nonetheless, I think they are one of the premier gunsmithing programs in the nation.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A couple of weeks ago I got to tour the workshops and classrooms of the gunsmithing program at Montgomery&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":14,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[6005,2020,6007,6003,2021,6006],"class_list":["post-32076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-gunsmithing-instruction","tag-gunsmithing","tag-len-fagan","tag-mark-dye","tag-montgomery-community-college","tag-nra-short-courses"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32076"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32084,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32076\/revisions\/32084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlygunsandmoney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}