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A career as a gunsmith can be an excellent choice for some.
To make guns in the first place, a gunsmith is needed.
Gunsmiths typically build them, make changes to them, or repair them.
This is a career that is in demand, considering the number of people who own a gun nowadays.
However, this is a career that requires you to have exceptional attention to detail, commitment, and precision.
But just like any other profession, a career as a gunsmith has pros and cons.
So before you leap, you must educate yourself on everything the job entails.
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Pros of Being a Gunsmith
1. Earning Potential
One of the biggest pros of working as a gunsmith is the earning potential that is there.
Working with guns is dangerous, making accidents nearly possible at any time.
With that in mind, the salary should coincide.
You may not earn a favorable salary when just starting, but over time, you can expect it to increase.
The national average for gunsmiths is about $31,910 per year.
And while this is much less compared to other careers, you can increase your salary over the years.
This means that you can earn up to $85,000 and possibly more, depending on where you live.
2. Work with Different Types of Weapons
The most attractive part about working as a gunsmith to many may be having the luxury of working with lots of weapons.
This means that if you are a person who has a thing for weapons, this may be an excellent fit for you.
You’ll have the opportunity to build guns.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to work with a variety of models, modifying and repairing them.
For example, you may need to add a foregrip to a gun and additional ergonomics.
Having the chance to make improvements to guns may be enough for you to become a gunsmith.
3. Impact on Safety
Before becoming a gunsmith, you’ll go through training and learn how to educate others on using firearms.
As a result, you will impact the lives of others by improving the safety of people who are using them.
You’ll play a role in making the world a safer place since you’ll be responsible for educating people on the dos and don’ts of using firearms.
You will be able to teach them how to keep their families safe.
This can leave you with a huge level of satisfaction and make you proud of your job.
4. Job Security
Having job security is important nowadays, especially with the way the job market is.
Many people consider themselves firearm enthusiasts and even professionals.
These people use guns very frequently.
So what does this mean for you?
This means that the need to have professional gunsmiths to repair and maintain these firearms is huge.
As long as regular maintenance of firearms is a thing and people continue to use them responsibly, job security for gunsmiths will remain strong.
But besides just repairing firearms, some people may request to have their guns customized, which will enable you to utilize your creativity skills.
5. Variety of Employment Opportunities Available
Working as a gunsmith opens the doors to various employment opportunities that you can choose from.
For instance, gunsmiths have the option of working in gun shops or sporting goods stores.
If you have a desire to work in a retail setting, this may work for you.
You may also have the option to start your own gunsmith business if you would prefer to be your own boss.
Maybe you have dreams of opening up your own repair shop or retail shop.
But besides the obvious, gunsmiths can also work for law enforcement, factories, and even the government, allowing you to take your skills a little bit further should you want to.
6. Further Your Gunsmithing Skills
When you first start working as a gunsmith, your learning potential doesn’t end there.
Throughout your career as a gunsmith, you will continuously develop new skills to help you become better at your job.
These skills can even be transferred to new professions, should you ever choose to look for other work.
Gunsmiths need to have excellent business, communication, drawing, math, and mechanical skills.
You’ll learn new skills, including welding and other specialized skills, during the duration of your career.
7. Customization and Creativity
As mentioned earlier, some customers may come in requesting to have special ergonomics or customizations made for their firearms.
This enables you to take your creativity and customization skills to a whole new level.
You will be able to show off your craftsmanship skills.
Whether someone is requesting a complex design or you need to invent unique parts, you’ll be able to utilize your skills in different ways.
Cons of Being a Gunsmith
1. Exposure to Firearm Residue
One of the biggest downsides of working as a gunsmith is the constant exposure to residue.
Long-term exposure to firearm residue can be harmful to your health.
For example, if you are repairing a gun that was used frequently, your risk of exposure to residue increases substantially.
Also, if you have children and a family, you can put their health at risk if you spend time with them after work.
2. Injury Risk from Machines
You will need to operate machinery while working as a gunsmith.
You will be utilizing machines to repair and even build firearms.
However, you must educate yourself on how to safely use these different machines.
They are not toys, and not using them properly can cause serious injuries.
You will be using grinders and milling machines, two of which come with a high risk of injury.
While using these machines, make sure that you follow every rule, step by step, so you can stay safe.
3. Injury Risk from Firearms
Besides dealing with the risk of injuries from using machines as a gunsmith, you’ll also be faced with the risk of injuring yourself from weapons.
This is a big deal, which means while you’re repairing guns, you must take extra precautions.
Accidents can happen.
You may mistakenly fire a weapon while repairing it, resulting in great injury.
Fortunately, there are ways to avoid this type of injury.
You need to ensure that the weapon isn’t loaded while fixing it.
4. Physically Demanding
Another disadvantage of working as a gunsmith is that you will face many physically demanding tasks.
For instance, you will have to lift firearms, many of which may be heavy.
This job also requires you to stand for long periods.
Furthermore, many of the tasks that you perform will, for the most part, be repetitive and physically demanding as well.
If you dread this type of job with these types of responsibilities, you may want to rethink a career as a gunsmith.
5. Lacks Career Advancement
Working as a gunsmith doesn’t come with a lot of career advancement unless you are looking to take your skills elsewhere.
However, if you’re looking to spend a lot of years or the rest of your future as a gunsmith, there’s little room for growth in this field.
This is mainly because most gunsmiths work in small shops or are business owners.
This is not the type of field that comes with a corporate ladder or promotions.
What you see is what you get with this type of profession.
6. High Expectations and Pressure from Customers
Gunsmiths must meet the diverse range of customer expectations and requests for customizations, repairs, and changes made to firearms.
It may be easier said than done, but having to navigate the high expectations of customers may cause unnecessary stress, as many of these demands can be time-consuming.
Pleasing customer expectations, all while working within the limitations of your duties, can put you in a bad place if you are not careful.
7. Financial Strain
If you are not careful, you can see yourself experiencing a great deal of financial strain while working as a gunsmith.
Why, you ask?
This is because the cost of materials and parts can be hefty, especially for customized projects.
As a result, this can affect your profitability.
Furthermore, if you are working with customers who don’t live nearby, you will have to factor in shipping costs, which can also impact your profits.
Pros and Cons of Being a Gunsmith – Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Gunsmith | Cons of Being a Gunsmith |
|---|---|
| 1. Earning Potential | 1. Exposure to Firearm Residue |
| 2. Work with Different Types of Weapons | 2. Injury Risk from Machines |
| 3. Impact on Safety | 3. Injury Risk from Firearms |
| 4. Job Security | 4. Physically Demanding |
| 5. Variety of Employment Opportunities Available | 5. Lacks Career Advancement |
| 6. Further Your Gunsmithing Skills | 6. High Expectations and Pressure from Customers |
| 7. Customization and Creativity | 7. Financial Strain |
Should You Become a Gunsmith?
If you are passionate about firearms and working with them, being a gunsmith can be especially rewarding for you, and there are many online programs to choose from, so starting is easier than ever before.
Being a gunsmith means you have to be comfortable working with your hands, all while meeting the needs of your customers.
Some of the cons of being a gunsmith are dealing with safety risks, financial strain, and meeting the physical demands of the job.
If you can get past the disadvantages, working as a gunsmith may be worth pursuing as you realize the good outweighs the bad.
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