Learn Practical Skills At Home

Your comprehensive lessons are clear and well-organized; easy to follow, yet challenging and engaging at the same time. Each lesson begins with an introductory note from your instructor, plus a preview outlining the subject matter and study objectives.

Next comes the reading assignment from your textbook, lesson book or supplemental references. Practice exercises help you check and review the key concepts you've learned. Then, turn in your open-book exam (available online) for the lesson, whenever YOU are ready.

Enroll online or call 1-800-535-1613 to speak with an Admission Advisor!

Meet Your Instructor

Your chief instructor is Mike Brennan. He is a lifetime gun enthusiast. He has years of experience in shooting and hunting, as well as teaching and doing custom work on handguns, rifles, and shotguns. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge with you in this high quality, in-depth course.

What You’ll Learn Lesson By Lesson in this Course

Lesson 1: Deciding on a Repair. Basic inspections; head space checks; dummy cartridges; firing pin indent; stocks; barrel crown; knowing your capabilities and limits; safety precautions.

Lesson 2: Work Area, Special Tools & Supplies. Your work and storage areas; clamping vise; collimator; crosshair gauges; drill jigs; front sight pusher; head space gauges; broken case remover; plating kits; getting parts; thinking like a gunsmith.

Lesson 3: Hand & Power Tools. Screwdrivers; loosening and tightening screws; hex wrenches; vises; hammers; mallets; punches; chisels; files; polishing stones; sanders; drill presses; grinding tools; lathes; polishing wheels; checkering tools.

Lesson 4: Routine Maintenance. The importance of cleaning; solvents; cleaning procedures; strip cleaning; oiling; stocks; de-greasing; cold bluing; routine checks; replacing parts; power cleaning.

Lesson 5: Lever Action Rifles. The operation cycle; buttstock; lower tang group; locking block; bolt assembly; lever, link, bolt and cartridge carrier; loading gate; carrier spring; magazine and barrel; common Winchester Model ’94 problems.

Lesson 6: Semiautomatic Rimfire Rifles. The operation cycle; stock; action; bolt; handle; action spring; trigger and trigger guard; common problems.

Lesson 7: Pump-Action Shotguns. The operation cycle; barrel; fore-end unit; magazine; spring; retainer; follower; stock; triggerplate group; carrier group; breechbolt group; shell latches; reassembly and replacement; common problems.

Lesson 8: Semiautomatic Shotguns. The operation cycle; buttstock; triggerplate assembly; carrier and carrier latch assemblies; action-spring assembly; breechblock assembly; cartridge stop; magazine; common shotgun problems.

Lesson 9: Bolt Action Rifles. Firing mechanisms; bolt assembly movement; cartridge extraction and ejection; the safety; disassembly; characteristics of common bolt-action models.

Lesson 10: Correcting Accuracy Problems. Accuracy defined; how actions and ammunition affect accuracy; bedding; fixing the crown; fouling; bore wear; trigger; buttplates; pads; sighting equipment.

Lesson 11: Installing Scopes. Leveling the mount; removing plug screws; bases and rings; eye relief; aligning crosshairs; screw tightening; bore sighting.

Lesson 12: Bedding the Barrel & Action. Why bedding is important; stock inletting; barrel and action bedding; fitting and bedding synthetic stocks.

Lesson 13: Triggers. Safeties and Crowning Barrels. Safety testing the trigger assembly; trigger installation; how safeties work; trigger-pull weight; backlash adjustment; sear engagement; cautions.

Lesson 14: Testing Repairs Safely. Function testing; “absence of body” test firing; the importance of inspecting; trigger and safety tests; live vs. dummy ammunition; checks and safety precautions.

Lesson 15: Repairing & Refinishing Stocks. Preparing the stock for bonding repairs; how to clamp; epoxy bonding; pinning for strength; contouring; finishing; restoring the checkering.

Lesson 16: Installing a Recoil Pad. Two workable approaches; separate shaping with a recoil pad jig; shaping a pad attached to the buttstock.

Lesson 17: Ammunition. Ammunition and accuracy; shooting groups to gauge accuracy; limitations of factory loads and handloads; maintaining ammunition uniformity; shooting benches and gun rests.

Lesson 18: Single-and Double-Action RevolversFunction testing; mechanics of the revolver; disassembly; head space; barrel-to-cylinder gap; timing; cylinder alignment; troubleshooting and basic maintenance; single-action revolver problems; sights.

Lesson 19: Semiautomatic Pistols. Semiautomatic pistol systems; smoothing for more reliability; adjusting trigger pull; customizing; sights; custom grips; disassembly; troubleshooting; care and maintenance; tuning for high-performance ammunition.