Freestate Training Academy

So, I have chosen to use Gun Digest as my gun publication of choice and I will be arguing the point that piston driven firearms are better than direct gas impingement. While the article does list facts in favor of both types of firearms the first two examples, they list are in favor of the gas piston operation. First, they say “Piston-driven guns run much cleaner” and I can agree with this statement. Most of the carbon buildup happens in the tube that the piston sits in and n

If the result desired by the customer is a color, then yes, I would agree that spray on finishes are the future. However, a lot of people are getting away from the classic methods of bluing and browning type finishes which leads me to believe that I should invest in the older methods first. Anyone can buy a can of this spray on stuff and give it a shot on their own making the gunsmith obsolete. Sure, the average joe wouldn't spend the money for a full Cerakote kit with spraye

The feed source on both single and double action revolvers is the cylinder that locks into the

What Is a Single-Action-Only Revolver? A single-action-only (SAO) revolver  is a type of revolver that cannot be fired until the hammer is manually cocked by the shooter . In this design, the trigger only performs one function  — releasing the hammer to fire the gun — and does not cock the hammer itself. This means the shooter must thumb back the hammer before each shot. How to Recognize a Single-Action Revolver Visual and loading cues  help identify a single-action revolver:

What Is a Double-Action-Only (DAO) Revolver? A double-action-only revolver  is a revolver that can only be fired by pulling the trigger; there is no single-action mode . In DAO revolvers: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer  on every shot. There is no provision  for manually cocking the hammer before firing. Because the hammer cannot be manually cocked for a lighter single-action shot, DAO revolvers must be fired entirely in double action . Most DAO revolvers are d

Cylinder gap is the term used for the distance between the end of the cylinder and the start of the barrel. These should have relatively tight tolerances to avoid malfunction, damage, and injury. Malfunction can occur if the gap is too large and lead bullets are being fired. The soft metal passing through this gap can shave off the bullet and lodge into this gap preventing your cylinder from rotating the next shot. This can damage the firearm but more importantly the pressure

When working with a lever action firearm you do have a number of issues that you would not see with single shot or bolt action firearms. Most bolt action firearms are magazine fed so making sure it is stripping and feeding correctly is important but as far as the action goes, the bolt and trigger assemblies can be rather simple to deal with. With most Single shot firearms they are even easier to troubleshoot because it is usually a break action and doesn't include many moving

To start I believe everyone should focus on safety as it applies to every interaction someone should have with a firearm. This could mean anything from determining if a firearm is safe to shoot by using a bore scope and looking for damage, to the actual function of the firearms safety selector options. A focus on safety keeps everyone out of harms way so always start with that.

A hammer block safety  and a transfer bar safety  are both passive mechanical safety systems  used primarily in hammer-fired firearms  to prevent accidental discharge if the hammer falls unintentionally (such as from being dropped). While they serve a similar purpose, they work in different mechanical ways . Hammer Block Safety What it is A hammer block safety  is a physical bar or plate  that blocks the hammer from striking the firing pin unless the trigger is deliberately p

Yes, two of the most important things I would check are the cylinder stop and the spacing between the cylinder and barrel mouth. A few Taurus Judge revolvers I have seen don’t catch on the cylinder stop and if the cylinder moves just past the catch and the firing pin is struck with the cylinder out of alignment it may result in damage and injury. Likewise, if the distance between the cylinder and barrel mouth is too great, the round exiting the cylinder and entering the barre

Malfunctions with blowback type operation can occur for many reasons including both ammunition and operator error. If the ammunition did not have enough gunpowder in the casing when it was fired you may end up with a failure to extract or failure to eject type malfunction. This could also result in a squib load where the bullet pushes from its casing but never exits the barrel. Without the energy required to blow back the slide or bolt on the firearm you may experience a shor

The tools and materials needed to prep a firearm for a spray on finish may include things like acetone to degrease the parts and a sandblaster to remove any old worn coating before starting to apply a new one. The sandblaster also creates a rougher surface to allow the spray on finish to adhere better. As we are talking about hazardous materials like chemicals and fine particulate, it is important to list personal protective equipment in the required items list as well. Makin

The transfer bar is a type of internal safety that sits between the hammer and firing pin. When the trigger is pulled the hammer will cock while the transfer bar is raised in place to allow the energy of a falling hammer to transfer to the firing pin so it may strike the primer and fire the ammunition. When de-cocking the hammer and keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction pulling but then releasing the trigger you allow a controlled drop of the hammer, and the transfe

There may be many reasons for a test fire on a firearm. The first being the customer claims something is not working correctly with their firearm. In this case you may need to test fire to see the actual malfunction they were talking about in order to better understand the issue and find the best way to resolve it. In other cases, a test fire may be part of ensuring a firearm you built yourself actually functions. With an FFL that allows the manufacturing of firearms you can

Identify interesting aftermarket work that can be performed on a 1911 firearm.

The two specialty tools used for the 1911 I have chosen for this week’s discussion are the 1911 bench block and the lug fitting kit. While there are other bench blocks on the market advertised as universal, the one specifically designed for work on the 1911 has functions and features only meant for the 1911 platform. An example of this is the groove cut into the block specifically for use with the barrel and lug allowing easy removal and replacement of the pin that connects t

To avoid the copy and paste of everything we have already covered this semester, I will summarize a few of the topics and discuss how I would approach it and what may or may not be required. To start lets talk about the Firearms Customer. If all your business is was firearms sales then the market has some serious booms and busts. However, opening a gun range along with my FFL to sell and manufacture firearms I keep those customers coming back.

Explain the specifics of one type of firearms business.

What firearms would your business import?

Living here in Texas, if one individual wants to trade with another individual you can do so with little to no paperwork involved. Though a bill of sale would be smart, so both individuals have a record of who has their old firearm, to the best of my recollection it is not required. Now in my home state of Maryland it was required that you and the other individual make an appointment with a state police officer who will record the firearms serial number and will then transfer