Student loans for gunsmithing school/required guns?

dakota.potts

New member
Hello all,

I am a first year student at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, South Carolina. They have one of the few gunsmithing colleges out there currently, especially low cost private ones. I actually moved here from Florida to attend.

My parents help whenever they can and are paying for my first semester, which is general ed courses like math and sociology required for the Associate's degree I'll graduate with in General Technology.

Next semester is machine tool classes. Not too much worry there.

After that, however, there is a little bit of an issue. In my gunsmithing program, our final project is to build an "American Sporting Classic" rifle in .30-06 using a receiver and barrel from Montana Rifle Company. This is an estimated $1,200 cost and I am told this is NOT covered by the majority of student loans, especially public ones. I also have another $1,200 for tools and $500 or so for books, technical drawings, and compiled notes. There are 100 hours of specialization time that we can use for anything we want that's gun or machining related - making jigs, building a gun safe, putting together another gun, turning muzzle brakes etc. - but anything built during that time has to be paid for out of pocket also and I have some ideas I'd like to talk about with my instructor that may have some appreciable (not necessarily huge) costs.

These costs may or may not be covered by student aid, leaving me with a possible $3,000 or so on top of school costs and living. I do work about 30 hours a week and I'm saving every week, but I'd feel a lot better if I had a way to know it was paid for and keep some money on hand for living and emergencies.

I'm not married and I'm younger than 26, so I'm still judged based off of my parents' income apparently despite living in another state from them. I filed FAFSA and went through my school guidance and was told I don't qualify for Pell Grants or even Stafford Loans so I can't seem to get any federal student aid. I have decent credit (as good as a 19 year old who always pays his credit card statement on time can get) and I do have income I can show but I don't seem to have anybody who can co-sign for me so that's a problem also.

I understand it's a long shot since this is a gun forum, but is there somebody who's done this before? Some of the gunsmithing schools can be fairly expensive, and I have a relatively low cost one, so I'm searching for someone who might have been in a similar situation. Are there private student loans that would allow the purchase of guns and gun related material as part of the cost? Any that would give a dollar amount or even credit account that doesn't require itemized payments where they wouldn't have a problem with me buying my rifle for class on it (or any other guns for projects)?

Another long shot, does the NRA or NSSF or any other organization have any scholarships for people trying to work in the gun industry? I've looked but the only ones I seem to find are for children of parents who already work at a firearms company like Remington.

I'm very disciplined with my money and absolutely NOT going to jump into anything. I have several months before I'd have to make a decision and I'll seek guidance from my parents, school, and anyone else. However, I'm just looking to see what options are out there and seek input from other people who may have had similar issues.

I understand this is a strange question and appreciate any input that's out there.
 
You mentioned you don't qualify for Stafford loans. You are probably referring to subsidized loans. However, Stafford loans may also be unsubsidized if you and your parents are over the income level for subsidized loans. With subsidized loans, the government pays the interest until after you are out of school. With unsubsidized loans, you don't make payments until after school but interest accrues while you're in school.

I obviously can't advise you on whether this is good or bad for you but a one or two year accrual of interest may be workable. You need to think about this and go back and talk to your financial aid advisor about an unsubsidized Stafford loan.
 
Maybe I do need to go back and talk to my guidance, because as we discussed it in her office, I was not eligible for any loans, subsidized or not, based on income.

That would definitely ease the pain a bit, but I wonder if the stafford loans can be used on the gunsmithing parts? I'll have to look into that as the instructor told me most public aid won't cover it.
 
It may not be the answer you want, but private student loans (through a bank, or I know Discover does student loans as well) may be the way to go.

With those, usually any expense that can be verified as related to schooling, room and board, and living expenses (everything from tuition to equipment needed, to rent, food and gas) can be financed through the loan. When I was in law school, I had to resort to using these a couple semesters when the work load was too much and I had to cut my hours back that I was working in order to pay rent and what not for 6 months.

I am not a financial advisor and do not know the specifics of the various options you have, but be sure to do your due diligence before signing on the line, these private loans have some disadvantages to Federal Loans (off the top of my head: higher interest rate usually, and not all can be consolidated with Federal loans when done with school).

It may work for you, it may not, just wanted to throw it out there as I have been in your shoes. Just be 100% sure of what you are signing up for when you do.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for all your replies. I may have to look into private student loans. It may be difficult without a cosigner, but that's a discussion for a different forum.

It's good to hear that private loans can be used on any school related expense. There are some firearm projects I'd really like to build while I have the advantage of an instructor and full machine/welding shop, projects that I strongly feel would help in getting a job but are somewhat expensive.

I am still interested in Gunsmithing or firearm related scholarships, grants or loans if anybody comes across any.

As far as why this school: I've lived in South Carolina and enjoyed it, it's a public technical school so it's significantly cheaper than a place such as Trinidad, it's relatively close to home in Florida, and my girlfriend (who is a hair stylist/cosmetologist by trade) can take a test to get a cosmetology license here and continue working in her field without going back to school - in Colorado she'd need an additional 1500 hours and it's ridiculous to spend that time and money on something she's already gone to school for in another state.

I'm also seeking a degree. I'll graduate with an AS in occupational technology with an emphasis on machine tool technology and two certificates in Gunsmithing. I checked out my other options and this one made the most sense
 
When I left NY to go to GA for college, I had student loans from NY. Since you are from FL, you might want to see if they have some available, even if you are attending out of state.
 
I would STRONGLY urge you not to go into debt. Can you take a semester off, work full time and achieve your money goal? If so, it's the better route.

Also, please check out DaveRamsey.com. His book is "The Total Money Make Over." This is a guy who made millions, then lost it, went into bankruptcy and re-built his life. This is not a get rich quick book, rather one that teaches lessons that will serve you throughout your life. It's about how you can/should manage your monetary life.

Cash is king, debt is dumb.
Live like no one else, so later on, you can live like no one else.


Good luck.
 
Cash is only king if it is WORTH something.........recent article talked about some folks in an African country where they were issuing TRILLION dollar notes, and a wheelbarrow full of them would buy you a loaf of bread.

Debt, properly managed and played correctly, is better than cash, because - just like Danny Devito's movie - you get to play with Other Peoples' Money
 
Its a bit of a process, but if you can get legal independence from your parents you will qualify for the Pell Grants. They'll no longer be able to claim you as a dependent, but their income won't factor in to your FAFSA.

Not knowing all of your situation, if you are still on their health insurance plan, this may not be the right option for you, as health insurance isn't cheap.
 
I cannot take a semester off and work to achieve my financial goals.

I'm looking at $12,000-$15,000 a year to graduate plus another $16,000 or so in rent during the time I'll be here. I'm working and putting money away and making a dent in it, but not fast enough. Certain things (the rifle and toolkit) must be paid for by January to start the gunsmithing part of the class.

I am on my parents' health insurance, but I'll look into getting legal independence and just see what that entails.

I guess there's always the option of attempting crowdfunding also...
 
Anything to avoid debt. You don't manage it, it manages you.

Speak to the school, let them help you pursue scholarships, which can be a full time gig. Check with the NRA, the Powder Companies and the Large Weapons' manufacturers to see if they offer scholarships of any kind.

Talk to your local gun shop and/or Home Depot or Lowes and see if you can work weekends in exchange for materials. Then of course, there is always the pizza delivery thing. Don't laugh, it pays.... cash.

I do wish you the best. You are young and just starting out. Your journey should be one of prosperity.

PS - please take me up on the book. You should find a copy in the local library. It will give you a perspective that will help guide you throughout your life.
 
You're paying $16K/year in RENT?

Tie to get some roommates or get into a cheap mobile home for half; that will help. I took 10 years to pay my loans back. Now, it seems, they are forgiven......
 
No, half that. I figured in 2 years. We're in an apartment for about $700 a month.

I'm sure this is normal new college student stuff, figuring out finances, and not really the topic of this forum.

In an effort to keep it related, I really just wanted to know if there were any gun related scholarships and which forms of aid anybody had tried that allowed the purchase of firearms or firearm equipment with that money.

I appreciate all the advice on loans, public and private, vs. no loans and get another job etc. but I do think these things probably aren't related to the forum so I won't take it that direction any further.

I do have a second job writing for a hunting website and I can make a couple hundred dollars a month freelance writing online, but that's a bonus at best.

If anybody does happen to know of any firearm related jobs or writing that can either be done online or local to my neck of SC, I'd be more than happy to take a look at them. Or if anybody has relevant shooting sports/gunsmithing scholarships, grants etc.

Thanks for all the input
 
Speak to the school, let them help you pursue scholarships, which can be a full time gig. Check with the NRA, the Powder Companies and the Large Weapons' manufacturers to see if they offer scholarships of any kind.

Talk to your local gun shop and/or Home Depot or Lowes and see if you can work weekends in exchange for materials. Then of course, there is always the pizza delivery thing. Don't laugh, it pays.... cash.

I do wish you the best. You are young and just starting out. Your journey should be one of prosperity.

PS - please take me up on the book. You should find a copy in the local library. It will give you a perspective that will help guide you throughout your life.

I have A's in all my classes now and I'm chasing the school scholarship that I can get every 12 months. It looks like I may have to dedicate looking for these scholarships since it can be, as you describe it, a full time gig.

My day job is working for one of the two home improvement companies listed above, and they won't let me take materials :) I do get a nominal discount on things in the store though. Gun stores in the area aren't hiring. I've dropped resumes off at all of them locally and they always say "We could be looking to hire someone in X date" so I keep trying. I do miss my job in the Fishing and Hunting Section of Academy.

I don't know that I'll be able to graduate without taking some form of loan from somebody, but I will keep your advice in mind and see if I can find that book
 
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