When to stop DIYing and call a gunsmith

[Brainyy]

So I like working on my own guns but I'm trying to be realistic about my limits. I successfully did some trigger work and barrel swaps, but last week I almost messed up a timing job before catching myself...I got lucky there. I gottas ask, what types of gun work do you confidently handle yourself and what do you always take to a professional I am trying to learn from others' experiences and mistakes.

 

[Elixir]

When your wrench starts bargaining with you, or the gun demands a PhD, walk away and call a gunsmith. I tinker with sights and cleaning but I let pros handle timing, fitting or anything making me regret dinner

 

[Just_Matt]

If a job could make the gun fire wrong or you need special tools, call a gunsmith. I do bolt work and sights, but leave timing, headspace, and trigger jobs that affect safety to the pro.

 

[Coopy]

Well, in my day, we didn't have a gunsmith... we had a file and a hammer! When you had a problem, you fixed it, or you didn't shoot. I stop DIY-ing when my xocial Security check clears. That's usually the only thing that gets me to pay some young fella to do a job I probably taught his grandpappy. Now get off my lawn!

 

[Brainyy]

When your wrench starts bargaining with you, or the gun demands a PhD, walk away and call a gunsmith. I tinker with sights and cleaning but I let pros handle timing, fitting or anything making me regret dinner

I love that line. I handle sights, triggers and routine maintenance but anything involving timing, headspace, or barrel fitting I always hand to a gunsmith.

 

[Brainyy]

Well, in my day, we didn't have a gunsmith... we had a file and a hammer! When you had a problem, you fixed it, or you didn't shoot. I stop DIY-ing when my xocial Security check clears. That's usually the only thing that gets me to pay some young fella to do a job I probably taught his grandpappy. Now get off my lawn!

I admire the grit but I’ll still call a pro for safety-critical work. Teach me a filing trick sometime?

 

[rfd]

The time to call in a gunsmith is when you honestly recognize yer limited gunsmithing abilities, and put down that file that you were about to first time ever use on a trigger sear to lighten a firearm's trigger pull.