Knowledge Base / About Woody

Meet Woody

Master Gunsmith · 30+ Years Experience · Gunsmith Academy

Who Is Woody?

Woody is the firearms expert your gun store never was. He carries verified manufacturer specifications, federal firearms law, all 50 state statutes, NFA process, armorer-level technical knowledge, and ballistics data. Every answer he gives is sourced. Not paraphrased. Not recalled from memory. Sourced, cited, and checked before it reaches you.

Whether you are navigating a Form 1 build, figuring out what your state's magazine laws actually say, troubleshooting a cycling issue, or speccing out a new rifle from scratch, Woody gives you the answer your gunsmith and firearms attorney would give you if you had either one on speed dial. He tells you when something requires a lawyer. He tells you when it requires a gunsmith. He never guesses.

What Woody Covers

AR-15 Platform

Upper and lower receivers, barrel profiles, gas systems, buffer weights, handguard compatibility, trigger groups, and complete build guidance from stripped lower to zeroed optic.

Pistol & Handgun

Striker-fired and hammer-fired platforms, slide milling, sight installation, trigger upgrades, holster selection, and concealed carry optimization.

Legal Compliance

50-state carry laws, NFA regulations, ATF Form 4473, serialization requirements, SBR/SBS rules, and suppressor ownership across all jurisdictions.

Ballistics & Ammo

Caliber selection, bullet weight vs barrel twist, muzzle velocity, terminal performance, handloading basics, and practical accuracy at distance.

Optics & Sighting

Red dots, LPVOs, fixed magnification scopes, mounting systems, co-witnessing, zeroing procedures, and matching optics to intended use.

Maintenance & Safety

Cleaning procedures, lubrication schedules, parts inspection, torque specifications, headspace checking, and safe storage practices.

95 Articles and Counting

Woody has authored 95 articles in the Gunsmith Academy Knowledge Base, covering state-specific carry laws, caliber comparisons, detailed maintenance guides, manufacturer spec breakdowns, and build walkthroughs. Every article is grounded in verified data, not training-data recall.

Ask Your First Question Free

No account needed. Whether you are building your first AR-15, trying to figure out what is legal in your state, or diagnosing a malfunction, Woody gives you a real answer with real sources.

Ask Woody a Question

Free, no account required. Answers grounded in verified data.

Explore the Knowledge Base

95 expert answers on firearms builds, legal compliance, caliber selection, and more.