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Gunsmith sets his sight on a career

Many people dream of one day having their passion in life turn into a profitable business for them and Joeffrey Kaludjak of Rankin Inlet is inching closer to that goal.
The hamlet's chief economic development officer by day, Kaludjak spends many of his evenings and weekends as a gunsmith looking after his new business, KAL-SHOT.
Kaludjak, 42, said he officially opened the doors to his new business about two months ago.
He said he's fully-licensed federally as a gunsmith and has begun advertising his services, building rifles and providing maintenance, coating and painting for firearms.
"I've been into firearms my whole life," said Kaludjak.
"I moved to Winnipeg for a job a while back and that company took me on and trained me to build custom long-range rifles.
"It's my passion, so it's naturally something I love doing."

Joeffrey Kaludjak promotes his passion and part-time business (KAL-SHOT) of gunsmithing and training at the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet on Sept. 25, 2018. Darrell Greer/NNSL photo
Joeffrey Kaludjak promotes his passion and part-time business (KAL-SHOT) of gunsmithing and training at the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin Inlet on Sept. 25, 2018.
Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Kaludjak said there are many guns in the Kivalliq region that are just simply shot out, meaning the barrel is worn out.
He said in those situations he tears the rifle apart, threads a new barrel on and chambers it to whatever caliber the customer wants.
Once he's done, he will also sight in the rifle and test it for accuracy if the customer so desires.
"It's been pretty steady work for me since I opened the doors," he said. "I have some orders on the go now and I'm trying to keep up as best I can. I'm a one-man show, but I'm doing my best to keep up."
Kaludjak also delivers the Canadian Firearm Safety program.
He said once enough people come to him wanting to acquire their firearm acquisition certificate, he'll hold a weekend training course for the group.
"I deliver both the non-restricted, which is the long gun, hunting rifle and the restricted class, which is handguns or any type of restricted firearm.
"My goal is that one day I'll be able to do this on a full-time basis.
"So, hopefully, one day I can leave my day job and do this 100 per cent of the time.
"That's the way I'm leaning right now, so I guess we'll see."