Looking for quality gun vise or cleaning options for AR platform

[johnnymordoc]

Folks,

Not sure if this is the right forum.....

I am looking to invest in a quality gun vise for cleaning or options to do so.

I have see some from Tiptons (best gun vise) and others... (Hyskore and house brands).

I am looking for something that can allow me to clean an AR-15/AR-10, .22 and shotgun.

It was a bit tricky cleaning a breached AR on the kitchen table on a gun mat.

Looking for some suggestions or options. Not sure if any are made in the U.S.A

Thanks in advance.

[SomeOtherGuy]

Remove the pivot pin also and clean the two halves separately. From your description it sounds like you were trying to clean a rifle while it is "shotgunned" open, which I find awkward. I clean all my rifles on a standard workbench (standing height) with an old towel on the surface to prevent scratches and absorb minor spills. For AR style rifles I separate the two halves and clean them separately. For bolt-action rifles I just remove the bolt and set it aside. I have a machinist's vise for the few tasks that require it, like assembling barrels onto upper receivers, but do all my cleaning and routine maintenance without using any kind of vise.

My personal minimum requirement for cleaning an AR:
-table you don't eat from
-old towel to place on table
-bore cleaning kit of your choice
-CLP of your choice
-store brand q-tips (cheap, but not plastic shaft cheap)
-paper towels

[HeruMew]

Two items, I have never gone back:

The vise is amazing, you can rotate it on all axis, it makes it amazing for cleaning. I bring it to the range with me, as it's light and easy.

Use nomar barrel blocks for shotgun, AR, etc. Magwell block, with a cleaning link, for the best and "easiest" rod cleaning ability. It's wonderful.

Again, I have never gone back to conventional cleaning ways without using that vise as a third hand... unless I was without it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_13135.jpg
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/vises-anvils/2-1-2-half-inch-table-swivel-vise-97160.html

And:
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mqwAAOSwsB9WAw2E/s-l1600.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NO-M-A-R-AR10-308-Upper-Lower-Bench-Vise-Block-Armorers-Gunsmith-Barrel-Tool-/122228932394?hash=item1c75697f2a:g:mqwAAOSwsB9WAw2E

[jpmuscle]

OP, avoid anything from the big box stores and harbor freight.

Buy a quality Wilton tradesman, new or used. The vintage stuff is exceptionally well made. A 1745 would serve well for your purposes IMO.

[johnnymordoc]

I am still looking for a good gun vise.......

I had someone refer me to a CTK Ultimate Gun Vise

http://www.ctkprecision.com/p3-ultimate-gun-vise.aspx

Then in reading some reviews - folks are looking at the Caldwell

http://www.btibrands.com/brands/caldwell/?archive=shooting-rests


I also just got a recommendation on a VersaCradle??


https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/versacradle

I think all the options will be too costly for this one?

I did pick up a bench vise for backup in case I cannot find something I like.

Thanks in advance.

[SomeOtherGuy]

I'm still puzzled at why you want any of these for cleaning. In 20 years of cleaning guns of all types I've never had a need or desire for one.

The Versacradle looks nice if money is no object.

[ScottsBad]

I've always found it to be a pain in the butt to have rifle components locked into a vise because you then have to position your body around the gun rather than the gun around your body.

I started with a vise arrangement and now I don't use it at all. Just like the other posters I have a bench or table a towel or cleaning mat, and my cleaning supplies. I've used the kitchen table, but its easier to buy a heavy duty folding table. I have a big Wilton vise, but don't use it for cleaning only assembly or disassembly.

The things you need are like a previous poster said, but I'll provide some detail.

1. Some way to pull or push cleaning patches and cleaning brushes through the bore. Some use cleaning rods.

2. Specifically have; A brass bore brush, nylon bore brush, gun patches (or make your own), bore jag or loop, a chamber brush (use carefully and sparingly), chamber mops, chamber stars. Some of the specialized stuff like a chamber mop and chamber stars can be supplanted with use of a cotton patches and forceps, it just takes more work. Use nylon bore brushes on your chrome lined barrels unless it is REALLY bad.

https://www.amazon.com/L-16-223-Ar-15-Recess-Cleaning/dp/B004Y7EEH0/ref=pd_rhf_cr_s_cp_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004Y7EEH0&pd_rd_r=SR7HC690Q8TCQ5NDBCAR&pd_rd_w=FWyAT&pd_rd_wg=i8Cne&psc=1&refRID=SR7HC690Q8TCQ5NDBCAR

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040J7XQ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00162TEGC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3. Forceps, curved are a little better, but they are cheap. so get curved and straight. Use it to hold patches or used tee-shirt/rags while cleaning inside the receiver or whatever.

4. Brass (or steel) dental/gun picks. I think my brass ones are Hoppe's. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B1TBB10/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5. Brushes nylon - Get some brushes that you can use to scrub the inside of the receiver when it gets really gunked up. Use nylon. Also try to find a brush that is narrow enough to fit in the charging handle grove. It makes cleaning that grove way easier.

6. Heavy duty pipe cleaners are useful. I'm not talking about the kiddie play time pipe cleaners, I'm talking about the ones that pipe smokers use. They are very rough and good for inside the gas key (double or triple up and twisted) and you'll find other uses too.

https://www.amazon.com/Bundles-Zen-Pipe-Cleaners-Bristle/dp/B000W5R6UA/ref=pd_sim_196_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DC3TRRD9MBTAE48V1DPQ

7. At some point you'll want a carbon scraper, but use it sparingly. Most of the time you can get most or all of the carbon off with some soaking and elbow grease.

8. I've been using M-pro 7 cleaner. You don't have to buy in bulk of course.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QWWNT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

9. You'll need whatever is your favorite gun oil too.

[nightchief]

I bought a 5" Wilton vise from Northern Tool. Not sure what your budget is for a vise, but this one is rock solid and does the job and then some.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200334217_200334217

NC

[SeriousStudent]

I also have a nice Wilton, based on IG's advice.

I got lucky, and found one at a garage sale when someone was moving.

[556BlackRifle]

I am still looking for a good gun vise.......

I had someone refer me to a CTK Ultimate Gun Vise

http://www.ctkprecision.com/p3-ultimate-gun-vise.aspx

Then in reading some reviews - folks are looking at the Caldwell

http://www.btibrands.com/brands/caldwell/?archive=shooting-rests


I also just got a recommendation on a VersaCradle??


https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/versacradle

I think all the options will be too costly for this one?

I did pick up a bench vise for backup in case I cannot find something I like.

Thanks in advance.

Those are for shooting. I suppose you might be able to make it work for cleaning but it would be a PITA.

If you buy a bench vice and a lower receiver mag well block and cleaning link, you can make that work.


http://www.squirreldaddy.com/Lower-vise-block-R3-0-white-p/sd20-176.htm

https://www.dillonprecision.com/dewey-ar-15-cleaning-link_8_16_25898.html

[T2C]

This is a copy of the Winchester cleaning vise/cradle I purchased 25 years ago. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/607786/tipton-gun-vise It works well enough for most purposes, but not everything. It's good for cleaning a M1 Garand or M1A without disassembly, but not practical when you field strip the rifle(s) for cleaning.

I like to completely separate the upper and lower of an AR for cleaning. I don't care for moving the rear take down pin and hinging the upper/lower on the front pin. Some people are more adept at cleaning with the upper hinged up from the lower, but I could easily bend or break something if I don't separate the upper and lower.

If you are going to do any gunsmithing, a good bench vise with delrin blocks to protect the finish is hard to beat.

[26 Inf]

OP, avoid anything from the big box stores and harbor freight.

Buy a quality Wilton tradesman, new or used. The vintage stuff is exceptionally well made. A 1745 would serve well for your purposes IMO.

Not trying to start an argument, definitely a very nice vise. But is such durability really necessary for the owner/hobbyist to assemble, clean and work on a weapon system the measures it's torque values in less than 75 foot pounds and otherwise in inch pounds? For most work the AR hobbyist will do, the weak point will be the fixture that holds the receiver in place, not the vise itself.

Yes, there is a lot to be said for their smoothness and clamping ability, but I think they are overkill for the general AR hobbyist. I can understand a factory assembler, or an armorer instructor who totes one from course to course and lets numerous students use it each course needing a vise of that quality, just not a hobbyist.

Despite my best efforts at clamping the vise on my 'armorer' bench down in several locations to pick the best mounting location, I ended up moving the vise from it's original location. Then I needed to move it back. At that point I realized that for no more stress then I was putting on the vise I could mount it on some wood and then clamp it down to the bench where ever needed. That also solved one drawback of the typical non-Tradesman Wilton, lack of 360 degree rotation.

FWIW though, you see more Wilton's mounted to the back of welder's, plumber's and railroader's trucks than other brands.

[jpmuscle]

I would not dispute your assertions at all. Other than to say a quality vise is just one of those things in life that are worth the coin. But then you can find them for dirt cheap if your buying vintage so the cost concern becomes moot.

In fact I've been trying to locate a quality 6-8" milling vise (e.g. Kurt d60) to mount to my bench so as to take advantage of the designs lower profile compared to my vintage 5" Yost.

[Joelski]

Love my StewMac shop stand-mounted vises (I have the guitar, angle and neck jig vises). The standard bench vise never gets used.

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Vises/

[GH41]

It doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Just a couple of wood and carpet scraps.
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t414/ghchhisc/Rifle%20stand_zpslvscjtwh.jpg

[GH41]

Another to fit the AR magwell.
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t414/ghchhisc/AR%20stand_zpsxtevzlbi.jpg

[SiGfever]

Another to fit the AR magwell.
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t414/ghchhisc/AR%20stand_zpsxtevzlbi.jpg

Now sir, you are making waaaaayyyy too much sense. You are taking some of the fun out of it, daddy needs a new toy. :moil:

This is my latest...

http://www.yostvises.com/multi-jaw-rotating-combination-pipe-and-bench-vise-swivel-base.html

[JasonB1]

Receiver links are handy for cleaning without popping the upper off.

http://www.btibrands.com/product/delta-series-ar-15-adjustable-receiver-link/?mobile=true

[johnnymordoc]

It mostly boils down to holding it and keeping in place - I tried breaking it apart and cleaning the upper and lower receivers - on the kitchen table - only to find it was difficult to hold the receiver in one hand and clean with the other.

Just looking for something that will keep it in place - especially if I want to run a bore snake or cleaning rod through the barrel.

[GH41]

It mostly boils down to holding it and keeping in place - I tried breaking it apart and cleaning the upper and lower receivers - on the kitchen table - only to find it was difficult to hold the receiver in one hand and clean with the other.

Just looking for something that will keep it in place - especially if I want to run a bore snake or cleaning rod through the barrel.

Forgive me if I am wrong and please don't take this the wrong way but... You must be new to the AR platform. The best way to keep one clean is to hose everything down with CLP and shoot the hell out of it! If you are really anal separate the receivers, hose it down, let sit overnight and blow out with compressed air the next day. Wipe off the excess CLP and call it a day. You may not have noticed in my posted pictures but I use a simple yoga mat on my bench. It provides enough traction for pulling your boresnake and prevents unnecessary scratches on the gun. I paid $2 at the church thrift store but you can buy them all day long for 8 bucks at Amazon. At 6 feet long you could make 2 for your kitchen table.
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t414/ghchhisc/yoga%20mat_zpsfv4cydjp.jpg

[Austin1776]

Here's a really handy range box that does it all. You don't need a vice to clean an AR.

http://www.redsgear.com/mtm-tactical-range-box-black-trb-40.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp303754&sc_intid=303754&gclid=COe7ht_Ti9ICFYS6wAodUw4KOA

[MrTwister]

I bought a cheap 4" vise for my gun / reloading room, I made some some jaws for it out of UHMW so it would be non marring. I believe in having quality tools and have a much nicer vise in my garage but I didn't believe I needed a stronger vise for this application.

http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n487/bdalrymple/th_20170215_195213_2.jpg (http://s1136.photobucket.com/user/bdalrymple/media/20170215_195213_2.jpg.html)