Gun cleaning Vise
- Thread starter Ajwillly
- Start date
Do you have any issues locking a rifle down? I watched a review and the rear locking pads were plastic and backing each other out.
Probably depends more on what you want it for and the type of firearms you intend to use with it.
DependaBite Arca and Picatinny Universal Vise Jaws
Full length R-Lock dovetail rails for Magpul Pro 700 Chassis.
www.sawtoothrifles.com
NO better guy to deal with in the industry
Not exactly what I’m looking for, but I will probably pick up a set at some pointDependaBite Arca and Picatinny Universal Vise Jaws
Full length R-Lock dovetail rails for Magpul Pro 700 Chassis.
NO better guy to deal with in the industry
There are tons of cleaning cradles out there. They all have pluses and minuses. I would start with something simple and inexpensive, possibly with storage. Use it for awhile and determine what it doesn't do that you need. Over time you will see that some are more portable and some are more versatile but sometimes the more specialized are what you are looking for.
Not exactly what I’m looking for, but I will probably pick up a set at some point
I'll take a well fitting arca clamp vice milled out of 6061 over cheap molded plastic any day. Hell i'll take two pieces of acetal clamped or screwed into a vice as jaws before i shell out a hundo for a tipton "vice".
Sorry, its garbage, also part of the reason why Cabelas stocks them.
My advice: Use your existing arca tripod head with the arca on your gun. If youdont have arca on your gun but own a tripod/clamp use that a friction lock.
If you dont have arca/tripod gear yet id simply go the acetal route with a garage vice and that should allow you to hold any weird shape or form of firearm you own.
Two blocks of the stuff are less that 30 bucks. Round up a radius opposite of each other thats average for the majority of the guns you plan to hold and you're done. Drill a hole at your normal vice height and use the same vice hole/screw to use as soft jaws.
The possibilities are endless
I had a Tipton Ultimate Gun Vise but saw someone else using a Pattern Makers Vise you can buy at Grizzly. It seemed much better so I picked one up about a year ago. It is amazing for cleaning and mounting scopes and I find it much easier to use. Also, the inside of the vise is wood and has a rubber protection on the one I have. It has never left a mark on any firearms. It cost a little bit more but was well worth it.
Edit: to add a photo
Edit: to add a photo
Some of my rifles have bipods but they’re just a small pic section at the front. My main reason for the Tipton is being portable and not permanent. I have my vise mounted at the left end of the bench but I like to clean in the middle
It's been a long time since I heard the name. A friend of mine has one, called a versa cradle if I recall correctly. I haven't used it but saw it set up on his bench. It allows the rifle to be held vertical if desired. Good position for douching the barrel.
I have a $15 Tipton Gun Butler. It's better than nothing, but something that grips the gun would indeed be better. I use a velcro strap over top to hold guns down when cleaning.
Never had an issue locking a rifle down. I use mine for scope mounting and cleaning. Set up on the table when in use and tucked away under the bench when not. Being fully adjustable I haven’t found anything it won’t fit or anything negative to say about it yet.
I love that bench rail. Mine isn’t that fancy, curious if clamps would hold the the vise steady enough if the vise was mounted on a board
Edit: If I’m looking at it correctly it mounts through the one center bolt? So I could have it in the center of the bench when I need it then take it off when I don’t?
Last edited:
I use my Tripod for cleaning. I can walk all the way around the gun and it's just a lot easier. Of course if ya don't have a tripod,, it's also a great excuse to get one...
I have the Tipton Best gun vise, have had it maybe 4 years. I use it for the same reasons you listed....basic cleaning, mounting scopes, that sort of stuff.
Now the arca/pic clamp from Sawtooth that the fella above linked is on my buy list as I have two chassis rifles with arca and it seems that it would be handy to have and use with my bench vise. I also, for the bench vise, have some various barrel profile jaw inserts that are sold. In particular, I have these Wheeler jaws but had to modify them a bit. Drilled a recess in them and epoxied two round rare earth magnets on each jaw face with the insert for the smallest barrel that I really don't give a dang about. Trying to hold a 20+ lb rifle, the jaws held together in the right spot, and tightening the vise just required one too many hands. haha Adding the magnets really made these useful.
But again, for basic cleaning etc the I like the Tipton and I'm glad I have it.
Cheers
It has a large wing nut and can be easily installed or removed. You do need to drill a hole through the bench. I have it attached to a piece of plywood that is attached to my bench with a t-track system so a little more involved.
What is also nice is the vice can be rotated. If I am installing a scope I will have the rifle parallel to the bench. When cleaning the rifle I will rotate it slightly so the end of the barrel is over the bench to catch any fluid in a rag or bowl and not on the floor.
I am not sure what it is but seems to be a hard rubber type….could be hard epoxy. Keep in mind the vise is designed for carving wood and not damaging the piece being carved. I use it frequently and for a number of different guns and have never noticed any damage.
I glued some leather from Montana Leather Company to the vise jaws on mine. I did that mainly as a sacrificial layer...it can get screwed up and I can replace it before I damage the jaws. I got mine when I built a flintlock and it has turned into my most used shop tool.Well damn, you talked me into it
As far as mounting goes, I had mine mounted to my bench through a hole I had drilled. In my new shop (not yet constructed) I will definitely be using the T-slot stuff as @Rexman has done. Instead of a hole to put the vice in, I intend to cut a slot so that I can take the vise loose easily for storage. Also, it's handy to have the vise be able to swing out over the bench so that you can mount stuff vertically.
I have the Tipton discussed above as well as the atomic bomb option, 419 clamp + Orange. For light rifles with regular stocks, the Tipton works great. For chassis rifles, especially heavy ones, it doesn’t work well at all. My ACCs don’t clamp in with a shit. I still use the Tipton for the lever action 22s and the couple of stocked rifles I have left. All the chassis and ARs are done with the Orange now. The pattern makers vise or the sawtooth jaws are what I would jump to straight away if I could do it all over again.
I was given one of these Hyskore cleaning and sighting rests when I started getting into shooting. It's not the prettiest thing, but it's very flexible and has held up to the light duty use I've put it through over the last 4 ish years. I think if I upgraded I would go to a proper mounted vice solution.
I am extremely happy with this decision! Thanks for the recommendation
Attachments
Similar threads
Accessories
Tipton Ultra Gun Vise
