[Balog]

On a thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=59850) about cleaning my Mosin, I was referred to this page (http://www.surplusrifle.com/russiannagant/maintenance.asp). I found this quote "I have found one of the most important and necessary investments you can make is a good, solid gun stand." I probably can't afford to buy one (how much do they cost I wonder) so I'm thinking of making one. Does anyone have plans to make one? I'm not a big time craftsmen, but I can do alright by myself.

[TheeBadOne]

Do you mean a permanent stand, or one you take down when done with the season?

[Balog]

I don't know. I've never had any experience with this sort of thing. I'd appreciate any advice on which would be better. And since I don't hunt or shoot competitively I'm not certain what "season" you are referring to. Thanks for the reply.

[Balog]

Wait, are you talking about a hunting stand? The kind you sit on while hunting? I was thinking of a stand to hold a gun whilst cleaning it.

[TheeBadOne]

Okay, now I've got you. I didn't locate the quote so I'm not quite sure what it's in reference to. I assume it's to hold your rifle while you do work on it?

[Balog]

I took it from this page http://www.surplusrifle.com/finnishnagant/cleaning/hs.asp It's right under figure 2.

The author said you needed it to hold the rifle while cleaning it.

[TheeBadOne]

Okay, it shows up now. My brower didn't like that page with the 1st link.

I have an old one made from wood. A board for the bottom with 2 "V" cut peices attached for the stock and butt of the rifle to rest on. (The photo is "fancier" as it has a vise to secure the rifle). Mine works just fine for what I need. It's been on loan to a friend for a while now so I can't post a pic. (but at least I remembered who has it now). :D

[No4Mk1]

Something like that does make the cleaning process much easier. Also handy for tinkering....

Here is the one I use....

http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/shooting/images/rmc1cl.jpg

Made by MTM (http://www.mtmcase-gard.com/products/shooting/gunm.html) and picked it up at a sporting goods store for something around $30 IIRC....

Here is a photo of one somebody else made....

http://img3.photobucket.com/albums/v13/sidhartha/gun%20vice/2003_1223Image0006.JPG

Hope that helps!

[Stand_Watie]

I would like to (sort of) hijack. I saw the thread title and thought perhaps he was asking about shooting stands/braces.

Anybody have any plans for easy to construct outdoor shooting benches? I'm using an old electric cable spool/picnic table right now.

[TarpleyG]

I just made one out of some scrap 3/4" MDF I had laying around. I cut the bottom piece about 24" long, the front piece is 9" and the rear piece is 7". Something like that anyway. I made cutouts on both ends and used pipe insulation for padding. Cost, $0. Time, 30 minutes.

GT

[berettaman]

An easy to construct outdoor shooting bench would be a Black and Decker Workmate and a steel folding chair.:D

[Dave Markowitz]

A gun vise as referred to in the link that Balog posted is handy, but hardly "necessary." I've been into guns since I was 8 (35 now) and I've never used one.

The closest I have now is a folding work table made by Stanley, which includes a couple of plastic vices intended for securing piece of wood. The main thing to have is a solid, sturdy surface on which to work. I clean my guns on top of my clothes dryer, after covering it with a piece of cardboard.

[Dot_mdb]

Balog,

The vice in the picture looks like a Tipton Gun Vice. I bought one about a year ago. I think it was about $30.

In my opinion it was worth the price.

http://www.battenfeldtechnologies.com/tiptonshooting/

Bill

[Balog]

Dave Markowitz: Hmmm, so do you just hold the rifle with one hand and push the rod with the other?

Also, I hear a lot of people talking about how important it is to not damage the crown of your rifle. Is pushing the rod out and letting it rest on the rifling at the end of the barrel like the fellow in the following pic is doing ok? http://www.surplusrifle.com/finnishnagant/cleaning/graphics/l/6.jpg