Preferred gun vise for cleaning/adjustments?

[Citadel99]

I had a Tipton that got lost in a move and need to get a new gun vise. What's your favorite and why?

Thanks in advance,

Mark

 

[rbernie]

I use my bench vise with padded jaws.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use a Sinclair International cleaning cradle. The link is for just one that they offer but they several different components so that you can customize the cradle for your needs. I have the AR-15 pieces but it works well for my bolt rifles as well.

https://www.sinclairintl.com/gun-cl...leaning-cradle-1-hunting-rifle-prod36755.aspx

I have a device that one can clamp on an entire rifle but I never use it and it would take a while to lay my hands on it.

 

[Legionnaire]

I use an old Lohman sight vise. I don’t think they are still made under that brand name but there are similar devices on Amazon. Why? Small, portable, and easy to use on a kitchen counter.

 

[Legionnaire]

Double tap ...

 

[Varminterror]

I use an old Lohman site vise. I don’t think they are still made under that brand name but there are similar devices on Amazon. Why? Small, portable, and easy to use on a kitchen counter.

I have 2 of these which are Winchester branded. I’ve built my own cradles and vises, integral to my bench and otherwise, and I have had 2 Tipton models which are objectively better quality, plus another red unit I had for a while I believe would have been an MTM, but I use these 10x more often, so I pitched or sold the others. These are about the only bit of kit in my workshop I’m a little ashamed to admit loving, because they do exactly what I need without taking up space or costing much to get into.

Most often when I’m cleaning or doing simple optics work, I set my rifles on a Harris or Atlas bipod, with a rear bag on the bench (used to be Edgewood bunny ears, but lately using a Weibad Fortune Cookie). They hold as good as any bench vise I have used, and have a lot more utility outside of the shop.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Tipton Ultra lotsa upgrades from original,you can catch them on sale

https://www.btibrands.com/product/ultra-gun-vise/

 

[Legionnaire]

Here's Champion's version of what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/Shooters-Ridge-40871-Champion-Shooting/dp/B0013R6IAK/

 

[cdb1]

I have a Tipton Best Gun Vise. It works well. I like the standard Tipton Vise better. We had two in the gun vault that we used for mounting optics. I like them better because they hold the rifle in a firmer grasp than a Tipton Best Vise. I wouldn’t use either for serious gunsmithing but they are fine for mounting optics and cleaning.

 

[doubleh]

I bought a regular Tipton gun vise not too long after they showed up. It's still less than fifty bucks. I've never found a gun it didn't hold securely. There are fancier, higher priced options available now but don't really see how they could do any better job than the original.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Several years ago I made one with some scrap I had in the garage. The top is hinged and has storage underneath. Had I to do over again, I would have done some things differently, but I'm happy with it for what it is. It's good for cleaning and minor tinkering.

 

[Sniper66]

Bought a Tipton 15 years ago and it still performs the necessary tasks without fail.

 

[boom boom]

TIpton's best for ordinary cleaning etc. but do woodworking so have all sorts of clamps, vises, etc. that I use sometimes. Use a MTM for the field or for something light and quick such as a wipedown of gunmetal and stock.

 

[nettlle]

I have one of these. With leather padded jaws it's pretty hang for gun work.

https://www.garrettwade.com/ultimat...MI7_X71NCO3gIVCYlpCh1aZATUEAQYBCABEgKqzPD_BwE

 

[MikeInOr]

Several years ago I made one with some scrap I had in the garage. The top is hinged and has storage underneath. Had I to do over again, I would have done some things differently, but I'm happy with it for what it is. It's good for cleaning and minor tinkering.

Your vise looks very nicely done! Could you let us in on what you would do differently?





In my opinion if it is made out of plastic it is a gun stand not a gun vise. I use a pair of woodworking vises mounted fairly close together on my bench for any serious work on rifles.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

You vise looks very nicely done! Could you let us in on what you would do differently?





In my opinion if it is made out of plastic it is a gun stand not a gun vise. I use a pair of woodworking vises mounted fairly close together on my bench for any serious work on rifles.

Hi, Mike, thanks for your kind words, and thanks for the likes, all. I had fun building it, and I do like it. Here are two changes I might make:

1) I would have added an extra layer of thickness of wood to the buttsocket and clamp for more clamping surface. It clamps okay as-is, but does get a little squishy with certain recoil pads. An extra layer of wood would allow me to clamp on the butt and not on the recoil pad.

2) I would have incorporated a drawer or some doors on the front to get to the storage area. Or add an inside lip around the underside of the tray and make the tray detachable. This is because I have on occasion left a bottle or brush or something inside the box, and discovered I needed that one thing only after I got the gun mounted and had my other stuff already in the tray.

Minor things, to be sure. I prefer cleaning while standing, so this box makes a good height from a workbench or tabletop. I like the setup in general, and it does work pretty well for a cleaning stand.