As a gun owner, avid hunter, or someone that simply has love and appreciation for guns, we’re guessing that your gun is probably your most prized position in the world.
If we’ve hit the nail on the head, then you also understand how important it is to care for and maintain your firearm.
Most firearm owners depend solely on their local gunsmith for regular cleaning and repairing of their guns in addition to performing other vital services.
However, did you know that a high-quality gun vise can allow you to perform various cleaning and maintenance chores from the comfort of your home?
Well, in the following article, we’re going to briefly explain the purpose of a gun vise and why you should be investing in one.
Best Hunting Gun Vise – Reviews & Buying guide for 2023
Best Overall: Tipton Best Gun Vise
The Tipton gun vise is probably one of the most sought after gun vises on the market simply because it’s so affordable. Made from polymer materials, it contains a central aluminum channel that supports the vise adequately to ensure that the cleaning process is quick and easy.
In order to protect the gun vise from harmful chemicals and cleansers, it is equipped with a nylon shell surface. In addition to this, the gun vise fits AR’s and handguns by adjusting their components.
Once it clamps the gun, the vise holds it firmly in place and gives you access to all of the gun parts. One of the only possible drawbacks is perhaps the material that is constructed of plastic, which makes it less durable than other options on the market.
It also has customized patch storage and two adjustable offset clamping mechanisms on the rear base for a tight grip on a variety of buttstocks.
Pros
- Easily accessible and stable design
- Versatile
- Resistant to damaging solvents
Cons
- Plastic material is not very durable
Runner Up: Yost LV-4 Home Vise
The Yost LV-4 Home Vise contains a small base, which is ideal for your home shop. It’s manufactured from cast iron and has steel vise jaws, threaded spindle assembly as well as a lockdown.
The slides can also be rotated up to 240° on their base for positioning. For holding small pipes and tubes ranging in diameter from 0.6″D to 1.85″D, it contains built-in pipe jaws to get the job done.
It also contains a durable blue powder coat. The base also has four mounting holes for mounting the device to the workbench.
Yost recommends using 3/8 inch bolts to mount the vice to the table, and these bolts will need to be purchased separately. Thanks to the improved base, it reduces side to side movement of the vise.
The zinc-plated main screw makes use of an acme thread. The locking C collar also provides fast engagement and disengagement of the main screw.
Pros
- Pipe and machinist jaws
- Improved base design
- Acme threaded main screw
Cons
- Poor build quality
Alternative: Hyskore Portable Armorer’s Vise
The Hyskore Portable Armorer’s Vise is the ideal gun servicing fixture for your workbench or the range. The bench clamp fits from 3/8 inch to 2-3/8 inch. It also rotates 360 degrees around a central axis and has an integral touch that ensures it locks up at any angle.
When it comes to cleaning, scope mounting, or maintenance, guns can be held in any position with the vise. So you can clean the muzzle, angled down so that the debris and chemicals can run out of the muzzle instead of running into the action or trigger group.
If by any chance you have an AR – 15, remove the rear takedown pin and grip the forend in the vise so that the gun will be held securely while ensuring full access to both receivers.
Pros
- Solid welded steel construction
- The central axis makes it rotate 360 degrees
- Clutch provides for lockup at any position
Cons
- Poor construction
Alternative: Bessey BVVB Vacuum Base Vise
The Bessey BVVB Vacuum Base Vise mounts onto any system with a smooth work surface for work and holds where you need it to safely and securely.
The device can also be rotated 360° and pivoted at a 90° position.This way, you’ll be able to work optimally without having to worry about the hassle of removing the clamped part from the vise jaws.
The threaded collar locks the ball and socket in place easily. The vacuum base attaches to most wood surfaces such as steel, wood, or laminate. Pebble surfaces are not suitable for the vise.
Soft vise jaws are also included for holding parts without marring. Body parts are precision die-cast, and the vacuum base is operated with a steel lever to actuate the vacuum.
The rubber vacuum base should also be maintained and cleaned regularly in order to keep dust at bay. You can do so by using a clean cloth and water. In order to make the vacuum service more effective, you can apply a small amount of water to it.
Pros
- Vacuum base mounts securely on smooth surfaces
- 360 degree and pivoted 90-degree rotation to position work optimally
- Steel and die-cast parts
Cons
- The vacuum base is not effective
Alternative: MYTEC Home Vise Clamp-On Vise
The MYTEC Home Vise Clamp-On Vise has a maximum width of jaw opening of up to 2.5 inches. It’s easy to install because this bench can be installed on the edge of various desktops. Table boards up to 2.4 inches think can be clamped. It’s also quick and convenient to install and remove.
There’s no need for punching on the table during installation as it comes with two rubber washers to prevent scratches on tables as well as jaw washers to protect the parts. The vise can hold a variety of parts.
The O-shape swivel base allows the vise to rotate up to 360°. So if you’re left-handed, you can rotate the device with the position that suits your work with complete ease.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Wide range of uses
- Protects tabletop surfaces
Cons
- Small size
Gun Vise FAQ
What exactly is a gun vise?
If you have recently invested in a firearm or perhaps have had a firearm for quite some time but have always sought the services of your local gunsmith for cleaning, repair, and maintenance solutions, you may be wondering exactly what a gun vise is?
In simple terms, a gun vise is basically a tool that is used in the cleaning, repair, and maintenance of guns. It may also be used when sighting a scope as the completely level base of these tools makes for a great starting point when checking for scope accuracy.
It is characterized by a flat base, which is either on a work surface or can also be bolted to the work surface and provides a sturdy base for the vise itself. It also has a padded rest on which to base the forearm of the gun.
The vise itself on a gun device is located at one end of the base of the tool featuring a padded clamp that holds the stock of the gun securely. A V-shaped rest is located on the opposite end from the vise and offers a sturdy and secure place for the forearm of the gun to rest.
How to use the gun vise?
A gun vise in the hands of a gun owner who loves and appreciates his firearm is priceless. This is especially when it comes to cleaning or repairing your gun.
Ultimately though, it’s not compulsory to use a vise for any of these processes; however, it does simplify the process immensely. It will keep your gun stable and secure as you work on it and also allows your two hands to be free.
The stroke of the cleaning rod will also be consistent with the plane of your bore. There are lots of people who also use a bore guide when maintaining their guns.
By doing this, you can clean the gun from breech to muzzle, and you won’t scrape your crown on the muzzle end. In all cases, you want to avoid situations in which the cleaning rod makes contact with the crown.
So investing in a high-quality vise is definitely a good idea to consistently clean and maintain your rifle while keeping the sides free of scratches. It also keeps the mess all in one place.
Vises are also known by many names, such as “machined rests,” “ironmasters,” or “shooting sleds.” However, irrespective of what you decide to call these valuable tools, they are quite simple to use. To start setting up your gun vise, the butt end of the gun, also known as the buttstock, should be held against a padded vise.
The fore end of the gun should rest on a conventional bench rest bolted to the sled, and the forearm should be held down with a loose-fitting leather ring that does not touch the barrel except under recoil.
The back of the vise is also adjustable from side to side using a handwheel, and the vertical is adjusted on the bench rest.
Once all of your gun vise components have been formally adjusted, you can confidently work on your firearm without the threat or risk of it coming loose or falling.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1 – Choose a particular gun vise of your choice.
- Step 2 – Take the gun and place it gently on the gun vise. Make sure the caps and twist are in alignment, so that they remain parallel with the reference.
- Step 3 – Once they are parallel, make sure to retorque them with the help of the crisscross method.
- Step 4 – Without twisting the scope out of the alignment, ensure the school caps are tightly adjusted.
- Step 5 – Place your eyes on the gun scope and see if the shooting sight is aligned with the target.
- Step 6 – If the alignment is not straight, adjust the mount screws, and align your shooting sight with the vertical line to have a perfect view.
- Step 7 – Place your gun cleaning kit in the gun vise and ensure that your gun is properly cleaned because the formation of dirt in the gun scope can cause alterations in the shooting sight.
- Step 8 – Place your eye on the scope after inserting the bullets and sight your target.
- Step 9 – After you have used the gun vise, clean the gun with brushes available in the cleaning kit.
- Step 10 – Remove the assimilation and store it in a secure environment, which is out of reach of kids.
What size of gun vise do you need?
The gun vise is one of the leading tools for any type of gun cleaning or gun maintenance.
The benefit is that you are able to have your gun securely mounted on a table or bench when you need to clean your rifle. You’ll also have both hands free, ensuring that you won’t cause damage to your weapon.
However, choosing a gun vise with all of the options out they can tend to be overwhelming. But, there are gun vises out there suited to your specific cleaning maintenance and gunsmith needs.
When you’re not sure about which gun vise to choose, we always recommend going for a versatile and universal option. Something like the Tipton Best Gun Vise is a universal firearm holding system containing three total supports to hold your firearm.
Each of these three supports is also adjustable along the base of the gun vise via T-track. Therefore, it is suitable and compatible with shotguns, rifles, and pistols. Therefore, a gun vise such as this with so much adjustability can accommodate nearly every make and model of shotgun or rifle.
Can you make your own gun vise?
If you’re going to do any amount of gunsmithing, irrespective of how small, you’re going to need a decent vise.
This is especially if you’re going to be cleaning, doing stock work, sight boring, or handling any other types of tasks requiring your gun; you’ll want a vise that holds your shotgun in a handy position.
There are dozens of commercially available gun vises on the market; however, if none of them meet your requirements, the good news is that you can actually build your own vise using a few common tools. So you can take a look at a detailed explanation of how to go about building your own gun vise here.
The benefits of owning a gun vise
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your firearm to the local gunsmith in order to be cleaned and maintained, investing in a gun vise is also not a bad idea.
Taking your gun to be cleaned, repaired, or maintained by a gunsmith shows that you take pride in your weapon and you want to ensure that it is always in tip top shape.
However, that said, if you own your own gun vise and a simple cleaning kit, you could save tons of money that you would otherwise spend paying your gunsmith.
A good gun vise will extend the life of your gun and also help save you money on cleaning and maintenance. Considering how much firearms cost these days, it does make sense to extend the lifespan of your shotguns, rifles, and pistols.
So instead of going to your local gunsmith each and every time, invest in a gun vise, and you can do this by yourself at home. So the gun vise actually plays an imperative role in the process of cleaning your firearm.
It makes applying lubricant and oil faster and easier, and because these tools are so versatile, you can bet that the gun vise you purchase will also be compatible with a variety of different types of firearms.
Vises can also be used for repair purposes and to zero in the sights and the scope on your gun. Learning how to clean or repair your weapon will also make you more familiar with the inner workings of your guns and rifles and therefore place you among the elite shooters that all opt to service their own weapons.
Conclusion
A gun vise is a once-off investment; however, it goes a long way into the investment you made on your weapon as well.
Some of the benefits of owning a gun vise include increasing the longevity of your shotgun, rifle, or pistol. It also saves you money as you can do the cleaning, maintenance, and repairing on your own. It saves you time as well cause you won’t have to travel to your gunsmith to get the job done.
Cleaning your rifle without the aid of a gun vise can tend to be quite a challenge. The gun vise will offer you the stability and sturdiness you require for the cleaning and maintenance of your gun, allowing your hands to be free to do a great job.
