I don't plan on doing a lot of gunsmithing, Mainly cleaning, scope mounting and maybe get into bore sighting. All the vises I see are plastic and look cheap. Maybe I'm wrong but most look flimsy. Any suggestions from the gun guru crowd? Thanks much.

Don't be Leary of the plastic they are tough as nails.
I think the plastic one I have is a Tipton, don't know for sure cause the label peeled off on it's own ten or fifteen years ago. Maybe some other brand. I honestly don't remember I also have a wooden one home made.

Just looked at midway it is a Tipton the $45_model very stout.

I use a proper vice with a swivel base and put plastic, all or leather jaws I made into it, depending what I am doing. Of a mag block if working on Ar's

The tipton "best" is one that I was looking at cmcf. It has a lot of good features, didn't know if it would be flimsy. Thanks!

I also do as Scuba says with 3/16 saddle leather padding for the jaws. Depends what I am doing.

Honestly I think I would mainly use it for mounting scopes, maybe cleaning too. I am new to scopes and getting them level and true ain't easy without something lol. Maybe out there in the future a AR build, we'll see.

Level for getting cross hairs square. Level the metal then the cross hairs.
Gun vice works great for sight in also. With target at 25yrds clamp rifle in vice an manipulate the whole thing until you can see the bull centered through the bore then without moving the rifle adjust the scope turrets till the crosshairs are approx 1@1/2" above the bull, (sight height above the bore). Move target to 100yrds shoot one shot.
Clamp rifle in vice and move vice until crosshairs are on the bull. Then without moving the rifle adjust the scope until the crosshair is on the bullet hole from your first shot. Fire another shot for confirmation. If you did not move anything while adjustments to crosshairs you are slighted in.

Wonder if a Lead Sled could double as a gun vise ? Just thinking out loud.

I have the Tipton as well. Clamp the vise to a bench and strap the gun in the vise and it works very well.

I have a lead sled as well, it is super for shooting aspects but the other vice locks the guns up much more stable for work purposes.

Osky

I've got the tipton ultimate gun vise it will do everything you want it to do.It's metal and plastic but its not cheap plastic.It weights about 15 pounds and I've never found the need to have to clamp it to the work bench,it also has the magwell feature if you have an ar that comes in real handy.It has leveling feet also so if your bench isn't perfectly level it wont be a problem leveling it,this tool makes me look forward to cleaning my rifles lol,check out amazon they have reviews and questions on it.

I’ve been using a Decker gun vise for better than 30 years, they’re not being made anymore, but google it and they’re easy to replicate!

The best gunsmith vise ever made was in your back yard. Made in Orville Ohio. I think Midway copied them and are making them overseas now.
I think you can still get them. Search Versa Vice

13786 Warwick Drive Northwest
Canal Fulton, OH, 44614
United States

330-854-6500

larry@jonmargear.com


This is the ORIGINAL Versa-Vise originally manufactured by the Will-Burt Co. In Orrville, Ohio.We acquired the prints in 2006, the prints were purchased by the president of Jon-Mar Gear and Machine who was a employee of Will-Burt Co. for over 18 years. This vise is currently assembled in our facility in Canal Fulton, Ohio. In order to keep the vises quality and price at an optimum level, some pieces are machined in house at Jon-Mar Gear and Machine while other pieces are imported from all over the globe.

Lol Ohio, I worked at Will-Burt back in the 80's. I hired in when Bill "Papa Bear" Baer was the CEO. He was a class act, knew everyone by name and would come out on the floor and talk to us a lot.

My main gun vise is buying more then I need.

I have a tipton , it is good for cleaning , scope mounting and such but won't replace padded jaws and a bench vice for other work. but it is very handy if your not wrenching or hammering.

Here is a link to the vise I have used for twenty plus years in my shop. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/editors-blog/universal-or-patternmakers-woodworking-vise/

The jaws both rotate so you can chuck up any shape solidly. Mine has leather pads on the wooden jaws so it is easy to protect even high grade guns by adding a cloth pad.

I've built over 20 rifle stocks from scratch on it and made hundreds of turkey calls plus a ton of other woodwork. They aren't going to good for sighting in but for a workshop vise they are great.

Pete

That's what I use for stocking longrifles. Same as Pete was referring to.


Both jaws swivel 360 as does the vice itself. Jaws won't hurt the gun...


If you wait, Woodcrafters puts them on sale periodically.


I like it very much to hold guns...works well.

Pete, Mauser, that's a cool vise!

urethane jaws for you vice


Cats meow.