Gunsmithing Vise for Cleaning and Sighting In
You may be about to start your first AR-15 project or finish another weapon yourself. Or you decided to refresh your workshop and see what’s new on the market. 
This article will take you on a journey to help you find the best bench vise for gunsmithing that meets all your needs in your new or old hobby.
A gun vise is a workbench add-on that can be mounted to stabilize an object you are processing. It has a jaw in which you fit the item you are working on, and a spindle that you turn to fixate the object. Once the object is fixated, you can bore, mill, hammer, screw, unscrew, and the item should stay in place. A vise’s prime purpose is to allow precision during work.
Precision is the most important factor in gunsmithing, so investing in a quality vise (and not all are quality, believe us) is practically the first step towards a successful homemade arm.
Our Best Gunsmithing Bench Vise List
When looking for the best bench gun vise, what you need to pay attention to is graspability, stability, and accessibility. What do we mean by this? All we want to say is that your gun vise should hold an object in place, keep it still while you’re processing it, and allow you to easily access the parts of the object you are processing.
- Tipton Ultra Gun Vise for Cleaning and Gunsmithing(best for all time)
- Tipton Best Gun Vise for Cleaning and Gun Maintenance (best for secure cleaning)
- HOPPE’S HGV Gun Vise for Cleaning and Gun Maintenance (best durable)
- Tipton Compact Range Vise (best for Compact Range)
- CTK Precision P3 Ultimate Gun Vise (best heavy-duty)
- MTM GV-30 Gun Vise for Cleaning (best for any type of gunsmithing)
More on the specifics of bench vises are after our best product review.
Top 6 Best Gunsmithing Bench Vise Reviews
Here’s a little sneak peek over the top choice of 2021 and most probably coming years as well – the six best gun vise for cleaning, sighting in, and maintenance! So, to find out which are the best, keep reading and we’ll help you to make the best buying decision:
1Tipton Ultra Gun Vise for Cleaning, Gunsmithing, and Maintenance
Highlight Features:
- Removable trays to store essential firearm components.
- Easily adjustable clamps for different firearm types.
- Durable construction ensures the longevity of the tool.
- Skid-resistant feet.
- Affordable price range.
- Affordable price tag.
The Tipton Ultra Gun Vise is a heavy-duty tool with robust construction. It comes with 4 skid-proof feet. More importantly, these can be independently adjusted as per the user’s requirement. Simultaneously, you will be able to change the angle and view of your weapon.
Several accessory trays are its exceptional feature, and these can be removed if necessary. In fact, you can use these trays to keep small parts, screws, bolts, nuts, or other essential components of your firearm. Besides, the glass-filled nylon, steel tube frame structure gives it a sturdy look.
It consists of ball-and-socket articulating clamps and pads. This feature lets you modify the bench vise surface. Moreover, the front and rear clamps are adjustable so that they can accommodate most handguns.
Also, read: Handgun Sight Pusher Tool
2Tipton Best Gun Vise for Cleaning, Gunsmithing, and Gun Maintenance
Highlight Features:
- Solvent-resistant, non-marring stand.
- Durably constructed that resists hard use and pressure efficiently.
- Flat and bottom round compartments to keep nuts and bolts.
- It is much versatile that holds different types of firearms.
- Extremely effortless to use.
- Reasonable price tag.
The Tipton Best Gun Vise is engineered for exceptional repair work and maintenance. Its L-shaped center holds break-open shotguns, bolt-action rifles, and many more. This is made of solvent-resistant polymer, making it much more durable. As a result, it withstands many years of hard use without showing damage.
You will find several round bottoms and flat compartments in this vise. These compartments are suitable for storing screws, nuts, bolts, lubricants, bottles, etc. Many serious gunsmiths appreciate this functionality.
Furthermore, it consists of customized patch storage compartments that allow you to keep cleaning pads near your hand. More importantly, this is steady enough to resist significant force when repairing and cleaning.
Also, read: Torque Wrench for Gunsmithing: Reviews with Recommendations
3HOPPE’S HGV Gun Vise for Cleaning and Gun Maintenance
Highlight Features:
- Double lockable side for a steady hold.
- Long-lasting performance with durable construction.
- Compartments for holding firearm tools.
- It is designed for rifles.
- It helps to clean your firearms conveniently.
- Budget-friendly price.
If you need a steady cleaning setup, the HOPPE’S Gun Vise will surely fulfill your requirement. To ensure a secure hold, it comes with dual lockable sides. The more important thing is that it doesn’t leave a scratch when this tool holds your firearm.
While cleaning your gun, you may need to store small components somewhere. This gun vise has a compartment for storing essential tools, reducing the chance of losing important items and allowing you to organize them so that you can find them easily after cleaning.
Chemical resistant polymer is used to manufacture this bench vise. Thus, it resists pressure efficiently and lets you clean your gun conveniently by holding them steadily.
Also, read: Gunsmithing Punch Set
4Tipton Compact Range Vise
Highlight Features
- Securely holds all firearm types
- Non-slip base with 6 rubberized feet
- Durable solvent-resistant material
- Collapsible design for easy carrying
- Lightweight and extremely easy to use
When people look for the best vise for gunsmithing, they often see the Tipton. The Tipton Compact Range Vise offers an entirely new level of performance and securely holds a wide array of firearms. Its convenient design is an ideal solution for gun cleaning.
Its collapsible design makes it exceptional from other gun vises. The vise collapses to 11 1/4-inch for convenient carrying and it expands to 17 3/4-inch, allowing you to clean a wide range of firearms without hassle. Besides, it is made of solvent-resistant material, ensuring durability.
The 2 non-marring forks perform like a 2nd hand that securely holds the firearms when cleaning. At the same time, these forks protect the gun’s finish from scratch. Additionally, 6 rubberized feet allow the unit to stand steadily in its position.
Also, read: Benchtop Milling Machine for Gunsmithing
5CTK Precision P3 Ultimate Gun Vise
Highlight Features
- It fits rifles, shotguns, pistols conveniently
- The vise is sturdy and resists scratch efficiently
- Comes with impressive adjustability
- Remains stable during cleaning with a thumb lock and 3-point leveling system
- Highly adjustable according to your need
The CTK Precision P3 Ultimate Gun Vise would be an excellent addition to a shooter workplace since it is effective enough to maintain and clean firearms. Rifles and pistols fit in this gun vise quite conveniently; thus, buying separate vises is entirely unnecessary.
This gun vise is highly adjustable; you can adjust it as per your requirement. It secures your firearm until you complete the cleaning process. Another great feature of this vise is the options rest attachment, which converts into a shooting rest within a few seconds.
Moreover, it is a heavy-duty steel constructed vise with a long-lasting E-coat finish inside and outside. As a result, it becomes scratch-proof and sturdy. The vise comes with a 3 point leveling system and thumb locks, which ensures stability during maintenance.
Also, read: Rifle Borescope for Gunsmithing
6MTM GV-30 Gun Vise Cleaning Maintenance Center
Highlight Features
- Ideal for firearms of 28+” length
- Much spacious to store your cleaning tools
- Rubberized foot to prevent unwanted movement
- Adjustable clamps for holding firearms securely
- It offers long-lasting performance.
Are you looking for an inexpensive and reliable gun vise? The MTM GV-30 Gun Vise would be the best option for you. It is suitable for all gunsmithing requirements. This tool is made of high-quality plastic for durability. It also included a cleaning parts tray with 11 compartments and 21 holders for brush molded into the unit.
The unit weighs only 5lbs. When you need to move around this unit, you can do it effortlessly. It is so versatile that you won’t face any trouble holding a variety of firearms in it. Every contact point is rubber molded to keep your firearm’s finish scratch-free.
It comes with 4 rubberized feet; making it skid-resistant. Although it is free-standing, you can bolt it down if necessary. The vise is so reliable and designed to make your firearm cleaning task comfortable all the time.
Also, read: Screwdriver Set for Gunsmithing
Things to Consider – Before Buying the Best Gun Vise
Getting your hands on a quality gun vise becomes easy when you know what key factors play a vital role. Here are some of the pointers necessary to keep in mind when buying the best gun maintenance vise.
Material
Different materials are used to manufacture a gun vise. Often it becomes the difference between a reliable and cheaper option.
Plastic and metal are the 2 commonly used materials in a gun vise. Both have benefits and drawbacks.
Plastic gun vises are inexpensive, highly adjustable, and fit different firearms. They are versatile and efficient similar to a metal constructed gun vise. Characteristically, they are lightweight but not as durable as metal gun vises. Moreover, if you use the gun vise less frequently, the plastic option will be the best.
On the other hand, metal gun vises are a bit expensive and offer a long-lasting performance than their plastic counterparts. The generated vibration also evenly gets distributed in them. As a result, they can be used for sighting the gun. Invest in a metal gun vise if you need the gun vise too often.
Versatility
The best gun vise will be versatile and fit all firearm types. Versatility is a crucial factor and offers benefits to those who have several firearms. High-quality gun vises are compatible with different types of firearms.
For example, most gun vises are designed for rifles and shotguns. They are manufactured in such a way so that you can adjust them as per your needs when maintaining, bore sighting, or cleaning.
You will find 2 types of gun vises in terms of adjustability.
Fixed gun vise is the more common type that secures your firearm and helps to remain steady in its position for a long time. It is suitable for gun cleaning and maintenance.
In contrast, a rotating gun vise allows its user to adjust it according to the required angles. Although, many manufacturers do not manufacture this type.
Surface
You must not overlook this factor if you don’t want to sacrifice the aesthetic look of the gun.
A gun vise with a rough surface will surely put a scratch on your firearm when working. This is the main reason serious shooters prefer gun vises instead of a bench vise.
The good news is that; most gun vises are equipped with rubberized or foam padding contact points. This way, scratch won’t come on your firearms.
Other than the above, there are a couple of more things to take into consideration:
- Durability – vises are meant to clench your piece, and the more durable they are, the better they’ll hold
- Swindle – this allows more adjustments during the work. Swindle allows for more space and adjustability during processing
- Quick-release – the spindle can be turned slowly or fast. Quick-release allows you to switch the pieces or the position of the piece more conveniently.
FAQs
What size vise do I need for gunsmithing?
4 inches vise will be sufficient if you are working on an AR15 project. The width of the jaw will be enough to keep your project in place. For any projects larger than the AR15, you will need a larger bench vise – usually, a 6-inch vise will be enough. For getting buying decision we reviewed top-rated multi-purpose heavy duty bench vise.
How big of a bench vise do I need?
The best benchtop gun vise is the one that will keep your project tightly in place. A 4-6 inches jaw width should do the trick. Read our reviews intently to learn how the cross slide drill press vise can benefit you for cleaning, sighting in, and maintenance of your firearms.
Do I need a vise to build an AR-15?
The minimum equipment you need for building an AR-15 is a vise. Without it, your project is under great risk because tightening the lower with a vise will provide you the needed precision and stability as you bore and mill through your 80% lower.
What tools do you need for AR-15?
There are several tools necessary to finish your AR-15:
-A flat surface, preferably a workbench
-A 4-6 inch bench vise to keep it in place
-A vise block for AR-15
-An AR-15 torque wrench
-Armorers wrench for AR-15
-A quality punch set
-Roll pin holders
-A hammer or a mallet
-A flathead screwdriver (Also, read: getting you the best Screwdriver Set for Gunsmithing).
Alternatively, you can do it with a lower jig and a router. You will still need a vise to keep the assembly in place.
What bench vises are made in the USA?
CTK PRECISION and MTM Case Gard both have gun vise models that are made in the US. The CTK PRECISION is a company with residence in Clintonville, Wisconsin, and MTM residence in Dayton, Ohio. One of the models of CTK PRECISION that are made in the US is the P3 Ultimate Gun Vise, one of the most famous bench vises in history. Many consider this particular vise the best gun vise ever.
Final Words
So, that’s about all regarding our odyssey of finding the best gun vise for gunsmithing, cleaning, and sighting in. The numbers are adamant – Tipton Best Gun Vise is not only the best gun vise these days, but many consider it the best. If you need something more robust, you can check out another Tipton Ultra Gun Vise or MTM GV-30 Gun Vise Cleaning vises that have wide jaw openings and can exert great force.
For a versatile fit gun vise, it turns out that heavy-duty construction Tipton ultra gun vise with is the winner, showing that the heroes can be found in unexpected places. It goes one step beyond offering stainless steel frames, can keep firearms or bows secure when mounting a scope for maintenance.
