Any recommendations for a barrel vice for occasional use?
Gunsmithing Barrel Vice Recommendations
- Thread starter Lone star Shooter
- Start date
No experience, but I'm eyeing this for when I build my next rifle.
www.area419.com
Bravo Barrel Vise from Short Action Customs
The “Bravo” barrel vise offers a tremendous amount of performance at a very affordable price. Based off of the same bushing design as SAC’s highly successful “Modular Barrel Vise”, the “Bravo” utilizes a simple 2 bolt design to clamp the top and bottom together. This clamping system greatly...
www.area419.com 
I have one of those Wheelers with the oak blocks. I do use pine resin to hold the barrel in between the blocks with no issues.
I’ve used it to separate a Rem700 stock barrel from action and I use it often for my TL3 to switch between 260 Rem and 6 Creed.
I’ve used it to separate a Rem700 stock barrel from action and I use it often for my TL3 to switch between 260 Rem and 6 Creed.
I have a mechforce vise. Pretty good vicefor doing nut style prefit barrels. If you are breaking a lot of factory barrels loose y might look into a brownells or LRI vice.
Bore a hole (across the grain) slightly undersized of your barrel diameter through two blocks of hardwood and stick it in your hydraulic press between two plates.
I’ve not had one slip yet.
I’ve not had one slip yet.
This is what I have used for years. Works great but will leave slight marks on blued or parked barrels.
Have the wheeler vise with oak blocks, for occasional use it works fine. I would recommend resin.
If price isn't an issue, I think SAC modular is the best. https://www.shortactioncustoms.com/modular-barrel-vise-kit
If price isn't an issue, I think SAC modular is the best. https://www.shortactioncustoms.com/modular-barrel-vise-kit
I started with the SAC Bravo then move to their MBV for speed. The bravo get the jobs done but also uses their barrel bushings so it can get costly if you have several profiles to change. The SAC MBV is the mac daddy and makes the process super easy. The viper or one of the others mentioned above will do job if you’re only swapping 1-3 barrels a year. Any more than that then I would up grade just for ease of using them.
I have 5 barrels for my Origin and swap barrels once or twice a month so it easily to justify the upgrade. The SAC action wrench is awesome as well if you work with different actions.
I have 5 barrels for my Origin and swap barrels once or twice a month so it easily to justify the upgrade. The SAC action wrench is awesome as well if you work with different actions.
Wheeler with the blocks and resin has worked a dozen or so times. Ran into a Rem 700 that really didn't want to budge, lead sheet in the blocks did the trick. If you're a pro (time = money) get something better, but for occasional use it's fine.
Make your own. Drill holes for bolts in 2" x 2" x L" steel.
Clamp a shim between them.
Bore a 1.5" diameter hole centered on the shim.
Mount to a 200 pound bench.
Buy 1.5" diameter Aluminum alloy. Cut 2" lengths and make collets to fit barrel diameters or tapers.
With a cheater bar on the action wrench, this system can make 600 foot pounds without the barrel slipping.
Clamp a shim between them.
Bore a 1.5" diameter hole centered on the shim.
Mount to a 200 pound bench.
Buy 1.5" diameter Aluminum alloy. Cut 2" lengths and make collets to fit barrel diameters or tapers.
With a cheater bar on the action wrench, this system can make 600 foot pounds without the barrel slipping.
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Hadn't seen this one before.
At first glance, my thought was "this is for switchbarrel guys in the field".
But it can be bench mounted like a traditional vise, is "universal" in that it won't require custom bushings- and for $99 looks to be a more "solid" product than other universal types. Looks beefy enough to be able to really crank down on it, but still wonder if it's up to the task of 500 ft lbs or more for stubborn factory barrels? The $99 is for blems only (who gives a shit about looks anyway), but didn't say if they were manufacturing more, or stopping production.
ETA: SCRATCH THAT... their website says max is 80 ft lbs of torque. Fine for switchbarrels, but it won't remove many factory barrels if that's the intended use.
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The Viper
If you want a barrel vise to work, whether daily or occasional, take a look at the Brownell's barrel vise. It has the power to hold a factory barrel and allow the receiver to be removed. Some of the other barrel vises do not have the grip and won't be able to hold the barrel and won't allow you to get the occasional factory barrel off the receiver. Think about spending money to get the job done all the time or spending money that MAY get the job done or not.
I just split two of those plastic vice blocks, considering replacing 'em with aluminum and using leather inserts.
But if I was barrel bolt gun actions I'd break down and get a real barrel vice I suppose. Or use some shop DIY technique.
But if I was barrel bolt gun actions I'd break down and get a real barrel vice I suppose. Or use some shop DIY technique.
LRI is the best, but expensive.
Brownells is really good as well.
3rd option is to make your own. You can use Brownells Collets to make it easier. I have a machinist buddy working on a few right now with me and another gunsmith. If we get the design down (Similar to LRI) we may offer them for sale on here.
There is no reason there shouldnt be a good, cheap heavy duty barrel vise on the market. There is really not much to it.
Brownells is really good as well.
3rd option is to make your own. You can use Brownells Collets to make it easier. I have a machinist buddy working on a few right now with me and another gunsmith. If we get the design down (Similar to LRI) we may offer them for sale on here.
There is no reason there shouldnt be a good, cheap heavy duty barrel vise on the market. There is really not much to it.
I have one they are a awesome viseNo experience, but I'm eyeing this for when I build my next rifle.
Bravo Barrel Vise from Short Action Customs
The “Bravo” barrel vise offers a tremendous amount of performance at a very affordable price. Based off of the same bushing design as SAC’s highly successful “Modular Barrel Vise”, the “Bravo” utilizes a simple 2 bolt design to clamp the top and bottom together. This clamping system greatly...
Viper for a budget. SAC is a legit vise and what I upgraded to, but its pricy ...
Another vote for mech force. The leather pieces that come with it are a nice touch and very effective. I've tried a viper and I could not get it tight enough to torque a barrel to 80 ft-lbs. The mechforce had no problem whatsoever. I doubt it could handle a Tikka barrel, and it would probably sweat a bit for a stubborn Remington, but for standard installs or removing pretty much anything but a Tikka barrel, I'm confident it'd be up to the task.
SAC is what I use. Pricey yes, but I can take it anywhere. Purchased an additional base and have it mounted on square stock that fits the receiver hitch.
www.shortactioncustoms.com
Modular Barrel Vise Kit — Short Action Customs, LLC
www.shortactioncustoms.com 
SAC vice is it full stop...
So many options.... 
I guess I'll have to do some more research for factory and custom actions of a couple different flavors.
I guess I'll have to do some more research for factory and custom actions of a couple different flavors.I am between the SAC and the LRI. It would be mainly for Tikka’s. Cost is not that much of a difference. Anyone know which collet fits better, especially for taking the factory barrel off? I am not going to do enough to wear out either one.
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