Barrel Vise

TubbyT223

Sergeant of the Hide
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Minuteman
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Sep 3, 2024
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Mississippi
Looking at barrel vises for changing out some prefits. I will be using 1.20 and 1.25 blanks. Will the viper work on those larger barrels. Their website says yes, Brownells say no. I’ll start calling around tomorrow but wanted to get some first hand experience on what y’all use.
 
My Viper works fine with large-diameter barrels. I only use that large a barrel in smaller calibers, however, which are torqued to 75 to 90 foot pounds. I'm unsure how it would work with over 100 foot-pounds of force for a magnum caliber. A toilet paper roll between the vice and the barrel helps.
 
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Might check with this fella.

 
My Viper works fine with large-diameter barrels. I only use that large a barrel in smaller calibers, however, which are torqued to 75 to 90 foot pounds. I'm unsure how it would work with over 100 foot-pounds of force for a magnum caliber. A toilet paper roll between the vice and the barrel helps.
It will be Rimfire - 6.5 creed
 
Up to 1.25. Place as close to the action as possible to eliminate contour slope of barrel as much as possible.
I might reach out to my buddy that has one. It looked like something SAC might have white labeled from aero. I have been kinda soured on aero from late last year. Bought a solus and had some issues and radio silence. Luckily a former employee there in a group took pity on me and helped me get it sorted
 
I use the Viper with M24 and larger barrels with no issues. Torque range up to 125 ft lbs. You do have to tighten the vise down pretty tight to get torque over 100 ft lbs. The closer you can position the vise to the chamber end of the barrel the better.
Contrary to some posted torque values, I found no barrel/action yet that needed that much torque. Barrel nuts 55ftlbs, and prefits 55ftlbs to 65ftlbs all that'd been needed. Per my experience of 10 or so builds and countless barrel swaps.
 
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Contrary to some posted torque values, I found no barrel/action yet that needed that much torque. Barrel nuts 55ftlbs, and prefits 55ftlbs to 65ftlbs all that'd been needed. Per my experience of 10 or so builds and countless barrel swaps.
While I suspect you are correct, American Rifle Company recommends a torque of 100-150 so I crank it up there. Haven't had one fall off yet. lol
 
I also use a Viper. I have 2 pieces of 1/4” leather cut to fit the outlines of the bolts. One below the barrel one on top. I really tighten the bolts down and I get zero barrel twist or maring even up to 120 lb/ft. My barrels are all cerocoated and come out perfect.
 
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I thought I had pictures but I can’t find them, I use a viper on my 1.2 and -1.25 barrels and generally go to 80lbs but I’ve also maxed out the torque wrench at 100 and it held.
The issue is factory barrel removal- but it’s gotten off the notorious howa… once I tightened the top clamp bolts down hard enough and used a big enough sledge on the action wrench.

I use a business card around the barrels. You can tell that it’s really touching the barrel tangentially in four places based on how the paper gets pressed, but it shows that same pattern in everything until you get down to the light palmas and smaller. It’s not an issue, use away.
 
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While I suspect you are correct, American Rifle Company recommends a torque of 100-150 so I crank it up there. Haven't had one fall off yet. lol
I run a Nucleus and the only thing I disagree with ARC on are their ridiculous torque values! I swap barrels a couple times a year and 60 has been all I've needed. The strongest man in the world can't spin off a barrel with even 30ftlbs, this was illustrated in a barrel chambering class I took years back.

(On another note, I saw recently Ted dropped the torque value of the M-Brace rings to 40ftlbs, down from 55ftlbs)
 
I might reach out to my buddy that has one. It looked like something SAC might have white labeled from aero. I have been kinda soured on aero from late last year. Bought a solus and had some issues and radio silence. Luckily a former employee there in a group took pity on me and helped me get it sorted
Aero has taken a huge downturn in trust absolutely. If you can find one in stock from a dealer, that would be the best way to source and know you'll get it in a reasonable time frame.
 
Might check with this fella.

How does a wrap reduce the amount of torque needed?
 
Aero has taken a huge downturn in trust absolutely. If you can find one in stock from a dealer, that would be the best way to source and know you'll get it in a reasonable time frame.
Yep and it’s so sad. I was really excited about the Solus line, having their chassis with a folder, and being able to swap bolt heads. I bought a solus, I am now just building it into a dedicate ld 223 trainer. Hence the need for a barrel vice.

I have a buddy with one of their vises that he prob would move but I just didn’t know if the bushings would work for a bigger barrel. Also if you break it or lose a part, good luck getting a replacement part.
 
I run a Nucleus and the only thing I disagree with ARC on are their ridiculous torque values! I swap barrels a couple times a year and 60 has been all I've needed. The strongest man in the world can't spin off a barrel with even 30ftlbs, this was illustrated in a barrel chambering class I took years back.

(On another note, I saw recently Ted dropped the torque value of the M-Brace rings to 40ftlbs, down from 55ftlbs)


The lower torque value of 40 in-lbs only applies to "vintage" scopes. ARC still recommends 55 in-lbs in their mounting instructions for the M-Brace.

M-Brace Scope Rings Installation Instructions

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