Barrel vise

Rotaxpower

Rotaxpower

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Looking to pick up a barrel vise and was just wondering what you guys are using. I was thinking about making one up myself on my Mill and lathe, but thought buying one may be better as it seems I never have the time to do anything, and have a crap load of projects on the go as it is!
 
Brownell's sells 'em. Starting about $150USD plus $57US for the bushing and go way up from there.
Might be best to make the time and the vise and bushings. They're really just big clamps with a bushing you can bolt to a bench.
Made one, years ago, in a machining night school class I did after graduating from the machinists course. Way heavier than required. Only got to play a couple hours per week, but it took about 8 to 10 hours. I think.
Mill two hunks of steel(used 3" SPS myself. Too big, but I wasn't paying for it.) about 1 foot long flat on one side. Drill and tap 4 holes in the bottom hunk and clearance holes in the top hunk for the bolts(used 5/8-11. easy to find bolts that big). Bolt together then drill and ream the hole for the bushing. Make bushings out of mild steel that are tapered for the chamber area of assorted barrels.
Whole thing is only a good idea if you plan on fiddling with more than one rifle. Making a barrel vise otherwise is kind of daft. Time wise.
 
Depends on what barrels/guns - Winchester lever guns (old) - piece of oak wood - hole drilled slightly smaller than barrel diameter, then split in half - each interior surface slathered with rosin - barrel & block clamped in big bench vice - two pieces of 1/2" oak taped to the reciever close to the barrel onto which a 3 foot adjustable wrench is fitted - one good mighty HEAVE on the wrench will break the barrel thread loose and the reciever screws off by hand. "God hate's a coward" so don't worry about breaking anything - the oak wood connection serves as a "safety" and even if the barrel turns within the oak - the barrel won't be marred. In this case soak the barrel/reciever joint with Kroil - strike the barrel/reciever joint a good stout blow with a "safe hammer" - the vibrations tend to let the Kroil penetrate better -let sit for a few minutes and try again with more rosin added to the oak blocks and more vice pressure. DOZENS of barrels taken off -no damage to barrels or recievers.
 
The barrel vises Gunrunner8 makes up for sale are extremely simple and well done. They are stronger than the benches they get bolted to. Simple is good. He also makes up the bushings you might need.

Don't stop at a barrel vice. Get one of his great action wrenches as well.

As mentioned, you must base your needs on the type of firearm you will be working on. Lee Enfield type receivers need special wrenches and the list goes on.
 
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Thank you Bearhunter and Hunter5425 for your endorsement but I have three more action wrenches and two more barrel vises left and there will be no more for at least one to two years.
I am putting my house for sale this summer and have no idea when my machines will start cranking again....
I expect the remnant stock to sell at Kamloops Gun Show this comming weekend.
Thanks everyone for all the support I got over the years.
GR8.
 
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