Barrel vises

[Gatordev]

The search function isn't being too helpful narrowing down the "vise," so figured I'd try here. Does anyone have any experience with this barrel vise?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/372329/model-1-barrel-vise-jaws-ar-15-aluminum?cm_vc=S014

I need to swap out an A2 flash hider for a BattleComp on my KAC SR-15, and I think this will work with the lightweight profile, but wasn't sure if anyone else had any thoughts. It would be nice to have a vise that can do multiple profiles, so this seemed to scratch the itch.

I've swapped a flash hider before without a vise and it was a pain in the ***.

Then again, maybe it's just easier cheaper to go down to a local smith and have them do it? I'm guessing it would be about the same price.

[SVT-40]

I have a set similar to those. I use them all the time so it would be a good investment.

Just wrap any barrel in paper before you use them so the softer alloy does not transfer to the steel of the barrel and leave marks.

[VytamenC Tactical]

Midway offers a few I have on similar to that one as well as a few others. It will work fine. Also you may want to think about a complete upper vice if you put a barrel in that vice and twist a brake onto it and it slips it will scuff your barrel

[lwbyo1]

They work good. I would wrap the barrel with some leather (an old belt works good), that'll keep the vise from gouging up the barrel.

[adamsreeftank]

I have one that has rubber inserts that hold the barrel. It only has two size slots. It works really well and doesn't mess up the finish.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=12799/Product/SCG-AR-15-M16-ACCU-GRIP-BARREL-VISE-JAWS

[OffGrid]

[Gatordev]

Midway offers a few I have on similar to that one as well as a few others. It will work fine. Also you may want to think about a complete upper vice if you put a barrel in that vice and twist a brake onto it and it slips it will scuff your barrel

I don't think using a receiver block to torque on a flash-hider/brake is all that well thought of. Lots of concern about twisting the barrel in the process. With a secure barrel nut, I'm not sure if that's really a problem, but with the noise on the interwebs (especially on respected sites like M4C.net), where there's smoke, there may be fire.

I need to measure it, but I was actually thinking about this on the SR-15, since it has the longer gas system. What sized hole did you drill? Did you make the hole bigger than the barrel profile and then cut down the two halves so the whole would have to be smaller? I think that would work.

Sadly, I don't have a radial saw, so it might not really matter.

[OffGrid]

I don't remember the size paddle bit I used off the top of my head, but I did use the same size as the barrel.

When I cut it down the middle it took out enough material to give the barrel a good hold.

You don't really need the radial saw. You could use a hand saw, hack saw etc. because all you need to do with the cut down the middle is take out enough matertial so it can clamp tigh on the barrel when you clamo it up in the vise.

Trust me the couple I have made were no prize winning wood project.

[Gatordev]

I don't remember the size paddle bit I used off the top of my head, but I did use the same size as the barrel.

When I cut it down the middle it took out enough material to give the barrel a good hold.

You don't really need the radial saw. You could use a hand saw, hack saw etc. because all you need to do with the cut down the middle is take out enough matertial so it can clamp tigh on the barrel when you clamo it up in the vise.

Trust me the couple I have made were no prize winning wood project.

Fair enough. Guess I could try my jig saw. Thanks for the gouge. I'll see what I come up with.

[adamsreeftank]

I don't think using a receiver block to torque on a flash-hider/brake is all that well thought of. Lots of concern about twisting the barrel in the process. With a secure barrel nut, I'm not sure if that's really a problem, but with the noise on the interwebs (especially on respected sites like M4C.net), where there's smoke, there may be fire.
...

I've seen an upper where the notch for the barrel pin was widened. Not sure if it was from over-torquing the barrel nut or messing with the flash hider with the upper in a vice, but I suspect the later.