Barrel Vise Recommendations

[waspocrew]

So from the SAC offerings - the Bravo with Tikka insert seems the way to go then?

I missed the sale but want to get this freaking barrel removed haha.

 

[TxLite]

I ended up buying a SAC Bravo. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet though. Seems well built

Finally got to use it to put together a 25 creedmoor for a buddy. Worked flawlessly. Specific bushings to match the shank were definitely an improvement over the viper.

 

[Trogon]

The SAC alpha hinged vise is without peer in its class. They will send you a lite tikka-specific bushing. Combined with a PRP wrench this is the answer for frequent barrel removals.

-J

What’s a PRP wrench?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

What’s a PRP wrench?

PR precision

External Action Wrenches — PRPrecision - tikka bottom metal

As with my barrel vices, I decided very early on that universal action wrenches were not going to cut it in my shop. Trying to make a universal tool for something that comes in many different sizes, often has multiple curved/angled contours, generally requires a reasonable amount of torque (and let

www.prprecisionrifles.com

 

[Sacrvrrat72]

Love my SAC. I now have both versions due to the BF sale

 

[JFK]

Does anyone just grind flats into the factory barrel and take them off with a pipe wrench. It sounds absurd to me to buy a $300+ vise to save a $100 barrel.

 

[Nine Banger]

Does anyone just grind flats into the factory barrel and take them off with a pipe wrench. It sounds absurd to me to buy a $300+ vise to save a $100 barrel

You'd still have to buy some kind of smooth jaws for your table vise to hold the action to get a shot-out barrel or throw-away barrel off with a pipe wrench. More than one way to skin a cat? Moving money around?

I think most guys doing this at home are prioritizing self-reliance over practicality and just want the nicest tools for whatever they happen to be working on.

It doesn't bother me to have to struggle a little bit with my $85.00 vise, but it would if I had to use it more often.

 

[JFK]

You'd still have to buy some kind of smooth jaws for your table vise to hold the action to get a shot-out barrel or throw-away barrel off with a pipe wrench. More than one way to skin a cat? Moving money around?

I think most guys doing this at home are prioritizing self-reliance over practicality and just want the nicest tools for whatever they happen to be working on.

It doesn't bother me to have to struggle a little bit with my $85.00 vise, but it would if I had to use it more often.

Yeah I get it. I was just thinking if I had to get a factory barrel off I’d put the action in an action wrench, grind flats, take factory barrel off with a pipe wrench. From there you could rebarrel with a much less expensive barrel vise and internal action wrench.

 

[blacktail434]

$125 on BF sale for the Bravo with the Tikka bushing didn't seem too bad...

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Yeah I get it. I was just thinking if I had to get a factory barrel off I’d put the action in an action wrench, grind flats, take factory barrel off with a pipe wrench. From there you could rebarrel with a much less expensive barrel vise and internal action wrench.

You wouldn’t need flats with a pipe wrench. Spent way more time breaking loose an arisaka one time without the proper tools. Took an action wrench and pipe wrench with a huge cheater bar and popped it loose.

 

[Nine Banger]

Yeah I get it. I was just thinking if I had to get a factory barrel off I’d put the action in an action wrench, grind flats, take factory barrel off with a pipe wrench. From there you could rebarrel with a much less expensive barrel vise and internal action wrench.

Yeah man, I was just now thinking you could crank on the barrel with a "real vise" then just use the external wrench and throw the barrel in the trash.

 

[TxLite]

Snagged the SAC during their sale. Took longer to drill bolt holes in my table than it did to pull the barrel.

View attachment 983372

Your action wrench gives me anxiety but also looks like something I would do

 

[TxLite]

Right! If theres one thing I hate, its an oversized cheater. But I didnt have any short sections of 1.5" or 1.75" laying around. So I had to use 2". I'll have a proper sized cheater for the next one

I meant the crescent wrench haha

No worries that it would slip on the action and screw it up?

 

[TxLite]

I know what you meant.

I think a 1-1/8" wrench opened up to a tight fit would have been better. But I'm lazy and thats a decent cresent wrench. I mighta whoaed up if I had to lean on it hard though.

Just looked. Marred up one edge a lil.

View attachment 983398

No judgement. Like I said, definitely looks like something I’d do haha

 

[UnckleBob]

You'd still have to buy some kind of smooth jaws for your table vise to hold the action to get a shot-out barrel or throw-away barrel off with a pipe wrench. More than one way to skin a cat? Moving money around?

I think most guys doing this at home are prioritizing self-reliance over practicality and just want the nicest tools for whatever they happen to be working on.

It doesn't bother me to have to struggle a little bit with my $85.00 vise, but it would if I had to use it more often.

That is my take as well. Wallpaper tape has solved my problems with barrels for my Origin Action.

If I ever find a Tikka 223 (threaded) take off barrel for a reasonable price, I might have to change my mind.

 

[nm.otter]

I think a 1-1/8" wrench opened up to a tight fit would have been better.

29mm?
30mm?

 

[Livetohuntandfish]

I don’t get the tikka issue. I’ve always had Howa’s for builds and they are like a Lego set when it comes to tearing the actions down. I’m building a tikka now and debating just getting a ja outdoors action instead of dealing with pulling a barrel. Has anyone damaged the action by using an action wrench? I’ve always used a wheeler #2 for my action removals.

 

[wyosam]

I don’t get the tikka issue. I’ve always had Howa’s for builds and they are like a Lego set when it comes to tearing the actions down. I’m building a tikka now and debating just getting a ja outdoors action instead of dealing with pulling a barrel. Has anyone damaged the action by using an action wrench? I’ve always used a wheeler #2 for my action removals.

That’s what I use to remove factory barrels. They aren’t that bad as long as you have a good grip with the barrel vice. I like to get it all ready, then put the barreled action in the freezer overnight. Pull it out, get it in the vice, propane torch on the action over the tenon for a few seconds, then give the action wrench a rap with a 2# hammer. They pop loose pretty easy that way.


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[SBR Sarge]

Lots of swapping barrels in this thread, but what do you all use to just attach a muzzle device? Do you still clamp into a barrel vice, or is there another method for those of us without barrel vices?



My experience has all been with AR15s where I just stick an action rod through the upper receiver.

Thanks.

 

[waspocrew]

Lots of swapping barrels in this thread, but what do you all use to just attach a muzzle device? Do you still clamp into a barrel vice, or is there another method for those of us without barrel vices?



My experience has all been with AR15s where I just stick an action rod through the upper receiver.

Thanks.

If you're really wanting to crank down a brake or mount, then it's easy to just place the barrel in the vise to allow you to torque the device down. I've done that to remove some factory brakes and they just pop right off once the barrel is secured.