No matter what you’re doing with your rifle, it’s easier if you have something to hold your rifle for you. That’s why a solid gun vise for your AR-15 is a good investment. Putting your AR-15 in a vise is the easiest way to build, clean, and maintain your AR-15.
Also, a shooting vice is the only way to verify the organic precision of your rifle. Humans simply move too much to truly verify that a rifle shoots a certain size group at any distance.
You have to put your gun in a vise to find out what it’s capable of. Otherwise you’re measuring how capable you are with that gun.
Regardless of what you need to do, a vise is a handy tool.
Top Gun Vise for AR 15 on the Market Today
Tipton Best Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun
- Fabric/Material:
Plastic
- Color:
Grey/Red
SPOILER—ready to clamp down on a gun vise right now? Get the Tipton Best Gun Vise. It’s, no joke, the best gun vise for your AR-15 at this price. The performance per dollar is top-notch.
If you’re willing to pay more (or insist on paying less), we’ve got just the thing for that:
We reviewed all the best gun vises, so you can get the one that fits your budget and your needs.
Table of Contents
The Best Gun Vise for AR 15 Reviews: Steady Hold
The overall best gun vise for AR 15 rifles is up for review first. We’ll mess with the other vises in order of price.
The most reasonably priced vises for AR 15 rifles are first for review.
The most budget munching vises are near the end.
If the vise fits, read about it.
1. Tipton Best Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun
- Fabric/Material:
Plastic
- Color:
Grey/Red
Pros:
- Fits all types of guns, including AR-15 rifles.
- Fully adjustable so you can put your rifle in the position that’s best for the task at hand.
- Solvent resistant nylon and metal construction.
- Rubber rests protect the finish on your rifle.
- Relatively lightweight and easy to relocate, if needed.
Cons:
- Not secure enough for high torque work, like barrel removal or installation.
Tipton is a household name in gun vises. You’ll hear it a lot, because they make great gun vises. And the Tipton Best Gun Vise is rightfully named.
First, this gun vise fits all sorts of guns, including AR-15s. You can clean and maintain your rifles, handguns, and shotguns in this vise. So it’s an excellent option for anyone who owns several different types of firearm.
Next, it’s fully adjustable. And it adjusts more than just to fit different types of guns. It also adjusts so that you can put the same gun in multiple different positions in your vise. That way you can easily work on any part of your rifle.
The whole thing is metal and solvent resistant nylon. So you won’t ruin your vise with cleaning solvents or oils.
And it’s lightweight, for easy relocation.
The nylon and rubber construction also protects the finish on your guns while you work.
The only downside to this gun vise is that it doesn’t have a really secure clamp for serious gunsmithing. If you need to remove your barrel or something like that, you’ll need a stronger vise.But, this vise is excellent for most routine maintenance and repair.
However, the reset gets smoother the more you shoot because the disconnector naturally polishes the hammer finish.
Even with a short break-in period, the ALG Defense QMS is one of the best triggers you can get.
2. Wheeler Fine Gunsmith Equipment Delta AR-15 Mag Well Vise Block
Key Specs:
- Gauge/Caliber:
.223 Remington
- Fabric/Material:
Polymer, Steel
- Color:
Silver
Pros:
- Secures in the magazine well of your lower receiver for added stability.
- Secures to a workbench or into a Tipton Best Gun Vise.
- Includes a bolt servicing station for disassembling and reassembling your bolt.
Cons:
- Not rigid enough for high torque tasks.
The Wheeler Fine Gunsmith Equipment Delta AR-15 Mag Well Vise Block is a very simple solution for holding your rifle while you work. And it works in conjunction with other gun vises.
However, by itself, it’s essentially a bench-mount AR-15 lower vise block. It plugs into the magazine well on your lower receiver to hold your rifle, rather than clamping around it.
But, rather than clamping into a standard vise, you can secure this vise block to your bench with bolts.
This vise block also has cutouts for working on your bolt. Simply tip the vise block on its side and set your bolt in the cutout to hold it in place while you work.
The neat thing about this vise block is that it can also be mounted in the Tipton Best Gun Vise. That way you get a completely supported and secure rest for your AR-15 while it’s in your gun vise.
The only downside with this Wheeler block is that it has a hinge, which makes it less rigid than a standard vise block. So it’s not ideal for really torquing things down.
But for basic maintenance and repair, this is an excellent vise block that’s also a cool upgrade for your Tipton Best Gun Vise or bench repair station.
3. Tipton Compact Range Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Universal
- Fabric/Material:
Polymer, Nylon
- Color:
Grey/Red
Pros:
- Folds up into a nice compact block.
- Provides a stable enough platform for sight adjustments, cleaning, and other light maintenance tasks.
- Solvent resistant. So it won’t hurt to spill some oil on this vise.
- Rubberized rests protect the finish on your rifle.
Cons:
- Not stable enough for any serious wrenching.
The Tipton Compact Range Vise is an excellent addition to your range bag that makes it easy to tinker with your rifle while you’re on the range.
This gun vise fits in your range bag because it folds up into a nice, neat block that takes up very little space.
But, once you unfold it, you get a surprisingly stable stand for your rifle. It’s not a fully supported gun vise. But it’s enough for quick cleaning, sight adjustments, and other light tasks.
It’s also solvent resistant. So you can be lazy and squirt oil into the ejection port without eroding your gun vise.
Despite being a very minimal gun vise, this Tipton model still has rubberized rests to protect the finish on your rifle.
All in all, it’s a handy addition to your range kit, especially for installing and zeroing new sights.
4. Wheeler Delta Series AR Armorer’s Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Model:
AR-15
- Fabric/Material:
Steel
- Color:
Gray
Pros:
- Adds a lot of grip space to your magazine well. It’s basically a full vertical grip.
- Finger grooves help provide good grip traction for easier maneuvering and more precise shots.
- Attaches to your rifle very securely using a section of picatinny rail.
- Could be moved further out for use a standard vertical grip.
Cons:
- Still a bit bulky because of the picatinny rail mount.
- Thumb screw could be a snag.
The Wheeler Delta Series AR Armorer’s Vise is one of the few gun vises that’s designed specifically for AR-15 rifles.
This is essentially a supported magazine well vise block. There’s a magazine well block at the front with a rest that supports your barrel or forend. That way your rifle is almost completely supported when it’s in this vise.
However, it has 3 shallow finger grooves that help keep your fingers in place on the grip and give you a more secure hold on your rifle for better maneuverability and more precise shooting.
Unfortunately, the vertical grip portion sits out in front of your magazine well. So this is a fairly bulky grip, since it mounts to a picatinny rail. It just takes more space to add the rail section.
That brings up another thing: if you need the rail space immediately in front of your barrel nut, this grip may not be a good fit for your rig.
But, if you have the rail space, this CAA grip provides a comfortable place for your support hand and attaches really securely to your rifle.
5. MTM Red Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Rifle, Shotgun
- Fabric/Material:
Plastic
- Color:
Red
Pros:
- Trays for retaining all your small parts and cleaning supplies.
- Holds your rifle quite securely in either the broken open position or horizontally.
- Can be secured to a bench with bolts or left free, as a mobile workstation.
Cons:
- Works best with rifle in the broken open position, which can be awkward for some tasks.
- Not quite stable enough for super serious wrenching.
The MTM Red Gun Vise is a deceptively simple gun vise. Here’s what I mean:
It looks like a standard tabletop gun vise. And it is. But it’s also got a lot of small features that are remarkably convenient.
First, it’s got all sorts of depressions for retaining small parts and cleaning supplies. It’s easy to keep all your stuff on hand, in one place.
And the vise portion actually provides a remarkably secure hold on your rifle. But it’s still a tabletop vise. So it’s not stable enough for pulling your barrel off or anything. But for cleaning and regular maintenance, it’s perfect.
However, it works best with your rifle in the broken open position. So it can be a bit awkward for certain tasks where it’s easier to have your rifle horizontal. Though, you can put your rifle in the rest in a horizontal position, just not with it disassembled.
Lastly, you can secure this vise to a bench with bolts, if you wish. Or you can leave it as a mobile workstation. It’s heavier than some other gun vises. But it can slide around a bit if you really start wrenching on your rifle.
However, for the intended purpose, which is cleaning and light maintenance, this MTM model is an excellent vise for the money.
6. Yost Vises 455 Heavy-Duty Utility Combination Pipe and Bench Vise
Key Specs:
- Item Weight:
11.36 Kilograms
- Fabric/Material:
Cast Iron with Steel U Channel Bar
- Color:
Blue
Pros:
- Works for all sorts of things, besides wrenching on your AR-15.
- Can be used with a lower vise block or barrel extension mount for high torque tasks.
- Super stable once it’s mounted to a bench.
- Pipe clamp section is perfect for clamping down on a barrel extension mount.
Cons:
- Really heavy and won’t work if you don’t have a good place to mount a vise.
A standard vise is my preferred gun vise. It can be used for all sorts of things, besides working on your AR-15. And, with a few tools (like a lower vice block), you can replace your barrel or castle nut. So a standard tool vise can be an excellent AR-15 workstation.
There are a lot of vises out there, but the Yost Vises 455 Heavy-Duty Utility Combination Pipe and Bench Vise is a solid, affordable option.
The main benefit is that this vise will hold your rifle ridiculously securely. Once you’ve got it secured to a bench, with your vise block locked in, your rifle won’t go anywhere, even if you’re torquing on it.
The downside is that you need a stable bench to mount this vise to. So this isn’t a good option if you only have a table or countertop.
However, this is a solid steel vise. And it has a pipe clamp section, which is great for holding a barrel extension mount for installing handguards, barrels, and muzzle devices.
This Yost vise might be a bit overkill if you just need a vise that will hold your rifle for basic maintenance and cleaning. But this is pretty much the best option for anyone who needs to do some serious gun building and gunsmithing work on their AR-15.
7. Tipton Ultra Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Model::
AR-15
- Fabric/Material:
Ridged stainless steel frame
- Color:
Grey/Black
Pros:
- Rigid steel frame offers enough stability for some torquing.
- Capable of holding any gun in almost any position.
- Also works as a bow vise.
- Adjustable non-slip feet enable you to level your rifle for mounting optics.
- Rubber overmolding protects the finish on your rifle.
Cons:
- Even though the steel frame might be rigid enough for high torque tasks, it’s tough to bolt this vise down.
The Tipton Ultra Gun Vise is a remarkably beefy gun vise that provides a very stable platform for your rifle, even without drilling your workbench.
This gun vise is built on a steel frame, which provides a rigid hold on your rifle. And there’s a center magazine well block to give you extra stability for mounting optics and accessories.
You can also configure this gun vise as an upper receiver clamp.
Additionally, this gun vise not only holds traditional rifles, it also holds bows.
Bottom line: no matter how you need to mount your rifle in your vise, this vise can do it. And, if it shoots, you can mount it in this vise.
Unfortunately, this gun vise would be tricky to bolt down. However, it comes with adjustable non-slip feet that keep it from sliding while you’re working. And the adjustable feet enable you to level your rifle for mounting scopes.
Of course, all the clamps have rubber overmolding to protect the finish on your gun.
Honestly, I could go on. This vise has all sorts of good stuff. But I’ve rattled long enough.
If you need a vice that will mount any firearm (or bow), in any position, this is the vise to get.
8. Tipton Standing Ultra Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Universal
- Fabric/Material:
Plastic
- Color:
Grey/Red
Pros:
- All the function and versatility of the Ultra Gun Vise.
- Foldable metal legs make it easy to use this vise wherever you have floor space.
- Lightweight, considering that it’s an entire gun vise.
Cons:
- Definitely not stable enough for high torque tasks.
The Tipton Standing Ultra Gun Vise is the free standing version of the Popular Tipton Ultra Vise.
The big deal with this vise is that it has folding legs. So you can use this vise anywhere you have floor space. No bench needed.
The legs are constructed like a sawhorse, but with metal instead of wood. This vise might not be as stable as a bench-mounted vise. But it’s far easier to transport. And you can use it just about anywhere.
All the vise clamps slide on two metal rods that attach the pairs of legs together. It works exactly like the Ultra Gun Vise. It just doesn’t need a bench.
So, if you need an incredibly versatile gun vise that’s also incredibly mobile, this is the gun vise for you.
9. Hyskore Black Gun Machine Rest
Key Specs:
- Product Dimensions:
71.12 x 40.64 x 25.4 cm; 1 Kilograms
- Fabric/Material:
Steel
- Color:
Black/OD Green
Pros:
- Hydraulic recoil system enables this vise to handle everything up to a .375 H&H.
- Can be configured for shooting from the shoulder.
- Includes a remote hydraulic trigger release for shooting without disturbing the rifle.
Cons:
- Expensive.
Sometimes you need to be able to put your gun in a vise to shoot it. It’s useful for verifying the precision of your barrel or to test recoil. The Hyskore Black Gun Machine Rest enables you to do this.
Not many shooters need to shoot their gun from a vise mount. So this will be short.
The main things with this gun vise are the hydraulics and the trigger release.
The hydraulics enable this vise to handle everything up to a .375 H&H. So… You can shoot nearly any gun from this vise.
You can configure this vise so you can shoot your rifle from the shoulder, without removing it from the vise. But the remote hydraulic trigger release enables you to fire the gun without touching it for very precise results.
This vise is rather pricey, though. If you can accomplish your task with some shooting bags, that would be easier on your wallet.
But, if you need a gun vise for some serious shooting science, this Hyskore is the one to get.
Clamping Down
Tipton Best Gun Vise
Key Specs:
- Gun Type:
Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun
- Fabric/Material:
Plastic
- Color:
Grey/Red
Pros:
- Fits all types of guns, including AR-15 rifles.
- Fully adjustable so you can put your rifle in the position that’s best for the task at hand.
- Solvent resistant nylon and metal construction.
- Rubber rests protect the finish on your rifle.
- Relatively lightweight and easy to relocate, if needed.
Cons:
- Not secure enough for high torque work, like barrel removal or installation.
AR-15 ownership is all about tinkering. Just kidding. It’s all about shooting… And cleaning. In any case, a good gun vise will make AR-15 ownership much easier and more convenient. And you can add reliable rifle lights to boot.
You might scoff at the idea of using a gun vise for cleaning or maintenance, until you actually use one. Then you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner.
If you're looking for an accessory for your AR-15, make sure to always have a reliable rifle sling with you to help you easily carry and stabilize accuracy.
Want to avoid that feeling? Get the Tipton Best Gun Vise. It’s the best gun vise you can get for the money, no pun intended.
There you have it. Get a gun vise. And stop wishing you had three hands.
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