I grabbed a 30 ish dollar one from Amazon . Just make sure you have weights to hold it down or to properly mount it on a bench/ table. Needs to be fixed properly so you can torque. 35-60 ftlbs for barrel nut, 40 for castle nut. 35ish for muzzle device + some rockset (rockset especially if you are using a qd muzzle device for a potential suppressor)
Here's the exact one I ordered vice
It's this one for $35 on Amazon. I have it screwed down onto an Ikea table in my office and I've used it to help with lower and upper builds with a plastic clam shell and mag-block and haven't had any trouble with it. For the price, it's great if you're just building or working on a few rifles each year.
Honestly, this is what I did: I found someone giving away a bathroom sink. I gratefully accepted the bathroom sink and threw the counter top away. Then, I went and got half a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood at home depot for about $15. I put it on top of the cabinet and screwed it down. Then, I had a $15 workbench. I got a cheap Yost LV-4 for $25 with Prime shipping from Amazon and had everything set up for $40
Get him a small quality vise. Yost makes some decent small ones. And some excellent large use ones. Get some rubber/silicon jaw covers for it and away he goes.
I have this one and it's been good to me. I have it mounted to a 2x8 so it's mobile and what not.
I also have it's larger brother mounted in my shop.
Could you elaborate on why? No one has said why. It would be mounted on solid backfilled concrete. I also am not anywhere near a pro and I wont be using a craftsman vise, I would be using a Yost vise , cheapest on amazon 4.5 inch https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YS401X0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
I have a coping saw, and my vice is the Yost LV4
Super easy to take off and put on with a vise when compared with a PMM comp that need red loctite. That shit difficult to deal with. You don’t necessarily need a vise but it makes the installation and removal seamless as well as decrease the chance of you marring up the slide, barrel or comp
YOST VISES LV-4 Home Vise 4-1/2"... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YS401X0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
JCL Vise Jaws - Nylon,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018QNM7V2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I've mounted a bunch of barrels with this promag vice block and cheap amazon vice.
This set up has worked great for me. You'll probably want to get a torque wrench as mentioned already.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ncstar-armorers-wrench#repChildCatid=3134114
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019303727/ar-stoner-ar-15-roll-pin-punch-set-7-piece-steel
Does this look like everything I would need?
This, but I regret it. Not big enough. OP has the right idea and I will probably get one of these woodworking vises in time.
It is a Yost LV-4 and a cutting board from Ikea. I can't find it on their website but its raised about half an inch on two sides so it made mounting the vise really easy.