Best AR-15 Lower Vise Blocks – 2022 Top Picks Reviewed

| Last Updated:
September 28, 2023

Are you looking for the best AR-15 lower vise block? If so, you’re not alone. There are probably a handful of AR-15 owners like you looking for the same thing. But which lower vise block will be best for you in the long term?

That’s the question we’ll be answering today. Since you’re currently looking for a lower vise block, we decided to give you a good head start by hand-picking five of the best on the market. We’ve chosen these based on a few factors you may consider the determining factor in your final purchasing decision.

Prior to unveiling the list, we’ll be taking a look at what an AR-15 lower vise block does and how you can choose one for your own.

Comparison of the Best AR-15 Lower Vise Blocks

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Includes a Pivot Lock
  • Adjustment Handle for Easy Adjustments
  • Fits .223 and 5.56 NATO Chambered Rifles.
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  • Supports Many AR-15 and M4 Upper and Lower Receivers
  • Support Shank Made From Steel for Excellent Support and Security
  • Made From High-Quality Steel and Polymer for All-Around Durability
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  • Overmolded for a Better, No-Slip Grip
  • Magnets Included to Hold Your Pins and Springs in Place
  • Holds All Your Key AR-15 Parts While You’re Repairing or Maintaining Your Rifle
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What is a Lower Vise Block and What Are They Used For?

A lower vise block is used when you are looking to make necessary repairs or installations on your AR-15 rifle. It is a heavy-duty block designed to firmly hold your rifle in place while preventing the rifle from getting crushed, twisted, or damaged in some other way. It is also guaranteed not to leave any scratches on your rifle in the areas where it’s held in place.

How to Choose a Lower Vise Block

As you’re choosing a lower vise block, you should consider a few aspects that will determine your final purchasing decision. These are the same aspects we’ve considered while finding a vise block to add to our list of reviews. The only difference is, you’ll need to choose one. With that said, here’s what we recommend you look for as your search progresses:

Price

If you’re a budget shopper, you’ll probably hold the price tag to higher importance. The cost should not be the only reason you choose a lower vise block, though. You should pay attention to the overall quality and function of the lower vise block. This way, you can determine if it’s excellent in quality or if it’s a cheap, low-quality model.

Material

The overall quality will depend on the kind of materials being used. Most materials that manufacturers use for these lower vise grips will be either aluminum, steel, or polymer. While they’re best known for being durable and impervious to damage, they also are the best materials to use when you want to protect your lower receiver from any scratches, scuffs, abrasions, or other types of damage.

Adjustments

Lefty loosey and righty tighty. Those are the words that are stuck in our heads when adjusting our vises. The question you need to ask is: how easy can it be to achieve a secure grip? Find a vise block that will allow for smooth and easy adjustments. At the same time, you’ll need to make sure that while the vise is tight enough, it won’t be able to crush or seriously damage your AR-15 rifle.  

Review of the Best AR-15 Lower Vise Blocks

Below is a list of five of the best AR-15 lower vise blocks. Your mission is to find the vise block that will best fit your personal needs and wants. At the same time, you’ll need to consider whether or not the lower vise block you’re looking at might be worth the long-term use. So it’s important to look through each of these vise blocks carefully so you know what’s included and what to expect. With that in mind, let’s kick off our list by unveiling our “best overall” AR-15 lower vise block:

Best Overall:
Real Avid Smart-Fit Vise Block

Pros

  • Very Easy to Use
  • Eliminates the Use of Shims
  • Tightens Up Nicely Without Crushing or Damaging the Rifle.

Cons

  • None

First on the docket, we’ll be taking a look at the Real Avid Smart-Fit Vise Block. If you’re looking for a great vise block you can use for the purpose of making routine maintenance to your AR-15 rifle or if you just want something to hold it still while you’re installing an accessory or two, this might be what you need.

This vise is designed to handle 5.56 NATO or .223 caliber AR-15 rifles. It will hold the rifle in place so you can easily access the underside for easier cleaning. Plus, rotating the vise in order to tighten the rifle in place will be a breeze. If you’re looking for a vise that will be easy to use and won’t be a challenge to make a few adjustments, the Smart-Fit Vise Block might be exactly what you’ll need.

It is, in our opinion, the best of the best in terms of lower vise blocks for AR-15 rifles. You’d be crazy to pass up on the opportunity to give this a further look if this further piques your interest.

Bottom Line


This lower vise block has proven itself worthy of the “best overall” honor. This is easy to use and to make adjustments if things seem a little off. And you can hold the rifle in nice and tight while you’re maintaining or making repairs to your rifle.

If you love your rifle, it’s always a great idea to take care of it. And if you take care of your rifle often, a great vise block like the Real Avid Smart-Fit is something you might rely on.

Runner-up:
Present Arms Inc. AR-15 Lower Block Receiver Repair Block

Pros

  • Easy to Use and Adjust
  • Holds Your Rifle Securely in Place. No Wiggle or Wobbling
  • Super Durable Materials Do a Great Job Protecting Your Rifle From Potential Damage

Cons

  • One Reviewer Complained it Doesn’t Lock onto the Lower Mag Well
  • One User Said the Upper Receiver is Slightly Loose, Even When the Rifle is Securely in Place

Now, we’ll be turning out attention to the Magpul BEV Block AR-15/M4. If you want a more secure hold like nothing else, the Magpul BEV Block might be something you’ll want to consider giving a closer look.

If you have a forged or billet upper receiver, this vise block will easily be able to support it. And it will hold it in place without inflicting any kind of damage. This is made from a combination of steel and polymer and it is quite hard to damage.

It will also do a great job making sure your rifle stays in place while you work on it. The polymer end of the block is designed to protect your aluminum receivers from scratches, scrapes, and other kinds of abrasions while it’s safe and secure in its place. Also included is the O-ring and support pin to ensure that your rifle stays in place and doesn’t wobble or wiggle around while you clean or maintain it.

If you want the best vise in terms of quality, then you’ve got it. That’s because every Magpul BEV Block is made in the United States of America and follows strict quality guidelines to ensure your vise block is not some cheap, easy to break kind of unit. If you want something that is built for the long-term, this is the product you’ll want for your AR-15 rifle.

Bottom Line

Magpul has long been considered one of the most reliable brands on the market. One of their signature habits is manufacturing their accessories with a high-quality polymer. Their aim is to provide you with a long-term option so it will last you years, maybe decades.

This vise block is no exception. It delivers the same kind of performance you’d expect from anything else from Magpul. Super durable and reliable, this might be worth the investment if these are the two things you want to get out of a lower vise block.

Best for the Money:
Real Avid Master Bench Block

Pros

  • Makes Assembling and Disassembling Worry-Free
  • Fits Large Enough Parts Like Gas Blocks Without Any Issues of Cluttering
  • Great to Have While You Need Something to Keep Your Parts Close By While Building an AR-15

Cons

  • None

For our next product, we’ll be returning to the Real Avid Master brand. Here, we’ll be taking a look at their AR-15 bench block. If you’re looking for a bench block that will hold all of your key parts together and will allow for easy removal of springs, pins, and everything in between, this might be worth a closer look.

This has an over-molded outer grip that will prevent it from slipping out of your hands or off the bench it’s tacked onto. This also has magnets so it can easily grab and store the pins that hold your rifle parts together all in one place.

Never again will you have to worry about losing all of your pins and springs as you’re disassembling your rifle. Plus, the search game will be a thing of the past.

This is great to have while your rifle is currently locked in a vise. If you worry about losing parts like the small pins and springs, you’ll have a place to put them. This bench block will also fit other parts like gas blocks, trigger assemblies, and all the other necessary parts you don’t want to lose while you’re repairing or cleaning your rifle.

Bottom Line


No assembly or disassembly would be complete without having a bench block handy. All you need to do is place each part in the box for safe storage. That way, you know where they are when the time comes to replace them for re-assembly.

No more will you have to worry about setting them off to the side or accidentally misplacing them, especially when you’re dealing with small parts like pins and springs. If you’re getting a vise block like the ones up above and need something to hold your parts during the cleaning process, the Real Avid Master Bench Block is definitely worth having.

4.   Action Block & Lower Vise Block Set

Pros

  • A Great Vise Block for the Price it's Going for
  • Fits Nice and Tight With Most Rifles and Receivers
  • Keeps the Rifle in Place and Doesn’t Wobble During Maintenance

Cons

  • Might Be a Little Too Big to Accept Different Tolerances
  • Some Filing or Sanding Might Be Needed Prior to Initial Use
  • One Reviewer Complained His AR-15 Lower Receiver Had a Hard Time Staying in Place

If you’re looking for a lower vise block that is affordable for most budgets, then you’ll love what we’ve chosen for you. This is the Brownells’ Action Block and Lower Vise Block Set. The vise block is designed to hold your AR-15 and M16 rifles in place without risking any further damage.

This means it will make for easy maintenance or installation (assuming you’re installing a new accessory). The blocks are made from high-quality urethane that allows you all kinds of grip-like force, but won’t be able to crush your lower receiver. The last thing you want to do is deal with a vise block that will break something that might eventually cost you a lot of money for a replacement.

The vise will be tight enough to ensure that your rifle is nice and secure while you’re cleaning, repairing, or installing an additional accessory. You can be sure you won’t get any kind of wiggling or wobbling. This will easily lock to your magazine port and stay in place until you’re finished.

If you’re looking for an excellent lower vise block without breaking the bank, there’s a good chance you may want to consider the Brownells’ Action Block and Lower Vise Block. You get a good grip and the ability to work on your rifle while it stays nice and secure, making your work just a little easier.

Bottom Line


If you’re looking for a super durable lower vise block that will do its job and won’t drain your bank account, the Brownells’ brand lower vise block could just be the one you might want. Aside from being quite affordable, it definitely does a good job holding your rifle in place.

Especially if you’re just taking a few minutes of your time installing something like an optic or a muzzle brake. If you were looking for something flimsy and cheap, you won’t find it with this vise block.

5. Present Arms Inc - AR-15 Lower Receiver Repair Block

Pros

  • No Scratches or Damage Left Behind
  • Can Work Well With Buffer Tube Blocks
  • Holds the Lower Receiver Nice and Secure

Cons

  • May Be a Little Pricey for Most Budget Shoppers
  • May Need to Purchase the Alignment Block if You Intend to Use it for Better Results

Last, but not least, we’ll be taking a look at the Present Arms AR-15 Lower Receiver Repair Block. This is made from high-quality polymer. Not only is it durable, but it will do an excellent job providing overall support for your AR-15 rifle’s lower receiver.

If you want to hold it in place for sure, you can use the receiver’s takedown and pivot pins. Once secure, you can maintain, clean, or if necessary, make some installments on any parts so you can make your AR-15 receiver more reliable. Nothing makes your AR-15 rifle run more smoothly than a much-needed upgrade, whatever that might be.

This is the vise block you can use if you want to secure your rifle in either the regular upright position or in an inverted position. Either way, you can use this vise while you’re assembling or disassembling the rifle itself.

This product will be more effective if you’re using the alignment block from the same brand. If you’re looking for a vise block you can rely on while providing whatever maintenance you can on your rifle’s lower receiver, look no further than this vise block provided by the Present Arms brand.

Bottom Line


If you’re looking for a vise block solely for the lower receiver of your rifle, then you’re probably going to want something like the Present Arms. This is best used for upgrading or repairing the parts on your lower end, like your trigger assembly.

Maybe your trigger pull is a little too heavy and wants to upgrade it to something lighter. Or maybe you just want to clean it up. This will keep the lower receiver secure as you are cleaning out all the dust, dirt, and residue so it stays fully functional and free from any malfunctions.

How to Use a Lower Vise Block

Using a vise block can be a challenge if you have no clue on how to use it. But if you follow the simple instructions below, you’ll be able to use one like a pro in no time. Here’s what you need to do:

As always, safety first. Check to see if you are free and clear from any live rounds. The magazine well should be empty, as well as the chamber. Once you’re clear, disassemble.

Take the lower receiver and using the mag well, slide it through the lower vise block. You have the option of sliding it in either the inverted or upright position.

Disassemble any parts that may be still assembled in the lower receiver itself. Or if you’re using it to clean the lower receiver, use any cloths, oils, or solvents that you use and clean thoroughly.

Once finished, reassemble everything and double check that all parts are secure.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best AR-15 lower vise block, your search might end here. Once you have chosen one of the products listed above, be sure to do some further research before making your final decision. Get a good idea of what people are saying and determine whether or not if it will be best for your own AR-15 rifle. At some point, you’ll need to clean, maintain, or even make some additional installations to it. So why not find a good lower vise block that will help you get the job done?  

Michael Lutes

Michael Lutes is the managing editor and owner at Gun Mann. He is a veteran, gun enthusiast, 3 gun competitor, and 2a advocate. Mike has a passion for innovation and education across the industry to create great content, training, and insights from the best and brightest.

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