Gun maintenance: It’s a love-hate relationship. We all know the pain of spending more time chasing a runaway spring than actually cleaning our guns, right? How many times has your wife walked into the garage only to find you crawling around on the floor with a flashlight? Yeah, she knows, you’re looking for that darn spring again.
If only we had the right tools, this wouldn’t be so hard… Gun maintenance is intimidating to some, but it’s not having hard as it first appears, at least most of the time.
When it comes to upgrading, repairing, or performing gun maintenance, Real Avid is like a hero we didn’t know we needed. Their tools just make every job easier. They customize tools for specific purposes, and they are high quality.
I’ve always been impressed with Real Avid, but some of their newest stuff is just downright cool. Here are some of their newest tools that are worth checking out.
Real Avid Master Gun Vise
First up is the Real Avid Master Gun Vise. This isn’t one of their newest products but it works with some of their new tools and, well, it’s just a must-have. The Master Gun Vise is slim but extremely durable. It’s easy to mount to any work surface and it’s made to work with their other tools.
A set of non-scratch soft covers comes with the vice so you can clamp guns in it without damaging the finish. Before this, I resorted to wrapping rags around my guns when putting them in the vise. But this vise is made for guns and if you do any work on firearms at all, it’s worth the price.
One of Real Avid’s newest tools, the Smart-Assist Quick Connect System will work with the Master Gun Vise. This system (which I’ll talk more about below) lets you attach other tools to the vise. This could be a magnifying glass, light, or phone for watching how-to repair videos.
If you are going to set up a workstation for your firearms, this is where I would start. When working on my AR-15 rifles, I use the Real Avid Smart Fit AR-15 Vise Block in the Master Vise frequently. It’s a little pricey but worth every penny.
Specs
- Price: $299.99
- Material: Heavy-duty steel and aluminum
- Weight: 25 pounds
- Jaw Width: 3.5 inches
- Jaw Capacity: 3.5 inches
- Rotation: 360 degrees with a tilt range of 90 degrees
- Clamping Pressure: Adjustable
- Quick-Connect System: Compatible with Smart-Assist Quick Connect System
Master Gun Workstation
Next, is the Real Avid Master Gun Workstation. Next to the Master Vise, the Gun Workstation is their best tool to own. If you need to do anything to a rifle, shotgun, or PCC, this is the perfect tool. It’s packed with features to make your life easier. The adjustable cradle holds your firearms securely while you work, and the built-in vise is perfect for those quick adjustments.
I first saw this tool at SHOT show in January 2024 and waited patiently to get ahold of one. It works best if you have a dedicated space for it on a workbench, but it’s also easy to store. It is two feet long so it takes up a little room if you plan to keep it in a closet or on a shelf.
On the right side of the workstation is mounted a quick-grip vise. It doesn’t replace a bench-mounted vise, but it holds the rifle in place extremely well. The left side has a gun-gripper yoke that holds the muzzle in place. It’s adjustable with the quick push of a button so you can work on a rifle, shotgun, or PCC with any length of barrel.
There are storage areas on the bottom tray for holding screws, pins, and all those other little parts.
Specs
- Price: $199.99
- Material: High-impact polymer and steel
- Dimensions: 24 x 12 x 6 inches
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Storage: Multiple compartments and slots for tools and parts
- Adjustable Cradle: Fits various firearm types
- Built-In Vise: For small tasks and adjustments
Master Bench Block Pro
The Real Avid Master Bench Block Pro is small but mighty. This tool is a perfect addition to the larger Real Avid tools and can help with a wide range of maintenance tasks.
This bench block is designed to be your best friend when it comes to driving out pins, aligning parts, and holding your firearm secure during repairs.
Two small screw-in clamps are stored on the bottom of the block so you can secure the handgun, slide, bolt, or any other gun part to the block while working on it.
It has a non-marring surface, so you won’t have to worry about scratching up your firearm. One edge of the block also has a built-in magnet to help hold small parts to the block. For $40, it’s hard to pass up on this helpful tool.
Specs
- Price: $39.99
- Material: Ultra-durable engineering resin and non-slip rubber
- Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 2 inches
- Weight: 1 pound
- Multi-Groove Surface: For various pin sizes and types
- Non-Marring Surface: Protects your firearm’s finish
Smart-Assist Quick-Connect System
And finally, we get to the Real Avid Smart-Assist Quick Connect System. This system is a brilliant innovation that allows for seamless tool transitions during your maintenance work.
The Smart-Assist Quick Connect System is a universal attachment feature compatible with various Real Avid tools. It allows you to quickly change tools with a plug-in style mount. Each tool can plug into the mount separately, allowing you to add multiple tools at the same time.
This system works with the Master Gun Vise, Master Gun Workstation, and other Real Avid products. A bench mount comes with it so you can use it to hold the tools when not being used.
As I mentioned in the beginning, the Smart-Assist system comes with a magnifying glass, light, and cell phone holder. You can bend them around to position them wherever you need. I don’t know how many times I have watched a YouTube video while trying to work on a part. The phone holder is very helpful because you can place it just above the gun/part while the video is playing.
Ready to do some DIY maintenance?
DIY gun maintenance doesn’t have to be a dreaded task filled with frustration and lost springs. With Real Avid’s new lineup, you can transform your workspace into an efficient, frustration-free zone. I’ve been using these tools now for a while and they make working on firearms so much easier.
So, next time you’re gearing up for some DIY maintenance, remember to check out Real Avid. They make quality tools made just for firearms. Even if you are only comfortable with cleaning your firearms, these tools are a great help. Check them out and see what you think.
Happy cleaning, and may your springs stay put!
