Gun cleaning kits

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WC15

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So what’s everyone’s favorite “universal” gun cleaning kit? Year or two ago I bought a 62 piece universal kit from Walmart, Winchester brand, in a silver metal suitcase and idk if I got a dud or if it’s just generally like this, but mine is junk. The rods are cheap and break easy and the threads strip easy. The brass cleaning brushes are pretty cheap and junky. All the plastic patch loops break and bend easy. It’s just imo junk. I’m looking for recommendations of a legit good kit! Something that will actually hold up and do what it’s suppose to do. I’d love to get another like universal large kit that has all the bronze or nylon brushes, mops, rods, cleaning patch loops, etc etc in it in one big kit. Basically I want what I had only good quality this time. I’ve got from 22lr pistol up to 500 magnum revolver, 22lr rifle up to 45-70 rifle, and 410 up to 12ga shotgun so hence why I’d like to have another full kit cause I own and shoot lots of calibers. I’m gonna say between handguns, rifles, and shotguns I have probably atleast 15 different calibers I’ll be cleaning.

I will say this kit is on my short list, but I’ve never seen it in person so idk if it’s worth the hefty price or not? https://www.amazon.com/Otis-Elite-C...jMbevMKwnJcK3-A&slotNum=9&tag=gearsearcher-20
 
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Personally, I would say build the perfect kit piece by piece. But one of my buddies purchased a Gloryfire kit and seems to enjoy it.
 
ya make your own, all the kits out there will be missing somethings and will not have all your bore sizes. get a nice cleaning rod and a guyed, find a nice box to put the things nice. for boxes most cigar shops or smoke shops will give you the used cigar boxes. for a bigger box go to a higher end liquor store, the pricey wine comes in nice long wood boxes.
 
For rifles I prefer a one piece rod (actually I refuse to use segmented rods). So I built my cleaning kit in an old cheap hard sided plastic rifle case. It was the only thing long enough to hold the one piece cleaning rods. I think my longest rod is 30" and my rifle case is about 34".

I buy brass and nylon brushes by the dozen online and keep them all in Dillon caliber change set plastic cases... they were just the right size and easily slip into the rifle case... and hold several hundred brushes, jags etc. and thousands of patches. I have a bore snake for every caliber for quick cleaning at the range. I have brass jags for every caliber and aluminum loops (I pretty much always use the jags and never use the loops). Harbor freight nylon and brass jumbo tooth brushes work great and are cheap. I keep a variety of tools like small screw drivers, allen wrenches, a brass punch and small hammer for quick jobs at the range.

I think I bought all the jags, brushes, loops and patches from Midway... back when they used to have free shipping on everything.

The rifle case packs easily with my other rifles when I go to the range and I have pretty much everything I need. The foam in the rifle case has kept the solvents and glass cleaning bottles safe for 30 years now. Don't forget the single pack hand wipes... very handy!

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When I open my cleaning kit everything is right there in front of me... no rummaging around in the bottom of the range bag to find what I need. It looks like I have plenty of room if I find something else I can't live without. The orange paint is for touching up sights... with a toothpick.
 
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MikeInOr said:
For rifles I prefer a one piece rod (actually I refuse to use segmented rods). So I built my cleaning kit in an old cheap hard sided plastic rifle case. It was the only thing long enough to hold the one piece cleaning rods. I think my longest rod is 30" and my rifle case is about 34".

I buy brass and nylon brushes by the dozen online and keep them all in Dillon caliber change set plastic cases... they were just the right size and easily slip into the rifle case... and hold several hundred brushes, jags etc. and thousands of patches. I have a bore snake for every caliber for quick cleaning at the range. I have brass jags for every caliber and aluminum loops (I pretty much always use the jags and never use the loops). Harbor freight nylon and brass jumbo tooth brushes work great and are cheap. I keep a variety of tools like small screw drivers, allen wrenches, a brass punch and small hammer for quick jobs at the range.

I think I bought all the jags, brushes, loops and patches from Midway... back when they used to have free shipping on everything.

The rifle case packs easily with my other rifles when I go to the range and I have pretty much everything I need. The foam in the rifle case has kept the solvents and glass cleaning bottles safe for 30 years now. Don't forget the single pack hand wipes... very handy!

View attachment 819740

When I open my cleaning kit everything is right there in front of me... no rummaging around in the bottom of the range bag to find what I need. It looks like I have plenty of room if I find something else I can't live without. The orange paint is for touching up sights... with a toothpick.
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I’ve never thought about just using a rifle case for everything. That’s a pretty great idea. I personally use canvas tool bags to hold my stuff.
 
Probably 15 different calibers. Off hand for rifles I’m gonna say 22lr, 243, 30-30, 45.70, 223/5.56. Shotguns I have 410, 20ga, and 12ga. Handguns I got 22lr, 22mag, 32acp, 38 special, 45acp, 44mag, 500mag. That’s off hand without going and looking in the safe to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I’ve got tons and tons of patches, solvents, q-tips, and oils. Really what I need are high quality rods, brushes, patch loops, and mops I think. Somebody told me I’d save a lot of money building my own, while the quality no doubt would be leaps and bounds better, unless I’m doing it wrong on brownells site I’m not gonna save money vs that Otis kit cost.
 
WC15 said:
Probably 15 different calibers. Off hand for rifles I’m gonna say 22lr, 243, 30-30, 45.70, 223/5.56. Shotguns I have 410, 20ga, and 12ga. Handguns I got 22lr, 22mag, 32acp, 38 special, 45acp, 44mag, 500mag. That’s off hand without going and looking in the safe to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I’ve got tons and tons of patches, solvents, q-tips, and oils. Really what I need are high quality rods, brushes, patch loops, and mops I think. Somebody told me I’d save a lot of money building my own, while the quality no doubt would be leaps and bounds better, unless I’m doing it wrong on brownells site I’m not gonna save money vs that Otis kit cost.
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It most likely will not be cheaper to assemble your own kit, but you will have significantly better tools. I personally consolidated calibers early on and have stuck with .22 and 9mm for pistols exclusively (That actually get fired), so I have two bags dedicated to just these calibers. One thing to consider is the firearm itself. I myself only shoot Glock pistols and Ruger .22 pistols at the range, neither being a massive investment. I could probably get away with using a run of the mill universal cleaning kit (but I don’t). You seem to have many calibers, of which I would assume some of them are heirlooms, antiques, etc. which I would most definitely not trust to a kit that was assembled by somebody else. It’s one thing to clean a Glock with a universal kit, it’s another to clean granddaddy’s turn of the century side by side.
 
Let’s say I buy some Dewey rods as my rods of choice, do all these rods, brushes, loops, jags, etc etc generally have the same size like shaft and same thread types on them or am I gonna have to be careful with what I get? Like will the Winchester brushes and loops I have that are still good screw into the new Dewey rods if I chose them?
 
WC15 said:
Let’s say I buy some Dewey rods as my rods of choice, do all these rods, brushes, loops, jags, etc etc generally have the same size like shaft and same thread types on them or am I gonna have to be careful with what I get? Like will the Winchester brushes and loops I have that are still good screw into the new Dewey rods if I chose them?
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Mis-matched rod tips can be a problem. Luckily they make adapters. That was the problem I ran into with my rods. Kinda defeats the purpose of the 1-piece rod.
 
My Dewey rifle rod is 8/32" thread. All of my rifle jags, loops, and brushes are 8/32". I prefer plastic brushes.

I use a Glock plastic rod and plastic brush on all of my pistols. Free is good.

Make you own kit. Stick to brass\bronze and plastic brushes. Use them sparingly. Usually all I need is to patch clean. My field kit:
full&d=1546796519.jpg

left:
8/32" Dewey brass rifle rod. That stays in my rifle box.
Glock pistol case
patches
q tips
8/32" brass brushes
Glock rod and brush
bundle of 8/32 rods and spare Glock rod
spare applicator tubes
disposable rubber gloves

right:
Testors paint brush, to apply lube sparingly
rough sanding stone

Fine sanding stone, to remove burrs from Glock striker cross faces or anything else that needs smoothed out.

Brass punch to remove Glock or 1911 pins.
Bic pen cap to push 1911 safety plungers in during reassembly
8/32" .556 jag
.556 swab
Glock brush
Glock brush
Thin lube
Thick lube
Breakfree CLP cleaner, with applicator rod simply pushed inside bottle.
1911/2011 bushing wrench
Glock trigger pin tool
Pistol cleaning brush
 
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I bought a cheap kit at first and after a couple of months threw it away. I collected my second ordering Dewey rod ,brushes and jags from Brownells also have couple bags of RamRodz. I also have a T-handle pull through kit out of LGS discount bin , bore cleaner had leaked so salvaged the cables ,brushes to use for 10/22.
 
WC15 said:
So what’s everyone’s favorite “universal” gun cleaning kit?
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Universal kits, aren't. When I first entered the military, I considered the generic issue kit to be all I needed. It soon became to be considered a bare bones kit. And that was for just 1 firearm in 1 caliber.

Otis kits tend to be overpriced for what they are. So I tend to avoid them. I have 2 "all in one" or universal kits that I have added parts to over several years. And will likely keep adding parts to. Just the other day I fired some new ammo in my AR. When I pulled it apart to clean there was way too much carbon buildup at a hard to reach spot inside the bolt carrier. So I ordered a new tool to help clean that.
 
Got these years ago, offered by Kleenbore. Think they called them Presentation cleaning kits. Had everything I needed for cleaning, one for shotgun and one for rifle/pistol, but I really liked the cases.

IMG_0008.JPG IMG_0007.JPG IMG_0009.JPG
 
herrwalther said:
Universal kits, aren't. When I first entered the military, I considered the generic issue kit to be all I needed. It soon became to be considered a bare bones kit. And that was for just 1 firearm in 1 caliber.

Otis kits tend to be overpriced for what they are. So I tend to avoid them. I have 2 "all in one" or universal kits that I have added parts to over several years. And will likely keep adding parts to. Just the other day I fired some new ammo in my AR. When I pulled it apart to clean there was way too much carbon buildup at a hard to reach spot inside the bolt carrier. So I ordered a new tool to help clean that.
Click to expand...

Mind me asking what this new tool was? I’ve been looking around for AR stuff in particular to make cleaning it easier
 
My cleaning kit is an aluminum tool box, purchased from either Northern Tool or Tractor Supply. I added a set of handles to the ends and replaced the rivets in the top handle with stainless bolts. I buy brushes by the dozen, patches in 500 or 1000 count, solvent by the quart. Most of this comes from Sinclair. They also sell neat little plastic boxes for storing brushes and jags by caliber and plastic squirt bottles for storing bulk liquids in smaller easier to handle quantities. I also keep my gun related tools in the same box. A gun screwdriver set, allen wrenches, torx wrenches, punches, hammer, pliers, barrel vice, action wrench, scope lapping tools, ect ect. I also have a few spare parts like firing pins, triggers, ect. I have made cases for my Dewey rods from PVC pipe and plumbing fittings.

This was much more expensive that a cheaper universal kit but I put it together over time and as I needed it. The bigger tool box allows me to have all of this stuff in the same place. I get a small amount of teasing when I take this to the range or on a Prairie Dog shoot but sometimes I get a little of my own back when one of the mouthy guys needs something. Two years ago I had the necessary tools to tighten the Allen screw on a guys AR-15 gas block. A few times I have had the tools to remove a stuck bullet from a barrel or a broken case from a chamber. And YES, I remind them about their teasing!
 
Mine is a hard sided briefcase picked up at a yard sale. It has a Brownells screwdriver set, other tools, spare parts and cleaning supplies. Small divided plastic fishing lure boxes hold brushes/jags, allen wrenches, etc. Baggies for patches, q-tips, etc. I also made PVC pipe rod holders. Tipton rods come in a plastic tube, so I also use those or just put rods under the foam in a hard case. And, yes, several gun repairs on the tailgate in a prairie dog town.
 
A rod. Hops#9. Cleaning patches. Small container of gun oil. A couple of tips for the rod. A rag with a little Rig on it. I`m good.
Speaking for myself of course.
 
I prefer to have a pair of rods for each pistol and long gun caliber. And I agree about one piece rods for every length needed. One for the brush and one for the jag. I find that the loosening of the brush or jag which always happens in the middle of the job is a PITA so I loctite the tools onto the rods. That is why I need so many of them. You can’t get what you need in a kit. Buy the components separately. It may seem more expensive but the cost is offset by not having a bunch of junk that doesn’t work and/or is not what you need.
 
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Was just talking with some guys on this subject (lead removal) on a colt saa thread on here.
Ill just summarize what i said there.
Ive had tons of cleaning products and equipment over the years. To me the brushes are useless and complicate life.
Copper choreboy tied to a boot lace for the bore - bigger tuft for bigger bores obviously. Some clp. A pick for tough to reach places. An old t shirt for patches. Q tips. Couple generic rods - wood dowel is ok for larger bores, brass is ok for smaller but neither is absolutely required.Thats all i use. All can be had from walmart for next to nothing or scrounged around the house.simplify your life, 20 different brushes and jags and all the different thing are just a mess and dont last. Your mileage may vary but for me i need nothing else. $10 and youre done.
 
When you've done it professionally, you build a your cleaning 'collection' (I have way more than any single kit would contain!) one piece at a time. I have several different levels of kits, from the little military kits you can stuff in the buttstock of an AR, to a small range kit for rifle and pistol attached to my range bag, and another one for shotgun attached to my shell bag. Then there's the 'possibles' bag for BP, then there's the shop cleaning supplies. I have cleaning 'rods' from Bore Snakes to wire Otis pull-throughs, to military take-down rods (and vintage WWII pull throughs) to Dewey rods (amongst others) and a Tico Tool for shotgun tubes. I have a small ultrasound for individual parts and trigger groups (an old jewelry one), tons of rags and patches, Q-Tips, pipe cleaners, specialized AR cleaning supplies, some vintage Outers kits I've picked up at garage sales and such over the years, yada, yada, yada. And it's probably a drop in the bucket of what Gunny has.....:neener:
 
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