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Recommend me a good gun cleaning kit

Posted on 8/26/21 at 1:16 pm
Posted by jlovel7
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
22733 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 1:16 pm
I'm coming up on about one year since my first firearm purchase so I am now needing to actually clean these things after enough use. If anyone could recommend a solid kit that could handle shotguns, rifles, and pistols that would be great. All I have right now are barrel snakes in my calibers as well as gun oil and grease. I imagine I need a solvent as well for cleaning. Seems like I could order something on Amazon easy enough but I'm not quite versed on exactly which tools may be helpful or not in the kit. They also seem potentially like chinese junk. I'd like not to break the bank but I could probably be convinced to get something nice if I know it'll last and really take care of most of my needs for a while.

TIA.
Posted by TrueTiger
Chicken's most valuable
Member since Sep 2004
76283 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 1:58 pm to
I got this one. It's not top of the line but it has brass rods and tips and most popular calibers.


Falko kit


This post was edited on 8/26/21 at 2:18 pm
Posted by BayouBengal51
Forest Hill, Louisiana
Member since Nov 2006
6908 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 2:25 pm to
I use a combo of an Otis tactical cleaning kit (It has just about all the sizes covered) and a combo of rods and swabs from Hoppe's. I use Gun Scrubber, some CLP and Rem oil for solvents and lubrication.
This post was edited on 8/26/21 at 2:26 pm
Posted by jlovel7
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2014
22733 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 3:09 pm to
I think I’m looking for something that also has brushes for cleaning the receivers and the bolts.
Posted by Koolazzkat
Behind the Tupelo gum tree
Member since May 2021
2319 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 3:12 pm to
Hoppe’s universal gun cleaning kit, but throw out the oils and buy Ezzox for your cleaning and lube. Great stuff.
Posted by armsdealer
Member since Feb 2016
11936 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 3:51 pm to
I like to grease my guns, it just stays better. Some applications I still use oil.

Honestly, any gun lube is going to work (well frog lube sucks but any regular oils and greases will work)

Lots of brands have the exact same rods and brushes... just find something at Academy that has the size brushes you need and don't overthink it.
Posted by TrueTiger
Chicken's most valuable
Member since Sep 2004
76283 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 4:58 pm to
I use plain mineral spirits for solvent, Ballistol for general lubricant and white lithium grease for heavy lube.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
26883 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 7:40 pm to
I’m a firm believer that pretty much any kit you buy suck.

Get a Dewey one piece with a good jag
Several nylon brushes (caliber specific)
bore tech copper and carbon solvent are my favorite but there are plenty of good ones
Patches
And very important is a rod guide
Posted by biglego
San Francisco
Member since Nov 2007
80035 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 8:39 pm to
quote:

so I am now needing to actually clean these things after enough use


I was just thinking this same thing the other day lol
Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
7168 posts
Posted on 8/26/21 at 9:33 pm to
quote:

I’m a firm believer that pretty much any kit you buy suck.

Get a Dewey one piece with a good jag
Several nylon brushes (caliber specific)
bore tech copper and carbon solvent are my favorite but there are plenty of good ones
Patches
And very important is a rod guide


^Good advice. Except I use copper brushes instead of nylon.
Solvents: lots of good choices. I like one of the oldest, Hoppes #9, as well as Shooter's Choice and Butch's Bore Shine. I prefer to start my cleaning using "Wipe Out", a foam for the bore. Using this, I don't have to do so much brushing. I very rarely use the aggressive ammonia based bore cleaners anymore, but when I do, I use Hoppe's #9 Bench Rest Copper Cleaner or Shooter's Choice Copper Cleaner. Yes, a good rod guide/chamber guide is VERY important. Probably more guns have been ruined by well intentioned, but improper, cleaning than from not being cleaned. Brush from the chamber, not the muzzle, using a quality chamber/bore guide. I prefer Possum Hollow bore guides.

Use a one piece cleaning rod, not a multi piece jointed cleaning rod. When pressure is applied to the jointed rod, it might buckle a little, allowing the rod to rub the inside of the bore.

There have been novellas written about gun cleaning, but i try to keep it simple. Pistols mainly need powder removed and not so much copper or lead. Shot guns manly need powder and plastic residue cleaned. Pistols and shotguns are pretty easy. OTOH, rifles need both powder and copper removed which can be more time consuming.

ETA: Don't forget to clean and protect the outside of your guns, as well. Get some" Flitz" or "Mother's Mag Wheel Poilsh" and 0000 steel wool for rust removal. I like "Shooter's Choice Rust Prevent,"" Eezox" or "CorrosionX" for rust prevention. You may've noticed I didn't recommend "WD 40." I never use WD 40 on any guns, even my Hi-Point.
This post was edited on 8/27/21 at 8:49 am
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
19060 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 7:10 am to
Don't forget the Ballistol.

Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
7168 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 9:16 am to
I wish you lived nearby so I could give you my very nearly full can of Ballistol. I bought my only can >25 years ago but put it up after only a few squirts because it smelled so bad. OTOH, a good friend swears by it for cleaning his blackpowder rifle.
Posted by Spaceman Spiff
Savannah
Member since Sep 2012
19060 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 9:23 am to
quote:

I wish you lived nearby so I could give you my very nearly full can of Ballistol. I bought my only can >25 years ago but put it up after only a few squirts because it smelled so bad. OTOH, a good friend swears by it for cleaning his blackpowder rifle.


It's good stuff. Developed by the Germans before WWII for use in their weapons and used all throughout the war. Same shite. Use it all the time. I'll take it lol
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
9003 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 1:45 pm to
This thread has sent me down a bigger rabbit hole than I knew existed on cleaning.

What's your view on where to NOT use solvent? How do you recommend cleaning "the action" areas?
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
26883 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 2:58 pm to
quote:

What's your view on where to NOT use solvent? How do you recommend cleaning "the action" areas?



I only use copper solvent in the barrel and with the possum hollow chamber guides it will not leak into the action.

I have Bore tech carbon solvent and Bore Tech eliminator that I will wipe the BCG on an AR with.

Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
7168 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 8:30 pm to
Disclaimer: I'm a bolt action kind of guy. Although I have an AR, that's not really my game. As far as cleaning the action, I use solvent sparingly and avoid getting oil/solvent anywhere in the action that would allow it to get into the chamber. Oil in the chamber can increase chamber pressures. I use a solvent soaked Q tip to clean the bolt rails of the action and the sides of the bolt. Every now and then when the case is extracted a bullet will get stuck in the chamber, allowing powder to spill out into the lugs of the action . This area also gets cleaned w/ a solvent soaked Q tip.
This post was edited on 8/28/21 at 11:31 am
Posted by SoFla Tideroller
South Florida
Member since Apr 2010
35398 posts
Posted on 8/27/21 at 11:13 pm to
I still use a lot of Q-tips and pipe cleaners after my time in the Marines.
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