Favorite cleaning kit?

[jsnowy]

I have purchased my first few rifles in the past two months and have not yet taken the time to fire or clean them yet. What cleaning supplies would you recommend? Are the basic Hoppe's cleaning kits acceptable?

I have a mosin, sks, and a couple of trainers.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I made up my own cleaning kit. I do have a military issue cleaning kit for my AR. Other then that I use bore snakes for barrel cleaning. My kit containes Q-tips, toot brush, bore light, and picks. Does everything I need it to. Most kits in my opinion are over kill and some are over priced.

 

[Yeah]

My favorite is bullets.

 

[Txlur]

I use bore snakes for barrel cleaning

This. Break-free CLP is nice, but pricey. I've heard that those many piece aluminum cleaning rods can do some scratch damage to your bore if not centered correctly, and people like the single piece carbon fiber rods better. I have not yet tried one, but plan to.

 

[paperboy]

I use a kit called Patch Worm. Looks like a piece of weed eater string with different sizes of beads for different calibers. It even comes with patches. I believe it was lke $10. I really like it plus there's no metal to scratch the bore.

 

[Jerry D Young]

Otis multi-caliber Tactical. Replacing the Otis cleaner products with Breakfree CLP as they are used up.

Otis Technology

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Don't worry about aluminum scratching your bore. The bore is a very hard steel alloy of one sort or another, and aluminum is a soft metal, even in its hardest alloys. It's more likely you'll see the bore scrape aluminum off the rod.

 

[dboz]

Bore Snake and CLP

 

[DialTone301]

I have been happy with Otis.

 

[Mudcat]

I have several Dewey cleaning rods the plastic coated or carbon fiber ones. Several jags and brushes for the perspective calibers. Above all I use a bore guide to protect the throat or the crown on guns that must be cleaned from the muzzle. I use Hoppes #9 and Kroil to remove carbon and Butches to remove copper fouling.

I also have a pull through cleaning kit that I use at the range but not at home when I want better results.

No bore snakes on my rifles except for the .22 loaners. It is like dragging a dirty patch through the bore.

 

[Cerberus]

Tipton 1 piece rods are really nice, got 3 of them and they have held up well since 2006. Bought all the jag, brush and eyelet sets (.22-10gauge) to go with them too. I use boresnakes for quick cleanings. USGI for my ARs, and have added the star chamber cleaners, they make quick work of that pesky area. Dental picks are a must as are Q-tips and pipe cleaners. And since I get CLP for free, that is what I use. I hate the Otis kits.

Unless you are shooting corrosive ammo, a quick wipe down and boresnake of the bore is quite enough, with detail cleanings done about once a year or so.

 

[bluewraith]

I try to clean my guns after every range trip, but sometimes miss a few days (unless its the Mosin with milsurp ammo.. ugh)
No real kit to say.. but a toolbox full of stuff. Q-tips, toothpicks, brass toothbrushes, an assortment of brass bore brushes and plastic jags, a .22 boresnake for the rifle and single six, and enough product from hoppes to start a storefront in my livingroom.

Tip: If your cheapo jag is too loose with a patch, just double up on the patches. Hoppes has small 1" square patches that stack wonderfully and do a great job in anything from a .22 up to my .45. Also, a boresnake is washable. Just tie it up and throw it in an old sock. Let it air dry for a few days and your good to go.