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Cleaning Kits

45forme
Has anyone found a superior product?

Basically, I am looking for a new kit of brushes. Most of the consumable components I buy separately. I find that most kits don't have a good variety of brushes for cleaning parts other than bores, and if you use the copper brushes for anything other than bores, they get trashed pretty quickly.

I did have a polymer test tube brush that was great for general cleaning, but it disappeared.

Otis kits seem to cost twice as much, but look the same. Are they any better? Are bore snakes easier/better?

Suggestions?
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Nwcid
    For any product that comes in a kit it is not the best you can get. Kits are generally made up of basic items that most people will use a few times. Once you go beyond this you really need to look into what you need and get what you will/do actually use.

    Think of a general cleaning kit as a quick package for a guy who owns just a couple of guns like a pistol, .22 rifle, shotgun and a hunting rifle. Most of these guns only get shot a couple times a year and only get a moderate cleaning.

    If you have many guns which you shoot and clean often then a kit may be a decent base to start with. Going to a place like Brownells or Midway and buying the individual parts you need and use most will be most effective though. This way you will get just what you need and you wont be paying for items you never use. Store all your pieces in a fishing type box.
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  • He Dog
    I use mostly Bore Tech rods, with a couple of Dewey's. I buy brushes at Bore Tech or Brownell's or Midway. Some like .22 brushes I just pick up at gunshows 10 or 12 at a time.
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  • brummiejim
    FYI, I'm happy with the Bore Snake product, with a regular kit as a back up for really tough/stubborn jobs. Jim
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  • CbtEngr01
    I got one of these from Cabelas for $30. Works great. I a dewey rods.
    s7_229535_imageset_03?$main-Large$

    http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0061263229535a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=cleaning+brushes&sort=all&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23
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  • nononsense
    45forme,

    "...for cleaning parts other than bores..."

    I have used this kit for years on my own rifles:

    http://www.sinclairintl.com/product/8010/ActionChamber-Cleaning-Tools

    Another similar kit:

    http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=18813/Product/BOLT_ACTION_CLEANING_KIT

    For general cleaning of parts in my parts washer, I use regular toothbrushes, pot scrubbers and any other brush with a handle that won't harm the finish on parts. Test tube brushes are superb.

    However, for the best selection of brushes, you need to look here:

    http://justmanbrush.com/

    http://gorillascientific.com/Brushes_c29.htm

    http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_3007263

    Best.
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  • 511pe
    Otis makes gun friendly stuff that seems to be easier than most as far as not damaging a bore, crown, etc. I like the universal kit. The patches can be adjusted to fit as loose or as tight as you would like them to be. As far as bore snakes go they also are gun friendly and are quick & easy. You'll need more than one for other calibers. Nononsense nailed the other stuff.
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  • v35
    The fishing box sounds like a great idea to keep brushes and tips separate and handy.
    I've been unhappy with a disorderly cleaning kit box and need a better arrangement.
    Chemical brushes having hog bristles are very useful, especially the long ones for scrubbing corrosive priming residue or black powder out
    under hot water.
    Brass "toothbrushes" are handy but short lived.Nylon bristles don't do anything for me.
    I use worn and undersized bronze brushes for scrubbing parts and exteriors where rust is forming, on metal checkering, cocking grooves on autopistol slides etc.
    A very handy brush I haven't seen since Army days was about 3 1/2" long with natural bristles about 1/4" wide x 1/2" deep with just a steel binding and no handle.
    They were the best for cleaning small parts.
    If someone knows of them pls holler.
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