Good rifles and hand guns are precision instruments. Cleaning them regularly is part of proper maintenance and having the best gun cleaning kit makes it a simpler matter to keep the weapon in top shape. With the number of gun cleaning kits that are available on the market, however, it can be difficult to determine which the best are without buying them and trying them. For that reason, we will review some of the best kits and give you an idea of why they are the best.
*Updated 2018
Best Gun Cleaning Kits
First up here is a table of our 3 top gun cleaning kits. These are all moderately priced under $30 and are the best for the money.
Gun Cleaning Kit | Best For | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
Rifles | ||
Universal | ||
Pistols |
You can click on the links above to see the prices and more reviews on Amazon. Keep reading below if you would like to see a review on each of these.
Why Guns Should Be Cleaned
Every time a gun is discharged, powder ignites, sending the bullet down the barrel of the rifle. Spin is imparted to the bullet by groves in the barrel called rifling and this increases the bullet’s accuracy. However, each time the gun is fired, residues from the powder coat the workings of the weapon. The amount of residue is slight, normally, but it adds up.
If the rifle or pistol isn’t periodically cleaned, the gun begins to lose proper function. The rifling can become plugged, resulting in an improper spin. If it gets bad enough, the passage of the bullet can even be blocked, resulting in backfire or a breech explosion. This is exceptionally dangerous. This is in addition to the loss in accuracy.
The firing pin, casing ejector and all moving parts inside the rifle or pistol can also become gummed up. This causes unnecessary wear, eventually leading to a weapon that is next to worthless without costly repairs.
It isn’t just powder residue that is a problem, either. Dust, dirt and debris all take their toll. Even if the gun is stored in an air tight gun cabinet, it is prone to collecting dust and dirt during use or even when the gun safe is opened. Ultimately, this means that even if the gun isn’t fired often, it should be periodically cleaned. Doing so prolongs the life of the gun, keeps it in good working order and safer and helps to keep it accurate when it is fired. The cost of a gun cleaning kit and the time and effort involved in keeping the gun clean is paid for by keeping the gun in top-notch condition for use.
How Guns are Cleaned
There are several different kinds of cleaning kits, and there are different ways to clean firearms, but the most common of these function in the same basic way.
First, the weapon is fully unloaded and the breech is left open. This is of exceptional importance and it is stressed here. Many people have been shot and far too many have died from cleaning an ‘unloaded gun’. That is, they believed that the weapon was unloaded, but never actually checked, prior to attempting to clean it. This is an error that even experts have been known to make.
Once ensuring that the gun is unloaded and the breech is open, the cleaning can begin. Note that in the case of bolt action rifles, the bolt should be removed. In the case of pistols, slides or cylinders should be removed. The idea is to open the breech as much as possible.
Most often, there is a ramrod that has a brush attachment. The brush is dipped into gun cleaning solvent and is then passed down through the muzzle of the gun, through the bore and all the way to the breech. The brush is then pulled back out. Generally speaking, this step is repeated at least three times, though it might require more than this if the gun hasn’t been cleaned in a long time.
The solvent breaks up the varnish caused by the residue of the powder, as well as any dust or dirt that might be present. The brush scrapes this material away from the metal so it can be subsequently removed from the gun.
Next, a patch attachment or swab is put on the ramrod in place of the brush. A patch is put on this attachment. Normally, the best patches are made of absorbent cotton and they attach either through a slot on the attachment or through a point of a jag that allows the patch to be impaled.
The patch is pushed down through the barrel in the same way the brush was used. Again, this is done several times. The patch is then replaced by a fresh, clean patch and the process is repeated. This is done as many times as it takes before the patch comes out clean, when it is run through the barrel a few times.
The brush is again put on the ramrod, dipped in gun cleaning solvent and passed through the gun. The cleaning continues, switching back and forth between the brush and the patches until a patch that is pushed through the barrel right after using the brush comes out clean. At this point, the barrel has been cleaned, but the process isn’t finished.
Next, the rifle or pistol workings are cleaned with the gun cleaning solvent. This includes any sliding parts; bolts, slides or cylinders that have been removed. The firing pin is also cleaned if you can easily get to it. The solvent is then wiped off of all parts and this is also repeated as many times as it takes for the cloth to be clean after wiping off the solvent.
The next step is to dip a patch in gun oil, which is specifically formulated to protect the workings of guns. The oily patch is passed through the barrel a few times, then a dry patch is run through the barrel to pick up any excess oil. Any removed parts are also oiled and cleaned with a clean, dry cloth. The lubricant should leave a very fine film to protect the firearm.
Incidentally, for long-term storage, the oil may be left in the barrel without wiping up the excess. It then protects the rifling with a thicker coating of lubricant. However, if you do this, remember to run dry patches through the barrel prior to using the gun, after again checking to be sure that the weapon isn’t loaded.
The gun is then ready to put back together. The process may sound complicated and time consuming, but it really isn’t complicated at all. It takes more time to explain how to do it than it does to actually clean the gun. You should have your gun cleaning supplies ready to use before you start the project, though. This prevents you from having to stop before the gun or guns are finished.
Gun Cleaning Kit Reviews
The best gun cleaner kit will largely depend upon what type of gun you are going to be cleaning. This is because the best ways to clean different types of guns can vary. This is probably obvious, but it can be illustrated by pointing out that the best pistol cleaning kit won’t be the best rifle cleaning kit. For one thing, the barrels are substantially different in length. It isn’t just the length, either. The diameter of the bore is also variable. Because of this, the best gun cleaning kit for AR-15 rifles isn’t usually the best 9mm cleaning kit.
You have an advantage, though. You know what rifles or pistols the kits are intended to be used for. There are still some things to consider and to look for when buying a gun cleaning kit, regardless of what gun it is for.
Some of those things have already been mentioned.
- The kit must be easy to use and assemble
- It needs to have a quality brush
- It needs to have an attachment for patches
- It needs to have a supply of patches
- It needs to have a the best cleaning solvent that is available
Let’s take a look at the best gun cleaning kits that are out there on the market.
1. Outers .30 Caliber Rifle Brass Cleaning Kit
Outers is a brand that is well-known for producing quality gun cleaning kits and supplies. I’m mentioning the .30 caliber rifle brass cleaning kit here, though they have similar kits available for .22, .243/6 mm, .270 – .284 / 7 mm, .338 – .375 and .40 – .45 calibers. Outers also produces these brass cleaning kits for pistols, as well as for shotguns. All of these quality made kits have the same basic design with only the brushes and patch attachments differing between kits that are made for other calibers. For this reason, reviewing the .30 caliber kit is representative of the other kits mentioned above.
This is a basic kit and a quality made one that meets or exceeds the needs of owners of firearms who have a single caliber range that their guns fit into. It should be mentioned, though, that since the brushes and patch attachments have the same thread size and patterns, It is possible to buy a kit for a specific caliber and then to purchase brushes and patch attachment to fit another caliber. This is exceptionally handy, because it isn’t necessary to buy an entirely different kit for another gun.
This said, the price of these kits is often less than $15, so buying a kit for each rifle, pistol or shotgun size isn’t greatly expensive and is reasonable. I have two of these kits, one for my .300 Savage and another for my .22 long rifle. It should be noted that Outers does make a brush for 9 mm and the kit for .22 caliber is the best gun cleaning kit for AR-15 rifles.
The kit includes a three-piece brass cleaning rod, a bore brush, a pointed jag and a slotted patch attachment, micro-fiber patches, a 2-oz bottle of nitro solvent gun cleaner and a 2-oz bottle of gun oil.
The cleaning rod screws together and the handle has a 360 degree full revolving action to allow the brush and patches, once connected, to follow the rifling pattern of the gun. The rod is stiff, with only a small amount of flexibility. This is ideal for the task of cleaning the rifle bore.
People who have been accustomed to using a cleaning rod of lesser quality do need to exercise a reasonable amount of caution during use because applying pressure in a lateral direction can cause the rod to break. This isn’t a design flaw and breakage generally only occurs when the rod isn’t used correctly. Still, it is worth mentioning. Like anything else, it is a good idea to know how to use this tool prior to purchasing it. Doing so ensures your satisfaction.
The solvent is high-quality and it easily breaks up powder residue and varnish when used with the stiff brass brush. The patches are also of good quality and they are very absorbent. The patches do tend to be larger than is necessary, however they can be cut in half, which makes it possible to clean twice as many guns before more patches must be bought.
The gun oil is specially designed to protect the gun against rust and corrosion.
Cons
This kit contains only the brush and patch attachment for a specific caliber range, plus the solvent, oil and patches. This makes it necessary to buy additional bore brushes and patch attachments if you have multiple caliber guns. The patches are often larger than needed, in order to fit into the bore, so they may need to be cut down. The kit also comes in a rigid clamshell plastic package that can be opened and closed, but it isn’t designed for heavy use in the field. The handle on the cleaning rod is also of high impact plastic, however since this kit isn’t designed for field use, it should hold up well to use at home.
Despite these drawbacks, this kit is rated highly. It is the best rifle cleaning kit for single guns. I have and do recommend this rifle cleaning kit.
OUTER'S .30 CALIBER RIFLE CLANING KIT RATINGS
Functionality
Durability
Ease of Use
Price
Recommended
OVERALL
Hoppe is another great brand for top-notch gun care products and their universal gun cleaning kit is the best universal gun cleaning kit for the money. It is easy to see why.
This kit is very reasonably priced at under $30, it comes in a light-weight aluminum case that is lined with foam rubber and is designed for use with multiple gun sizes and kinds. It includes a three-piece aluminum cleaning rod, brass brushes for common rifle sizes (.22, .270/7mm, .30, .357/9mm, .40/10mm and.44/.45 calibers) as well as brushes for 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 shotguns; nine bore brushes in all. It also has five swabs for 12 gauge, 20 gauge, .35/38, .22/ .270 and .40/45/calibers. It has slotted attachments to fit .410 bore to 20 gauge, 16 and 12 gauge, .30 caliber and .22 caliber. It also comes with patches, however please see the note below.
The case keeps the contents safe and make this kit usable for cleaning in the field, though you must use reasonable care not to damage the case. While the kit is well-made, it doesn’t come with solvent or oil, so these must be purchased separately. Also, the patches aren’t high-quality like the rest of the kit, so I’d recommend investing in some good cotton patches.
For a universal kit that costs less than $30, these shortcomings can be overlooked, provided that you know that they exist. Hoppe’s does produce and sell both number 9 gun bore cleaner in a 5 oz bottle for less than $10 and 2.25 oz of lubricating gun oil for less than $8.
Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of this product is that it is made in China, not in the USA. This is the only reason I don’t recommend this kit more often than I do.
Still, for the price, this is the best universal gun cleaning kit.
HOPPE'S UNIVERSAL GUN CLEANING ACCESSORY KIT RATINGS
Functionality
Durability
Ease of Use
Price
Recommended
OVERALL
The best gun cleaning kit for pistols is produced by Real Avid, with a suggested price of just under $20. This is a kit that is compact, with a nice case and it is suitable for use in the field. It is also versatile and is designed to clean .22 caliber to .45 caliber handguns. It should be noted that this is also the best Glock cleaning kit, though for some Glocks, you may need to get a specific brush for the weapon, to make sure that the brush fits the bore.
The cleaning rod is a two piece affair with a detachable T handle and the cleaning rod is 9 inches in length when it is put together. This kit comes with four bronze brushes, four jags and two slotted patch attachments.
The case is about 7 x 14 x 2 inches in size and is designed to hold the parts snugly so they won’t rattle around or fall out the moment the case is opened. The case is waterproof and oil resistant. It also only weighs a bit more than half a pound, counting the attachments and rod, so it is light-weight and quite portable.
This kit comes with 25 patches, so it would be worthwhile to buy more. You will also want to pick up some gun cleaning solvent and gun oil while you are at it, since neither is included.
Gun Boss Drawbacks
The cleaning rod isn’t as well-made as it could be and doesn’t look like it would be very durable. The kit also doesn’t come with gun cleaner or lubricant, so this would be an additional cost. However, at the price of the kit, this shortcoming can be partly overlooked. It is marked down in the rating of affordability only because of the additional cost.
Of more concern is that the kit is made in China, rather than in the USA, so this fact sways my feelings about recommending this kit to people.
REAL AVID GUN BOSS HANDGUN CLEANING KIT RATINGS
Functionality
Durability
Ease of Use
Price
Recommended
OVERALL
Bottom Line
These gun cleaning kit reviews only cover three of the most common gun cleaning categories, however this covers the majority of the cleaning and maintenance situations you are likely to encounter. It is a good idea to also purchase the best gun cleaning solvent, gun lubricant and patches you can get, too. Keeping the gun clean is one of the best ways to avoid costly repairs and it is of vital importance for safety sake.
It should also be mentioned again that when cleaning your rifle, shotgun or pistol, never assume that it is unloaded. Always double check to make sure that there are no cartridges in the firearm before proceeding with the cleaning process. We want our readers to stay healthy and happy, free of firearm mishaps.
