Reddit mentions: The best gun brushes

Here's some of the things that are good to have on hand. A lot of it is newer since I'm replacing things I did not care for. Most, if not all, can be found on Amazon. Its a little list but hardly scratches the surface of crap that you can accumulate.

For shooting:

• Eye pro - Best to have a case and alternate lenses are nice for indoor and outdoor range time. The most basic of eyewear will run you $20+ at ranges so get it ahead of time.
  
  
• Indoor ear pro - Same as eye pro... These ran me $35+tax when I decided to double up on my outdoor ear pro at the range. Plenty comfortable!
  
  
• Outdoor ear pro - Muffs can be hot outside, especially in the middle of summer, but luckily you often won't need to same level of protection. It can also be nice if your muffs get in the way of a good cheek weld on a stock. I've tried regular ear plugs and the Surefire plugs but nothing beats something form-fitted to your ear especially for marathon shooting events. Couple with muffs for more protection. These are still pretty new to me but I'm happy with them so far. Easy to form and make a noticeable after a while.
  
  
• Targets - Splatter targets are amazing when youre working on marksmanship. You can easily see your hits from a distance and the contrast makes it easier for spotters to see your latest shot if you're looking through glass. These will also run you a significant premium if you buy at the range. Splatterburst targets are cheaper than Dirty Bird and, IMHO, more visible in indoor (darker) ranges. They're a great size up close for handguns and out to 70-100 yards for rifles. For plinking, just get the cheapest paper targets the range offers. You likely won't see your hits from a distance but, at that point, you probably don't really care.
  
  
  Cleaning:
  
  
• Some good solvent - You can spend a long time scraping carbon. Good solvent will let you wipe it off with a rag. Breakfree CLP, in my experience, leads to more of the former.
  
  
• Some lubricant - Opinions vary from person to person. I used to use Breakfree CLP as a lubricant all the time but there were certain sources indicating that it, like Frog-lube, is less than ideal in different ways. Slip won out among the bunches but I honestly couldn't tell you why. It was something regarding organic/synthetic compositions and temperatures coupled with anecdotal shit. Good one to Google if you're interested.
  
  
• Some brushes - Good for detail cleaning that a rag wont handle. White brush is also fantastic for clearing crap out of the seams of an XBox controller.
  
  
• Cleaning kit - I don't use it as much since I tried boresnakes but there are some good tools in here. Its compact since you use a cable to pull brushes but that means its no good for clearing jams. I'd get it again if I felt I needed a full kit but, again, I rarely use it.
  
  
• Boresnakes - I remember people hating these (again, don't remember why) so I ignored them for the longest time. They're compact and make cleaning your barrel a breeze... Epic-ly better than running a small patch down your barrel. Almost entirely replaced my cleaning kit for most post-range cleaning. They have a small wire brush portion which you can floss back and forth with shorter barrels, too. Coupled with a good solvent, these fucking rock.
  
  
• Nylon brushes - If you end up needing to run brushes down your barrel, it's probably good to not scratch the shit out of it. This was an impulsive buy but I don't regret giving Otis another $9 for their awesome products.
  
  
  Everything else:
  
  
• Thread locker - If you get a collection going, there's a good chance you'll be playing with screws quite a bit. Lock down scope rings, set screws on sights, etc.
  
  
• Anti-Seize - Completely necessary if you have multiple chokes for a shotgun and/or ever intend to use them.

if you're new and you just want an easy kit:



field manual with pictures if you're really new to AR's something like this is super valuable to have.

Otis Cleaning Kit includes everything you need to clean it.



solvent You probably don't need a solvent on a new rifle but its damn handy to have around. this stuff is for ultra deep cleaning.



Lube Everyone has their favorite Lube, mine is ballistol, you can dump it on pretty much everything, and it makes it work together smoothly



scrapper for when your bolt carrier group gets all fuckered.



EDIT: almost forgot, you're def going to want one of these puppies too, a chamber brush


Cleaning tools usually come down to personal preference, cost, and how effective you can use them to keep your gun rust free and preforming well. I have had a great experience with all the tools i linked, and have used them to keep my AR 15 clean and functioning for a few thousand rounds. I think the largest benefit to this set up is that all these tools will easily fit inside of any range bag.



Have a good one and keep shooting!

>Should I clean and oil it before I shoot?

Some guns comes with packing grease and some don't. It doesn't hurt to clean and oil, but make sure you don't over-lubricate because that can cause problems too.

>How often should i clean it? After every time i shoot?

As CMK said it's up to you. Some people are meticulous about cleaning between every session (so usually 100-200 rounds) but it's not absolutely necessary for a modern duty gun like the Glock.

I usually clean every other session (so around 500 rounds) but I don't really make a rule of it.

>Do i need to buy a cleaning kit or will the brush it came with be ok?

Better to get a kit, but there are lots of cheap crappy ones out there. You can just assemble one yourself, but generally what you want are:

• Brass or non-marring (coated) cleaning rod. Don't worry about caliber, they are all the same and it's only the attachments that differ by bore size.
  
• Brushes. At least one nylon and one bronze. I like this pack.
  
• Cotton patches. Just buy bulk and cut them yourself.
  
• A lot of people recommend dental picks or something similar, for the hard to reach crap.
  
• Bore snakes work for a quick routine cleaning, but it's more for convenience and you should still have the above basics.
  
  >What cleaning products and or gun oil do you recommend?
  
  You have many good choices on the market to pick from. Here are a few:
  
  
• Hoppe's No.9: a good, well known solvent
  
• Rem Oil
  
• Tetra Gun Grease: grease is not oil. Use it only on the really heavy load bearing parts.
  
• Break-Free CLP: an all-in-one product (Cleaner, Lubricant, Protectant) that can be used for both cleaning and lubricating. There are dedicated products that are better for either purpose, but this one doesn't hurt. The military uses it.
  
• Froglube CLP: another CLP that's gaining popularity because it's non-toxic and biodegradable
  
• Ballistol: another good and well-known all-purpose product

> I'm looking for a good cleaning kit and set of tools for this gun.

For a starter kit, i'd recommend something like this setup:

• Otis Cleaning Kit
  
• 6" Q-Tips - Great for the hard to reach spots a regular short Q-Tip can't reach.
  
• TekMat - Only cleaning mat brand i'll go with, durable, and solid for the price.
  
• CLP - Whatever you prefer, everyone has something they like/prefer. For now, i've been using RandCLP to clean my guns for the last year, and some ALG Go-Juice as my lube.
  
• Brushes - I don't use these as often as some do, most use them for stuff like scrubbing their BCG's. I only clean my AR's after a high round count, so i use mine maybe once a month when i clean my regular phosphate BCG's.
  
• Shop Towels - I use the shit out of these. After shooting suppressed i gave up on being real anal-retentive about cleaning, so i just wipe down parts (BCG, uppers, CH, etc) with a shop towel and re-lube where needed. I only do a detailed cleaning maybe 1-2 a year.
  
• AR Tool - Despite Tapco stuff usually being Chinese junk, their AR tool is pretty tip-top, i've had it for about 3.5 years now and used it a lot, it's held up wonderfully.
  
  I use a kit i put together myself for cleaning my handguns, rifles, shotgun, etc, for cleaning. My guns get cleaned differently, which gun it is dictates how it'll get clean and how often.

Yeah I can understand that. Sorta like cleaning the large pieces of trash out of your car but not vacuuming.




You've been super helpful. Can't thank you enough. By the way, I noticed a "Tornado brush" that the guy says he wraps the saturated patches around. Might be useful to try it out so you don't get those don't pushed down bristles. The stainless steel seems a bit worrying though. This pack is only $3 more with both an extra brush and a cleaning swab. So I'll give it a try and see what works.

I did love the look of that shiny barrel/gun. So I guess I'll be doing the break down every time as well. Good habit to get into.

Any preference on a cleaner/lube? I've heard CLP mentioned a lot around these parts- but an all-and-one seems odd to me.

For general use i like sweet’s 7.62 bore solvent. Copper remover and lead remover when needed and some break free or something similar to remove these things because its pressurized and quick drying. A cheaper substitute to this is lacquer thinner. Available by the gallon and quart. Quick drying but not pressurized so youll have to use a brush. All of these displace water and as such the metal will be really dry and absorb any humidity in the air so i like to run a patch of montana extreme bore conditioner down the barrel. Let soak for a few min and follow with a dry patch. Any moving parts get millcom and non moving parts get synthetic oil. Sprayed onto a patch and rubbed on. I tried spraying but it really gets a ton on there. And in my experience a real oily surface collects dirt and dust. https://i.imgur.com/eGmoQLR.jpg
I dont have any lead remover at the moment but i think most types are fine. The most important part is persistance and some elbow grease. Also the toothbrush in the pic sucks cuz it has extra tongue things on it or some crap. Cheap tooth brushes are best cuz they are narrow and skimp on extra features. That just one that the dentist gave me last time. For persistant stuff you can get a sonic cleaner at most hardware stores or harbor freight or online. I dont have one but my brother does. We usually just use hot water and some purple power. Heavy on the water. Light on the chemicals. I dont know if all types heat the water but his does. Although i got a laser etched back plate for a glock and the cleaner cleaned the paint right off of it. I guess they just paint aluminum and then etch into it. Ive thought about using a sonicare toothbrush on my guns but they are like 50 bucks and im too cheap. Many companies make a brush specifically for guns. Looks like a toothbrush with big and little ends. I dont use any that dont have nylon bristles. Blue bristles are pretty tough and do a good job. Brass bristles seem to leave brass marks that i have to clean off the gun and stainless is way too rough. Also i just remembered that gunslick makes this. Gunslick Stainless Steel Spiral Rifle Cleaning Brush (.30-.32 Caliber/8mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011ZEGYO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uYqRBbZ9A542N
Ive used it on some of my milsurplus rifles cuz they are hella nasty. Since it never exposes any part of your gun to an end of a wire, it seems to be fine. But that up to you. Really you can do almost anything with some good solvents and enough work.

My advice? Go to a range that has as many of these on rental as you can find, and give them all a test drive. Then pick whichever one feels best for you. I'd say they're all solid firearms, and you'd be good with any of them from a pure quality perspective.

edit to answer the last question:

> Also, what should I buy with the pistol? Cleaning tools, oil, etc...

Extra magazines...always recommended. As for cleaning tools and oil, anything off the shelf will be fine. I personally like a bore snake for cleaning the barrel and chamber, a nylon and brass bristle brush (toothbrush style) for everything else, and a cotton rag (old T-shirt). If you don't get the bore snake, you'll probably want a rod/wire with an appropriately sized bore brush and the other adapter that allows you to run a cotton patch down the barrel.

A couple things I find that are very helpful: a good stiff brush with a small head, a cleaning stick, and an air compressor. I find that a toothbrush is often not stiff enough to get the hard baked crud off. The universal cleaning stick is great. If you're cheap then wood Popsicle sticks and chopsticks work fine instead.

http://www.amazon.com/Otis-Variety-Receiver-Brushes-Bronze/dp/B00162OKDY

www.countycomm.com/ucs.html‎

Perfect thanks! I have a 12ga bronze bore brush but it doesn't seem to work too well, would something like this work better?

I use this rod https://www.amazon.com/Gunslick-Handgun-Carbon-Fiber-Cleaning/dp/B001NOVF92

and just some generic bronze brushes like this https://www.amazon.com/Gunslick-Bore-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B004NJC1ME/ref=pd_lpo_200_lp_tr_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=2PA7VYF9QHZ5KMSS97E3&th=1&psc=1

and use this to send a few pieces of cloth through until they come out clean https://www.amazon.com/Gunslick-Brass-Benchrest-Handgun-Caliber/dp/B004NJDG14/ref=pd_sim_200_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004NJDG14&pd_rd_r=9TTKD0XDXN2KSBS2TNRK&pd_rd_w=K2pUv&pd_rd_wg=CIoxr&psc=1&refRID=9TTKD0XDXN2KSBS2TNRK

Basically I just clean the bore after 1000 or so rounds and use a toothpick/cloth to clean the slide channels and lightly oil them. I use M7Pro cleaning stuff and oil just because I can find it at most stores around here and it doesn't smell or irritate my skin. There really is no sense in pulling the trigger and all that stuff out unless it starts sticking or you have run 5k or 10k rounds through it.

Just to cover everything these are the cloth pieces i use too https://www.amazon.com/Professionals-Choice-Cleaning-800-Pack-357-Calibre/dp/B00KJLTONO/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1484333214&sr=1-5&keywords=gun+cleaning+patches

• 9mm bore brush and patch loop
  
• Patches
  
• Hoppes solvent
  
• Lube
  
  That's the minimum. I would also recommend CLP as a mid-step between solvent and lube, and as a general cleaner and protectant. Cleaning brushes and picks are useful for getting into the harder to reach places. Finally a bore snake down the barrel at the range after shooting from chamber to muzzle a couple times will make cleaning significantly easier.

They're like $3 apiece from amazon (well not today, WTF $5???) or the LGS. I treat them as disposable. once they're gummed up, bristles get bent, I toss them. I then either put a bunch of add-on amazon brushes in my cart (when they're under $3) or hit up the LGS. I've got too much clutter on the workbench to salvage that type of stuff.

Edit:
30cal 10pack
22cal 10 pack

$1.50 apiece, why worry about cleaning them...

There is actually a set of on Amazon for under 5 bucks right now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019NBZ6A

The small end fits perfectly in some of those really tight places.

Search for gun cleaning brushes. They are usually about 75% cheaper and sometimes literally the same thing.

Pack of 10 for ~$6USD

'Pack' of 1 for ~$2USD

I have been using the gun cleaning nylon ones for a long time and love them. I haven't used them outdoors much though. Work great for the gym in my experience.

I got a quality system of rods from sportsman's to apply the solvent with patches. It's called a gunslick and has 22/223, and 30 cal, and 12GA. The 30 cal can be used for 9mm and 7.62x39 as well, but bore snakes tend to need to be caliber specific. For online ordering you might try a larger kit like this off Amazon which includes all standard calibers.

I use a boresnake for the cleaning, then go through with more rods of solvent, snake, then a final pass or so with a little gun oil. I don't use the brushes on the rods except for pistols.

There's pick brush sets you can get on amazon for $9 with nylon brushes, plastic picks, and Brass brushes. I'd use brass/copper only on the most stubborn carbon like on the butt of a bolt, while sticking to nylon for almost everything else. I use patches dipped in solvent and use the pick to push the patch in cracks and crevices otherwise difficult to reach.

For pistols I love these Chinese pod kits for less than $3.

Also you can order a ton of boresnakes for $1-3 from China they just take awhile to arrive so I'd get one domesticly online for $7 shipped and spares from china.

I've had really good luck with a double ended nylon brush on amazon
the one end is a single row...used with some foamy soap..may not erase the gouge, but you'll get the dirt out w/out compromising the lighter area around it...I took a few courses in museum/artifact preservation. I put it to good use on my shoes.

Pick up a set of double ended brushes like these. The bronze brush is great for getting stubborn carbon off the cylinder face.

yeah thats normal. its just residue, get a tornado brush and go to town for a while. all my shotguns look like that after cleaning with a brass brush. tornado and alot of elbow grease will get them to mirror again.

this
https://www.amazon.ca/HOPPES-12-Gauge-Tornado-Brush/dp/B0013R4DRU

Leave the copper colored factory grease on the slide until it's gone. Hit up the range with a few hundred rounds. Some people clean the gun before firing. I just lubed the slide a little and fired 300 rounds before my first cleaning.

Start here: https://youtu.be/DZf4mUM10Vc

• buy this: Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil, Aerosol spray, 6 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ERKCIA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_gVErxbHNPR5KC
  
  
• I also use this in my range bag: Break Free CLP-PS Precision Shooter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050GWAVG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_AWErxb1E47QD6
  
• Buy these or cheap tooth brushes: 10-Piece Double-Ended Gun Cleaning Brush Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CWDPF6W/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_DXErxbM5DDJWS
  
  For deeper cleaning watch this: https://youtu.be/7VTIqAMPOco
  
  
• You'll need this (I keep one in my cleaning kit and one in my range bag): Glock GT03374 Disassembly Takedown Tool Punch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014VX2M2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_VYErxbRWCJDBW
  
  These: The Professional's Choice Pistol/Rifle Cotton Flannel 2 1/2-Inch Square Gun Cleaning Patches (120-Pack), .38/.357-Calibre/9mm/10mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MY45Q6/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_I0Erxb77YVTWA
  
  -This: UTG 9MM Pistol Cleaning Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZJ1364/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_j1Erxb6MQEHNV
  
  
• I bought these too: Gun Cleaning Set with 3 Brushes & 2 Double-Ended Picks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009HD0R86/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_62Erxb0DYJ7A8
  
  
  Sorry for the long links I'm on mobile and bored at the moment. There are more updated and thorough videos if you search YouTube, but I enjoy listening to Hickok45's. Hope this helps.

Generation 4, New:

What It Comes With

1. Gun Case
   
2. Three 15-Round Magazines
   
3. Easy Loader
   
4. Gun Lock
   
5. Cleaning Rod/Bore Brush
   
6. Medium / Large Backstrap Extensions (Increased the grip size)
   
   Cleaning Products
   
   
7. Bore Snake
   
8. Brass Bore Brush
   
9. Bore Jag
   
10. Hoppe's Solvent No.9
    
11. Hoppe's Elite Gun Oil
    
12. Brushes
    
    Accessories
    
    
13. Gun is fine.
    
14. New triggers, extended magazine releases, extended slide stops, etc., All of these you can change out when you become more comfortable and experienced with your firearm to determine if you need/want to change anything to your own personal preferences.
    
    Home Defense, Some Suggestions
    
    
15. Gun Light: You don't have to get this one; there are cheaper ones. The receiver (Bottom Half) has a slide-rail for easy, well, sliding on and off for lights/lasers, etc.
    
16. Night Sights Sealed, Radioactive, Glowing in the Dark. Pale white in the light.
    
17. Buy a Shotgun.

That's the set a bought and then I also bought this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009HD0R86?psc=1 for good measure!

I used one of these http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CWDPF6W/ref=sr_ph_1?qid=1462064522&sr=sr-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=gun+cleaning+brush the far end is good for large areas and the little end can get into most tight crevices

You're welcome!

I think you'll love the stuff. It comes in two flavors: One is normal bore cleaner; and the other contains Carnauba wax. The waxy flavor is good for periods of prolonged storage; and, after using it, you won't need to oil the bore for, at least, a couple of weeks. Just keep everything dry; and you'll be fine.

Don't worry about having to, 'foul' a waxed bore before using the gun. On a rifle, 'fouling' can make a significant first shot difference; but with a Glock pistol it really doesn't matter. I think you'll be able to stop, 'scrubbing your donkey off' now.

Oh, Iosso also makes a high quality, medium-duty bore brush. Their brushes, and Hoppe's Tynex are what I use, something like, 90% of the time on my own guns.

12 is bigger, so getting https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O7F7YI for some hard cleaning. Is CLP-5 an acceptable oil in the mosin community?

Nope - regular cleaning of controllers/keyboards/mice.

Every week or two (or as needed) I wipe down the control devices I have used - typically just wiping things down with a slightly damp cloth. About once a month (or as needed) I use a brush to clear the cracks and crevices of anything I may have missed.

Your stovepipe issues probably aren't lube-related at all.

Replace your extractor with a tool steel version from Kidd, Volquartsen, Power Custom, etc. They're about $10-$12 and last longer than you'll shoot the gun. The factory stamped steel extractors wear out quickly.

Also, keep your chamber clean every few hundred rounds. Get yourself a nylon bore brush. Bend it 90 degrees so you can slip it in the chamber without disassembling the gun. This is a good way to keep it running between major cleanings.

brush/rod , solvent , lubricant , patches , and one of these

http://www.amazon.com/Type-III-Black-Double-Weapon-Cleaning/dp/B00C6SQQHA/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CWDPF6W/

I just picked these up a few weeks ago. You can buy them individually at at a hardware store, but the price is about the same and I work at remote location so it really isn't an option for me.

My kit

Real Avid Handgun Smart Mat-19-inch by 16-inch Handgun Cleaning Mat https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0185PB8AW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_WuTl343G4CERJ

Hoppe's 24002 BoreSnake Pistol and Revolver Bore Cleaner, 9mm, .357, .380, .38 Caliber https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013RKHJI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Bre6MnkuW1npv

Birchwood Casey Gun Cleaning Patch for 2 1/4" Square 9 mm/.38/.45 Caliber (Pack of 500) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TD0UEGI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_8wvVvfu8z14rN

Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner Spray Bottle, 8 Ounces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013RA3A6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_o5oHvt8b7y27O

Hoppe's No. 9 Gun Grease, 1-3/4 oz. Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PW5ZGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_HI2YuNyqeJeOt

Hoppe's No. 9 Lubricating Oil, 14.9 ml Precision Bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013R67A6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_i8emEskpQydLM

SE 7624BC-5 Gun Cleaning Set with 3 Brushes & 2 Double-Ended Picks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009HD0R86/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_e675klKxRfh9s

Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil, Aerosol spray, 6 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ERKCIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_QH46NYitYG8Xb

Hoppe's No. 9, 9-Piece Pistol Cleaning Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U8S0D2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e30bzbRXP7JAR

(Tapered and Regular Tip) Type-III 100pc Gun Cleaning 6 Inch American Made Cotton Swabs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008CPU4JW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_OcSPLNbBbOo6M

I also picked up some cans of compressed air at Walmart