(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best gun cleaning kits

No problem. You'll probably be cleaning lint etc mostly from it if you plan to carry it around. I tend to go a little overboard when I clean my guns, but I typically don't clean my rifles/shotguns all that frequently and will go between multiple thousands of rounds before I do.

When I clean my guns I use a mat like this to absorb oils etc and this to get all of the black carbon out of it. I use these to clean the bore/inside of the barrel. I use these and these for the hard to reach places that still have something building up on them.

When you're done cleaning everything, you'll want to make sure you put oil/grease on all the components that come in contact with other parts. Basically if it rolls oil it, if it slides grease it. I use this on the slide/rails where they contact each other and use this in most other places. Then I'll wipe down the exterior with this.

Really all you have to make sure you do is get most of the debris out of the gun, and make sure you have oil on surfaces that create friction or need some kind of rust preventative coating.

Ballistol is great, here is what I use:

1. Black nitrile gloves
   
   
2. Steel mixing bowl
   
   
3. Gunslick Ultra Klenz
   
4. .40 Brass Jag in your caliber
   
   
5. Handgun cleaning rod
   
   
6. Patches in your caliber
   
   
7. CR-10 Bore Cleaner, for removing copper reisdue, use it inside the barrel only
   
   
8. Outers Crud Crutter
   
   
9. Gunslick graphite grease
   
   
10. Ballistol Lubricant
    
    I use them pretty much in that order. If I could buy only 1 thing from the list, it would be the nitrile gloves. All the gun cleaning solvents are super toxic, nitrile is better than latex for solvents. Latex won't stop some solvents. Ballistol is the second best thing, then Gunslick Ultra Klenz is my next favorite. The Outer's Crud Crutter removes all of the above solvents, I use it when I'm done cleaning with Ultra Klenz and CR-10 because it removes the solvents and dries leaving the gun bone dry. Then I apply a drop of grease at friction points and give it an all over polishing with Ballistol.

Bummer that OP deleted all their comments. Wonder what happened. I'mma not let what I wrote go to waste.

> Cleaning kits are usually separated into rifle, pistol, and shotgun kits. For rifles, pistols, and shotguns, there are different bore sizes. A "22 cal" bore brush is much too small for 30 cal rifle. There are some universal kits, like these -> Amazon Link, Amazon Link, but they might not have the right bits for larger bore handguns.
>
> If he is getting that handgun for home defense, a quick access safe might not be a bad idea, specially if kids or untrusted adults are around -> Costco Link. Preferable something that can be mounted/cabled into a nightstand, desk, or bed frame so it's not as easy for any potential robbers to run away with as easily.
>
> Or you can go the easy route and get him a gift card to cabela's or some other outdoors/hunting good store.

1. When you drink wine you must do it like a sir and every good sir needs a cane
   
   
2. I have a broom but could use the cleaning tool chest to keep things clean so mom doesn't try and ground me.
   
   
3. No need for a hat but i'm often told i need a helmet
   
   
4. Plenty of books to whisk me away in this house but never enough light to read by, but I have wished for a book light.
   
   
5. Unfortunately my bike didn't come equipped with a trunk but a bike bag would serve well.
   
   Bonus: Haven't you heard about how dangerous capes are? Do you want me to get sucked into a jet engine? I prefer to show my super hero side as glow in the dark man (keep that quiet ok, its a secret) with some of the electric neon wire.

I'm a big fan of the Pro Shot Universal Kit. It's pretty much got everything you need and it comes in a nice sturdy case.

My one recommendation would be to ditch the oil that comes with it and get yourself some Frog Lube. It does a great job and leaves your guns smelling minty fresh.

Also towels as others have mentioned.

A lot of these tools are designed to be portable and end up less than ideal because of it IMO. I recommend a long one piece cleaning rod and a shorter screwdriver like tool to hold a chamber brush.

Avoid nylon jag holders and cleaning pad loops and get the good brass stuff. Bore guide helps as well.

The long rod is the way to go. The short, screw-together rods just aren't worth it if you clean on any regular basis.

I picked up this Otis Kit form Amazon
It's a little pricey now but i snagged in on sale for about $40 and it's pretty great. The brushes don't stay in the foam very well but it all zips up in a compact little pouch and takes up no room at all.

Yeah, until I traded mine for a bobber ratbike, I used to just hose the inside out with Gun Scrubber and clean the barrel as usual. Thing was too stupid to know any different, so it always worked like a champ. Easiest of any of my guns to clean.

Most of us I think use Hoppes for solvent and oil. Patches don't really matter so grab whatever and make sure you have a cleaning rod that is long enough with a bronze brush and a jag or loop end. You can get a .30 caliber cleaning kit maybe like this or get a universal one if you intend to expand right away.

Cleaning in general is straightforward and we all seem to have our own rituals about it so just go about it the way works best for you.

http://www.amazon.com/Real-Avid-Universal-System-Cleaning/dp/B00CI1UMC0

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0185PB9HO/ref=pd_aw_vtph_200_tr_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VFEKPZHTWXJR2A1M7ZC


I have a plastic cased version of this kit. I've only previously owned and used a .9mm pistol cleaning kit, but in my limited experience this kit has worked well. Does it all from .22 to 12 I was given for free my kit by the manufacturer who had a reddit post that offered free kits on r/guns a couple months ago. It's also available in Canada amazon.ca

http://www.realavid.com/catalog/product/view/id/260/s/gun-boss-pro-universal-cleaning-kit/category/35/

For a CLP, I've been using Gunzilla to good effect. Remington's BriteBore aerosol is another low odor option. You can often get that at Walmart here in Canada.

For the SKS, I prefer a brass brush or a bore snake. Amazon.ca is your firearms accessory friend. Also, as most SKS ammunition seems to be corrosive, I'd hold off on firing it until you have the needed cleaning supplies handy. Leaving it uncleaned will cause rust as I hope you already know.

The Savage MkII bolt... light oil, I spray it with a bit of CLP and wipe off the excess. I also use a clp and a nylon brush to clean the bold face and extractor hook.

Bore guide? I use brass rods which are softer than the metal of the barrel. I expect aluminium ones might be OK, but I'm unsure of how hard aluminium oxide is, and if that might be an issue.

Also, for .22 cal a rod end / patch loop... I have a strong preference for the Hoppes brand. It will let you use the butch triple twill cleaning patches... they won't go down a .22 barrel with an outer's brand loop end, which, IMO, sucks.

I've only been into shooting for about a year now. It's a great sport!

Make damn sure it's unloaded. Then make sure again. Don't have any ammo on/near the table you're cleaning it on.

​

ARs are pretty easy to clean. Look up a couple of videos. I have this mat, which is probably a bit of a waste of money (I used to just lay an old bath towel on the kitchen table or coffee table), but the little tray is actually pretty handy for putting pins/springs/other rolly parts into. Buy a cleaning kit and maybe a .22 caliber bore snake. Try to always clean from the breech to the muzzle so you're not roughing-up the crown on the end of the barrel. Find a solvent you like (I use straight isopropanol for really stubborn grime on metal parts that can take a harsh solvent and Ballistol on absolutely everything) and go to town. Great way to get to know your rifle.

So I noticed you have a thing for guns and gun stuff but I did not see a cleaning kit on your wishlist. I did some research (I know very little about these things) but based on pricing and reviews this kit seems like it might be a good thing to add.

Surprise me!

Fantastic choice. I bring a 10/22 with me every trip, and sometimes, that's all I end up shooting.

You might want to add a .22 cal boresnake to your list of supplies if you don't have one already. .22LR ammo is pretty gunky, so being able to get a lot of the crud out at the range while the bore is still toasty makes the actual cleanup at home way easier, IMO.

Here it is on Amazon.

I paid like $50 locally. Didn't look too hard online but cabelas has one similar for $50. Works great!

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.

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.

Allen Cleaning kits makes it the 2 like this are

Rifle and shotgun

https://www.amazon.com/Ruger-Rifle-Shotgun-Cleaning-Caliber/dp/B019KATFGA/ref=sr_1_14?s=hunting-fishing&srs=7967617011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522072862&sr=1-14


Rifle and handgun

https://www.amazon.com/Ruger-Multi-Caliber-Rifle-Handgun-Cleaning/dp/B019KATAS8/ref=sr_1_2?s=hunting-fishing&srs=7967617011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522072862&sr=1-2


They also have this monster kit

https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Company-70540-Ultimate-Cleaning/dp/B00I81LC5A/ref=sr_1_1?s=hunting-fishing&srs=7967617011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522072976&sr=1-1

I ended up with this one when it was on sale for $35. Has everything and plenty of room for cleaners/patches/etc all in one place and easy to carry.

I just did this the other day after watching the hickok45 video. Here's what I bought:

Ballistol Multi-Purpose Oil, Aerosol spray, 6 oz - $8.99 (http://www.amazon.com/Ballistol-Multi-Purpose-Oil-Aerosol-spray/dp/B004ERKCIA?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00)

UTG 9MM Pistol Cleaning Kit - $9.80 (http://www.amazon.com/UTG-9MM-Pistol-Cleaning-Kit/dp/B002ZJ1364?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02)

The Professional's Choice Pistol/Rifle Cotton Flannel 2 3/4-Inch Round Gun Cleaning Patches (120-Pack), .38/.357-Calibre/9mm/10mm - $4.49 (http://www.amazon.com/Professionals-Choice-Cleaning-120-Pack-357-Calibre/dp/B005TJWQ4A?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02)

The Patches and actual cleaning kit showed up today. Kit seems to be decent for what it costs. Ballistol will be here on Wednesday. I think the Patches require that you spend $25 (add-on item) so you may have to add something else to get up to the price to get them. Or you can just get a bigger package of them.