Table of Contents
- Our Top Picks
- Shotgun Cleaning Kit Comparison
- Our Must-Have Features
- Best Overall: Real Avid Gun Boss Shotgun Cleaning Kit
- Best Budget Shotgun Cleaning Kit: SPIKA Compact Shotgun Cleaning Kit
- Fastest Shotgun Cleaning Kit: Gun Cleaning Kits by Sage & Braker
- Best 12 Gauge Cleaning Kit: Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod
- DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Real Avid Gun Boss Shotgun – Compact Shotgun Cleaning Kit
This compact cleaning kit is perfect for any shotgun owner.
Best Budget Shotgun Cleaning Kit
SPIKA Compact Shotgun Cleaning Kit
Fastest Shotgun Cleaning Kit
Sage & Braker Gun Cleaning Kit
Best 12 Gauge Cleaning Kit
Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod
If you think cleaning your shotgun has become tedious, what you need is an excellent cleaning companion. Interested? Read on for a list of the best shotgun cleaning kits this year.
Shotgun Cleaning Kit Comparison
Our Must-Have Features
We’ve listed the 3 basic tools that the right shotgun cleaning kit should have, so look out for these.
Bore Brushes
One thing to consider when shopping for a shotgun cleaning kit is the size of the bore brush. Remember that bore brushes for pistols and rifles are too small to clean your shotgun efficiently. You’d mostly be using 12ga and 20ga bore brushes, so if your kit has these sizes, then you’re good to go.
Bore Mops
Bore mops are great for when you want to apply a light coat of oil to protect your barrel after cleaning. It’s a nice-to-have tool in a shotgun cleaning kit.
Cleaning Rod/Bore Snake
This depends on your preference, as some kits contain cleaning rods while others have bore snakes. We included both options in our top picks so be sure to check them out.
If you want to learn more about gun cleaning supplies, click here.
Best Overall: Real Avid Gun Boss Shotgun Cleaning Kit
The Real Avid Gun Boss Shotgun Cleaning Kit may be pocket-sized, but it sure is big on cleaning your shotgun.
This versatile kit contains all the cleaning accessories needed to keep your 12ga and 20ga shotguns in top shape. It has a 6-Section Cleaning Rod, Large Cleaning Patches, Bronze Bore Brushes, Bore Mops, and a Polymer, Slotted Bore Patch Tip
It’s also equipped with mesh storage where you can keep additional cleaning supplies.
Pros
- Compact and Portable
- Complete Accessories
Cons
- Cleaning patches are a little thin
What Customers Say
“Nice and small cleaning kit that will let you do all you need for maintenance when on the road.”
“This kit is as useful as it is compact. I have used it many times and it works great to clean my 12 gauges.”
Best Budget Shotgun Cleaning Kit: SPIKA Compact Shotgun Cleaning Kit
The SPIKA Compact Cleaning Kit for 12 gauge shotguns consists of several tools that can be reused for rifles too! That’s why we tagged this kit as the most budget-friendly in our list.
The cleaning kit contains 1 spring brush, 1 utility brush, 1 patch holder, 1 muzzle guard, 1 box of patches, 1 adapter,1 aluminum handle, 1 bronze brush, 1 cotton mop, and 4 stainless steel rods.
This Australian-made kit is proven to be durable and reliable. The value for the price is really solid.
However, a few customers complained that the “spinner handle for the bore brush is unnecessarily thick and heavy.”
Pros
- Affordable
- Variety of tools
- Portable and compact
Cons
- Bore brush handle is heavy
- Oil is not included in the kit
- No instructions manual included
What Customers Say
“I purchased this cleaning kit for 2 reasons. 1. We bought a Ruger SR22 and wanted a Gun Cleaning Kit for this gun and 2. I wanted a Gun Cleaning Kit that would be able to also clean our other guns. This kit does this and we are very happy with this kit. We would recommend this to all our friends & family members. Product is well made and well worth the money.”
“Nice product. Came nicely packaged as you see here – and if you read the product info you will notice that the oil bottle is in fact empty!! No matter. It’s the hardware you are after.”
Fastest Shotgun Cleaning Kit: Gun Cleaning Kits by Sage & Braker
If you don’t have much time to spare, the Sage & Braker Cleaning Kit will let you clean your gun quickly and easily.
This gun cleaning kit contains a high-quality bore snake and a sturdy bronze brush. This incredible pair provides deep cleaning in just 15 seconds!
For safe cleaning, the bronze brush can be detached from the rope portion. The brass weight is also tagged with gauge or caliber values for easier identification.
However, some customers noted how difficult it was to insert the bore snake through the barrel because the brass weight at the beginning was a little light.
Pros
- Quick cleaning
- Durable cleaning tools
Cons
- Brass weight at the beginning of the bore snake is a little light
What Customers Say
“All in one product, best on the market.”
“5 Star product. As soon as you pull it through, you can feel the difference. I have not taken the brush off to clean it yet (have only used it twice), but can already tell that will make cleaning the cloth part much, much easier.”
Best 12 Gauge Cleaning Kit: Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit with Aluminum Rod
If you’re looking for the best cleaning kit intended for your 12 gauge, then we recommend Hoppe’s No. 9 Cleaning Kit.
This kit guarantees superior gun cleaning. It includes one 4 oz. bottle cleaning solvent and one 2-1/4 oz. lubricating oil, as well as a 12 gauge brush.
Most users highly recommend Hoppe’s because it’s been a trusted brand for generations. Some also mentioned that it’s a great starter kit.
We also love how the oil that comes with the kit does not leave any residue, nor dry out after use. One downside of this kit is that it takes time to assemble.
Pros
- Intended for 12 gauge shotgun
- Oil doesn’t leave residues
- High-quality cleaning accessories
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- Bore cleaner has a strong smell
What Customers Say
“Simple to use intro product for new shotgun owners, and you can use the oil and degreaser in another gun of you like.”
“ This oil does not dry out and clump, nor leave a sticky residue. I also like the way the bore cleaner really does an outstanding job of removing hard residue from rifling (it smells terrible though, and I would highly advise only using this outside your house..”
DAC Winchester Super Deluxe Soft Sided Gun Care Case
Last but not least is the DAC Winchester Gun Care Case. We love this kit because it has every tool you need in gun cleaning.
We recommend this cleaning kit if you have more than one type of firearm. It has 68 pieces of tools and accessories intended for different calibers.
Its case is made from soft EVA material and has removable pouches for extra cleaning supplies.
We love how organized this case is. It has intended pockets for each tool so everything stays in place during transport. The caliber is also indicated on each tool, so that’s a great bonus.
As for the cleaning tools, most customers mentioned that they’re of higher quality compared to other brands. One minor drawback is that the cleaning patches are a little too big for the bore.
Pros
- Very organized case
- Universal kit
- Machined aluminum handle
Cons
- Cleaning patch is too big for recommended bore
- Solvent and oil are not included
What Customers Say
“If your looking for a killer bargain and a great Xmas present, you will not go wrong buying this kit. I was very pleased and continue to be with this item.”
“This is exactly what people make it out to be – the Taj Mahal of gun cleaning kits. There’s more than enough parts in hear for 90% of people’s gun cleaning needs and each part comes with some kind of individual packaging. The case is nice and thin, yet sturdy enough it will last a while. Everything is marked for caliber which is a nice step up from some of the cheaper kits out there.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a shotgun cleaning kit?
Shotgun cleaning kits range from $25 to $63, depending on the brand and kit contents.
Do you need to clean a shotgun after every use?
Yes, you need to clean your shotgun after every use; because regularly cleaned guns are safe from contaminants that cause rust and corrosion.
What kind of oil do you use to clean a shotgun?
When cleaning your shotgun, don’t use just any type of oil. Check the label to ensure that the product is intended for your shotgun. Using the wrong oil can cause malfunctions or breakages.
Check out our article on the best gun cleaning solvents for a list of high-quality oils you can choose from.
Final Thoughts
Using the right shotgun cleaning kit is important in gun maintenance. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you have an exceptional kit to rely on. So now that you’ve chosen yours, be sure to pair it with the best gun cleaning mat for a mess-free gun cleaning!
Last update on 2025-01-15 / Images from Amazon Product API